NHRA - Consistency Makes Morgan Lucas a Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Contender
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jay Wells (704) 662-3525 – Office (704) 281-5678 – Cell LucasOil.com CONSISTENCY MAKES MORGAN LUCAS A MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS CONTENDER INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 28) – The 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals -- It’s the biggest affair of the drag racing season and the Lucas Oil Racing team can hardly wait to display their racing wares at this year’s edition of the ‘The Big Go’. From their recent back-to-back semi-final round appearances in Brainerd and Reading, this one team has found its way. At the rate he’s going, Morgan Lucas could quickly become a spoiler in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. Uniformly, Lucas’ Top Fuel dragster led by veteran tuner, Richard Hogan, has become a consistent racer that has other teams turning heads and eyeing competitors watching every one of their performances on the quarter-mile. “We’re running great,” said a pleased Lucas. ”It’s all about having fun and to be dedicated to the length of time it takes to maintain a competitive team, you had better be enjoying yourself. That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited about the upcoming Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. We have a great team going into this race and we can really make our year by winning the race. It would be the best to get my first win there in Indiana.” With the tremendous business and personal relationship with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, and the debut of the grand opening of the Lucas Oil Stadium in 2008, the entire Lucas family takes their Indiana pride very seriously. Lucas Oil Products has a major facility in Corydon and the Hoosier state is homeland for Forrest and Charlotte Lucas. “It’s home for me and all of my family,” said the 23-year old Lucas. “We have the naming rights on the stadium starting next year, and our company is continuously growing. Just like out team, we’re getting better and better every weekend. It’s a blast to go up to the starting line and have a legitimate chance of winning the round. It’s the best feeling.” The start of the 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals begins at the O’Reilly Raceway Park on Friday, August 31, with an opening-event qualifying attempt at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, there will be two qualifying sessions starting at 2:45 p.m. (EDT) with a second session at 7:30 p.m. Sunday's time trials start at 12:30 p.m. for the nitro classes followed by a second session at 3:40 p.m. The race starts promptly at 11 a.m. on Labor Day Monday, September 3. www.lucasoil.com Add 1-1-1 LUCAS OIL RACING DRIVER NOTES: Morgan Lucas has five runner-up finishes, which the Brownsburg, Ind. driver reached in only his seventh (04 Las Vegas2), eighth (04 Pomona2), 10th (05 Phoenix), 20th (05 St. Louis) and 21st (05 Denver) starts. He finished fifth in the 2005 NHRA Top Fuel Point standings with 1,357 points after completing his first full season on the competitive 23-race NHRA circuit. He finished 11th in 2006. Lucas' quickest elapsed time is 4.474 seconds, set on Feb. 12, 2005 at Pomona Raceway. He sped to his fastest top speed of 328.94 mph on May 29 in the first round of eliminations at the 2005 O’Reilly Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kansas. He has won two Technicoat low qualifier awards. His first on May 14 at the Atlanta Dragway recording a time 4.541 seconds and Oct. 22 on ‘The Strip’ at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway setting the pace with his run of 4.508 seconds. Morgan Lucas’ first Top Fuel event came behind the wheel of the Joe Amato-owned dragster at the 2004 Lucas Oil Nationals at the Brainerd (MN.) International Raceway on August 15, 2004. DOB: November 27, 1983. MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY (ALL TIMES EASTERN – ALL PROGRAMS ON ESPN2 HD) QUALIFYING HIGHLIGHTS Sunday, September 2 12:30 A.M. – 1:30 A.M. NHRA RACE DAY Sunday, September 2 11:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. QUALIFYING COVERAGE Sunday, September 2 2:00 P.M. – 5:30 P.M. QUALIFYING COVERAGE Monday, September 3 12:00 A.M. – 1:00 A.M. FINAL ROUND COVERAGE (Early Edition) Monday, September 3 12:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. FINAL ROUND COVERAGE (Results Edition) Monday, September 3 7:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. Encore Performance Thursday, Sept. 6 4:00 A.M. – 6:00 A.M Jay Wells (704) 662-3525 - Office (704) 281-5678 - Cell Lucas Oil Racing jaywell1@ix.netcom.com EarthLink Revolves Around You.