Larry Morgan,,, and Ford in P/S (2 Viewers)

[Bill]

I don't remember exactly when it was that Larry Morgan vacated the seat in his Mopar P/S car, chosing to join the Foed camp, but it seems like the better part of a year ago.

Having had that much time to fine tune and hone his newly chosen race car, and given the presence of two Mopar Pro Stockers at the top of Pomona Finaals qualifying, I would like to know his thoughts on just how smart he now thinks his decision to jump ship was.

The Mopar cars (Johnson's and several others) seem to suffer greatly, from what can only be called "driver error" because all too often, they seem to find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, and this seems to give Mopar P/S cars a win/loss record that is not really representative of the cars' potential.

I don't know if Larry Morgan's experience in a Ford has suffered a similar fate, but to end the year on a DNQ note (along with the other Fords) would seem to be saying SOMETHING about the performance of those cars, at this point.

I like Larry, and am curious abouit how he now feels abouit his decision.

 

[mastertone]

I don't remember exactly when it was that Larry Morgan vacated the seat in his Mopar P/S car, chosing to join the Foed camp, but it seems like the better part of a year ago.

Having had that much time to fine tune and hone his newly chosen race car, and given the presence of two Mopar Pro Stockers at the top of Pomona Finaals qualifying, I would like to know his thoughts on just how smart he now thinks his decision to jump ship was.

The Mopar cars (Johnson's and several others) seem to suffer greatly, from what can only be called "driver error" because all too often, they seem to find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, and this seems to give Mopar P/S cars a win/loss record that is not really representative of the cars' potential.

I don't know if Larry Morgan's experience in a Ford has suffered a similar fate, but to end the year on a DNQ note (along with the other Fords) would seem to be saying SOMETHING about the performance of those cars, at this point.

I like Larry, and am curious abouit how he now feels abouit his decision.

I don't think Morgan cares, I think he just jumped because ford offered him more $$$. He has just been an also ran no matter what product he drove.

 

[Ron E]

He has just been an also ran no matter what product he drove.

I'm not inside enough to know their problems with the Ford. Pre-season, Larry said he had 25 additional "aero' HP with the new body. The engine looks pretty much identical to his old Dodge motors. So, I'm a little surprised too.
"Also ran" may be a little harsh though. While he wouldn't necessarily have been my 1st pick to develop a totally new program, he may have been the best available choice at the time. I'm just happy to see Ford back out there. The Roush/Yates car probably won't show until they feel they can make a real splash. And, it's taking them a lot longer than I thought.

 

[Super Mod]

Originally Posted by Craig Eagle View Post
He has just been an also ran no matter what product he drove.

Craig. that was brutal and baseless

 

[none]

He's qualifying MUCH better that he did with the former brand he raced !
And only one of those other "brand" ever goes rounds,usually first round DUCKS !

 

[70AARCuda]

He's qualifying MUCH better that he did with the former brand he raced !
And only one of those other "brand" ever goes rounds,usually first round DUCKS !

I guess one of the other brands finished 2nd in the points after the "regular" season by going out in the first round...

LM qualfied 4th at one race....other then that he is usally on the both half of the field....even with his dodge program his engines were on the bottom half of the field...

V Gaines leased mopar engines from LM and qualified on the bottom of the field went he was able to get in....V Gaines took over his own mopar engie program and look where he is in about one year.....

LM stated early in the year that his ford program was making more HP then the dodge and he had a better aero car.....well...his dyno must be lying cause his track performance does not show it..

LM got ford to sign on the dotted line....so now he getts paid for his DNQs...

 

[cantdrive55]

Talk about some high expectations, LMR and Ford have wrapped up year one, and yes it was a big struggle. But seriously what did you expect out of a developmental year?

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

I don't think Morgan cares, I think he just jumped because ford offered him more $$$. He has just been an also ran no matter what product he drove.

I have no doubt you're right regarding the $$$$. However, having been an "also ran" no matter what product he drove is a little off-target. There was a point in time with the GM stuff (Olds Cutlass) where he was a threat everywhere he went.

Talk about some high expectations, LMR and Ford have wrapped up year one, and yes it was a big struggle. But seriously what did you expect out of a developmental year?

Developmental year? I'm afraid Ford has been out of the game long enough that there may be several developmental years in front of them. The GM cars have a pretty big head-start.

Sean D

 

[none]

I guess one of the other brands finished 2nd in the points after the "regular" season by going out in the first round...

That was the one I refered to.....one lone FIAT....

 

[Ron E]

He's qualifying MUCH better that he did with the former brand he raced !
And only one of those other "brand" ever goes rounds,usually first round DUCKS !

If you're talking about the Dodges, he won a few and made a few other finals in them. He did the same during his run with GM's. And, that's what I expect of him in a Ford. Like I said not my 1st choice, but he may have been the best available at the time.

Also, if you mean the Dodges are usually the 1st round ducks, you haven't been paying attention lately. If you mean something else, I apologize.

 

[cantdrive55]

Developmental year? I'm afraid Ford has been out of the game long enough that there may be several developmental years in front of them. The GM cars have a pretty big head-start.

