NHRA

Phoenix: Larry Dixon preview

DIXON LOOKING FOR CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT AS NHRA TOUR HEADS TO PHOENIX CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 20, 2006) -- After spending nearly 20 years on the NHRA circuit, two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion and Miller Lite Racing driver Larry Dixon is well versed in ...

Edited: Feb 23, 2006, 4:42 AM

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DIXON LOOKING FOR CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT AS NHRA TOUR HEADS TO PHOENIX

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 20, 2006) -- After spending nearly 20 years on the NHRA circuit, two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion and Miller Lite Racing driver Larry Dixon is well versed in drag racing's peaks-and valleys. In a sport that, at times, can be more humbling than golf, a race team can go from hero to zero in a matter of days, but the great thing is, there's always another rac! e right around the corner.

After driving to a quarterfinal finish at the 2006 season-opener two weeks ago in Pomona, Calif., Dixon and Don "the Snake" Prudhomme's Miller Lite/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team head to Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix, Feb. 24-26, looking for a strong qualifying and race-day effort at the site of Dixon's first career NHRA Top Fuel victory 11 years ago during his Rookie of the Year campaign in 1995.

"I feel good about going into the next race this weekend at Phoenix," Dixon said. "I think Donnie (Bender), being a new crew chief, has learned some things to do and not to do. We hope to improve upon what we did at Pomona (Calif.) two weeks ago."

The 38-time NHRA winner entered the 2006 NHRA campaign with a revitalized demeanor as first-year crew chief Don Bender is now calling the turning shots on Dixon's 330-mph Miller Lite dragster. Bender played a key role in Dixon earning consecutive NHRA championships in 2002-03, along with watching Top Fuel racing's winningest active driver race to three victories and a second place finish in drag racing's elite division last year.

Continuing to make runs down the drag strip, whether in testing or at an NHRA national event, will allow the Dixon/Bender tandem to grow and develop a strong chemistry which should help ensure the Miller Lite team's status as one of the premier cars in the Top Fuel ranks.

"Everything that we've done over the past four weeks, testing twice at (Las) Vegas, and at Phoenix and running at Pomona, all of those runs will certainly benefit us as we go down the road this season," Dixon said.

As they continue on that 23-race road towards the season-finale in November, the Miller Lite boys hope to reach their peak performance with a chance to compete for the NHRA crown. A second career win at The Valley of the Sun would be a great way to continue that journey for the three-time Firebird Raceway finalist.

-www.snakeracing.com

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