Dixon won’t ease up in Vegas

Friday, Oct. 24, 2003 | 10:35 a.m.

WHAT: Third annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals. round 22 of the 23-race 2003 NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series

WHEN: Through Sunday

WHERE: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

TV: Saturday, 8:30-9:30 p.m., ESPN2; Sunday, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., ESPN2

ADMISSION: Today: Adult $35 (reserved) and $25 (general admission), Junior $20 and $10. Saturday: Adult $50 and $40, Junior $20 and $10. Sunday: Adult $60 and $50; Junior $25 and $15; Children 5 years and under free with paying adult in general admission and pit access areas each day.

SCHEDULE

Today

1 p.m. -- Pro Mod qualifying

2:30 p.m. -- Pro Stock Bike and Pro Stock Car qualifying

3:30 p.m.-- Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster qualifying

5 p.m. -- Pro Mod qualifying

5:30 p.m. -- Pro Stock Bike and Pro Stock Car qualifying

6:30 p.m.-- Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster qualifying

Saturday

7 a.m. -- Pit and spectator gates open

7:30 a.m. -- Sportsman elimin. continue

11 a.m. -- Pro Mod qualifying

11:30 a.m. -- Pro Stock Bike and Pro Stock Car qualifying

12:30 p.m.-- Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster qualifying

2 p.m. -- Pro Mod qualifying

2:30 p.m. -- Pro Stock Bike and Pro Stock Car qualifying

3:30 p.m.-- Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster qualifying

Sunday

7 a.m. -- Pit and spectator gates open

10 a.m. -- Pre-race ceremonies

11 a.m. -- Final eliminations

Larry Dixon may already have clinched the 2003 NHRA Top Fuel championship, but that doesn't mean he isn't motivated to win this weekend's ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Dixon wrapped up his second consecutive championship two weeks ago with a victory at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis -- his eighth of the season in Don "The Snake" Prudhomme's Miller Lite dragster. It was the Southern California native's 33rd career Top Fuel victory and 23rd in the past three seasons.

And that's what will keep Dixon motivated through four rounds of qualifying and Sunday's final eliminations.

"You don't ever really ease off because while the fire's hot, you're trying to win as many races as you can," Dixon said. "I know that there were a lot of years that I raced and we didn't win anything, so you're trying to take advantage of the situation while it's out in front of you because you don't know how long it will last.

"You have to come to every race prepared to win because if you just throw them away ... who knows, you may never win again. Believe it or not, that kind of stuff happens. You don't know when it's going to happen, but you know at some point it could so you're trying to win every time you can."

In other words, Dixon and crew chief Dick LaHaie will approach this race no differently than they have the previous 21.

"We're going to try and do the same thing we've been trying to do when you roll into every race: try to qualify well and then try to win every round you're in," Dixon said. "If you win more rounds than anyone else, you go home with a trophy.

"(Winning the championship) doesn't really come into play at all; you still go into every race with that kind of attitude. Points don't really matter now, you're just going for the win."

While Dixon's run to his second consecutive championship was made a little easier when Brandon Bernstein dropped out of the chase in May due to an accident and season-ending injury, Dixon said this year's title was no less satisfying than his first.

"It's a little different," Dixon said of this year's championship. "The first one, I had to wait my whole life for; the second one, I had to wait a whole year for. But it's pretty satisfying that we were able to keep that momentum going (from last year) and just roll into the next season just like we left off, basically.

"I was really proud of the whole team and proud to be a part of it, that we were able to do again. For Snake to be able to get everything it takes to do it and then actually have us all be on the same page and win it -- there's a lot of guys who spend more money than what Snake's got to spend, but we've got the right chemistry and the right combination going right now."

After winning eight of the first 15 races this season, Dixon has not reached the winner's circle since Aug. 3 in Sonoma, Calif. He is hoping to reverse that streak in Las Vegas, where he has a three-race winning streak.

"Las Vegas has been a great track for us," said Dixon, who clinched his first Top Fuel season championship with a victory here last fall. "Even the races that we didn't win before we won these last three, we've always had a good racecar when we've come here.

"One thing or another might have kept us from winning, but we've always had a good car coming here and we've always had a really good shot at winning the race. And that's all I want -- just a chance. Give me a chance and we'll take it from there."