NHRA - Lucas has Positive Vegas Vibes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jay Wells (704) 662-3525 – Office (704) 281-5678 – Cell LucasOil.com LUCAS HAS POSITIVE VEGAS VIBES LAS VEGAS (Oct. 23) – Morgan Lucas heads into the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals on the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with plenty of positive Vegas vibes going for him. After upsetting the No. 1 qualifier in Richmond in NHRA’s last race with his solid run of 4.57 seconds, he feels that what he’s been saying all along about how capable and close his Lucas Oil team is to winning could be proven this weekend in the ‘City of Lights’. The competition is so tight in the Top Fuel division that any dragster is capable of taking anyone else out. Despite the close rivalry of the POWERade championship’s “Countdown to 1”, there are still 12 drivers vying for the race win, so there’s the incentive for the Lucas Oil team to go into Las Vegas with a scintillating performance on their mind. “We’re definitely should be considered one of the many teams who have a legitimate shot at winning Las Vegas,” said a confident Lucas. “Sure, we’ve had our up and downs this year, but our problems are now behind us and we’re running great. It’s the dedication of our crew that has made all the difference. Instead of giving up, they changed things around and went forward. So far, I like the results and we’re looking to win this weekend.” In his first professional start in 2004 at the famous dragway, he reached the finals and the next year, he was the No. 1 qualifier, so Lucas is familiar with this racing scene. “I’ve been fortunate to be able to race that quarter-mile a bunch of times,” said Lucas. “My sportsman days driving on the Lucas Oil series have given me plenty of opportunities to know practically every bump and dip on the track. I have a great feeling about the weekend.” Lucas is classified a long-shot at the Palace Station sports book and for as the risk and gamble, Lucas laughed at his prognosis and stated “With the way we’re running, I could make a lot of people pretty rich. Don’t count us out.” The start of the seventh annual ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals begins on the Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday, Oct. 26, with two qualifying sessions starting at 2:00 p.m. (PDT) with a second session at 4:30 p.m. Saturday's time trials start at 1:15 p.m. for the nitro classes followed by a second session at 3:30 p.m. The race starts promptly at 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 28. 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. ACDELCO LAS VEGAS NATIONALS TELEVISION ADVISORY (ALL TIMES EASTERN – ALL PROGRAMS ON ESPN2 HD) QUALIFYING HIGHLIGHTS Saturday, October 27 10:00 P.M. – 12:00 P.M. NHRA RACE DAY Sunday, October 28 11:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. FINAL ROUND COVERAGE Sunday, October 28 7:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. Encore Performance Wednesday, October 31 2:30 A.M. – 4:30 A.M Jay Wells (704) 662-3525 - Office (704) 281-5678 - Cell Lucas Oil Racing jaywell1@ix.netcom.com EarthLink Revolves Around You.