Lucas Oil ace Richie Crampton hopes for red, white, and blue weekend in Norwalk

NORWALK, OH – Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster driver Richie Crampton has already had a stellar 2015 with three victories, but he and the Morgan Lucas Racing team are looking for more as they prepare for this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park. The ultimate goal for the affable Australian is to win the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series championship.

“It’s been an amazing start to 2015,” Crampton said. “We just really want to continue to push forward and get some more wins. We want to solidify our attempt to finish out the season well.”

Crampton is coming off a victory at Bristol Dragway two weekends ago and has never won two races in a row in his young career yet. He’d also like to shake off some post-victory blues that have cropped up this season.

After each of his first two wins, Crampton lost in the first round at the next race. He won in Las Vegas and then lost to Clay Millican in round one in Houston. He won in Topeka and then dropped a first-round match with Brittany Force in Englishtown. Crampton would love to end that streak in Norwalk.

“It’s hard to keep momentum going when you have a good weekend and then don’t do well at the next one,” Crampton said. “It’s going to be hard and it’s going to be a tough race, but I know (crew chief) Aaron Brooks and the guys have everything it takes to keep the ball rolling.”

Crampton sits third in the Top Fuel standings, winning all three times he reached the two-wide final round. His Four-Wide final-round appearance is officially a semifinal, and he’s 19-8 in rounds in 2015.

The Norwalk event will also be held over the Fourth of July holiday, a special one for Crampton, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen several years ago.

“It’s a pretty special holiday weekend, being Independence Day,” Crampton said. “It means a lot to me, and I know it means a huge amount to everyone. It’s going to be another great weekend in Norwalk. The Bader family puts on an excellent show for everyone who comes to the race and celebrates the Fourth of July. It’s going to be another good stars and stripes weekend.”

Crampton, by the way, drives a red, white, and blue dragster on the all-American holiday.

“I think it’s the perfect fit,” Crampton said.

Top Fuel qualifying sessions will be held at 5:45 and 8:30 p.m. ET, Friday and Saturday. Eliminations begin at 11 a.m., Sunday. ESPN2 will broadcast all the qualifying action from 10 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, and the elimination rounds live from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday.