FireAde driver Larry Morgan snares best qualifying spot since 2007

TOPEKA, KS – Steaming toward 600 races in his NHRA career, FireAde Pro Stock driver Larry Morgan is showing no signs of slowing down.

In his 599th career race, Morgan snared the No. 4 qualifying spot for the NHRA Kansas Nationals this weekend at Heartland Park Topeka. That’s his best qualifying effort since going No. 2 in Gainesville, Fla., in 2007 (he was also No. 4 in Dallas in 2009 and Seattle in 2007). His official qualifying run was a 6.533 at 211.10 mph.

“It does feel good to qualify well because you know that you’ve got something worth racing,” Morgan said. “We have that, with the help of FireAde and all the good people who are behind me with this deal and all the good help I have between my team and the Gray team. It’s gratifying for us.”

But Morgan, the eternal optimist, was hoping for a higher qualifying spot. The final qualifying session, however, was rained out, denying him the chance to improve.

“I wish we could’ve gotten the last run in because we changed a bunch of things to maybe go to the pole,” Morgan said. “Now, we’re going to have to do that tomorrow.”

He’ll line up against Bo Butner, who qualified No. 13 with a pass of 6.607 seconds at 208.26 mph, in round one. Rain is in the forecast for the area, though Morgan is hopeful of getting in four rounds of eliminations.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” Morgan said. “Let’s hope the rain holds off and we can race. That’s what it’s all about, and that’s why we came here. I’d sure like to win another race here.”

Morgan’s qualifying run extended a terrific start to the 2015 season. He ended a winning drought of more than five years when he scored at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte in March, and he has already won six rounds in eliminations this year.

“We’ve got everything lined up,” Morgan said. “All the stars are lined up, and we need to take advantage of the situation we’re in. Winning a race is one of those, for sure.”