DIXON NAMED ALAN JOHNSON/AL-ANABI DRIVER
Fri, 2008-12-19 11:29
Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing confirmed the worst kept secret in drag racing on Thursday.
Two-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Larry Dixon has been named the driver of the team’s Top Fuel dragster, effective immediately. Jason McCulloch will be the team's Top Fuel crew chief.
Dixon brings a wealth of experience to the team having worked his way into the cockpit of Don Prudhomme’s dragster in 1994. He was named NHRA Rookie of the Year in 1995.
The Indianapolis resident has recorded 43 NHRA wins in 83 final rounds and is third on NHRA's all-time Top Fuel winners list. He finished second in the 2008 NHRA Countdown to the Championship, and in 2007, he finished fourth.
Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing confirmed the worst kept secret in drag racing on Thursday.
Two-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Larry Dixon has been named the driver of the team’s Top Fuel dragster, effective immediately. Jason McCulloch will be the team's Top Fuel crew chief.
Dixon brings a wealth of experience to the team having worked his way into the cockpit of Don Prudhomme’s dragster in 1994. He was named NHRA Rookie of the Year in 1995.
The Indianapolis resident has recorded 43 NHRA wins in 83 final rounds and is third on NHRA's all-time Top Fuel winners list. He finished second in the 2008 NHRA Countdown to the Championship, and in 2007, he finished fourth.
"I'm very excited and looking forward to this opportunity and a new chapter in my career," Dixon said in an interview with NHRA.com. "I had a great time in my 20 years at Prudhomme Racing, and I am thankful for the opportunities I had in that time. Now I'm ready to start this new chapter in my life; it's a wonderful opportunity, and I feel very blessed to have the ability to take care of my family for the long haul.
"It's a new team, and everybody will be in a new position. It could take us a while to jell as a team, but everyone on this team has won at least one championship in previous ventures, so I'd like to think we can hit the ground running."
A crew chief extraordinaire, Johnson returns to team ownership after five years of employment with Don Schumacher Racing when Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing debuts in 2009 as a two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series team with one entry each in Top Fuel and Funny Car competition. In September, Del Worsham and Aaron Brooks were named the team's Funny Car driver and crew chief, respectively.
Johnson led driver Tony Schumacher to five consecutive Top Fuel titles. Amongst the talented tuner’s accolades, Johnson and Schumacher's Top Fuel dragster set records for consecutive wins (seven), wins in a season (15), and consecutive round-wins (31). In addition, Johnson won NHRA Top Fuel championships with driver Gary Scelzi in 1997, 1998, and 2000.
"When I started thinking about who I wanted in the Top Fuel cockpit back in the fall, Larry Dixon was among the first drivers I considered," Johnson said in an NHRA.com interview. "A two-time champion is a great asset, but I knew there would be obstacles for Larry to overcome to make it happen. It's nice that Larry and Don were able to work things out between them so that Larry could take advantage of this opportunity. I appreciate Don Prudhomme's willingness to work with Larry, and we certainly wish him well with his new driver.
"I have worked with Jason for the last five seasons, and I know he is capable of great things. He is definitely ready to step into the crew-chief position, and I know Jason and Larry will work well together. With any new team, it can take some time for the crew chief to earn the driver's confidence, but the fact that this driver and crew chief have been friends for 20 years should accelerate that process."
Two-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Larry Dixon has been named the driver of the team’s Top Fuel dragster, effective immediately. Jason McCulloch will be the team's Top Fuel crew chief.
Dixon brings a wealth of experience to the team having worked his way into the cockpit of Don Prudhomme’s dragster in 1994. He was named NHRA Rookie of the Year in 1995.
The Indianapolis resident has recorded 43 NHRA wins in 83 final rounds and is third on NHRA's all-time Top Fuel winners list. He finished second in the 2008 NHRA Countdown to the Championship, and in 2007, he finished fourth.
Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing confirmed the worst kept secret in drag racing on Thursday.
Two-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Larry Dixon has been named the driver of the team’s Top Fuel dragster, effective immediately. Jason McCulloch will be the team's Top Fuel crew chief.
Dixon brings a wealth of experience to the team having worked his way into the cockpit of Don Prudhomme’s dragster in 1994. He was named NHRA Rookie of the Year in 1995.
The Indianapolis resident has recorded 43 NHRA wins in 83 final rounds and is third on NHRA's all-time Top Fuel winners list. He finished second in the 2008 NHRA Countdown to the Championship, and in 2007, he finished fourth.
"I'm very excited and looking forward to this opportunity and a new chapter in my career," Dixon said in an interview with NHRA.com. "I had a great time in my 20 years at Prudhomme Racing, and I am thankful for the opportunities I had in that time. Now I'm ready to start this new chapter in my life; it's a wonderful opportunity, and I feel very blessed to have the ability to take care of my family for the long haul.
"It's a new team, and everybody will be in a new position. It could take us a while to jell as a team, but everyone on this team has won at least one championship in previous ventures, so I'd like to think we can hit the ground running."
A crew chief extraordinaire, Johnson returns to team ownership after five years of employment with Don Schumacher Racing when Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing debuts in 2009 as a two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series team with one entry each in Top Fuel and Funny Car competition. In September, Del Worsham and Aaron Brooks were named the team's Funny Car driver and crew chief, respectively.
Johnson led driver Tony Schumacher to five consecutive Top Fuel titles. Amongst the talented tuner’s accolades, Johnson and Schumacher's Top Fuel dragster set records for consecutive wins (seven), wins in a season (15), and consecutive round-wins (31). In addition, Johnson won NHRA Top Fuel championships with driver Gary Scelzi in 1997, 1998, and 2000.
"When I started thinking about who I wanted in the Top Fuel cockpit back in the fall, Larry Dixon was among the first drivers I considered," Johnson said in an NHRA.com interview. "A two-time champion is a great asset, but I knew there would be obstacles for Larry to overcome to make it happen. It's nice that Larry and Don were able to work things out between them so that Larry could take advantage of this opportunity. I appreciate Don Prudhomme's willingness to work with Larry, and we certainly wish him well with his new driver.
"I have worked with Jason for the last five seasons, and I know he is capable of great things. He is definitely ready to step into the crew-chief position, and I know Jason and Larry will work well together. With any new team, it can take some time for the crew chief to earn the driver's confidence, but the fact that this driver and crew chief have been friends for 20 years should accelerate that process."
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