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NHRA: Dixon creates three-way race for 2000 Winston Top Fuel Title

16 August 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

BRAINERD, Minn. - Just as all the hype surrounding the 2000 NHRA Winston Top Fuel championship was directed at two main players, a third has quietly positioned himself as a top contender.

And with past champion Dick LaHaie tuning the Miller Lite dragster and team owner Don 'The Snake' Prudhomme - a four-time Funny Car champ -- providing insight from his years of wisdom in the sport, Larry Dixon should feel pretty comfortable about his chances.

Dixon, who has two victories in five final rounds this season, has been slightly overshadowed by the performances produced by current Winston points leader Gary Scelzi and defending series champion Tony Schumacher. Scelzi has six wins in six final rounds in the Team Winston dragster, while Schumacher has produced the most final round appearances - seven in the Exide Batteries dragster - with two victories.

While Scelzi and Schumacher have battled back and forth, Dixon went on about his business. After a runner-up finish at Sears Point Raceway, everyone finally realized that Dixon was serious about being a contender. The Indianapolis driver moved to second in points, 97 behind Scelzi.

Dixon hopes to improve his Winston points position with a victory at the 19th annual Colonel's Truck Accessories NHRA Nationals, Aug. 17-20, at The Colonel's Brainerd International Raceway. The $1.8 million race is the 16th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

"We should have lost in the first round at Sonoma," said Dixon, the '99 Brainerd winner. "We were lucky all day and my luck ran out in the final round. We could have gone out early like Scelzi and Schumacher, but we were able to go to the final. Now, Scelzi isn't too far out there anymore."

SCELZI CHASING RECORD: While Gary Scelzi pursues a third NHRA Winston championship, he's also chasing one of Top Fuel's longest standing single-season records.

Scelzi, already one of the five all-time winningest Top Fuel drivers in NHRA history with 20 career victories, can become the lone holder of the single-season win record should he add an additional trophy to his collection this season.

Eight other drivers - including Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein, Don Garlits, Darrell Gwynn, Eddie Hill, Scott Kalitta, Cory McClenathan and Gary Ormsby - are tied with Scelzi for the current record of six victories, first set in '85 by Garlits.

"I've been in this position before," said Scelzi, also a six-time winner in 1998. "We would like to get the record, but our primary goal is to win a Winston championship. I'd like to have a third ring."

FORCE RECLAIMS WINSTON LEAD: Aided by an untimely DNQ (did not qualify) by season-long points leader Jerry Toliver at Sears Point Raceway, John Force capitalized on the situation and emerged from the West Coast Swing back in his familiar perch atop the Funny Car point standings.

Which could mean trouble for Toliver, driver of the WWF Racing Pontiac Firebird. Historically, Force has been impressive in NHRA's final stretch, which begins in mid-August at a track that he's dominated - The Colonel's Brainerd International Raceway.

The winningest driver in NHRA history will be seeking his 89th career victory, and looking to add to his 75-point lead over championship challenger Toliver at one of his favorite tracks. The Yorba Linda, Calif. driver has logged eight victories at Brainerd over the years, his most recent in '99.

"Our game plan is to whip the WWF team," said Force. "I love Jerry and I felt real bad for him when he didn't qualify (at Sears Point), but we want to beat 'em this year for the Winston championship. That's what we're after."

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

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