Morgan & Mopar Funny Car in the Top Half
Team Mopar NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series OıReilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals Texas Motorplex -- Ennis, Texas Qualifying Notes & Quotes Three Factory Mopar Pro Stockers Qualify Schumacher Racing Places Three Stratus Funny Cars in Top Half ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 11, 2003) Larry Morgan led the way as Team Mopar qualified three factory backed Dodge Stratus Pro Stock cars for tomorrowıs 18th running of the OıReilly Auto Parts Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. Morgan, who has been on a tear lately, landing in two-straight semifinals, clocked in with a 6.861-second elapsed time at 201.83 mph. The Newark, Ohio, resident locked down the sixth-qualified position and will face off against Taylor Lastor in round one. ³Other than that tire shake on the last run, weıve had a good weekend,² Morgan said. ³We tried some thing in the clutch on that last one that didnıt work. Weıre glad we had our problems today, instead of tomorrow though. We feel real well because Gene (Wilson) also ran well. ³I think itıs going to get colder tomorrow,² Morgan continued. ³I know these Hemiıs like the cooler air, so Iım real pleased weıve run as good as we have this weekend. And I donıt even care who we race tomorrow because I know weıll be ready. All I know is that there will be one guy to pick from in every round.² Gene Wilson made up for lost time today, directing his Hemi-powered Dodge Stratus Pro Stock entry to the ninth slot after posting a 6.864-second lap at 201.88 mph. The 2002 NHRA Rookie of the Year will line up against fellow Georgian Warren Johnson in the first round. ³We made a couple of good runs today,² said Wilson, who was on the outside looking after yesterdayıs two sessions. ³We have a good race day tune up in this thing and I just want to thank (team owner) Larry Morgan, (consultant) Bob Glidden and all the guys back at the shop. They have put a lot of effort into this engine program and itıs really starting to show now. Iım just glad to have these Moparsı in the show because thatıs what we need. ³I donıt think there will be a big issue with the lanes tomorrow,² Wilson added. ³There may be a few variations between the two, but it wonıt be a real concern. Weıll go into race day tomorrow, with everyone trying to do their jobs, and weıll see if we canıt put this Stratus in the winnerıs circle.² Moparıs Allen Johnson stepped up the program during todayıs final two rounds of qualifying. The Tennessee native drove his Dodge Stratus to the ninth position with a 6,874-second lap at 201.79 mph, setting up a first round encounter with veteran Bruce Allen. ³We made a nice run out there,² Johnson said. ³When the air gets warmer, weıre not performing like we should in the hotter weather. Weıre somewhat happy, but we would have gotten Darrell (Alderman) in the show if we hadnıt had that transmission problem last night. The two guys in front of me in points DNQıd, and that should help me move up. Weıll just try to go some round tomorrow. ³It seems like, as far as cars going down the race track, that both lanes are fine,² Johnson added. ³But, it seems like the left lane has produced better elapsed times. Weıll just have to take what they give us and go from there.² Friday nightıs mechanical woes was enough to slow down three-time POWERade Pro Stock World Champion Darrell Alderman this weekend. After breaking a transmission, Alderman posted a 6.889-second elapsed time at 201.47 mph. It wasnıt enough to crack the top 16. ³We improved on that last one,² said Alderman, who suffered a transmission failure during last nightıs second session. ³We feel like we made a decent run, but just fell a little bit short. It definitely throws you off if you break during the good session. We had to put another clutch unit in it last night. We donıt want to make any excuses because we ought to get it in there any way. We didnıt, so weıll go to Vegas and kick there butts there.² Mopar Funny Cars Qualify in Top Half Gary Scelzi landed the Oakely sponsored Dodge Stratus Funny Car into the second qualifying position. The California resident, who will take on Dale Creasy, Jr., in round one tomorrow, ran a 4.828-second elapsed time at 323.97 mph; the eventıs fastest recorded speed. ³We have been running less win than everyone else,² said Scelzi, who set top speed of the event. ³The track is real slippery and the air is not really good, but we still have top speed of the meet, which means weıre right where we want to be. Which is no surprise to anyone.² Whit Bazemore and the Matco Tools Dodge Stratus Funny Car saved the best for last today, moving up to the fifth-qualified position with a 4.867-second pass at 319.94 mph. Bazemore, who is nipping at the heels of points leader Tony Pedregon, will line up against Tommy Johnson, Jr., in the first round of eliminations. ³It was a good, good run this afternoon,² Bazemore commented. ³It was second low of the session and itıs important that this Matco Tools Dodge Stratus is competitive on every run. Lee Beard (crew chief) and all of the guys have been perfect. Weıre in a good position for tomorrow. We moved up in qualifying after that last session, and it makes up for the bad run we had last night. ³The Dodge Stratus body has been a key component to the success of the team this year,² Bazemore continued. ³The engineering support that weıve gotten from Dodge Motorsports and Mopar Racing has played an important role. Aerodynamics at 325-mph plus are critical, and this car, all season, has offered a considerable amount more downforce this year. Weıre getting all of our downforce with a lot less drag, which has been a big advantage for us this year. We know we have a race car that is every bit as good as what John Force Racing has and weıre proving that because weıre neck and neck in the points chase. Itıs anybodies game at this point and weıre looking to bring home a points championship for Mopar.² Oakleyıs Scott Cannon made his first race while driving a Dodge Stratus body this weekend. Cannon, of South Carolina, will match up with Phil Burkhart in the opening round after logging a 4.902-second lap at 318.58 mph today. ³We backed it down on our second run,² Cannon said. ³We were real slow early, but it wasnıt because of the body. Itıs the same tune up we ran with our other car, and it ran 318 mph. I think that speaks for itself about how good the body is. ³Itıs definitely a different car to drive,² Cannon added. ³I was really worried about coming here, not having tested this new body because this track is a little tricky. I think because itıs so different, that I really concentrate more out there. Not that I donıt pay attention anyway just from the nature of these cars, but you better not let this thing get out of shape. It feels like youıre driving in the trunk out there. I definitely like having this body because I sure donıt want to give up five or six miles an hour on every run. ³This body is pretty good at the top end,² Cannon went on. ³It spun a little bit and then recovered. I cut out a couple of cylinders and recovered, so itıs all good as far as Iım concerned.² Carlson Shows Off Moparıs Sport Compact Entry Shaun Carlson brought his Mopar-powered and factory backed NHRA Extreme Rushı Sport Compact racer to the Texas Motorplex today. The exhibition runs, which showcase Carlsonıs new Dodge Neon SRT-4 entry, are to bring further exposure to the new professional racing series. Despite mechanical woes today, Carlson is chasing the elusive sub eight-second run this weekend; something that has not yet happened in the history of NHRAıs front-wheel drive category. ³We didnıt have enough fuel pressure when we weıre idling in the pits today,² said Carlson, on the aborted run. ³A fitting came loose on our fuel injector and it stopped our run. When we went out there, and had, both the load, the turbo and rpmıs from the pump, it sprayed fuel out of the little fitting. It could have been worse because it could have been oil. I was afraid that the engine was gone. ³It was an easy fix,² Carlson added. ³If we could go out right now and run, we could. Weıre building up the hype to break the record. Every time up there, weıre trying to break that record and no one really knows who is going to do it. If we are the first oneıs to do it, that will be perfect because the build up has been tremendous. We want to get the hype and the fans going. Itıs also kind of neat to wonder who is going to do it as well. We should be on to do it tomorrow.² David Harris, Cox Marketing Group Mopar Motorsports NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series davidh@coxmarketinggroup.com (704) 799-2114 office (704) 756-9301 - mobile