Dixon leads Top Fuel qualifying

Sunday, May 21, 2000 | 2:58 a.m.

Dixon had a quarter-mile run Friday of 4.644 seconds at a top speed of 311.70 mph at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Joe Amato was second with a pass of 4.680 seconds at 304.53 mph.

Unseasonable weather conditions forced NHRA officials to cancel Saturday's second qualifying session in the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes after several teams experienced tire-wear problems due to the extreme grip of the racing surface.

Jim Epler topped the Funny Car competitors with Friday's run of 4.958 seconds at 308.14 mph.

The final session for the two 6,000-horsepower categories is set for Sunday morning before the final eliminations for the $2 million event, the eighth of 23 races in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Jeg Coughlin and Matt Hines earned No. 1 qualifying awards in their divisions.

Coughlin, seeking his seventh victory of the season, led the Pro Stock competition with a career-best 6.822-second run at 200.68 mph. Hines recorded the quickest Pro Stock Motorcycle run in NHRA history, finishing in 7.138 seconds at 188.62 mph.