Top Fuel drivers Morgan Lucas and Shawn Langdon started the 28th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
Friday with an impressive showing of horsepower that placed them both comfortably in the qualified
field at Brainerd International Raceway.
Lucas did the best, running a 3.942 at 300.26 mph in his GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil dragster. The
pass placed him on top of the class for a period of time before he was pushed down to third in the
last pairing of the day.
"I couldn't be much happier," the 26-year-old Lucas said. "I'm so proud of this team and my guys.
There's something in the air this weekend and we're all just clicking. Maybe it's because we want
to win so badly for Mom and Dad and all the people back at corporate in California. This is a big
race for all of us with Lucas Oil on our uniforms.
"It was fun to be No. 1 for a minute. I thought it might hold but Cory (McClenathan) and Tony
(Schumacher) sneaked around us. That's okay though because we qualified No. 3 in Atlanta and won
the race so maybe it's our lucky spot. The main thing is the car's strong and we'll have a good
starting spot on Sunday."
Lucas was quick to point out that Langdon would have challenged the top cars today if not for a
dropped cylinder down-track that slowed Langdon's Lucas Oil/Dixie Chopper dragster down to a 4.101
at 254.86 mph, good enough for 10th place.
"The data shows we would have run at least in the mid-3.90s," Langdon said. "It's showing potential
and with Morgan's car running so good Stewie (crew chief John Stewart) can get some ideas from
Jimmy so we can pick it up tomorrow.
"They're saying it's going to get a little cooler every day we're here so we should be able to
improve. I hope the weatherman is right this time, for sure."
Saturday's two sessions are schedule to begin at noon and 3 p.m.
