Dixon speeds to sixth Top Fuel title of season at rain-delayed SuperNationals at Raceway Park

Dixon takes sixth Top Fuel title at Raceway Park

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. — Larry Dixon raced to his sixth Top Fuel victory of the season at the rain-delayed NHRA SuperNationals on Monday.

Bob Tasca, Mike Edwards and Michael Phillips also won their divisions in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Dixon drove his dragster to a 3.824-second run at 320.05 mph for his 54th career victory, beating Antron Brown, who finished second for the second straight year after his dragster lost traction midway through the run.

“Trophies like these — what I call the majors — always shine a little brighter for me,” Dixon said after winning for the sixth time at the historic track. “This race, Indy, Pomona, Gainesville, and even Columbus back then, you want to do well. I feel blessed to be able to race well on tracks like these.”

Tasca won for the first time this season, and the third time in his career, defeating Del Worsham in the Funny Car final. The electronic timers initially showed Worsham as the winner, but the timing data later revealed Tasca crossed the finish line first.

Edwards took his seventh Pro Stock win of the season and third in a row, outrunning rookie Shane Gray in the final. Edwards posted a 6.596-second run at 209.39 mph in a Pontiac GXP. Gray’s GXP crossed in 6.634 seconds at 209.07 mph.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Phillips defeated Steve Johnson. It was Phillips’ second win of the season and the fifth of his career. Phillips covered the distance in 6.911 seconds at 194.32 mph.

The event at Raceway Park was marred by the death of driver Neal Parker, 58, of Millville, N.J., who died of head injuries after crashing his alcohol-fueled funny during qualifying Friday.

The NHRA series continues June 18-20 in Tennessee, at Bristol Dragway.