DIXON DOES IT AGAIN!

Words by Ian Tocher
Photos by Ian Tocher and Jeff Burk

COMMERCE, GA -- After winning his fifth NHRA POWERade Top Fuel title in seven races this year, Larry Dixon said perhaps only Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher can expect a season like he's enjoying so far in 2002. Still, Dixon said his Don Prudhomme-owned team struggled a little in qualifying for the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac, held May 3-5, at Atlanta Dragway.

Under a shower of POWERade confetti, Top Fuel champ Larry Dixon (right) is joined in Atlanta Dragway's victory lane by pro class winners (l - r) Allen Johnson (Pro Stock), Angelle Savoie (Pro Stock Bike), and Whit Bazemore (Funny Car).(photo by Ian Tocher)

Crew chief Dick LaHaie tuned Larry Dixon to his fifth Top Fuel win of the year in Atlanta and the 21st of his career in 39 final-round appearances. (photo by Ian Tocher)

"The final was the most perfect run, as far as going straight down the race track," Dixon said. "It wasn't the quickest, but it was definitely the nicest."

BAZEMORE BEATS FORCE

For Atlanta's own Whit Bazemore, winning the Southern Nationals meant more than just taking home a trophy, or championship points, or even beating the defending class champ for the honor.

"This is a dream come true for me," Bazemore said after marching through Del Worsham, Cruz Pedregon, and Frank Pedregon before pairing off against John Force in the Fuel Coupe final. "I can't even describe it. I came here as a little kid a long time ago wanting to be a Funny Car driver even though I'd never even seen one. I saw them and I was scared of them but I wanted to do it even more. Then my life goes on and we get to the finals here in 1999 and lose to Force by one-thousandth of a second. To come back and win, especially against him, I couldn't ask for more."

The victory in Atlanta -- Bazemore's second in a row after he won at Bristol, TN, a week earlier -- also vaulted him from sixth to third in NHRA POWERade points..(photo by Ian Tocher)

"Winning is so hard," a visibly weary Bazemore said. "You have guys like Dixon and Force who make it look easy, but it's not. All of our guys are so tired and I'm mentally drained right now. It's such a mental change to have the car to beat. We're very confident, but we know we still have a lot of work to do."

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