NHRA
Reading: Larry Dixon preview
READING, PA (Oct. 2) - Larry Dixon finds himself and Don Prudhomme's Miller Lite Dragster in a unique position going into this weekend's 17th Annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway (Oct. 5-7). With only four national ...
Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
READING, PA (Oct. 2) - Larry Dixon finds himself and Don Prudhomme's Miller Lite Dragster in a unique position going into this weekend's 17th Annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway (Oct. 5-7).
With only four national events remaining on the 2001 NHRA Drag Racing Series schedule, Dixon is as close to winning a Winston Top Fuel Championship as he has ever been in his seven-year driving career. He has won more races (5), reached more finals (8) and accumulated more points (1,701) than in any of his previous seasons driving for team owner Prudhomme's Snake Racing.
But along with success comes constant challenges from those who wish to surpass you. That challenge comes from Dixon's chief rival, Kenny Bernstein, who has battled with the Miller Lite Team all season long and who trailed Dixon in the points races for over one month before retaking a slim 14-point lead last weekend with his win at Joliet's Route 66 Raceway.
Dixon believes that the pendulum of momentum is due to swing back in his favor as the season draws to a close. Before Dixon's semifinal finish to Bernstein last weekend, the Miller pilot won two out of the previous three races (Brainerd, Indianapolis), however Bernstein has come out on top at the last two events, including Dixon's runner-up finish to Bernstein at Memphis.
"These last two races they have made a move on us, they have been better the last two races," said Dixon. "We were better the two before and hopefully it will come back to us at the next two."
The rescheduling of the Reading national event due to the September 11 incident brings the 6,500 horsepower machines to a great Maple Grove track even later in the year, with cooler temperatures and great race conditions.
"I really think you'll see conditions better than what we had last week in Chicago," said Dixon. "I'll say that 10-15 years ago when we used to go to Reading, that was one of the better tracks at the end of the season before the races like Dallas and Houston came along. The records used to be broke all the time there. Well, last year they ground the race track and as long as the last winter didn't put any new bumps in the track, our going there a month later should make it real fast - I would say even faster than last weekend."
-Snake Racing-
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Reading: Fact sheet
Next article Reading drag race first respite for Bob Benza
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Larry Dixon
Three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Dixon suspended indefinitely
NHRA
NHRA
Three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Dixon suspended indefinitely
Good, bad and ugly dominate Gatornationals memories
NHRA
NHRA
Good, bad and ugly dominate Gatornationals memories
Force swaps teams; Dixon returns at Gainesville
NHRA
NHRA
Force swaps teams; Dixon returns at Gainesville
Latest news
Barcelona set to host IndyCar race in 2027 under multi-year deal
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 2 h
Barcelona set to host IndyCar race in 2027 under multi-year deal
Winners and losers from a Chase-altering NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
4 h
Winners and losers from a Chase-altering NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix
Heart of Racing rules Valkyrie GTP step next year ‘too soon’ for IMSA standout Barrichello
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 4 h
Heart of Racing rules Valkyrie GTP step next year ‘too soon’ for IMSA standout Barrichello
Sergio Perez: Debut Cadillac season "without a doubt one of my best years"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
4 h
Sergio Perez: Debut Cadillac season "without a doubt one of my best years"
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe