With his boyish young looks, it’s hard to believe that Larry Dixon has piloted Don “the Snake” Prudhomme’s Top Fuel dragster for more than a decade. The second-generation racer, who drove to NHRA Rookie of the Year honors in 1995, has amassed some of the most gaudy stats in NHRA history in 12 seasons after following in the Snake’s footsteps.

Nearly reaching the pinnacle of Top Fuel racing in 2001, Dixon saw his lifelong dream of becoming an NHRA Top Fuel champion come to fruition after winning nine races in a record 14 final-round appearances in 2002. Led by champion tuner Dick LaHaie, Dixon and company responded like true champions a season later, winning eight of the first 15 races on the 23-race NHRA schedule as they cruised to a 330-point margin and a second consecutive NHRA crown.

Dixon’s 38 career NHRA victories rank third all-time in drag racing’s marquee category. The California native is one of nine drivers to have collected multiple championships and one of just five to earn consecutive Top Fuel titles. He has accumulated 419 round wins in 641 rounds of competition for a .654 winning percentage. Dixon was the first driver in NHRA history to stop the clocks in under 4.5-seconds after powering to a performance of 4.486-seconds on April 9, 1999 in Baytown, Texas. He also has scored the coveted “Wally” trophy from the prestigious U.S. Nationals, drag racing’s premier event, three times (1995, 2001 and ’05).

While Dixon has piled up some striking statistics in his 12 seasons in blue Miller garb, the two-time NHRA champion is thrilled to be piloting the new orange-dominant SkyTel Racing dragster in 2007.

“I am extremely excited about driving the SkyTel dragster,” he said at the announcement of his new sponsor. “Not only is SkyTel a great company, but SkyGuard® is an invaluable resource for any parent concerned about their children’s safety. My wife and I look forward to using SkyGuard to monitor our kids any time they’re away from us – especially when they become old enough to drive!”