The Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster went to its sixth final of the year, racking up victory number
three as Bruce Litton and team put an impressive finish on the 2009 season. In a weekend plagued by
adverse weather and track conditions the Lucas Oil Team made the best of it to come out on top.
Qualifying at the previous two IHRA events was limited or non-existent due to rain. This race was
no different as Top Fuel received one qualifying shot. In a conservative attempt to get down the
track in the heavy nighttime dew, Litton ran a 5.098 at 295.85 to qualify third. After qualifying,
the entire World Finals was shortened to the eighth mile to compensate for unsafe quarter mile
conditions. Litton faced off against Dom Lagana first round and although both cars made good runs,
Lagana's 3.415 was no match for Litton's 3.213 at 264.91. Litton could have dialed his car in on
that 3.21 for round two as he went 3.210 at 265.01 against season-long rival, Del Cox Jr. Although
Cox was able to pull off the Championship by 35 points, Litton got the final say on the track when
Cox went red and posted a losing 3.222 elapsed time. Litton met up with Todd Paton in the final
round. Both cars had to pedal early, but the Lucas Oil Dragster came out on top with a solid 3.32
to Paton's losing 5.73 effort.
"This was a great win for us," relayed Litton. "We came into this race focused on doing the best we
could this weekend, and that's what this Lucas Oil Team did. We were working toward the points
championship, but we also just wanted to do our best with the race, and if we won the race we'd
just let the points fall as they may. We were blessed. The car ran good. It was a tricky track, but
we were fortunate enough to get a handle on it and win the race.
"My team did a great job this weekend and we ended the year on a good note. This Lucas Oil dragster
has a great group of people behind it from the guys that work on the car to the sponsors and
everyone involved. I can't say enough about Lucas Oil as a company and the Lucas' as a family. I'm
privileged to have their name on the side of my car. That goes for United Trailers as well. We've
got a wonderful group of people behind this operation and this win is a tribute to their
dedication. I'm thankful to end the year with a victory for the Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster team."
