Quick first-round pass not enough for FireAde’s Morgan

GAINESVILLE, FL – FireAde Chevrolet Pro Stock driver Larry Morgan was in the right place at the wrong time in the first round of the NHRA Gatornationals on Sunday at Auto-Plus Raceway.

Morgan had a stellar reaction time and made the fourth-quickest pass of the first round. Unfortunately, his opponent, Greg Anderson, was just a tick quicker to get the round-win.

“We’re trying awfully hard and we want to do well,” Morgan said. “We know we didn’t have a chance with that Ford, and this year we know we have a chance if we get it right. I think there are so many different ways to skin the cat, and we’re doing it the wrong way right now.”

Morgan partnered with FireAde and Gray Motorsports for the 2015 season, and he knows success is right around the corner.

“Those guys are good guys, and they’ve got good power,” Morgan said. “We just need a little more luck. I’m that close and I’m right there. Just need to be a little luckier.”

Morgan’s pass was 6.562 seconds at 211.49 mph after a .027-second reaction time. Anderson, though, had a .024 light and a run of 6.533 seconds at 212.59 mph to get the narrow victory.

Morgan continues to develop a new Chevrolet and was working with set of new front struts in Gainesville. After shaking the tires in qualifying runs Saturday, Morgan got in the field in the No. 11 position, but he couldn’t get by Anderson.

“The track was screwed up for the first few runs and we missed the setup,” Morgan said. “When you get behind by not making the first one or two runs, you’re kind of screwed. That’s exactly what happened.”

Morgan now looks forward to the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on March 27-29 at zMax Dragway.

“I have high expectations because it costs a lot of money to do what we do out here,” Morgan said. “We want more out of it. I’m not going to let pressure bother me; I’m going to do the best I can do. I drove good today.”