FireAde pro Larry Morgan hopes to continue 2015 success in Bristol

BRISTOL, TN – The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season is only 10 races old, but it has already been fantastic for FireAde driver Larry Morgan. As the Pro Stock class heads to Bristol Dragway for this weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Morgan has shown dramatic improvement over the last few years.

For starters, his victory in Charlotte in March was his first win since 2009, but Morgan’s overall performance has been his best in years. Already he has eight round-wins, one final-round appearance, and two semifinal efforts. Plus, he has qualified in the top half of the field six times.

Those numbers are all better than 2014 and 2013 combined, when he had a total of three round-wins and no finals, semifinals, or top-half qualifying efforts.

In 2011, Morgan won 11 rounds and recorded one semifinal. In 2010, his year-long numbers nearly mirror what he has done in 10 races this season: nine round-wins, one final round, two semifinals, and seven top-half qualifying spots.

“I owe it all to Ron Thames and Johnny Gray,” Morgan said, referring to FireAde owner Thames and Gray Motorsports owner Gray. “Without them, I wouldn’t be here. They’ve both given me what I need to go fast this year, and the results show it.”

Gray Motorsports supplies engines and technical support to Larry Morgan Racing, though Morgan is the highest in points of the three Gray drivers. FireAde joined Morgan’s team for 2015, providing the financial support.

“I can’t say enough good things about FireAde,” Morgan said. “Ron and (wife) Teresa are great people and they have a great product. Everyone needs to have FireAde in their homes; I believe in it that much.”

Morgan hopes to continue his 2015 success at Bristol, one of his favorite tracks on the circuit.

“I like going into Bristol,” Morgan said. “I like every track, of course, but Bruton (Smith’s) tracks really are the best. They know how to treat the fans and all the competitors, and we love going there.

“I hope to do better there than I did in Epping (N.H.), but we’ll be all right.”

Pro Stock qualifying sessions will be held at 5 and 7:30 p.m. ET, Friday, and 12:30 and 3 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations begin at 1 p.m., Sunday. ESPN2 will broadcast all the qualifying action from 8 to 10 p.m., Saturday, and the elimination rounds from 3 to 6 p.m., Sunday.