FireAde pro Larry Morgan ready to bounce back in Houston
HOUSTON – Larry Morgan and the FireAde Racing Pro Stock team are ready to return to their winning ways this 
weekend at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals.
Following his victory at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte on March 29, returning to the winner’s circle for the first time in nearly nine years, Morgan suffered some atrocious luck in Las Vegas on April 12.
After qualifying in the top half of the field for the fourth time in five races this season, the generator in Morgan’s hauler malfunctioned Sunday morning of the race. That wiped out any electricity to the semi, including computers to help tune Morgan’s FireAde Chevrolet. Understandably, Morgan shook the tires in the first round and fell to Jimmy Alund.
“It was just crazy,” Morgan said. “We were more worried about the stuff we weren’t there for than what we were there for, but that happens when stuff breaks, I guess. What a deal. But it’s over now, and we’re moving on to something else, like winning in Houston.”
Morgan has stepped up his competitiveness for 2015, partnering with FireAde for financial backing and Gray Motorsports for horsepower and technical support. He has already won more rounds than all of last year and set his career-best elapsed time and speed in Charlotte, 6.464 seconds and 214.52 mph. The 6.464-second pass was also the fourth-quickest run in Pro Stock history.
“I’m so grateful to (FireAde founder) Ron Thames and Johnny Gray (of Gray Motorsports) for all they have done for us this year,” Morgan said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be here, and it sure has been fun this year going fast and being competitive. That’s probably why Vegas hurt so much, because we know we have a better car than that.
“But everything is good now. We got the computers back and everything else, too. It blew up more stuff than 10 things, but we got all that fixed and the truck left Tuesday for Houston, so we’re good to go.”
Houston usually marks the start of hot-weather racing, though Las Vegas was warm, too. Temperatures are expected to be in the 80s this weekend, but Morgan is confident in his team to handle the warmer weather.
“The track is usually pretty good down there,” Morgan said. “I would say we’ll be all right with that.”
Qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4 and 6:30 p.m. CT, Friday, and 12:30 and 3:30 p.m., Saturday. Final eliminations will start at approximately noon, Sunday. Saturday qualifying will be broadcasted at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and Sunday’s elimination action will air live beginning at 2 p.m.
