DIXON GETS HIS SEA LEGS

One day after completing the 2005 NHRA POWERade Series season-opener at Pomona where he raced to the quickest pass of his career (4.481 seconds) in qualifying, two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion, Larry Dixon, toured the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz at its homeport of Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, Calif. Dixon signed autographs and gave souvenirs to the drag racing fans aboard.

Just for the sake of comparison: The flight deck of the Nimitz is nearly 1,100-feet in length; a drag strip is 1,320-feet long. The catapult used to launch jets from the flight deck has enough force to launch a car 400-feet. When released from the catapult a jet accelerates from zero to 140 knots (about 168 mph) in three seconds at between 3 to 4 G-forces. Dixon’s Miller Lite dragster blasts from zero to 100 mph in less than one second exerting 5 to 6 G’s on his body. (photo courtesy Snake Racing) [2-16-2005]

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HAVE A KAW, MAN!

Kawasaki Motor Corp. has re-signed for the 2005 AMA/Prostar contingency program by posting a total of $225,600. As the all-time leader in AMA/Prostar contingency payouts, Kawasaki has won the “Contingency Sponsor of the Year Award” for nine years running.

This year Kawasaki will continue to pay $1,000 to win and $500 for runner-up for the use of a 2002 or newer model Kawasaki motorcycle. In addition, Kawasaki will pay $600 to win and $300 runner-up on 2001 or older liquid cooled Kawasaki motorcycles. [2-16-2005]

SPORTSMAN RACING ON THE 'DEUCE' TOO

ESPN Regional Television will continue to produce 16 one-hour shows with coverage from select NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national events in 2005. The shows will be aired on ESPN2 on a taped-delay basis.

In addition, each of the 41 half-hour episodes of NHRA 2Day each Sunday on ESPN2, will feature a 'Sportsman Spotlight' segment focusing on the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA's member track network.

Veteran motorsports announcer Marty Reid will continue to anchor the telecasts and will be joined in the booth by Bob Frey, with David Reiff in the field. [2-16-2005]

JEFFERS BACKING PRO MOD SERIES

Larry Jeffers has made it official that his Jeffers Pro Cars has entered into an agreement with racer/promoter Donnie Little (notice that we put racer first) to back the six-race 2005 Outlaw Pro Mod series to be held at Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis. [2-16-2005]