Tue, 3 Aug 2010, 10:32 AM NHRA Top Fuel Points Leader Visits DFW Children's Hospital

Courtesy of Gabrielle Stevenson, Texas Motorplex Larry Dixon Spends Off Day in Dallas Preparing for Fall Nationals

ENNIS, Texas -- Larry Dixon is a two-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion. Dixon also is the current points leader in the NHRA Full Throttle professional series. If that wasn't enough, Dixon has claimed eight victories in eight final round appearances behind the wheel of his Al-Anabi Racing dragster in just the first 16 events of the 2010 season.

Larry Dixon, however, needs to brush up on his video game skills.

Dixon trailed Lankan, one of the many children he met during a visit to Dallas' Children's Hospital, while playing the Cars video game on Thursday. Dixon was in town to help promote the 25th annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals, a race he has won twice (2001, 2007) at the Texas Motorplex. But the highlight of his trip was visiting one of the largest pediatric health care providers in the nation.

Dixon didn't think twice about taking the time to pass out Texas Motorplex pencils, make Play-Doh cookies, sign his Al-Anabi dragster Hero Cards and chat with the kids and their families.

"One of my sons was in the hospital for three days earlier this year and you realize how important the children's hospitals are to helping them heal," Dixon said.

It won't be long before Dixon is back in the DFW area to battle for the victory at the Texas Motorplex. The Motorplex is the third stop in the six-race playoff series that caps the 2010 season. Dixon and his team locked in first place going into the playoffs, which starts at the Sept. 1-6 U.S. Nationals before moving on to Charlotte (Sept. 16-19) and then the Texas Motorplex.

Dixon finished in second place in 2009, losing to seven-time NHRA champion Tony Schumacher by just two points. Once the final standings for the 2009 season were announced, Dixon said the team had a party at the season finale event unlike any other.

"We had a great party, the best second-place party ever," Dixon said. "We were already looking forward to the 2010 season. Our team learned a lot and came together last season and just like last year, I like our chances going into the playoffs.

"I think I have the best crew, the best crew chief and the best car out there. You have to win rounds in the playoffs to earn the championship and I like our chances of being able to compete and win rounds."

The Texas Motorplex was the first all-concrete stadium-style drag racing facility ever constructed. Built in 1986, The Texas Motorplex has been the place of many drag racing milestones and world record performances. The Billy Meyer-owned facility hosts a number of racing and car show events between March and November each year and also features the Champions Club - an 11,000 square-foot facility - that serves fully catered events throughout the year.

Tickets for the 25th annual O'reilly Auto Parts Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals can be purchased by telephone at (800) MOTORPLEX, online at www.texasmotorplex.com or at Ticketmaster.com. Call the track (800) MOTORPLEX or (972) 878-2641 for more information.