Larry Dixon says its hard to compare his record to The Snake's.

Veteran Top Fuel driver Cory McClenathan, who has accomplished much during his highly-decorated NHRA racing career, still needs to check off two pesky items that stand out near the top of his drag racing bucket list.

If early season performance indicates anything, the Anaheim, Calif. native may be well on his way to crossing both off the list in 2010.

He’s called his FRAM dragster a “bracket car” for its incredible consistency early on this season. Crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler have mastered the tune-up and can dial up a 3.81 when needed almost at will. Factor in McClenathan’s years of driving experience, and the combination could produce a champion’s trophy by year’s end.

McClenathan opened the season as the No. 1 qualifier at the NHRA Winternationals, then posted a semifinal finish at the Southern California season-opener before claiming his 32nd career victory one week later in Phoenix.

He heads to historic Gainesville Raceway for the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals, March 11-14, as the Top Fuel points leader, a position he hopes to hang on to for the entire 10-month season. Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending winners of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event, which will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD.

“Right now we’re the points leader and we’re going in there with the same attitude of, ‘Let’s qualify very well, let’s try to keep lane choice on race day, and try to put this FRAM car in the winner’s circle,’” McClenathan said. “The FRAM car is definitely the car to beat right now and I think people know that and they’re taking notice of it. Obviously our teammates’ cars, Tony’s (Schumacher) and Antron’s (Brown), are running well; Larry Dixon’s running good also; and Doug Kalitta, obviously.”

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The thrilling excitement and heart-pounding action of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing returns to historic Gainesville Raceway for the 41st annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals, March 11-14. The event is the third stop in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and the traditional opening race for the Pro Stock Motorcycle category.

Thousands of fans were in attendance last year to witness two-time Top Fuel world champion Larry Dixon race his Alan Johnson/Al-Anabi Racing dragster to his first win of the season and fourth at the Gatornationals when he defeated runner-up Cory McClenathan in the final round. Bob Tasca raced to his first career win in the Funny Car class as he powered his Motorcraft Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang past close friend Tony Pedregon, who was making his third final round appearance at Gainesville. Former Pro Stock world champion Jason Line drove his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP past the Team Mopar Dodge Stratus of Allen Johnson to collect his second win of the season and second in Gainesville, while eventual Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Hector Arana began his charge for the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle world champion with his first victory at the tradition-rich Gatornationals and only the second win of his career.

A woman died Sunday after being hit by a tire from a crashing dragster at the NHRA Arizona Nationals.

The woman was watching a first-round Top Fuel run at Firebird International Raceway when Antron Brown's Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster went out of control on the strip and its left rear wheel came off.

Alia Maisonet, a spokeswoman for the Gila River Indian Community, said the woman was airlifted to a Phoenix-area hospital for treatment and later died. Gila River emergency responders were among the first to respond to the scene.

Maisonet said she didn't know the victim's name or hometown.

"The entire NHRA community is deeply saddened by today's incident and sends its thoughts and prayers to the woman's family and friends," the association said in an e-mailed statement.

Franki Buckman, the track's executive vice president, said Firebird International Raceway also is deeply saddened by the incident.

Brown was released by the track medical staff, but went to Chandler Regional Hospital for further observation, according to a statement put out by Don Schumacher Racing before the woman died. The NHRA said Brown wasn't injured.

"We're racers and we race and I'm ok," Brown said in the statement. "It all happened so quickly and I want to thank the NHRA Safety Safari for being there so quickly to help get me out of the car and also the track medical team for tending to me so quickly."

The racing continued after the accident, and John Force advanced to his second straight Funny Car final before the session was postponed because of rain. Force, the 60-year-old star who ended a 40-race winless streak last week with his record 127th victory, will meet Jack Beckman on Monday.

Rain has forced NHRA officials to halt Sunday’s action at the NHRA Arizona Nationals after three rounds of Top Fuel and Funny Car and one round of Pro Stock. Action will complete Monday. Doug Kalitta (pictured) will face Cory McClenathan in the Top Fuel final.