Just a few days removed from this third victory of the 2009 season, Top Fuel driver and team owner
Morgan Lucas says his two-car operation's recent string of successes has only motivated his group
to reach for more.
"Our business is winning races; we don't do this to finish second," he said. "We'd like to have
both our cars finish in the top five in the Countdown to 1, get Shawn (Langdon, teammate) the Auto
Club Rookie of the Year award, and get him a win before we're done. But a lot of big moves have to
be made and we have to be on our game. It all starts this weekend in Richmond."
With only a few days to celebrate Monday's win in Memphis, Tenn., Lucas and his GEICO
Powersports/Lucas Oil dragster team head to at Virginia Motorsports Park for this weekend's fourth
annual Virginia NHRA Nationals, which begins with two qualifying sessions at 2 and 4:30 p.m.
Friday.
"We want to win Richmond as much as any of the rest of the races," said Lucas, who at 25 years old
is the youngest driver in the nitro ranks. "We've won a couple of rounds in Richmond, nothing to
brag about, but we're on a roll right now so maybe that will change. What I do know is that the
track is awesome and can produce some huge numbers, so it should be a lot of fun."
Currently, Lucas is fifth in the Full Throttle points, 133 off series leader Tony Schumacher, whom
he beat in the final round at Memphis. Lucas' teammate Shawn Langdon is close behind in sixth
place.
"When you win a race all you want to do is get back in the car and keep racing," Lucas said. "It's
such an awesome feeling. I can't wait for Richmond to start. I really like that place. Plus, they
build a cool playground in my buddy Eric Medlen's name for the kids. Anyone who supports kids and
honors Eric, I support them.
"It's a shame it's our last year there, with the Civil War Museum and everything across the street,
it's just a cool place. The fans are always great also. I guess we need to send them off is style
with a big win."
