more likely nhra po`d that dixon wouldn't share $$+++++++++
Three-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Larry Dixon has been suspended indefinitely from NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and Lucas Oil Series competition, it was announced today. The decision, according to the statement, centers on an unapproved two-seat Top Fuel dragster that Dixon revealed at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada last week. Promotional video and imagery depict the unique “Nitro2” dragster running only at the Palm Beach International Raceway, an IHRA-sanctioned facility, suggesting there’s more to this story than meets the eye.

The NHRA’s statement reads:

The NHRA imposed an indefinite suspension of competition privileges against Larry Dixon for violating NHRA Rules, particularly Section 1.3.1 Participant Conduct and 1.6.3 Chassis Inspection of the 2017 NHRA Rulebook. NHRA Tech Department discovered the use of a NHRA chassis tag on an unauthorized and unapproved two seat dragster. Any further incidents could result in further action. Larry can appeal the decision, per the 2017 NHRA Rulebook.

While seeking sponsorship for his own Top Fuel team, Dixon has been competing in the latter half of the 2017 season behind the wheel of the Bartone Brothers Top Alcohol Funny Car on the Lucas Oil trail. Dixon drew the ire of the sanctioning body earlier this season in his Top Fuel appearance at the Gatornationals, when he was ordered to cover decals on his dragster advertising the annual World Series of Drag Racing, an IHRA-owned property.

Typical NHRA Gestapo tactics.

Many people over the years have been subjected to their tactics and BS favoritism.....Glad to see they haven't learned a damn thing...I do what I can and stay with IHRA.

Talked to a guy a couple weeks ago pitted next to me at a 'bracket race' that was running a legal NHRA SS/GT car. He said he had ran NHRA events for years but was getting tired of the BS. He said he was having more fun running the 'bracket races' and there was more money to be won at the 'bracket races'...imagine that.

Oh for Pete's sake. What else could NHRA have done? This is pretty basic stuff.

According to what I've read, the chassis wasn't legal and it had a tag on it. No idea if the builder put the tag on it or someone else. Don't you think they'd get mad and respond if they caught you or me with a bogus tag on an illegal chassis or set of belts or any other piece of equipment that covered by an SFI spec? I can't imagine Larry being that stupid. Maybe he was fed a line of crap about the chassis being legal. He could have not put the tag on the car and ran it at any non-NHRA track with no repercussions.

My guess is they converted an existing car, and never bothered taking the old sticker off...

Clearly this is more then just a "Sticker Violation"...

The car was at SEMA. Likely where NHRA people just happened to see it. I also read that McKinney was involved with the car in someway. Again, I can't imagine LD trying to get something he knew to be wrong past NHRA tech guys.

They COULD have questioned him about that tag, ( why it was there) had him remove it, and then had the chassis go through their certification.

Yea, but come on...you're Larry Dixon, right? A legendary TF driver that been to the NHRA party for YEARS.

I find it hard to believe that Larry wouldn't have had this car built without the NHRA being on board. Or at least consulted.

There's more to this story I'd bet...

You would think he would have talked to NHRA tech. Obviously he didn't build it. He likely relied on whoever built the car to take care of the chassis legality issues.

Quote from another news article:

Promotional video and imagery depict the unique “Nitro2” dragster running only at the Palm Beach International Raceway, an IHRA-sanctioned facility, suggesting there’s more to this story than meets the eye.

Hmmmm.

Remember this?

Dixon drew the ire of the sanctioning body earlier this season in his Top Fuel appearance at the Gatornationals, when he was ordered to cover decals on his dragster advertising the annual World Series of Drag Racing, an IHRA-owned property.

Must have not greased the right palms...

This isn't some half a$$ spur-of-the moment deal. Lots of publicity, corporate sponsorship, a pretty cool idea. Can't believe somebody didn't take care of a basic detail. Maybe they didn't think it a big deal since it wouldn't be run at an NHRA track and PBIR is owned by IHRA which LD works for. As was suggested, it may be a previous sticker on a car they modified. But obviously, if it's an NHRA tag, there's a problem. They could have simply peeled the tag off. I've seen that done after an accident. But they do need to be re-certified yearly. I'm not saying that NHRA isn't taking advantage of an opportunity to be dicks. But somebody should have been thinking.

I wonder how much a ride costs, looks fun

Ride in that thing for 10K? Heck yea!

I'm in for ten!

There is no way anyone should ride in a car that literally flattens your eyeballs without AT LEAST an advanced ET license that would include the physical and EKG. I can see NHRA's point here. Yes, more times than not, they've been making some bad decisions on this sort of stuff. This time they got it right. If a person dies in that thing with an NHRA sticker on it there would be no more NHRA.

I'm no lawyer but I'm pretty sure that sticker means absolutely nothing outside of an NHRA sanctioned track. All it signifies is that the chassis meets NHRA requirements for its class/ET to race on an NHRA track.

The Participant Conduct rule is the only one with any teeth here because the chassis was never going down an NHRA track anyway. Promoting IHRA product while flying NHRA colors is what triggered the conduct rule.

Kevin

I did once see a video of a guy strapped to a Super Comp car go down the track to a high 7 second pass. He was strapped to the back, like over the engine! I think it was in South America somewhere.
You don't think a wrongful death, money and a few good lawyers wouldn't tackle it for all it's worth? NHRA would loose their cookies just paying for the litigation. I think that dragster is a bad idea anyway from a safety standpoint unless it's licensed guys having fun. I think it was pretty ignorant of Dixon and whoever built/modified that chassis to have that sticker on it at SEMA of all places. Ignorance tax 101 if you ask me...

Looks fun. My buddy's would love it if I had it