Wed, 9 Oct 2002, 02:09 PM The Final Stretch Starts at the Texas Motorplex

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2002 Auto Imagery, Inc.

ENNIS, Texas -- The Motorplex marks the spot.

The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series is nearing the end of the 2002 season and the Texas Motorplex is ready to play host to the first of the final three events of the season. This is where the eventual champions start to make their final sprint toward each professional series title.

The race for the championship started in February at the season-opening event in Pomona, Calif., and now the final of three races starts with the 17th annual O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec, Oct. 10-13, at the all-concrete quarter-mile track.

Larry Dixon, Gary Densham and V. Gaines are the defending champions for the $1.9 million race, the 21st of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Bernstein vs. Dixon

Dixon, driver of the Miller Lite dragster, has had the lead in the Top Fuel point standings all season. He won seven of the first 11 events, and earned his eighth victory of the season recently in Memphis. Dixon is looking forward to defending his title at the Motorplex, and adding to his 127 point lead over series rival and defending Top Fuel champ Kenny Bernstein. "I really enjoy going to Dallas," Dixon said. "We've done well there in the past. Last year we won and were the top qualifier there. I'm excited about going there, especially since it is the only all-concrete track we race on. The track is capable of giving out great performances.

"That race could make a difference in what happens in the POWERade championship."

While Dixon is looking to earn his first professional NHRA title, Jim Yates is aiming for his third NHRA Pro Stock championship. Yates has been at or near the top of the standings all season. Although a much-needed victory at Reading, Pa. helped Yates' cause, Jeg Coughlin has claimed the last two event titles and moved into the points lead. Yates is in second, 65 points behind.

With his win in Pennsylvania, Yates became the 12th different driver to record an event victory this season. The driver of the Splitfire/Peak Pontiac Grand Am said the Pro Stock title will be narrowly won or lost.

"We need to continue to do what got us here," Yates said. "We need to be consistent and win rounds. We need to qualify at all of the races and win as many rounds as we can without getting caught up in trying to set the national record or trying to be the No. 1 qualifier.

"We need to focus on being on our game for every round. It's coming down to the final minute and we can't afford to let a single round slip away."

Yates also said the final three races will define a true champion - someone who can race well on three very different tracks. "The last three race tracks are about as diverse as any three we have raced on as far as air and track conditions go," Yates said. "It's going to come down to the guy who can adapt very quickly from a hot track, to a high-altitude track to a very fast track in Pomona. We have seen all year long that in this points race, you can never have a big enough lead where it can't be overcome in three races. If you are close enough to make the strike at the championship and if you have the performance to do it, then you need to make it happen at those three races."

In Funny Car, which has emerged as the closest points battle of them all, Tony Pedregon has won three straight races to cut John Force's lead to 18 points, or less than one round. Pedregon is the closest that any driver has been to perennial champion Force this late in the season since 1992, when another Pedregon -- Tony's brother Cruz -- claimed the crown. "It's far from over, I understand that," said Pedregon, driver of the Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang, owned by Force Racing. "I'm not going to make the same mistake that I've seen a lot of other drivers make when they've had a little success. We're going to go to the next event and try to repeat. It starts in qualifying and then you worry about Sunday."

The Top Fuel title may be won or lost in a single race, but Dixon isn't nervous. The 35-year old driver doesn't have any anxiety - especially not when he is at the track.

"I really enjoy going to the races," Dixon said. "I am never nervous. I wish we could race every weekend. I love racing. I do know that the championship trophy is not given out until the season is over. I don't have a lot of control over that. We only have control over our race car. If we do well at the races, then the championship will come to us. If we don't do well, especially in the final stretch of the season, then we don't deserve it. Flat out, that is just the way it is."