<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/m_lucas07.jpg" alt="m_lucas07" align="right"borders="0"/>
CHANDLER, Ariz. - Morgan Lucas enters Sunday's Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals from the No. 12 starting position on the Top Fuel roster driving his Lucas Oil dragster and he couldn't be any happier about it.
After posting a qualifying time of 4.539 seconds along with a marvelous speed of 326.32 mph, Lucas is more anxious than his usual laid-back attitude to get his 2007 NHRA POWERade season off and running.
After not qualifying in the season-opening Winternationals, his goal was simple.to make the race and he did in fine style. The only drawback facing him tomorrow is he has to race his teammate, No. 5 qualifier, Melanie Troxel.
"It's going to be an honest, fair, fun drag race," said Lucas. "We're friends with them and they're friends of ours -true teammates.
"Of course, we both want to win. The bright side of it is, one of the team cars is going to win and go rounds and that is the best thing. We're working together helping each other a lot. They've shared their tuning information with us to get our car straighten out as much as we have so far." The changeover with the addition of Lance Larsen on board joining co-crew chief, John Stewart manning the clutch, has produced three consecutive 4.50 runs (4.555, 4.539, and 4.585 ETs) and he's hoping the best is yet to come.
"That's the best this car has ever run, period," said Lucas. "Three runs in the 4.50s and it hasn't hardly hurt a part on the car this weekend. That's big thing for us because before we were chewing off cylinder heads every lap. It's a night and day different race car and I'm starting to feel better in the car and that's just part of it."
ESPN2's presentation of the Checker Schucks Kragen Nationals will air on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. EST.
Lucas Vs Teammate Troxel First Round
CHANDLER, Ariz. - Morgan Lucas enters Sunday's Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals from the No. 12 starting position on the Top Fuel roster driving his Lucas Oil dragster and he couldn't be any happier about it.
After posting a qualifying time of 4.539 seconds along with a marvelous speed of 326.32 mph, Lucas is more anxious than his usual laid-back attitude to get his 2007 NHRA POWERade season off and running.
After not qualifying in the season-opening Winternationals, his goal was simple.to make the race and he did in fine style. The only drawback facing him tomorrow is he has to race his teammate, No. 5 qualifier, Melanie Troxel.
"It's going to be an honest, fair, fun drag race," said Lucas. "We're friends with them and they're friends of ours -true teammates.
"Of course, we both want to win. The bright side of it is, one of the team cars is going to win and go rounds and that is the best thing. We're working together helping each other a lot. They've shared their tuning information with us to get our car straighten out as much as we have so far." The changeover with the addition of Lance Larsen on board joining co-crew chief, John Stewart manning the clutch, has produced three consecutive 4.50 runs (4.555, 4.539, and 4.585 ETs) and he's hoping the best is yet to come.
"That's the best this car has ever run, period," said Lucas. "Three runs in the 4.50s and it hasn't hardly hurt a part on the car this weekend. That's big thing for us because before we were chewing off cylinder heads every lap. It's a night and day different race car and I'm starting to feel better in the car and that's just part of it."
ESPN2's presentation of the Checker Schucks Kragen Nationals will air on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. EST.
