Rat
Nitro Member
- Joined
- May 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,883
- Age
- 40
- Location
- Bay Shore, NY
From my out-of-print book. I own all rights.
When Don Prudhomme retired from driving in 1994, he personally picked Larry Dixon to fill his shoes; Larry did that and much, much more. After 16 years of driving for Snake racing and later Alan Johnson Racing, he won 3 championships, and won 62 races in 108 final rounds, 2nd best for wins and finals in Top-Fuel. He’s also done things that some drivers have never done such as win 637 elimination rounds out of 914, 66.9%, win the U.S. Nationals 4 times, qualify for 377 races with an average qualified spot of 4.56, finish in the top 5 12 times, and something no one can touch; being the first to break the 4.4 barrier with a 4.486 in 1999. 2012 finds him outside the driver’s seat, but with a resume as impressive as his; it should not take long to find a sponsor. Once he’s back driving he can contend for a championship, his 18th consecutive top ten finish, and continue to prove why he is one of the best drivers in the classes history.
PK: What are your overall feelings on the countdown and is it a good system for the NHRA?
LD: Yes. I think the NHRA has done a great job to get people to talk about points in the middle of the season. At the top where they might be losing ground on 2nd, and around the 10th spot fighting to get in. That wouldn't have taken place in the past. Having won a championship in both formats I can say they were both equally rewarding.
PK: I am not a fan of good teams being told the best they can finish is 11th. Since, the NHRA resets the points at the start of the countdown to make the points race tighter, I feel that the NHRA should qualify everyone for the countdown who has run every countdown qualifying race. It would eliminate anyone getting locked out of a top ten and a top ten finish can still be a goal for everyone. Would you modify the system for teams that peak at the wrong time and get locked out of the all-important top ten when they may perform better than a locked in top ten finisher?
LD: No. The points position you find yourself in is a report card on how your season is going. If you’re up, you have good marks, down, not so much. My feeling is, this isn't 5 year olds playing soccer. Everyone doesn't deserve a trophy. If you're not in the top 10, you shouldn't get a prize.
PK: What does it take to be a successful driver in this class?
LD: Effort. I believe to be successful driving is no different than excelling at other sports or businesses. Whatever effort you feel necessary to be better than your opponent.
PK: Can you take me through what you do on a run from the burnout to the completion?
LD: Everything you do in the car needs to be repetitive. The burnout, the speed backing up, staging, even the time your foot is off the clutch, etc. That creates consistency. The team needs to have everything the same so as when a crew chief makes a change, he can see it. The driver is another piece of the puzzle to help make that happen
PK: What is your favorite race track?
LD: Indy, Pomona, Gainesville. Having to pick one over another would be like trying to pick your favorite kid. I can't do that.
PK: You are one of the best in the class for having a really great light at any time. How do you stay so focused and what do you attribute to being the most important factor?
LD: Fear of failure. Not wanting to let my team down.
PK: Do you have any aspirations to drive in another class, or be a crew chief, or a team owner in any class?
LD: Although I love all the classes, I'm a nitro guy, that's where I was born and raised, I don't see me changing now. I have a lot of respect for the job that the top tuners do on the tour and I don't put myself anywhere near that level, but I enjoy listening to the thought process. As far as ownership goes, I'll let you know how that goes real soon... and it might not be only in the nitro classes.
PK: What is your private ride and does your career as a driver/rider influence any of your daily driving habits?
LD: I must get it out of my system on weekends. I drive a Chevy Silverado pickup truck and I just cruise around in it. Definitely enough for me on the streets.
PK: What championship, win, and single run mean more to you than all the others?
LD: The next one. Not my line, but Tom Brady's. It fits perfectly with where my head is always at, the next one.
PK: Do you feel that the sport is on a good path for the future ahead?
LD: Yes. I think our sport of NHRA Drag Racing is coming out of this economic downturn faster than the other motorsports as our numbers to go racing weren't as wildly inflated as some of the others. NHRA Drag Racing has great value and I believe companies do and will recognize that moving forward.
PK: What are your feelings on the sport’s decision to move to 1000 feet?
