Morgan hoping ‘common sense’ increases his chances in Denver
DENVER, CO – In this age of high technology that pervades the Pro Stock class, Lucas Oil Ford driver Larry Morgan is simply 
looking for some good judgment.
Morgan grabbed the No. 14 qualifying spot for the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals on Saturday at Bandimere Speedway, but he’s hoping to make his Mustang better for final eliminations.
“We’ve got to go over everything and use just a little bit of common sense on what direction to go,” Morgan said. “That’s all we can do.”
Morgan’s best pass was 7.019 seconds at 196.16 mph, but he knows there is more in his race car. A mysterious ailment has plagued Morgan this weekend that caused his engine to briefly cut out during his qualifying passes.
“I don’t know what it is,” Morgan said. “It kept shutting off through every gear. That’s why it ran so bad.”
Morgan is confident that if he can keep the engine firing on all cylinders for an entire run, he can make a better pass, even in Denver, where the thin air plagues Pro Stock teams.
The altitude causes the naturally aspirated Pro Stock engines to gasp for air, raising elapsed times and lowering speeds. Morgan is a noted engine builder, but even he continues to be baffled by conditions in Denver.
And that’s with a teammate this weekend in Tommy Lee, who is running a second Larry Morgan Racing Ford here.
“We got the car working better,” Morgan said. “But we’re at a track that is down 200 horsepower from everywhere else we run, so it’s hard to tell what it will do at the next race. We’ll see.”
Morgan is confident for Sunday, despite at first not knowing his opponent. It’s points leader Erica Enders-Stevens, whom Morgan has faced three times this year and twice in the last four races.
“I’m sure it’s Erica,” Morgan said. “It seems like we’re always racing her. I’m OK with that. I like Erica a lot, but I hope we can make her mad tomorrow.”
Final eliminations at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals begin at noon, Sunday. ESPN2 will broadcast all elimination action, including live coverage of the final two rounds.
