Morgan’s FireAde Chevy speeds to Pomona’s second round

POMONA, CA – FireAde Chevrolet Pro Stock driver Larry Morgan’s performance in the Circle K NHRA Winternationals this weekend at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona has his confidence soaring for the 2015 season.

Morgan posted his best qualifying effort since November 2011 and scored his first round-win since this race one year ago. His new partnership with FireAde and Gray Motorsports paid dividends this weekend, but he’s ready for bigger things during the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

“I’m good,” Morgan said. “Running good gives us all confidence, and we know we can do better, too. If I can get the struts working better, we’ll be quicker, too. I’m just excited and couldn’t be more happy.”

Morgan partnered with sponsor FireAde in the off-season and switched to Chevrolet for 2015. Plus, Gray Motorsports joined Larry Morgan Racing to provide engines and technical support.

Morgan qualified No. 6 and then dispatched Jimmy Alund in the first round of eliminations Sunday.

“It’s unbelievable,” Morgan said. “Not only winning a round but we’re running good, too. I’m so excited about that, and I’m so thankful for (FireAde President and CEO) Ron Thames and for Johnny Gray. I’ve been blessed this year, I’m telling you.”

Morgan’s pass of 6.546 seconds at 212.56 mph easily knocked out Alund’s 14.251-second run at 59.26 mph, and it was also the second-quickest of the first round.

That gave him lane choice in the second round against No. 3 Rodger Brogdon, but Morgan quickly discovered a problem as he did his burnout.

“During the burnout, it felt like there was a miss in the engine,” Morgan said. “I thought, ‘Uh, oh, I bet it broke a valve spring.’ I don’t think my guys believed me, but when we got back to the pit area, we saw there really was a miss.”

Morgan still made a good pass, 6.566 seconds at 212.36 mph, but Brogdon was a tick better, 6.565 seconds at 211.46 mph, to get the round-win.

Up next for Morgan and the FireAde team is the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, Feb. 20-22, in Phoenix.