LD: I was for it at the time because that was the easiest fix for the moment until the proper modifications were made to the cars and the facilities.
PK: If the sport was to return to 1320 feet, what steps would you take in slowing these cars down to make sure that a quarter mile return was a safe return?
LD: It looks like the restrictor plate has shown some promise, so I would say in that area. Get rid of the pressure/air in the motor and you cannot burn the same amount of fuel. The cars that are running fast in the nitro classes are spending a lot of time and money right now in that area. If the nitro classes were limited to say an 8:71 supercharger, they probably wouldn't go as fast.
PK: The move to 1000 feet turned back the clock on the incremental performance in Top-Fuel for a short time, but the E.T. record in 1000 feet is the quickest a dragster has been to 1000 feet in the history of the sport. Spencer Massey ran a 3.728 and could add up to being the first ever 4.3 second run. Saying that we will eventually hit 3.6 and 335 MPH in 1000 feet, is there any need for the NHRA to be concerned?
LD: The NHRA ALWAYS needs to be concerned. That is their responsibility to keep the team/us in check. We need that. Crew chiefs will always push the envelope, that's their jobs and responsibility.
PK: The move to 1000 feet gave the sport an extra 320 foot window to slow down. If we stay the course with 1000 feet could the time ever come where the increase in performance for these cars ends up that they can begin to greatly diminish the extra 320 feet, thus drivers facing the same possibility of danger that they faced when it was 1320 feet?
LD: I would imagine that's a possibility. That's why we need the NHRA to keep the teams and our sport in check.
PK: Once and for all, can you set the record straight on all the rumors that you were fired from AJR?
LD: What can be said was said in the release AJR sent out last December. They have 2 great drivers they picked to drive their cars and I wish them the best. Del landed on his feet with the Kalitta/Patron team and it’s on me to find a new home for 2013.
PK: Do any of your kids have any NHRA aspirations?
LD: My kids love the sport as I did growing up. If one or all wanted to go NHRA Drag Racing, I couldn't be prouder.
PK: What was it like running the sports first 4.4 back in 1999?
LD: That was a barrier that my crew chief at the time, Dale Armstrong wanted. I was extremely proud that I was part of it.
When Don Prudhomme retired from driving in 1994, he personally picked Larry Dixon to fill his shoes; Larry did that and much, much more. After 16 years of driving for Snake racing and later Alan Johnson Racing, he won 3 championships, and won 62 races in 108 final rounds, 2nd best for wins and finals in Top-Fuel. He’s also done things that some drivers have never done such as win 637 elimination rounds out of 914, 66.9%, win the U.S. Nationals 4 times, qualify for 377 races with an average qualified spot of 4.56, finish in the top 5 12 times, and something no one can touch; being the first to break the 4.4 barrier with a 4.486 in 1999. 2012 finds him outside the driver’s seat, but with a resume as impressive as his; it should not take long to find a sponsor. Once he’s back driving he can contend for a championship, his 18th consecutive top ten finish, and continue to prove why he is one of the best drivers in the classes history.
PK: What are your overall feelings on the countdown and is it a good system for the NHRA?
LD: Yes. I think the NHRA has done a great job to get people to talk about points in the middle of the season. At the top where they might be losing ground on 2nd, and around the 10th spot fighting to get in. That wouldn't have taken place in the past. Having won a championship in both formats I can say they were both equally rewarding.
PK: I am not a fan of good teams being told the best they can finish is 11th. Since, the NHRA resets the points at the start of the countdown to make the points race tighter, I feel that the NHRA should qualify everyone for the countdown who has run every countdown qualifying race. It would eliminate anyone getting locked out of a top ten and a top ten finish can still be a goal for everyone. Would you modify the system for teams that peak at the wrong time and get locked out of the all-important top ten when they may perform better than a locked in top ten finisher?
LD: No. The points position you find yourself in is a report card on how your season is going. If you’re up, you have good marks, down, not so much. My feeling is, this isn't 5 year olds playing soccer. Everyone doesn't deserve a trophy. If you're not in the top 10, you shouldn't get a prize.
PK: What does it take to be a successful driver in this class?
