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The Dixon Dispatch
The Weekly News Release of Larry Dixon & the Miller Lite Dragster

Larry Dixon Enters Seattle Just 3 Points From Lead But There'S No Time To Rest As West Coast Swing Rolls Along

SEATTLE, WASH. (July 24) - Larry Dixon's win last Sunday in Denver was arguably his biggest of the season. Dixon's 13th career victory, the first for Don Prudhomme's Snake Racing Teams at Bandimere Speedway, moved the Miller Lite Top Fuel squad to within three points of leader Kenny Bernstein, but there is no time to stop and smell the roses for Dixon, Crew Chief Dick LaHaie, or anyone on the team for that matter.

"I am only worrying about one race at a time and right now we are getting ready for Seattle," said Dixon. "Denver was a major difference compared to what we will see in Seattle this week. There is a real high altitude (in Denver) with a totally different engine and clutch combination that we used. Now we don't have any time off, it takes two days to drive to Seattle and then its time to go race there. It puts a lot of strain on the team so its kind of an endurance race just as much as it is a performance race, but I have a lot of confidence in our guys. With Dick LaHaie running the show, as far as the tune up and everything goes, it makes my job easier."

In spite of their recent final round success, having won two out of the last four races and reaching three finals out of the last six events, it has been the overall consistency of LaHaie and his crew that has put the Miller Lite bunch less than a round from the peak of the Top Fuel points list.

Dixon is averaging slightly better than an third place qualifying position (3.36) and is also posting a better than semifinal round average each weekend. And although the team doesn't like to acknowledge it, they also own the longest current opening round winning streak (15) in Top Fuel, dating back to Oct. 29, 2000 at Houston.

"When you look at these three race deals you go, 'bam, bam, bam,' and you can lose ground or gain ground real fast," said Dixon. "The last three race swing that we had (Englishtown, Topeka, Joliet) we gained more points (246) than anybody else, so that's what you look for is to try and capitalize on these stretches when you are running well. There are so many good cars out there - Scelzi's coming on strong, he's real good, Bernstein's always good with (Tim) Richards tuning, and (Doug) Kalitta could have had his third or fourth win of the year (Sunday). There are no easy races."

Larry Dixon, Don Prudhomme, & Other NHRA Drivers To Meet Fans

Larry Dixon, Miller Lite Top Fuel Team Owner Don "Snake" Prudhomme & other top NHRA drivers will come together to help raise funds for United Cerebral Palsy of Pierce County. <pre> Date & Time Location Thur, 7/26 7-9 p.m. United Cerebral Palsy NHRA All-Star Driver Signing & Silent Auction Planet Hot Rod, 7403 Pacific Ave, Milton, WA (253-926-3599)

Larry Dixon's Career Results in Seattle

Year  Event         Qual.  Finish & Winning Driver
1995  Prolong Ntls. No. 5  1st round- J. Amato
1996  Prolong Ntls. No. 8  2nd round-Vandergriff
1997  Prolong Ntls. No. 5  Semifinals-G. Scelzi
1998  Prolong Ntls. No. 13 1st round-G. Scelzi
1999  Prolong Ntls. No. 9  1st round-T.Schumacher
2000  Prolong Ntls. No. 4  Semifinals-G. Scelzi

2001 NHRA Winston Top Fuel Point Standings 1. Kenny Bernstein 1165 n/a 2. LARRY DIXON 1162 3 out 3. Doug Kalitta 988 177 out 4. Gary Scelzi 923 242 out 5. Mike Dunn 915 250 out 6. Darrell Russell 912 253 out 7. Doug Herbert 753 412 out 8. Tony Schumacher 745 420 out 9. David Grubnic 557 608 out 10. Rhonda Hartman 504 661 out

Larry Dixon Appearance & Racing Schedule

Below is the tentative schedule for Larry Dixon for this weekend's Prolong Northwest Nationals. Date & Time Location Thur, 7/26 700-900p Planet Hot Rod Fri, 7/27 330-630p Qualifying sessions #1 & #2 Sat, 7/28 130-430p Qualifying sessions #3 & #4 Sun, 7/29 1030a Eliminations begin

NHRA on Television This Weekend

Date & Time (ET)             Network    Coverage
July 28, 7-8p & 10-12a       ESPN 2     Qualifying
July 29, 600-800p            ESPN 2     Eliminations

- www.snakeracing.com