Sponsor's son repays Mom, Dad
LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS
Lucas Oil Products Inc. sponsors two events on the NHRA circuit, sponsors the NHRA's Sportsman series and is the official oil of the NHRA.
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Just because Morgan Lucas' parents, Charlotte and Forrest, are huge NHRA benefactors doesn't guarantee Morgan any favors throughout the season, or when the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals stops at Brainerd International Raceway.
Morgan had been in the finals of only one Top Fuel event this season, winning the Summit Racing Summer Nationals April 16-19 in Atlanta. In addition, he ranked eighth in season points before getting to BIR.
The 25-year-old zipped to the title Sunday on a weekend when he swept No. 1 qualifier honors all three days of pro racing.
Morgan Lucas won the Top Fuel division at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals on Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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"In 2004 I won with A Fuel cars in my first race here," Lucas said. "This is my fifth-year anniversary (or racing). I went to the semis the last couple years. That's been cool, to go three rounds for Mom and Dad.
"We've struggled a lot, so coming here and winning it's honestly the cat's meow. I can actually call corporate in California and say we're not losers anymore. Now we've won twice. That goes to show it's not a fluke."
In Sunday's finals Lucas beat Larry Dixon with an elapsed time of 3.814 seconds at 309.27 mph. Dixon finished in 3.818 at 314.09.
"It's the best day of my life," Lucas said. "It's the best feeling in the world. I'm still weak everywhere. Everywhere in my body I've got goose bumps still, and it's hot out.
"I don't know what to do for the rest of the year because we've accomplished all the goals we set at the beginning of this year, to win multiple races, to qualify No. 1, to have a team that's competitive. I think we've gained all those."
Morgan Lucas celebrated his Top Fuel win over Larry Dixon in the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway on Sunday. On the right is Morgan's mother, Charlotte Lucas. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Steve Kohls
In the semifinals, Antron Brown, No. 1 in season points, had his 14-round win streak snapped by Dixon, who went 3.827 to Brown's 4.682.
Lucas beat Cory McClenathan in the semifinals with a 3.831 pass to McClenathan's 3.846.
"In the semis we were trying to run maybe a (3.80) flat, but we blew it up, kicked the rods out, and had a problem with the fuel system," Lucas said. "That was our lucky round for the day because getting past Cory ... he's got a really good car.
"I just can't tell you how proud I am, how proud I am of my parents for giving me this opportunity because it's just so exciting to be able to race at this level. It's a dream come true."
Top Fuel
Highlight: Morgan Lucas won his second title of the season.
Dixon, the weekend's No. 2 qualifier, had won all four of his previous trips to the finals before BIR. He had already qualified for the Countdown to the Championship, while Lucas didn't lock up a spot until Sunday.
"We had three career-best runs in a row, between the second round, semis and finals," Lucas said. "In the semis and finals the sun was out. I've got to give a lot of credit to the people at this track that are prepping it and the all the safety support people with NHRA. To keep a track this good after all the rain that hit it, after all the sun that's been out, and all the cars that have been down it, it's pretty impressive. They deserve the biggest pat on the back."
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com and at 855-5861.