Lucas Oil Racing’s Top Fuel driver, Morgan Lucas is geared up to get the second half of the NHRA season started, meaning the start of the iniquitous ‘Western Swing’. Already after three races in a row in the eastern part of the United States, the premier drag racers will now make their annual westward trek through Denver, Seattle and San Francisco.
First up will be the Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway on July 13 – 15. With the helter-skelter changeovers every team will have to make in accepting as much oxygen as the mile-high conditions will allow; the Morgan Lucas Racing crew is well aware of the major modifications to be made.
“It’s a completely different tune-up, ” said Lucas. “We’re allowed 90 per cent nitromethane for this one race, so that will help, but getting the air to the engine will make all the power for us. It’s a challenge getting the engine to perform properly and they’re calling for some hot weather this weekend. That will complicate things more for the crew chiefs. Richard Hogan (Crew chief) has been through this before and we’ll rely on his notes in what it will take to give us some Sunday rounds. ”
Lucas is remarkably upbeat despite his earlier season struggles and knows that with his recent Bristol performance, which saw his Lucas Oil team make four consecutive passes with a small variance of only eight-hundredths of a second in qualifying, can be pleased with his future racing endeavors.
“Our team is really coming together, ” stated Lucas. “You have to be consistent and that’s what we were practicing. We proved at Bristol we could get our car down the track on all of our qualifying runs. We’re building and that’s the way you do it. We have a great Lucas Oil crew and they fully understand we have to run it to the finish line first before we can see any win lights. ”
“We’re right in the middle of a six-in-row run of races and we’re fortunate to be able to keep performing and working on our combination. We’ll get it right and be back. ”
The start of the 28th annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals begins at the Bandimere Speedway on Friday, July 13, with two qualifying sessions starting at 5:30 p. m. (MDT) with a second session at 8:00 p. m. Saturday’s time trials start at 2:00 p. m. for the nitro classes followed by a second session at 5:00 p. m. The race starts promptly at 11 a. m. on Sunday, July 15.
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