Gateway a familiar spot for Lucas Oil pro Morgan
(9-27-2012) MADISON, IL – Not many racers have seen the Gateway Motor Sports Park racing surface in the last couple of years, but Pro Stock driver Larry Morgan, who pilots the Lucas Oil Ford Mustang, is one the handful of people who have.
This weekend's AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals marks the first time since 2010 that the NHRA Full Throttle Series has raced in the Gateway City. Earlier this season, Morgan tested at the track.
"I went over there a couple of months ago," Morgan said. "You could tell they hadn't had a big event at the track in a while. But the NHRA will fix it up. The Safety Safari is always able to turn a track around by the time we get there."
Morgan is currently in eighth place in the Pro Stock standings, and is within striking distance of sixth. He's 34 points behind Mike Edwards for that sixth spot. The veteran engine builder/driver has been a tough out on race day in the first round; getting five holeshot wins this season as the lower-seeded driver.
After a long, hot summer, Morgan said he's looking forward to the cooler conditions expected this weekend.
"I'm looking forward to it," Morgan said. "The air is starting to get good everywhere and it's going to make my stuff run a whole lot better. The better weather should help us qualify better, which helps on race day too."
Morgan was runner-up at St. Louis in 2006, when the race was run during the spring.
"This track can be fast," Morgan said. "I think everybody is going to be on edge a little with the first couple of passes on a pretty green track. We'll all be in the same boat and I know we're going to come out swinging."
Pro qualifying for the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals gets under way at 3 p.m. CDT Friday from Gateway Motor Sports Park. Qualifying continues on Saturday with two more sessions, which start at 11:30 a.m. Eliminations get started at 11 a.m. ESPN2 will broadcast the qualifying show on Sunday starting at 3 a.m. EDT. The eliminations show will air starting at 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Linear Mode