LD: Effort. I believe to be successful driving is no different than excelling at other sports or businesses. Whatever effort you feel necessary to be better than your opponent.
PK: Can you take me through what you do on a run from the burnout to the completion?
LD: Everything you do in the car needs to be repetitive. The burnout, the speed backing up, staging, even the time your foot is off the clutch, etc. That creates consistency. The team needs to have everything the same so as when a crew chief makes a change, he can see it. The driver is another piece of the puzzle to help make that happen
PK: What is your favorite race track?
LD: Indy, Pomona, Gainesville. Having to pick one over another would be like trying to pick your favorite kid. I can't do that.
PK: You are one of the best in the class for having a really great light at any time. How do you stay so focused and what do you attribute to being the most important factor?
LD: Fear of failure. Not wanting to let my team down.
PK: Do you have any aspirations to drive in another class, or be a crew chief, or a team owner in any class?
LD: Although I love all the classes, I'm a nitro guy, that's where I was born and raised, I don't see me changing now. I have a lot of respect for the job that the top tuners do on the tour and I don't put myself anywhere near that level, but I enjoy listening to the thought process. As far as ownership goes, I'll let you know how that goes real soon... and it might not be only in the nitro classes.
PK: What is your private ride and does your career as a driver/rider influence any of your daily driving habits?
LD: I must get it out of my system on weekends. I drive a Chevy Silverado pickup truck and I just cruise around in it. Definitely enough for me on the streets.
PK: What championship, win, and single run mean more to you than all the others?
LD: The next one. Not my line, but Tom Brady's. It fits perfectly with where my head is always at, the next one.
PK: Do you feel that the sport is on a good path for the future ahead?
LD: Yes. I think our sport of NHRA Drag Racing is coming out of this economic downturn faster than the other motorsports as our numbers to go racing weren't as wildly inflated as some of the others. NHRA Drag Racing has great value and I believe companies do and will recognize that moving forward.
PK: What are your feelings on the sport’s decision to move to 1000 feet?
LD: I was for it at the time because that was the easiest fix for the moment until the proper modifications were made to the cars and the facilities.
PK: If the sport was to return to 1320 feet, what steps would you take in slowing these cars down to make sure that a quarter mile return was a safe return?
LD: It looks like the restrictor plate has shown some promise, so I would say in that area. Get rid of the pressure/air in the motor and you cannot burn the same amount of fuel. The cars that are running fast in the nitro classes are spending a lot of time and money right now in that area. If the nitro classes were limited to say an 8:71 supercharger, they probably wouldn't go as fast.
PK: The move to 1000 feet turned back the clock on the incremental performance in Top-Fuel for a short time, but the E.T. record in 1000 feet is the quickest a dragster has been to 1000 feet in the history of the sport. Spencer Massey ran a 3.728 and could add up to being the first ever 4.3 second run. Saying that we will eventually hit 3.6 and 335 MPH in 1000 feet, is there any need for the NHRA to be concerned?
LD: The NHRA ALWAYS needs to be concerned. That is their responsibility to keep the team/us in check. We need that. Crew chiefs will always push the envelope, that's their jobs and responsibility.
PK: The move to 1000 feet gave the sport an extra 320 foot window to slow down. If we stay the course with 1000 feet could the time ever come where the increase in performance for these cars ends up that they can begin to greatly diminish the extra 320 feet, thus drivers facing the same possibility of danger that they faced when it was 1320 feet?
LD: I would imagine that's a possibility. That's why we need the NHRA to keep the teams and our sport in check.
PK: Once and for all, can you set the record straight on all the rumors that you were fired from AJR?
LD: What can be said was said in the release AJR sent out last December. They have 2 great drivers they picked to drive their cars and I wish them the best. Del landed on his feet with the Kalitta/Patron team and it’s on me to find a new home for 2013.
PK: Do any of your kids have any NHRA aspirations?
LD: My kids love the sport as I did growing up. If one or all wanted to go NHRA Drag Racing, I couldn't be prouder.
PK: What was it like running the sports first 4.4 back in 1999?
LD: That was a barrier that my crew chief at the time, Dale Armstrong wanted. I was extremely proud that I was part of it.
