GEICO Powersports racer Lucas closing in on agreeable setup

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 22) -- The GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster is starting 10th for Sunday's eliminations at the 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, however driver Morgan Lucas said his racecar isn't behaving like a lower half car.

"We're still dialing in this second generation setup," Lucas said. "It's still throwing us a couple of curves here and there. We've got to work out the kinks. But we're really close to where we need to be."

Lucas' dragster smoked the tires during Friday's late session run under the lights, where most of the rest of the field set their best times. The GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil dragsters' best lap was 3.946 seconds at 305.91 mph. 

The three-time NHRA winner faces No. 7 qualifier Cory McClenathan in the first round. McClenathan ran a 3.904 second lap at 312.13 mph.

"We're taking it step-by-step," Lucas said. "As long as the car keeps making it down the track, that keeps us eligible to win. I wish we had a little bit better of a qualifying spot, but I'm not complaining because we have a good racecar for Sunday."

Lucas said he has some extra incentive to win on Sunday, because his parents, Lucas Oil founders Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, are at the track and celebrating their 28th wedding anniversary this weekend.

"It's been a good weekend," Morgan said. "I'm very happy for my parents. It's their anniversary today, so to be able to go down the track a couple of times was important.

"Hopefully my crew chief Jimmy Walsh can find something on the computer for tomorrow and I can get my reaction times where they need to be and we'll put it all together for a win."

Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. CDT Sunday from Heartland Park Topeka. The race will be televised on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. CDT.