GEICO Powersports drag racing team puts Chicago race behind them

CHICAGO (June 6) -- A frustrating weekend ended in a frustrating way for the drivers of the GEICO Powersports NHRA team.

Both Top Fuel driver Morgan Lucas and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Karen Stoffer qualified 15th on their respective ladders for Sunday's eliminations at the 13th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.

The qualifying frustrations crept over to race day as both fell in the first round of eliminations.

Lucas fell to Cory McClenathan under the first sunny skies participants had all weekend. The driver of the GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil dragster put together a 3.967 second pass at 301.07 mph but McClenathan rolled to the win with a better 3.859 at 305.15 mph.

"You are never going to have a perfect situation," Lucas said. "My teammate Shawn Langdon is running really well right now. Obviously we're going to try and learn some things from them.

"We've had a good car in the past and they've learned from us. It goes both ways. That's why we're a team. This sport is not easy and it's humbling. We've just been on a humbling stretch."

Stoffer had trouble getting her GEICO Powersports Suzuki off the starting line all weekend and against defending class champion Hector Arana, things didn't get much better.

Arana ticked off the best lap of the weekend with a 6.894 second run at 192.60 mph. Stoffer had to fight through issues and rolled to a 8.362 at 109.97 mph. She said the team is going to stay over and test on Monday if the weather cooperates.

"We're not sure where to look right now," said team owner Doug Johnson. "It does something different each time. We just don't know how much of it is the bike chassis, the tune-up, or Karen. It could be all or any.

"That's the toughest part of the whole deal: if we knew exactly what was wrong, we'd fix it. Right now we don't know what's going on, but we're determined to figure it out."

Both Lucas and Stoffer won't have too much time to dwell on their misfortune as they head to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park  in Englishtown, N.J., for next weekend's 41st annual United Association NHRA SuperNationals.