Lucas 13 Points Away from Countdown Ranking
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BRAINERD, Minn. -- Morgan Lucas advanced to the quarterfinals of the 28th annual Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway before bowing out in the quarterfinals.
Lucas won his first round of eliminations against Antron Brown by leaving first (.069 - .081) and banking an elapsed time of 3.926 seconds, 298.21 mph to Brown's tire hazing run of 4.234 seconds, 247.47 mph.
Lucas' luck shifted against him in the quarterfinals against No. 2 qualifier, Steve Torrence when he was defeated after running the third quickest time of the round with his pass of 3.925 seconds, 302.35 mph to Torrence's run of 3.885 seconds, 307.72 mph.
With teammate, J.R. Todd also advancing in his first round, it signified the first time both dragsters of Morgan Lucas Racing won a round together.
"That's one of those stats that popped in my head right after it happened," said an upbeat Lucas. "That's something that excited me to see this year. We've made a lot of progress this weekend and I think we found a direction we can pursue.
"Jimmy (Walsh) and Stew (John Stewart, crew chief for J.R. Todd) are working great together in all their discussions with all their talking, thinking and planning. They want to race, they want to win. Now, I can't wait to get to Reading (Pa.) to play some softball and win a race. In our efforts to improve, we might have given away some elapsed time in qualifying and that could have put us in a better position to win. You just never know."
Lucas lost a round of competition in his hopes of reaching the elite Top 10 in the Top Fuel points standings and has now accumulated 672 points. He was nine points behind going into the Brainerd event and has to overcome after the conclusion of 16 NHRA National events, the sum of 13 points to attain a place in the Countdown to the Championship to present holder, David Grubnic, who slipped a place and currently occupies the No. 10 position after the conclusion of the event. There are only two races remaining before the chase for the title begins in Charlotte on Sept. 14.
The next NHRA National event will be the 24th annual Toyo Tires Nationals from Maple Grove Raceway in nearby Reading, Pa., on Aug. 15-17. On Thursday, Aug. 14, NHRA will stage a benefit softball game matching the 300 mph players at the Reading Phillies stadium with first pitch scheduled at 7 p.m. EDT. The autograph session will commence at 6 p.m. with all proceeds going the Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW).
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/m_lucas.jpg" alt="m_lucas" align="right"borders="0"/>
BRAINERD, Minn. -- Morgan Lucas advanced to the quarterfinals of the 28th annual Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway before bowing out in the quarterfinals.
Lucas won his first round of eliminations against Antron Brown by leaving first (.069 - .081) and banking an elapsed time of 3.926 seconds, 298.21 mph to Brown's tire hazing run of 4.234 seconds, 247.47 mph.
Lucas' luck shifted against him in the quarterfinals against No. 2 qualifier, Steve Torrence when he was defeated after running the third quickest time of the round with his pass of 3.925 seconds, 302.35 mph to Torrence's run of 3.885 seconds, 307.72 mph.
With teammate, J.R. Todd also advancing in his first round, it signified the first time both dragsters of Morgan Lucas Racing won a round together.
"That's one of those stats that popped in my head right after it happened," said an upbeat Lucas. "That's something that excited me to see this year. We've made a lot of progress this weekend and I think we found a direction we can pursue.
"Jimmy (Walsh) and Stew (John Stewart, crew chief for J.R. Todd) are working great together in all their discussions with all their talking, thinking and planning. They want to race, they want to win. Now, I can't wait to get to Reading (Pa.) to play some softball and win a race. In our efforts to improve, we might have given away some elapsed time in qualifying and that could have put us in a better position to win. You just never know."
Lucas lost a round of competition in his hopes of reaching the elite Top 10 in the Top Fuel points standings and has now accumulated 672 points. He was nine points behind going into the Brainerd event and has to overcome after the conclusion of 16 NHRA National events, the sum of 13 points to attain a place in the Countdown to the Championship to present holder, David Grubnic, who slipped a place and currently occupies the No. 10 position after the conclusion of the event. There are only two races remaining before the chase for the title begins in Charlotte on Sept. 14.
The next NHRA National event will be the 24th annual Toyo Tires Nationals from Maple Grove Raceway in nearby Reading, Pa., on Aug. 15-17. On Thursday, Aug. 14, NHRA will stage a benefit softball game matching the 300 mph players at the Reading Phillies stadium with first pitch scheduled at 7 p.m. EDT. The autograph session will commence at 6 p.m. with all proceeds going the Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW).
