Rajunz
Nitro Member
Released from Bob Vandergriff Racing.............. from his Facebook page. Sucks for him this late.
For Immediate Release
Larry Dixon Ready for More Challenges in 2016;
Three-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Set for New Opportunities
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Jan. 11, 2016) -- Three-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon returned to full-time racing in 2015 and, despite a spectacular and punishing crash in March, the popular Avon, Ind., driver recorded a strong fourth place finish in the final Top Fuel standings.
Last week, Dixon was released from Bob Vandergriff Racing following his impressive comeback to full-time competition and now seeks new drag racing opportunities for 2016.
Dixon, the second winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history with 62 wins, recorded six final round appearances in his full-time return to cockpit and proved to be in contention for a coveted fourth Top Fuel crown in the Mello Yello Countdown.
However, the dramatic accident at the NHRA Gatornationals in March made it a tough season for Dixon with several injuries. Larry suffered a fractured T-4 and 5 vertebrae in his (upper) back as well as a left knee bone contusion despite not missing a race after the Gainesville incident.
“I was able to walk away from the crash at Gainesville but, to be honest, I was banged up pretty good,” said Dixon, who became a guest on television shows such as Good Morning America, The Today Show, Fox & Friends and CNN Morning News after the crash. “I would have gotten back in the car the next day if we had a backup chassis. But, despite the injuries, I was able to not miss a race. That’s how I was raised.”
The front-end on Dixon’s Top Fueler collapsed near the finish line at nearly 300 miles per hour on a Gatornationals qualifying attempt, causing the racing machine to vault some 50 feet into the air at over 300 mph and slammed into the retaining wall. Dixon was able to step away from the carnage under his own power.
(Gatornationals Crash Video --
)
“The car’s front-end collapsed similar to my Memphis crash in 2000 (when Dixon suffered a broken leg but didn’t miss an NHRA national event),” Larry explained. “I was awake through the whole crash but I had a 109 G impact coming back down to earth and 45 G load when I hit the wall. It was a big one and I’m so thankful that the work we did on the cars with regards to the cockpit and safety equipment in the past 15 years did its job.”
Now, Dixon is ready for additional challenges in 2016 as he looks to new opportunities in the drag racing world.
“I’m finally 100 percent healed now and was excited about a championship run in 2016,” Dixon said. “I felt pretty good by October and Dr. (Terry) Trammell at Ortho Indy gave me the green light for a more aggressive workout program this off season.”
Dixon seeks a variety of opportunities including returning to the Top Fuel cockpit or team management or media positions similar to his past ESPN and NHRA announcing duties.
“I am anxious to get back out on the NHRA Mello Yello drag racing tour,” explained Dixon. “I want to thank Bob for the opportunity to get back to full-time racing and we had a good season with fourth in the points. It felt good to show I can still be relevant behind the wheel. I wish Mike (Guger, crew chief) and the whole crew good luck in 2016. Now, I know the timings not the best this late into the off season, but I would like to do whatever it takes to get back on the circuit, whether it’s driving, consulting or being a member of the media again.”
Dixon grew up at the drag strip following his father, Larry Sr., on the NHRA West Coast Top Fuel campaign. Larry Sr. won the 1970 NHRA Winternationals and several Divisional point titles.
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 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals titles.
For more information on Larry Dixon, please see his website at www.larrydixonracing.com.
# # #
Media contact: Tom Blattler, 317.525.5692, [email protected]
For Immediate Release
Larry Dixon Ready for More Challenges in 2016;
Three-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Set for New Opportunities
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Jan. 11, 2016) -- Three-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon returned to full-time racing in 2015 and, despite a spectacular and punishing crash in March, the popular Avon, Ind., driver recorded a strong fourth place finish in the final Top Fuel standings.
Last week, Dixon was released from Bob Vandergriff Racing following his impressive comeback to full-time competition and now seeks new drag racing opportunities for 2016.
Dixon, the second winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history with 62 wins, recorded six final round appearances in his full-time return to cockpit and proved to be in contention for a coveted fourth Top Fuel crown in the Mello Yello Countdown.
However, the dramatic accident at the NHRA Gatornationals in March made it a tough season for Dixon with several injuries. Larry suffered a fractured T-4 and 5 vertebrae in his (upper) back as well as a left knee bone contusion despite not missing a race after the Gainesville incident.
“I was able to walk away from the crash at Gainesville but, to be honest, I was banged up pretty good,” said Dixon, who became a guest on television shows such as Good Morning America, The Today Show, Fox & Friends and CNN Morning News after the crash. “I would have gotten back in the car the next day if we had a backup chassis. But, despite the injuries, I was able to not miss a race. That’s how I was raised.”
The front-end on Dixon’s Top Fueler collapsed near the finish line at nearly 300 miles per hour on a Gatornationals qualifying attempt, causing the racing machine to vault some 50 feet into the air at over 300 mph and slammed into the retaining wall. Dixon was able to step away from the carnage under his own power.
(Gatornationals Crash Video --
“The car’s front-end collapsed similar to my Memphis crash in 2000 (when Dixon suffered a broken leg but didn’t miss an NHRA national event),” Larry explained. “I was awake through the whole crash but I had a 109 G impact coming back down to earth and 45 G load when I hit the wall. It was a big one and I’m so thankful that the work we did on the cars with regards to the cockpit and safety equipment in the past 15 years did its job.”
Now, Dixon is ready for additional challenges in 2016 as he looks to new opportunities in the drag racing world.
“I’m finally 100 percent healed now and was excited about a championship run in 2016,” Dixon said. “I felt pretty good by October and Dr. (Terry) Trammell at Ortho Indy gave me the green light for a more aggressive workout program this off season.”
Dixon seeks a variety of opportunities including returning to the Top Fuel cockpit or team management or media positions similar to his past ESPN and NHRA announcing duties.
“I am anxious to get back out on the NHRA Mello Yello drag racing tour,” explained Dixon. “I want to thank Bob for the opportunity to get back to full-time racing and we had a good season with fourth in the points. It felt good to show I can still be relevant behind the wheel. I wish Mike (Guger, crew chief) and the whole crew good luck in 2016. Now, I know the timings not the best this late into the off season, but I would like to do whatever it takes to get back on the circuit, whether it’s driving, consulting or being a member of the media again.”
Dixon grew up at the drag strip following his father, Larry Sr., on the NHRA West Coast Top Fuel campaign. Larry Sr. won the 1970 NHRA Winternationals and several Divisional point titles.
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 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals titles.
For more information on Larry Dixon, please see his website at www.larrydixonracing.com.
# # #
Media contact: Tom Blattler, 317.525.5692, [email protected]