Sean D

Umm, what else would you call the first year with an all new engine and chassis combo? Stone Ages seemed a bit harsh, which is why I chose developmental. I'm sure 2011 will be more productive providing Lucas and Ford continue to back Larry. And yes the Ford was far behind, but in the big picture; they've got only themselves to blame.

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

And yes the Ford was far behind, but in the big picture; they've got only themselves to blame.

That's the unfortunate part. I'm not a Ford guy, but they should've began the grooming process with someone else as Glidden was coming down the stretch of his great career.

Didn't mean to come across like I was picking apart your post. I was just trying to drive home the point of how far they've (Ford) allowed themselves to get behind.

Sean D

 

[cantdrive55]

That's the unfortunate part. I'm not a Ford guy, but they should've began the grooming process with someone else as Glidden was coming down the stretch of his great career.

Didn't mean to come across like I was picking apart your post. I was just trying to drive home the point of how far they've (Ford) allowed themselves to get behind.

Sean D

Don't worry, I'm not offended. And Ford dumping Glidden in '96 was all time dumb. Especially when Bob was in the middle of developing a new Ford powerplant. You didn't see GM drop WJ in the middle of his developing of the DRCE. I'm not a Ford person either, so whatever they do doesn't effect me that much. But, I do like to see parity in Pro Stock, and I think it's essential to have competition amoungst brands (still secretly hoping for Mustang's, Camaro's, and Challengers'......oh my; no I am not Bob Frey).

 

[camaro]

If memory serves, Bob panella built some pretty stout Ford horsepower in the early 2000's or so with the Hurley Blakeny (sp) ford escort with Scott Geoffrion driving. Albeit a brief period of time, I believe that car was pretty competetive and may have even qualified #1 for a race, so its not like it cant be done. I thought i read that they could not continue the program because it just got to expensive.

 

[Johnny Mopar]

Don't worry, I'm not offended. And Ford dumping Glidden in '96 was all time dumb. Especially when Bob was in the middle of developing a new Ford powerplant. You didn't see GM drop WJ in the middle of his developing of the DRCE. I'm not a Ford person either, so whatever they do doesn't effect me that much. But, I do like to see parity in Pro Stock, and I think it's essential to have competition amoungst brands (still secretly hoping for Mustang's, Camaro's, and Challengers'......oh my; no I am not Bob Frey).

Actually...GM dropped WJ's Oldsmobile sponsorship. The story then was that GM needed the funding to develop the Oldsmobile Aurora. I seem to remember they dropped the car shortly after pulling WJ's funding...

 

[Johnny Mopar]

If memory serves, Bob panella built some pretty stout Ford horsepower in the early 2000's or so with the Hurley Blakeny (sp) ford escort with Scott Geoffrion driving. Albeit a brief period of time, I believe that car was pretty competetive and may have even qualified #1 for a race, so its not like it cant be done. I thought i read that they could not continue the program because it just got to expensive.

You're correct. That car came out of nowhere and ran with the best...when it was out. Wasn't there a lack of funding for Panella's Ford program? Right after that Bob put a Stratus R/T program together and debuted it at Indy...in Sox & Martin livery. That was one coooool looking car.

 

[Johnny Mopar]

That's the unfortunate part. I'm not a Ford guy, but they should've began the grooming process with someone else as Glidden was coming down the stretch of his great career.

Didn't mean to come across like I was picking apart your post. I was just trying to drive home the point of how far they've (Ford) allowed themselves to get behind.

Sean D

If Larry would have had to start from scratch on his Ford engine program he would have been even farther behind. He admitted at the beginning of the season that it was very similar in design to his Dodge HEMI's...which he co-developed with David Nickens for Dodge. That was immediately after the infamous Wayne County Speed Shop "break-in"!

 

[70AARCuda]

http://cunninghammotorsports.com/PDF Files/Ford_Returns_to_Pro_Stock.pdf


you can read Fords two head theory....one looks like a GM ..the looks like a Mopar...

dont think they started from scratch ...LM probably been working on the same heads for 10 yrs now.

 

[cantdrive55]

Actually...GM dropped WJ's Oldsmobile sponsorship. The story then was that GM needed the funding to develop the Oldsmobile Aurora. I seem to remember they dropped the car shortly after pulling WJ's funding...

True, at the start of the '93 season WJ had a refrigerator after ACDelco ended their sponsorship at the end of 1992. But, somewhere early in that 1993 year GM Performance Parts signage found it's way on the car. And you can bet it wasn't out of good faith. Olds was still supporting NHRA, as the Aurora racing program (IRL & IMSA) didn't exist until the 1996 season; although, I'm sure that program was in full development in 1995. Olds finally withdrew at the end of '95, and in doing so Pontiac took over. WJ rotated between Performance Parts and Goodwrench until the end of 2008. So, you could say that the GM money didn't end during that time frame, it just came from different departments.

 

[Rajunz]

I dunno, LM has 17 Wally's to his name, that's alot more than many have to show for a lifetime of racing.