Current Category : News and Headlines : Racing :
Last Chance for Lucas to Win in 2008
It’s the last drag race of the 2008 NHRA season and before the clock turns to the next year, Lucas Oil Stabilizer Top Fuel pilot, Morgan Lucas would like to close it out with a signature-ending highlight victory at this weekend’s 44th annual Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
His famous sponsor and family-owned business, Lucas Oil Products is based in nearby Corona and racing in his back yard is something Lucas relishes. It’s an opportunity that only comes twice a year and after a semi-final performance in the season opening Winternationals in February, now Lucas would love to rock the house and bring home that elusive first Top Fuel victory.
“Pomona Raceway is so close to our Lucas Oil headquarters,” said Lucas. “We’ll have plenty of support with our customers and folks from the plant. It could turn out to be a great weekend for everyone if we could make a good run for the race win. We’ve showed that we can run with the best of them and a small break could make all the difference, it’s just that close.”
Lucas has a busy schedule with a benefit softball game for DRAW (Drag Racing Association of Women) on Wednesday when he suits up for Scelzi’s SuperChargers at the Arrowhead Credit Union Stadium in San Bernardino.
“That should prove to be a fun night,” said Lucas. “It’s all for fun and raises some funding for DRAW, so it’s a win-win for me. We hope we can bring in a large crowd and make it a special night for NHRA drag racing.”
The start of the 44th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals begins on Thursday, November 13 with a solo qualifying nitro run at 2:30 p.m. PST. The same agenda repeats on Friday with Top Fuel qualifying at 2:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Top Fuel dragsters will have two additional qualifying sessions at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The race starts promptly at 11 a.m. on Sunday, November 16.
LUCAS OIL RACING DRIVER NOTES:
Morgan Lucas has five runner-up finishes, which the Brownsburg, Ind., driver reached in only his seventh (04 Las Vegas2), eighth (04 Pomona2), 10th (05 Phoenix), 20th (05 St. Louis) and 21st (05 Denver) starts. He finished fifth in the 2005 NHRA Top Fuel Point standings with 1,357 points after completing his first full season on the competitive 23-race NHRA circuit. He finished 11th in 2006 and 15th in 2007.
Lucas' quickest elapsed time is 4.474 seconds, set on Feb. 12, 2005 at Pomona Raceway. He sped to his fastest top speed of 333.33 mph on Feb. 9, in the final round of qualifying at the 2008 CarQuest Auto Parts Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. He has won two low qualifier awards -- His first on May 14, 2005 at the Atlanta Dragway recording a time 4.541 seconds and Oct. 22 on The Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway setting the pace with his run of 4.508 seconds. Morgan Lucas first Top Fuel event came behind the wheel of the Joe Amato-owned dragster at the 2004 Lucas Oil Nationals at the Brainerd (MN.) International Raceway on August 15, 2004. DOB: November 27, 1983
AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS
TELEVISION ADVISORY
(ALL TIMES EASTERN – ALL PROGRAMS ON ESPN2 HD)
QUALIFYING HIGHLIGHTS
Saturday, November 15
11:00 P.M. – 1:00 A.M.
NHRA RACE DAY
Presented by Lucas Oil Products
Sunday, November 16
11:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.
FINAL ROUND COVERAGE
Sunday, November 16
7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.
Encore Performance
Friday, November 21
2:00 A.M. - 4:00 A.M.
