Pomona: Larry Dixon Friday rain notes

Dixon Still Seventh after Rain Ends Day Early at Pomona POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 20, 2004) -- Continuing rain at Pomona Raceway forced NHRA officials to cancel Friday's scheduled qualifying session at the 44th annual Winternationals Larry Dixon ...

Dixon Still Seventh after Rain Ends Day Early at Pomona

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 20, 2004) -- Continuing rain at Pomona Raceway forced NHRA officials to cancel Friday's scheduled qualifying session at the 44th annual Winternationals

Larry Dixon drove his Dick LaHaie-prepared Miller Lite dragster to a pass of 4.662 seconds at 316.82 mph on his first effort of 2004 yesterday afternoon. The two-time defending POWERade Top Fuel champion aims to qualify in the top half of the Top Fuel order for the seventh consecutive year at NHRA's season kick-off.

"Going into the first run on Thursday, we needed to go down the race track and get qualified," Dixon said. "We don't particularly like where we're qualified, but we'll take whatever it is that keeps us in the program. Seventh is better than 17th.

"The most exciting thing that happened today was a thrilling game of three-card in the lounge of my Miller Lite transporter with the crew guys. I walked away with $26."

Dixon and the Miller Lite Top Fuel team aim to improve on their No. 7 qualifying spot when qualifying for the Winternationals resumes on Saturday with sessions at noon and 3 p.m. (PT).

ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights from the K&N Filters Winternationals at 10 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Feb. 21, and show two hours of final eliminations coverage beginning at 10 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 22.