NHRA: Lampus feeling lucky about 13th starting spot

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Rob Geiger at 281-913-3316.

Lampus feeling lucky about 13th starting spot

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 10) -- Racing in his last event as the reigning
Winston Rookie of the Year, Top Fuel pilot Don Lampus Jr. proved his
mettle once again by earning a spot in the stout elimination field of
the 37th annual Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. Lampus
managed a steady pass of 4.654 seconds at 316.82 mph to nail down the
13th slot on the ladder and is poised to race old IHRA rival Doug
Herbert in Round 1.

With 22 drivers vying for 16 spots, the competition in qualifying was
tough with the final bump position set with a season-low elapsed time of
4.708 seconds at 307.58 mph, meaning drivers had to at least reach that
number to continue through to Sunday’s action. Racing in just his third
event of the season after being sidelined by sponsorship concerns,
Lampus was able to run two laps below the cut-off point.

“I never expected to come here and run a good lap like that and still be
in the bottom half of the field,” Lampus said. “I guess the good news is
that we’re in and we’ll be racing for the title on Sunday. But we all
know the odds are slightly against you when you start the day without
lane choice. In my mind, and I was just talking to my crew chief Wayne
Dupuy about this, a bottom-half starting point just means that you hold
nothing back because you have nothing to lose. Wayne agreed so that’s
our gameplan.

“We’re running these last three races to prepare for next year. I’m
thrilled with the results we’ve had. We just wanted to do a little
glorified testing really but this team is so intent on winning that
we’ve had some great success already. To have won three rounds in Dallas
and Las Vegas and beat one of the guys that could win the championship
this year is phenomenal. It speaks volumes about what this group is
capable of. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, I’ll be smiling.

“It’s weird but I feel a little somber about the year ending. I know I
only raced three events but I just haven’t filled my Nitro fix yet. I’m
already dreaming of next February.”

Lampus, a 37-year-old from Dallas, has a 2-1 record against Herbert in
NHRA competition. Herbert will have lane choice due to his superior
elapsed time in qualifying of 4.555 seconds at 325.06 mph but overnight
showers could change the track considerably.

There are still five hours of television coverage left for this
weekend’s 37th annual Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.
Sunday’s elimination rounds will air from 7-10 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 with a
repeat showing from 2-4 p.m. (ET) Friday, also on ESPN2.

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