FIRST ROUND ON SUNDAY - AGAIN

MADISON, Ill. – Morgan Lucas has been seeing a lot of Tony Schumacher in the first round. Last week in Atlanta was another first round episode and although Schumacher might have won the round, Lucas was right beside him all the way giving him a run for the money. Tomorrow for the running of the 12th annual O’Reilly Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway, he races him again for the 20th time in his young four year career (4-15). The last time he defeated Schumacher was the first round of the 2007 Richmond event, where he toppled him as the No. 1 qualifier.”

“Tomorrow we’ll do our best and we have Schumacher,” said Lucas. “We tend to go back and forth with each other and we’ll just see what happens on Sunday.”

Lucas’ qualifying efforts might not reflect his true potential for the St. Louis race. On every run, it appears little gremlins plagued his Lucas Oil ride causing a downturn in elapsed time and speed, but the John Stewart-led team knows its capabilities. Placing his dragster into the No. 15 slot with his qualifying time of 4.607 seconds, 326.32 mph, Lucas knows that when it all comes together, he will quickly become a threat to everyone.”

“That last run was on a good pass until it dropped a valve,” said Lucas. “That might have cost us some qualifying positions which could have difference of three spots. I’m especially proud and happy for J.R.’s (teammate, Todd) car and crew that they made it to the top half of the field.”

ESPN2 will air NHRA Race Day presented by Lucas Oil Products at 11 a.m. EDT followed by the final rounds of eliminations of the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals starting at 7 p.m.