Luck turns for Lucas Oil pro Larry Morgan in Pomona

POMONA, CA – After a weekend that wasn’t going the way Lucas Oil/MAVTV driver Larry Morgan wanted, the overcast skies Sunday at Auto Club Raceway really turned his luck around.

After qualifying No. 15 for the Circle K Winternationals, Morgan’s Ford Mustang faced off against No. 2 qualifier Allen Johnson’s Dodge Avenger in the first round. But with a reaction time of .010 seconds, Morgan’s 6.568-second pass at 209.65 mph was good enough to hold off Johnson’s 6.567-second pass at 211.36 mph for a first-round, holeshot victory.

“Anytime you can beat the guys that continually do well feels good,” Morgan said. “Allen Johnson is a tough guy and he’s a tough competitor. That team has their act together. When you beat someone like that it really puts a shot in your team’s arm, that’s for sure.”

The second round, though, wasn’t as forgiving to Morgan, who made a pass of 6.572 seconds at 209.85 mph, falling to Shane Gray’s 6.533-second pass at 211.99 mph.

Even though Morgan scored an upset in the first round of Pro Stock, his team is more focused on what this means for the future. After ending the season on a less than high note in Pomona last year, Morgan hopes that this first-round win will translate to better finishes yearlong.

“For the most part I’m just glad to get my car into the second round,” Morgan said. “Our guys worked awful hard to get to that point. And to get Lucas Oil to the second round; they sure deserve it. I think I cheated them last year and I’m trying to make up for it this year.

“We’re excited but just have to get the car working better and everyone working together. I’m pretty optimistic about this season and think we will be alright.”

With the first week of racing behind them in Pomona, Morgan and the team look forward to see what the Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park may hold for them Feb. 21-23.