Larry Dixon (dragster driver)

Dixon's NHRA career began when he was a worker for a team owned by Larry Minor that had Gary Beck as driver.

[citation needed] In 2001 Dixon won six events in nine final round appearances, including the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals for the second time in his career.

He won the rain delayed 2002 Budweiser Shootout, which was completed at '03 season-opener In 2004 he earned two victories in three final round appearances and finished his tenth consecutive NHRA POWERade Series season in the top 10 points.

That season he tied legendary "Big Daddy" Don Garlits for third on all-time Top Fuel wins list with 35 career victories.

With victory at Las Vegas 1, Dixon moved ahead of Don Garlits on all-time Top Fuel wins list.

In 2008, when teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. left to drive for the re-retired Kenny Bernstein in the Monster Energy Drink Dodge Charger, Dixon got the sponsorship of the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. Dixon bought out the last year of his contract with Snake Racing, in order to sign with Al-Anabi as driver of the Qatar/Al-Anabi-sponsored top fuel dragster.

Out of nine final round appearances in 2009, Dixon won five, including winning the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida[3] and was runner-up to Tony Schumacher at the Mac Tools U.S.

[4] Dixon finished 2009 just two points behind NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series champion Schumacher.

Dixon made starts for Bob Vandergriff in the NHRA for 2014 and 2015, even fighting throat cancer in a battle which he won, finishing fourth in 2015 before losing his ride at the end of 2015.

In 2017 Larry Dixon was banned by the NHRA after showing off a two-seater dragster meant to give rides to customers as part of a "drag racing experience.

"[6] Larry Dixon responded in 2019 by filing a lawsuit against the NHRA, claiming that the sport banned him as part of an effort to control the market on two seater dragster experiences.

[8] Larry lives in Avon, Indiana and is married to Allison Dixon and they have 3 children: Donovan, Alanna, and Darien.