Topeka: Larry Dixon Friday summary

DIXON SITS 14TH WITH TWO SESSIONS REMAINING AT TOPEKA

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 27, 2005) -- Two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon placed his Miller Lite dragster in the No. 14 qualifying position Friday at Heartland Park Topeka after the first day of qualifying was completed in Kansas.

Qualifying kicked off late Friday afternoon following persistent rain showers that delayed the start of qualifying at Heartland Park. On his first qualifying attempt of the weekend, at the track where he raced to the win two seasons ago, Dixon shut off early after the Miller Lite rail got out of the groove. The 36-time NHRA winner coasted to a pass of 5.019 seconds at 203.31 mph to begin qualifying. Under the lights, Dixon's Miller Lite/Ameriquest dragster overpowered the race track and shook the tires as the dragster slowed to a run of 8.890 at 96.03.

"The car shook and got out of the groove on the first run," assistant crew chief Don Bender said. "It shook even worse on the night run. The track was cold and we don't like running on a cold race track."

Dixon and Don Prudhomme's Miller Lite team eye a position in the upper half of the Top Fuel ladder when qualifying resumes Saturday with Top Fuel sessions scheduled for 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. Dixon won the Topeka race in 2003.

-www.snakeracing.com