ENNIS, Texas (AP) — Larry Dixon raced to the Top Fuel qualifying lead Friday in the NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex with a 3.852-second run at 308.85 mph.
Dixon has 11 victories this season, including the first two playoff events. If his performance holds through the final two qualifying sessions Saturday, it’ll be his seventh No. 1 position of the season and 47th overall.
Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also led their categories in the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Pedregon, coming off a victory Sunday in Concord, N.C., paced the Funny Car order with a 4.129 at 299.26 in his Toyota Camry. Johnson powered his Dodge Avenger to a 6.632 at 208.04 in Pro Stock.
Stoffer was quickest in Pro Stock Motorcycle, posting a 6.953 at 192.41 on a Suzuki.
