Morgan singularly focused on making the playoffs
(7-26-2012) NEWARK, OH – Lucas Oil Ford driver Larry Morgan takes his pursuit of a coveted spot in the Countdown to the Championship to Sears Point Raceway for this weekend's NHRA Sonoma Nationals.
Morgan is 13th in the Pro Stock points standings, but he's only two rounds behind 10th-place Rodger Brogdon, who is skipping the Western Swing, of which Sonoma is Race 2 of 3. Morgan is only one point behind Jeg Coughlin and 19 points behind V Gaines. A round win is worth 20 points in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing, so he knows he's very close to achieving his goal of racing in the playoffs.
"There's a good chance I can get in there," Morgan said. "If I can pick up a round or two every race, I can get in. There's a chance, and as long as there's a chance, I'll go for it.
"I'll be good for Sonoma. We'll be down at sea level where I can race these guys."
The 10-time Pro Stock winner knows it won't be easy, but if Morgan continues his driving prowess, his chances of making it in the top 10 increase.
Morgan has beaten four higher-qualified drivers on holeshots in the first round this season, and he's done it with fewer resources than many teams and by doing a lot of the work on his own Ford Mustang. Morgan isn't part of a multi-car team, making his battle against Pro Stock's elite an uphill fight.
"It's tough when you're a single-car team," Morgan said. "I can do it, Warren (Johnson) can do it. I can still do this. It's just tough.
"I'm keeping my head up. We don't have any reason to look down. We'll be fine."
The veteran Pro Stock driver won at Sonoma in 2002, was runner-up and No. 1 qualifier in 1991.
"I love Bruton's tracks, and I think a lot of Bruton Smith," Morgan said of the Speedway Motorsports chairman. "He helped me race one year. He's a great guy, and he knows how to put programs together. Every race track he owns is a good one. He's a showman."
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