Monday, Oct. 28, 2002 | 10:06 a.m.
Larry Dixon, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Angelle Savoie wrote their names in the NHRA record book Sunday -- and each added exclamation points.
Dixon (Top Fuel), Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) each clinched season championships and capped the day by winning their respective categories at the second annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
John Force, in search of his 10th consecutive Funny Car championship, defeated teammate Tony Pedregon in the final for his seventh win of the season.
Dixon earned his first Top Fuel championship when he defeated Rhonda Hartman-Smith in the second round and his closest pursuer, Kenny Bernstein, fell to Shirley Muldowney in the first round. It was Dixon's record-tying ninth victory of the season.
"It was a nice ending to the day," Dixon said after his 4.613-second run at 320.28 mph in the final against Tony Schumacher. "To be honest, I really didn't think we would clinch it here because Kenny (has) such a strong team.
"I'm still a little speechless over the whole thing because these are things you dream about as a kid ... and to finally get a shot to go out there and race and actually win a championship, that's huge."
Dixon earned $400,000 from series sponsor Powerade for winning the championship, although the 36-year-old Southern California native said he suspected the majority of that amount would wind up in team owner Don "The Snake" Prudhomme's bank account.
"That (ceremonial) big check was made out to me but I'm sure the real check ain't," Dixon joked. "But I really don't care at this point; just to be able to carry number one for the season, that's more than I ever dreamt for in my lifetime.
"I'm just so thankful that I was able to help bring a championship to The Snake. That guy took a shot on me and I didn't have anything to bring to the table -- no money, no talent because I had never driven a Top Fuel car. The guy's got planes and big houses and all that stuff so what am I going to get him to say thanks? To put a number one on the side of his car, especially in his 40th year in racing, that's the only way I can pull that off."
Force, who came to Las Vegas with a slim 13-point lead over Pedregon, met his employee and teammate in the final. Force ran the quarter-mile in 4.82 seconds at 305.22 mph to Pedregon's 4.869 at 301.94 and increased his lead to 31 points heading into the Nov. 10 season finale in Pomona, Calif.
"We just gave 'em some good ol' drag racing -- like we promised," Forced said. "I got right at the (finish) line and I didn't know if I won or lost because you can't see out of the Mustang.
"I'm trying to win ten straight and (Tony) said he's trying to win one straight and we just went out there and took our hot rods and went after it. Pomona will be where this (championship) will go down and be final -- that's good for the fans (and) hard on my heart."
Savoie earned her third straight NHRA championship with a semifinal victory over Craig Treble and then defeated Matt Hines with a run of 7.247 at 183.99 in the final. It was Savoie's sixth win of the season and third in a row.
Already the winningest female in the history of the NHRA, Savoie matched the legendary Muldowney with her third NHRA championship.
"Three championships -- I feel legitimate now," Savoie said. "When I was awarded the recognition of being the winningest female in history, it just didn't seem right until I won three championships because that's big.
"That was something that I felt like I had to do to be equal to (Muldowney) and now I feel like I am. I'm still very, very thankful for what she has done for our sport and for women; opening the door so people didn't laugh at me when I came along and said I wanted to do this."
Although Savoie said her first championship always will be the most special to her, it was clear that this one was every bit as important. Savoie had to race most of the season without sponsorship and had to fend off accusations from competitors that her Star Racing team was cheating.
"This has probably been the roughest year -- not only of my professional career but of my personal life, as well," an emotional Savoie said. "There were probably a couple times throughout the season that I didn't know if I was going to make it mentally on my own.
"The first (championship) was definitely the best ever but this one feels like I've worked the hardest for."
Coughlin clinched his second Pro Stock championship with a first-round victory over Scott Geoffrion. He capped the afternoon by defeating six-time champ Warren Johnson in the final for his fourth victory in a row and eighth of the season.
"When I saw my win light come on, I was just tickled to death," Coughlin said. "It has been such an awesome, awesome season and to be crowned the Pro Stock Powerade champion is phenomenal.
"Certainly we were a little bit more at ease (after the first round). The first round, I was a little bit worked up but there are a lot of beans on the line. To get our third win here at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is just outstanding. Now this place seems like a second home to us."
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