Very few expected Larry Dixon to sneak up on the competition in 2009.

Instead, it was expected the Alan Johnson Racing/Al Anabi team would bury the competition in the asphalt from the start. When the wins didn’t come as quickly as some had predicted, the naysayers began to write the team off as one that couldn’t live up to the hype.

Just as some were about to count out the prospects of this championship-caliber team, the team found its groove, starting in Topeka. E-town Win Moves Driver from Sixth to Third in Point Standings

Very few expected Larry Dixon to sneak up on the competition in 2009.

Instead, it was expected the Alan Johnson Racing/Al Anabi team would bury the competition in the asphalt from the start. When the wins didn’t come as quickly as some had predicted, the naysayers began to write the team off as one that couldn’t live up to the hype.

Just as some were about to count out the prospects of this championship-caliber team, the team found its groove, starting in Topeka.

“That three-race swing, I think we out-pointed everybody with two wins and a semifinal,” Dixon said. “We went from sixth to third, and it was a great run.  I’ve had more time together with the team, I’ve had more time with Jason and Alan. Jason is getting to know the car better because he’s had more time with it, and we’re really coming together as a team now.”

They key to the big turnaround, according to Dixon, was the test session in Atlanta following a rather disappointing showing in Bristol

“The test after Bristol made a huge difference, and Jason is the one who called it,” Dixon explained. “Even before we went to Bristol, they wanted to try a bunch of stuff with the car. Jason said once we started getting a lot of runs on the car things would start coming together.  We went to Atlanta after Bristol and made a bunch of runs. Low and behold, we test, and since then, we’ve qualified well and won two out of three races, so it’s been really good.”

Dixon’s victory at the United Association NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown, N.J. on June 13 represented his second win in the last three races and his third win of the season. He is 63 points out of second place and 97 points out of first place.  

Dixon has advanced to at least the semifinals in six of the 11 races this season, including the last three.

“For me, it feels like we have less pressure on us now,” Dixon said.  “Everybody on our team wants and expects to do well.  We all have a past now; we’ve gone to 11 races together, and it’s more enjoyable going rounds and knowing the car is running well and I’m driving well.  All of that takes pressure off of us; now you just have to go out there and do your thing.”  

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