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NEWS NUGGETS
DIXON GETS THIRD WIN OF SEASON; MOVES TO THIRD IN POINT STANDINGS: Its hasn’t even been a year since his move from famed Don Prudhomme Racing to the brand new team owned by NHRA tuning legend Alan Johnson, yet two-time Top Fuel world champion Larry Dixon has shown that his Alan Johnson/Al-Anabi racing dragster is a car to be reckoned with after he picked up his third win of the season at the United Association NHRA SuperNationals this weekend at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
For Dixon, it was his third win in as many final round appearances for the season, fifth win in Englishtown (the most of any active driver at the track) and 46th win of his career. It also moved him up one spot to the third position in the Top Fuel point standings, just 97 points behind first-place driver Antron Brown.
Though some feel that the transition for Dixon to the newly formed Alan Johnson/Al-Anabi racing has been a bumpy one, the numbers have shown a smooth transition for a driver and team that have yet to be together for a full season. Out of the first 11 races, Dixon has only qualified lower than fifth three times, has only been out of the top 10 point standings once, and has collected two No. 1 qualifiers, three semifinal finishes, three wins and has a round win-loss record of 20-7.
But Dixon isn’t the only driver to walk away from Englishtown with another win for the season and a huge jump in the point standings. Funny Car driver Tony Pedregon picked up his second consecutive win of the season at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park and also moved into the top spot in the Funny Car point standings. For Pedregon, it was his second win at Englishtown and 42nd of his career.
In Pro Stock Jeg Coughlin showed why he’s a four-time and defending world champion when he grabbed his fifth win of the season and third win in Englishtown, while Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Craig Treble was able to grab his second win of the season and second at the famed track. For more results from the 40th annual United Association NHRA SuperNationals, visit www.NHRA.com.
FIELD IS SET; ANDERSON CLAIMS NO. 1 SPOT IN K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE: Three-time Pro Stock world champion Greg Anderson will take the top spot for the 2009 NHRA K&N Horsepower Challenge, which will be contested next weekend at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals. This Pro Stock bonus event will feature eight of the top drivers in the class who have earned the most qualifying points within the past year. The winner of the famed bonus event earns $50,000, with the runner-up pocketing $10,000. The two semifinalists receive $3,000 each, and the four first-round finishers each earn $2,500. Below are the first-round pairings for the 2009 K&N Horsepower Challenge:
- Greg Anderson vs. Ron Krisher
- Mike Edwards vs. Warren Johnson
- Allen Johnson vs. Jeg Coughlin
- Jason Line vs. Kurt Johnson
COMING ATTRACTIONS
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT MOTORSPORTS PARK, JUNE 25–28: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series returns to Norwalk, Ohio for its third annual event. Defending event winners include Doug Herbert (Top Fuel); Tony Pedregon (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle). Norwalk is also the site of the K&N Horsepower Challenge Pro Stock bonus event.
MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS, BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY, JULY 10–12: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads back to the Mile-High city for the 30th national event at Bandimere Speedway. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS, PACIFIC RACEWAYS, JULY 17–19: Returning to Seattle for the second leg of the famed Western Swing, NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing makes its 14th stop on its 24-race circuit. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tony Bartone (Funny Car); and Jason Line (Pro Stock).
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HE SAID, SHE SAID
A STRONG FIELD IN THE SECOND-HALF OF THE REGULAR SEASON: Defending world champion Jeg Coughlin on the competition in the Pro Stock category heading into the second half of the regular season: “Every round is such a battle. You know Jason (Line) has a great horse. Ron (Krisher) was the No. 1 qualifier so they’re running good over there. Allen (Johnson) has been right in the thick of it all year, and Mike (Edwards) has the best racecar at the moment. Nothing comes easy, that’s for sure.”
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
26: That’s the number of points in Funny Car that separates third-place driver Ron Capps from first-place driver Tony Pedregon; the closest battle for first in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
DRIVERS TO WATCH…
Funny Car driver Ashley Force Hood made her third consecutive final round appearance and grabbed her fourth No. 1 qualifier in six races this weekend in Englishtown. Pro Stock driver Mike Edwards made his fourth-consecutive and fifth final round appearance in six races, while defending Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Eddie Krawiec also made his fourth consecutive final round appearance.