Larry Dixon won the battle with throat cancer in 2015 and survived a punishing 109g crash at the NHRA Gatornationals which broke his T-4 and T-5 vertebrae. [Photo courtesy Larry Dixon Racing]
Larry Dixon won the battle with throat cancer in 2015 and survived a punishing 109g crash at the NHRA Gatornationals which broke his T-4 and T-5 vertebrae. [Photo courtesy Larry Dixon Racing]
Addition of Cars and Equipment for Top Fuel Action
Three-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Preparing to Hit the Track
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 16, 2016) — Three-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon has announced the addition of race cars and necessary racing equipment to his Larry Dixon Racing stable at his team’s headquarters in Brownsburg, Ind.
Dixon, who returned to full-time racing in 2015, won the battle with throat cancer in 2015 and survived a punishing 109g crash at the NHRA Gatornationals which broke his T-4 and T-5 vertebrae. But the veteran Indianapolis driver kept competing and finished in fourth place in the final Top Fuel standings.
Dixon, the second winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history with 62 wins, lost his Top Fuel ride due to financial difficulties at the end of the 2015 season and began preparations to develop his own race organization and get back in the driver’s seat.
Dixon did return to action in June and scored a Top Fuel victory at Australia in the Rapisarda dragster on the quarter-mile at Willowbank Raceway in the City of Ipswich Australian Winternationals near Brisbane. Dixon, who already owns the National E.T Record in Australia, now owns the Speed Record as well.
“For the last year of my life, with cancer, a broken back and then losing my ride; everything that’s happened, winning races like we did in Australia makes all that pain go away,” explained Dixon.
Now, Dixon and a few associates have been collecting race cars, engines, blowers, parts, transporters and pit equipment to formulate the plan to begin his own Top Fuel operation.
And Dixon is anxious to find additional support to campaign again in a Top Fuel dragster.
“I’m finally 100 percent healthy now and I’m excited to go racing again,” Dixon said. “I’m so anxious to get in a car and get after it! We have put together the equipment which could be very competitive right out of the gate. There is a lot of excitement being generated in the drag racing world, especially in Top Fuel. With the great tv packages in place and sellout crowds, I don’t think the timing could be any better than now to show that right marketing partner what we can do on and off the track.”
Dixon grew up in Southern California where his father, Larry Sr., was a Top Fuel champion in NHRA Division 7. Larry Sr. won the 1970 NHRA Winternationals. Larry Jr. was a constant at the track helping on his parents’ family-owned dragster.
Dixon later became a mechanic for Larry Minor and Don “Snake” Prudhomme teams before beginning his Top Fuel driving career in 1995, driving for Prudhomme. Dixon was named “Rookie of the Year” that year and captured his first of four Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals titles.
“I’ve have spent my entire life in this sport and I’m not ready to walk away just yet,” admitted Dixon. “I feel like I’m just getting started!”
For more information on Larry Dixon, please see his website at www.larrydixonracing.com.
