TOPEKA– Larry Morgan driving his Lucas Oil Dodge Status Pro Stock car marched through eliminations to finish in the runner-up position for the running of the O’Reilly Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.
After a frustrating start to the season to his season where Morgan was unable to make the field for the first eight races, he soundly qualified for the race in the No. 9 position with an elapsed time of 6.749 seconds, 203.43 mph to enter Sunday’s eliminations to race fellow Mopar contender, Allen Johnson in his first round of competition.
Morgan claimed that first round victory of the season when he defeated Allen Johnson in a battle of Dodge supremacy and won with an elapsed time of 6.772 seconds, 203.03 mph to Johnson’s run of 6.787 seconds, 203.34 mph.
He conquered the No. 1 qualifier; Dave Connolly in the quarterfinals when he lit up the scoreboard with his time of 6.772 seconds, 203.22 mph after Connolly spun his tires and lost traction paving the way for Morgan to move on into the semi-finals.
Morgan surprised everyone when he made his best run of the day next to 2007 Pro Stock champion, Jeg Coughlin in the semis. Morgan crossed the finish line with his recorded time of 6.768 seconds, 203.25 mph after Coughlin suffered the same fate as Morgan’s earlier opponent, Connolly did with severe tire shake resulting in a loss of traction.
In the final round of the Pro Stock finals, Morgan raced Ron Krisher and same thing happened to him as his earlier two predecessors with his Lucas Oil Dodge experiencing tire shake in the left lane allowing Krisher to win easily with a time of 6.758 seconds, 204.70 mph to Morgan’s coasting time of 12.144 seconds, 62.96 mph.
Larry Morgan hopes to continue his winning ways next week for the running of the Torco Race Fuels Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.
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