POMONA, CA – GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster driver Richie Crampton experienced the highs and lows of NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing during the Circle K NHRA Winternationals in Pomona.

The rookie savored a first-round victory over Brittany Force that was his first professional win but then suffered a second-round defeat to No. 1 qualifier Doug Kalitta.

Still, Crampton knows it’s early in his rookie year and believes Pomona was a good start to his career.

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POMONA, CA – Richie Crampton and the GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster team took a giant step forward during Circle K NHRA Winternationals qualifying Saturday in Pomona.

Crampton drove into the field with a pass of 3.821 seconds at 320.28 mph in Q3 and then improved in the final session with a run of 3.786 at 318.09 mph.

“Getting two good runs in today was definitely what I needed, and I think it’s what the team needed also,” Crampton said. “To run my first 3.70 pass this afternoon was also a huge accomplishment personally. It’s just a tribute to (crew chief) Aaron Brooks and this entire GEICO team. This is a top-caliber team, and it’s my absolute pleasure to get to drive this race car.”

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POMONA, CA – GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster driver Richie Crampton will make his first professional pass at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals this weekend in Pomona, but in many respects he’s no rookie.

Crampton, a 33-year-old from Adelaide, Australia, has been an integral member of the Morgan Lucas Racing team for several years. He’s changing jobs this season as he takes over the driver’s seat from Morgan Lucas, but Crampton will be comfortable there.

“One of the biggest things I have up my sleeve is the fact that I’ve worked with this team for so long,” Crampton said. “The team chemistry is there. I’ve seen the way this team operates, and I paid close attention to how Morgan goes about handling things during the race weekend as a driver. I think the fact that I’ve been around it for so long is probably my biggest benefit.”

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BROWNSBURG, IN – Safely back at Morgan Lucas Racing headquarters, rookie Top Fuel pilot Richie Crampton had time to reflect on his first official test session as driver of the 8,000-horsepower GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster.

“It was a test session I needed, for sure,” Crampton said. “It was a good opportunity for things to settle in for me and the team. I needed a chance to make some of the rookie mistakes I’m going to make, and I’m glad I had the luxury of doing that down there.”

Like many of the top teams in the sport, Crampton and the MLR crew headed south to West Palm Beach, Fla., last week for a lengthy preseason test in advance of the rapidly approaching 54th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals, Feb. 6-9, in Pomona, Calif.

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