Team Lucas racers too aggressive for touchy Pomona track

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 13) -- Friday the 13th wasn't exceptionally kind to Team Lucas drivers Morgan Lucas and Shawn Langdon as both men overpowered Pomona Raceway with their 8,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragsters. They'll now have two more chances Saturday to improve their spots in the field of this weekend's 45th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.

"We weren't even going crazy with the tune-up but it was still too much for the track to hold," Lucas said. "It seemed like it was going to be a touch better than yesterday so we tried to run a 3.85 or so but it didn't happen."

With too much wheel speed, Lucas' GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil dragster slowed slightly to a 3.973 at 278.58 mph. His run of record, at least for the moment, is Thursday's 3.909 at 303.84 mph, which places him 11th overall.

"I'm confident we can improve," said the 25-year-old Lucas, the youngest driver in the nitro ranks. "The conditions have been great both rounds and it's supposed to stay cool all the way through Sunday so we'll adjust the timing curve and get right down through there with a better E.T. We'd like to get in the top half and stay there."

Like Lucas, Langdon tried to get away with too much in Friday's session. The end result was another bout of tire shake that left his Lucas Oil/Speedco dragster outside the field in 22nd place with a best of 8.330 at 82.90 mph.

"We thought we had the starting figured out," Langdon said of the racing surface. "I think the fact we dropped a cylinder right at the hit yesterday had us thinking we could do more than we could with all eight firing.

"We'll be fine. I think tomorrow's early session could be awesome. We might see some record numbers, and if everyone else is running strong, than we can too."

Saturday's final two nitro qualifying sessions are scheduled to begin at 12 and 3:30 p.m.

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Contact: Geiger Media at 281-354-5769 or rob@go2geiger.com.

Please visit www.geicogarage.com for more information on Morgan Lucas.

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