FireAde pro Larry Morgan looking to advance in Countdown rankings

ST. LOUIS – FireAde Camaro Pro Stock driver Larry Morgan is hard at work preparing for this weekend’s AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park, the second of six events in the 2015 Countdown to the Championship.

Thanks to his appearance in the Pro Stock semifinals last Sunday in Charlotte, Morgan advanced from sixth to fifth in the Countdown to the Championship point standings, and he’ll arrive in St. Louis looking for more upward movement.

“Going to the semifinals in the first Countdown race was pretty good, and I’m happy about that,” Morgan said. “I wanted to win, but I’m happy with that finish because we didn’t run as good as we wanted there.”

With the St. Louis forecast calling for temperatures in the low 80s with no chance of rain, Morgan thinks the racing will be better after having to battle track temperatures in excess of 120 degrees in Charlotte.

“It’s a good dragstrip in St. Louis,” Morgan said. “We’ve tested there a lot over the years, so we know it really well. I think it’ll be a fair amount cooler than it was in Charlotte, and if it is, it’ll make the racing a lot better. Hopefully, we’ll do better in St. Louis also.”

Since signing Gray Motorsports as his engine supplier and technical advisers, Morgan has won twice in 2015, including the first race in Charlotte in March and in Denver in July. A Gray Motorsports engine powered last year’s St. Louis Pro Stock winner, so the horsepower side of the equation knows the way to the victory podium at the vintage quarter-mile that was completed just two years after the famed St. Louis arch, which is visible from the grandstands.

Morgan believes championship contention lies in his skills.

“This is the best position I’ve ever been in going to the Countdown,” Morgan said. “It’s so important to try and not make any mistakes. Because of the Countdown, everything now is real important.

“I’m going to do the best I can do. I’m going to try to keep my head and not be distracted by the fanfare and pressure of the Countdown. And I need to learn to concentrate on shifting better. I’ve not been a shift-light guy, so it’s been an adjustment. Once I get that figured out, God help the other guys.”

Pro Stock qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:45 and 5:15 p.m., Friday, and 1:45 and 1:15 p.m., Saturday. Pro Stock eliminations are scheduled to begin at noon on Sunday.