Lucas Oil veteran Morgan has laser focus on making the playoffs
(8-15-2012) NEWARK, OH – Larry Morgan, driver of the Lucas Oil Ford Mustang, is in the thick of a battle featuring six drivers fighting over four spots in the Countdown to the Championship. He's hoping success at this weekend's Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals will go a long way toward claiming his spot.
"I'm loving every minute of it," Morgan said of the chase. "I'm not scared of anyone. The meaner the situation, the better I like it."
Morgan currently sits in 12th place, but is less than one round of racing (nine points) behind ninth-place Ron Krisher. Both eighth-place Vieri Gaines and seventh-place Shane Gray also are within striking distance.
"There's no trash talking coming from me, I'm not saying anything," Morgan said. "I've set a goal to make that Countdown and finish in the Top 10. It seems like I always bring it right to the edge for some reason. I don't like that, but it just happens that way.
"I think it's going to be a good battle because I think all of us are running pretty well."
Morgan said he took advantage of the off week between Seattle and Brainerd to give his engines some much needed attention.
"We worked like maniacs," Morgan said. "But our engines are all freshened up. We're going to stop in Michigan on our way over to Brainerd to test so we can get a few runs on the engine before the race itself. Then we'll be set to go."
Morgan added that he loves to race in Brainerd, and winning at his sponsor's race would be amazing.
"There's nothing I'd like better than to win and get that trophy from Charlotte Lucas," Morgan said. "I've won my sponsor's race before and that's one of the best feelings you can have in racing. It's pretty cool."
Qualifying for the Lucas Oil Nationals gets under way at 2 p.m. CDT on Friday from Brainerd International Raceway. Qualifying continues at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday with eliminations starting at 11 a.m. Sunday. The qualifying show will air at 11 a.m. EDT on Saturday on ESPN2 and the eliminations show airs starting at 9 p.m. on Sunday.
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