DIXON CLAIMS FOURTH 2009 NO. 1
Sun, 2009-07-19 08:01
With the exceptions of Terry Haddock and Shawn Langdon, nothing changed in the Top Fuel dragster 
lineup.
Dixon stayed on top with his second round effort of 3.891 seconds,
302.21 mph over Morgan Lucas, Spencer Massey and Cory McClenathan.
Langdon jumped from 10th to fifth and Haddock moved into the 11th spot
from outside the top 12.
Dixon claimed his fourth number one qualifying spot this season in the Al-Anabi dragster.
“The first run we made, they were pressing it, spun the tires so, they calmed her all back down,” said Dixon. “We put a set up in it that we thought would go down the racetrack and we got down the track in the final qualifying session. We just take the stuff and see what we can do with it tomorrow.”
lineup.
Dixon stayed on top with his second round effort of 3.891 seconds,
302.21 mph over Morgan Lucas, Spencer Massey and Cory McClenathan.
Langdon jumped from 10th to fifth and Haddock moved into the 11th spot
from outside the top 12.
Dixon claimed his fourth number one qualifying spot this season in the Al-Anabi dragster.
“The first run we made, they were pressing it, spun the tires so, they calmed her all back down,” said Dixon. “We put a set up in it that we thought would go down the racetrack and we got down the track in the final qualifying session. We just take the stuff and see what we can do with it tomorrow.”
Starting from the pole is a “nice stat” but it is by no means a gimme or bye run.
“It's not a bye run,” Dixon exclaimed. “I have lost to Joe Hartley this year before, so its not a bye run. I've seen Brandon have a bye run and lose that round. There are no gimmies. You have to go up there and earn your place. I like that, it keeps you honest. You have to go up there, be sharp on the starting line and get your car down the track. Racing somebody like Joe Hartley will keep you honest. They're fighting for top ten and they've beaten us before.”
Race day is certainly more intense that qualifying. In qualifying the driver is worried about reaction times. In eliminations, how quick a driver is off the line becomes extremely important. For Dixon, race day is all about the tree. Getting down the track is a challenge for Alan Johnson.
“To me, I don't think about it too much,” said Dixon when asked if he had a preference of competitors in the first round of eliminations. “I go up there and race. Alan and Jason race the lane and I'm working on the tree, unless he drives over and hits me. If I leave first and our car runs better than who were racing doesn't matter. You don't have to think anything more than that about it.”
Worry about as little as possible didn't come natural for Dixon. He freely admits that Dick LaHie was instrumental in helping to keep a clear mind on race day.
“I think LaHaie was pretty instrumental in helping me not worry about too much 'stuff',” admitted Dixon. “You could see some guy that would just be having unbelieveable reaction times in qualifying and it’s like, if I have to race this guy, I have to do this, I have to do that. And, then one of you or both goes out and what did you worry about you never got to race him.
“You just have to worry about what's in front of you and right now it's just first round.
lineup.
Dixon stayed on top with his second round effort of 3.891 seconds,
302.21 mph over Morgan Lucas, Spencer Massey and Cory McClenathan.
Langdon jumped from 10th to fifth and Haddock moved into the 11th spot
from outside the top 12.Dixon claimed his fourth number one qualifying spot this season in the Al-Anabi dragster.
“The first run we made, they were pressing it, spun the tires so, they calmed her all back down,” said Dixon. “We put a set up in it that we thought would go down the racetrack and we got down the track in the final qualifying session. We just take the stuff and see what we can do with it tomorrow.”
With the exceptions of Terry Haddock and Shawn Langdon, nothing changed in the Top Fuel dragster
Les Welch Photos
Dixon claimed his fourth number one qualifying spot this season in the Al-Anabi dragster.
“The first run we made, they were pressing it, spun the tires so, they calmed her all back down,” said Dixon. “We put a set up in it that we thought would go down the racetrack and we got down the track in the final qualifying session. We just take the stuff and see what we can do with it tomorrow.”
Starting from the pole is a “nice stat” but it is by no means a gimme or bye run.
“It's not a bye run,” Dixon exclaimed. “I have lost to Joe Hartley this year before, so its not a bye run. I've seen Brandon have a bye run and lose that round. There are no gimmies. You have to go up there and earn your place. I like that, it keeps you honest. You have to go up there, be sharp on the starting line and get your car down the track. Racing somebody like Joe Hartley will keep you honest. They're fighting for top ten and they've beaten us before.”
Race day is certainly more intense that qualifying. In qualifying the driver is worried about reaction times. In eliminations, how quick a driver is off the line becomes extremely important. For Dixon, race day is all about the tree. Getting down the track is a challenge for Alan Johnson.
“To me, I don't think about it too much,” said Dixon when asked if he had a preference of competitors in the first round of eliminations. “I go up there and race. Alan and Jason race the lane and I'm working on the tree, unless he drives over and hits me. If I leave first and our car runs better than who were racing doesn't matter. You don't have to think anything more than that about it.”
Worry about as little as possible didn't come natural for Dixon. He freely admits that Dick LaHie was instrumental in helping to keep a clear mind on race day.
“I think LaHaie was pretty instrumental in helping me not worry about too much 'stuff',” admitted Dixon. “You could see some guy that would just be having unbelieveable reaction times in qualifying and it’s like, if I have to race this guy, I have to do this, I have to do that. And, then one of you or both goes out and what did you worry about you never got to race him.
“You just have to worry about what's in front of you and right now it's just first round.
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