Wed, 11 Nov 2015, 19:50 PM Three-Time World Champion Larry Dixon Ready to Finish Strong 2015 Season Off

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2015 Auto Imagery, Inc. With First Win of Year at Auto Club NHRA Finals

POMONA, Calif. --

Larry Dixon

Larry Dixon has an easy way to gauge how productive his 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season has been and that is how excited he already is to start the 2016 campaign.

But first, the three-time Top Fuel world champion wants to close this season out in memorable fashion, which would include his first win of the year at this weekend's 51st annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Dixon, who is currently third in points, has already posted a productive return to a full-time role in his 10,000-horsepower C&J Energy Services dragster, advancing to six final rounds, and that has him eager to get behind the wheel in Pomona and in 2016 as well.

"I've had seasons where I was glad it was over but this season has been the polar opposite," Dixon said. "It's been a lot of fun and my batteries are definitely recharged. I'm excited about this weekend and next year as well.

"Just being able to race every week has been exciting. When you get that taken away from you and then get a chance to do it again and compete at a high level, it makes you feel really good. (Crew chief) Mike (Guger) wants to do some things with the car in the off-season and if there's a chance we can run even better than we are now, that's certainly exciting."

Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year's winners of the tradition-rich Southern California event that will once again be televised on ESPN2. The lucrative event is the final of six playoff races in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship and Antron Brown clinched his second world title in the class at the most recent event in Las Vegas.

Larry Dixon

Dixon has a chance to pick up his first victory in a season that has featured a number of near misses. That includes Las Vegas, where Dixon lost to Doug Kalitta in the final round. As productive as the year has been driving for team owner Bob Vandergriff, Dixon badly wants to close out this year with his first victory since winning a Countdown to the Championship race in Phoenix in 2011, which was his last full-time season before 2015.

"Obviously the championship is done, but with the way the car has performed all season it is definitely deserving of a win," said Dixon, who has 62 career victories. "From the standpoint of the team, starting with Bob who ran two cars for a full season down to everyone on the team, I would like to give them one win the way things have gone.

"Going into this race, the good thing is I love racing at Pomona. The bad this is, it's the last race of the season. The way the car is running, I've had a lot of fun and I wish the season wasn't ending."

Dixon has been rejuvenated being part of a team that also includes teammate and Top Fuel newcomer Dave Connolly, and there have been plenty of highlights along the way. He has posted final round appearances at both Vegas races, Topeka, Epping, Bristol and Chicago, also setting the national speed record (332.51 mph) - that was later eclipsed - in Norwalk.

He has also been impressed with how his team has progressed, showing impressive resolve after a crash in Gainesville early in the season.

dixon's crash in Gainesville

"We certainly have the equipment and people to achieve a lot of things and to compete against some of the best teams around, it makes you feel really good," Dixon said. "One of the proudest things was setting the speed record in Norwalk. With the rules in place, doing that is one of the hardest things to accomplish, but we've had a really nice running engine all year."

But Dixon would like nothing more than to close out 2015 in grand fashion. A strong finish could also mean a second-place finish behind Brown, as Dixon currently sits 54 points behind eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher. Other standouts in the class include Richie Crampton, who is 16 points behind Dixon in fourth, Las Vegas winner Kalitta, J.R. Todd, Steve Torrence, Connolly, Brittany Force and Shawn Langdon.

Racing in Pomona to close out the season is also an added bonus for the California native who attended high school just 30 minutes from the track.

"For me it's home court," said Dixon, who has five career wins at the historic Pomona venue. "I have a lot of friends and family that come out and I love that aspect. It's home and there are a lot of memories that get stirred up just driving through the gate. There are a lot of things I think about, not only with my career but my whole life, when I go to Pomona. It stirs up a lot of emotions and I have nothing but great memories from that track. I'm looking forward to this weekend."

In the search for his first Funny Car world championship, Del Worsham maintained his lead in Vegas, and will take a 38-point advantage over Jack Beckman into Pomona. Other Funny Car stalwarts include Tommy Johnson Jr., who sits in third and 97 points out of first after his runner-up in Vegas, Ron Capps, who is 140 points out of first, reigning world champion Matt Hagan, 16-time world champion John Force, teammate Alexis DeJoria, Cruz Pedregon, Robert Hight, who won in Vegas, and Tim Wilkerson.

Erica Enders wrapped up her second straight world championship in Pro Stock with her ninth win of the season in Vegas, and will look to put the finishing touches on her dominant season by winning the Auto Club Finals for the second straight year. Looking to end the year with a win is a star-studded lineup, including Greg Anderson, Chris McGaha, Drew Skillman, Allen Johnson, Larry Morgan, Jason Line, Vincent Nobile, Jonathan Gray and Shane Gray.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, reigning world champion and points leader Andrew Hines closed in on his fifth world championship by winning in Las Vegas, opening up a 46-point lead over Vegas finalist Jerry Savoie. Teammate Eddie Krawiec trails by 81 points, while others to watch include Hector Arana Jr., who won in St. Louis, Matt Smith, Hector Arana, two-time season winner Karen Stoffer, Jim Underdahl, Chip Ellis and Scotty Pollacheck.

Drivers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will be racing hard in their quest to become winners of the thrilling event as well as national champions during the weekend.

Before the Christmas Tree hits green and the fireworks explode over the track to signify the end of another thrilling season at the Auto Club NHRA Finals, fans will have the opportunity to meet multiple stars of the Mello Yello Series at the NHRA Fanfest at Lordsburg Taphouse in downtown La Verne, Nov. 12., from 6:45-8 p.m. Beckman, John Force, Courtney Force, Brittany Force and Hight will be signing autographs and mingling with fans while Hight's AAA Chevy Camaro SS Funny Car and Schumacher's U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster will be on display. Ticket giveaways and food and drink specials will be offered and everyone who attends will also receive a free Mello Yello t-shirt.

Race fans will also have the chance to meet living legend and four-time NHRA Funny Car champion Don "The Snake" Prudhomme in the Snake Skybox with the purchase of a Skybox Pass. Skybox Passes include the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch nitro qualifying and eliminations with Prudhomme in an air conditioned suite, as well as an autograph session and a photo opportunity. Don "The Snake" Prudhomme goodie bags will be handed out and each ticket includes free catered meals daily with non-alcoholic beverages. Limited space is available in the Snake Skybox. Passes can be purchased by calling the NHRA Ticket Office at 800-884-NHRA.

The NHRA's Hot Rod Junction will also make its return to the Auto Club NHRA Finals, offering nostalgic entertainment for race fans. The Hot Rod Junction will feature photo opportunities with past and present NHRA celebrities, a remarkable display of historic race cars and hot rods, and daily Cacklefest shows that will rattle the senses. Cacklefests will take fans back to the early days of drag racing with amazing sights and sounds. First-time Cacklefest spectators call it a sensory overload when dozens of nitro-burning historic, front-engine dragsters and other classic race cars are fired up simultaneously, creating a roar of engines and flame-throwing headers. All spectators attending the Auto Club NHRA Finals will have free access to the Hot Rod Junction.

A variety of drivers will also participate in the Night of Champions at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, Calif., Friday night after racing has concluded. Drivers will be on hand to answer questions from fans and share some of their most cherished memories from the track. Beckman will moderate the Night of Champions.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they're granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, Nov. 13, with sessions at 11:45 a.m. and 3 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Nov. 14, at noon and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15.

To purchase tickets, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472), or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets.