Dixon closing in on Schumacher
Fast Times In Qualifying At Richmond
DINWIDDIE, Va. -- Second-place Larry Dixon cut into Tony Schumacher's Top Fuel points leads with his fourth straight No. 1 qualifier Saturday in the NHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park.
Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) also led qualifying in the fourth event in NHRA's six-race playoff, the Countdown to 1.
Dixon, who had his eighth No. 1 qualifier of 2009 and 39th overall, sliced his deficit behind Schumacher from 54 to 47 points with a 3.783-second pass at 311.27 mph.
Beckman -- who began the weekend in fourth place, 73 points behind Ashley Force Hood -- earned the pole with a 4.044 at 305.22 on his fourth and final qualifying attempt.
Edwards, the Pro Stock points leader, improved on his 6.606 from Friday with a 6.531 at 211.26 on Saturday, the second-quickest pass in NHRA Pro Stock history. He also set the track records for speed and elapsed time en route to his NHRA-best 14th No. 1 qualifier of the season.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
