Lucas Oil/MAVTV racer Morgan ready to do some damage in Atlanta

Lucas Oil/MAVTV racer Morgan ready to do some damage in Atlanta

ATLANTA (RIS) - Lucas Oil/MAVTV driver Larry Morgan is loaded for bear for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals ris`at Atlanta Dragway this weekend. He believes he has turned a corner with the new Ford Mustang and is ready to go some rounds.

"I need to make up for lost time," Morgan said. "All the guys have worked so hard on this car, and we think we have something for the competition now. Houston was a pretty good race for us, and we're all itching to win some rounds and show what we've got."

Morgan qualified No. 12 in Houston and had a faster elapsed time in the first round of eliminations than his opponent Erica Enders-Stevens, but he left a tick too soon and drew a red-light.

Still, Morgan is confident that his Ford has improved since its debut in Charlotte two races ago, and he's ready to prove it.

"The team and everybody involved did a good job," he said. "Thanks to Lucas, Summit, Streamlight, MoldStar, Speedco, all of the people who help me. It's just great for all of us.

"It was really a shot in the arm for our team. I know it was for Lucas, too. That helps them out."

Morgan tested the new car in Rockingham, N.C., before Charlotte, but a burst oil filter caused a fire that damaged the nose and ruined all of the car's wiring. Morgan and his team made it better in Charlotte and improved even more in Houston, thanks in part to a strong Morgan-built engine under the hood.

"I'm good," Morgan said. "I'm ready to go. I'm not taking this roach out for three races. I've got two more races to get on these guys."

Morgan is a past Atlanta winner, and his victory in 1990 started a streak of three consecutive wins. After scoring in Atlanta, he followed with victories in Memphis, Tenn., and Baton Rouge, La., in what was one of the best seasons of his long career.

"I've done well in Atlanta," Morgan said. "I've won there and I'd like to do well there again. It would be nice for Lucas and all the people who support us to do well there again."

Qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals will get under way at 4:30 p.m. EDT on Friday from Atlanta. Qualifying resumes at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Eliminations will get under way at 11 a.m. on Sunday. ESPN2 will broadcast the qualifying show starting at 6 p.m. EDT on Saturday and the eliminations show starting at 8 p.m. on Sunday. 

Dusty Brandel

President of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association, Inc. Worked with Mike Hollander since Tapsis, Compuserve, etc. and has posted to the website since the beginning. First Female photo-journalist to be given a garage and pit pass for the NASCAR garage, 1972 at Ontario Motor Speedway. One of first seven female writers, photographers given access to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway garage and pits in 1971. Past President of Greater Los Angeles Press Club, 1992-96, and first female editor of the 8-Ball publication for the Press Club

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Volume 2012, Issue 10, Posted 6:20 PM, 04.30.2013