Rapisarda teams with Dixon, Beard for 2013

January 31, 2013   ·   0 Comments

Rapisarda Autosport International has announced the signing of two legendary drag racing figures – Larry Dixon and Lee Beard – for its 2013 Top Fuel dragster organization, with campaigns set in the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the ANDRA Australia Drag Racing Series.

The Rapisarda Autosport International operation, led by Australia crane mogul Santo Rapisarda and his sons, Santo Jr. and Santino (Tino), will have Dixon, the three-time Top Fuel NHRA world champion, behind the wheel of the Rapisarda Top Fuel dragster for a limited 2013 schedule, which will include races in North America and Australia. Dixon, 46, is the second-winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history with 62 national event victories and three series titles (2002, 2003, and 2010). Santo Jr. and Tino are co-crew chiefs for the Rapisarda dragster.

Beard, a three-time NHRA world champion crew chief and team manager in the fuel ranks, will serve as the director of operations for Rapisarda Autosport International. Beard, one of the most respected fuel tuners in Top Fuel and Funny Car competition, brings a wealth of experience to the Rapisarda effort in 2013. Beard is the only NHRA crew chief to have won national events with 11 drivers. The Colorado native scored world titles in 1989, 1992, and 2009.

“We are extremely pleased to have the talents of Larry Dixon and Lee Beard joining Rapisarda Autosport International for 2013,” said Santo Rapisarda, team owner. “Both Larry and Lee have some of the greatest resumes in NHRA drag racing history. Although they have never teamed up together before, we believe their leadership and competitiveness will lead us to victory lane this year. I’m extremely excited to have this pair as part of our organization.”