Dixon claims fifth SuperNationals win
Larry Dixon likes coming to Raceway Park in Old Bridge for a good reason. The Top Fuel driver has developed a knack for winning races at the track.

Top: A pair of race cars create billows of smoke as they zoom down the strip at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park during last weekend's 40th annual National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) SuperNationals. Bottom: One component of the NHRA SuperNationals is the Pro Stock Motorcycle racing.

On June 14 at the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) United Association NHRA SuperNationals, Dixon won his fifth title at Raceway Park when his final round opponent, Antron Brown, fouled at the starting line. It was Dixon's 46th career NHRA win.

"There's never a bad win," said Dixon, who has been to nine finals at Raceway Park during his career.

Despite fouling in the final, Brown held onto the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Top Fuel points lead over Tony Schumacher (864 to 830). Dixon currently sits in third place (767) in the title chase after his win.

The points lead changed hands in the Funny Car division as Tony Pedregon defeated Ashley Force Hood for the second consecutive weekend.

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff

The two drivers were tied for the points lead following the elimination rounds and the winner of the June 14 final would take over the points lead.

Pedregon won the final at the starting line where his .068 reaction time to Hood's .125 reaction time was the difference. Hood was quicker down the strip, 4.21 to 4.24, but, could not make up for the reaction time lost on the line.

Pedregon's 42nd career win gave him 818 points in the Funny Car standings while Hood has 798 points.

Jeg Coughlin added to his Pro Stock points lead by winning his final when Mike Edwards fouled at the starting line. Coughlin has 1,018 points in the standings, with Edwards at 909 points.

Coughlin now has 46 career NHRA finals wins.

In the Pro Stock Motorcycle division, Raceway Park fans had a local favorite to cheer for, hometown rider Eddie Krawiec.

Krawiec is a native of Englishtown and used to call Raceway Park his home track. He gave fans a lot to cheer about by advancing to the June 14 final. There he ran into Craig Trebel, who has had previous success at Raceway Park.

Treble used a .007 to .061 lead in reaction time to claim the victory. Krawiec had the second fastest pass of the weekend, 6.906, in the final, but he could not recover from the time lost at the starting line. Trebel claimed his 14th career win and second in five finals at Raceway Park, a track he likes.

"This track love me," he said. "I don't know what it is, but I really like it here."

Krawiec still leads the Pro Stock Motorcycle points chase over Matt Smith, 528 to 452. Treble moved up to fourth place with 427 points.