Rookie no more, Lucas Oil pro Richie Crampton soars into Atlanta race
ATLANTA – Affable Aussie Richie Crampton returns to Atlanta Dragway this weekend in far better shape than he did 
as a rookie one year ago, making his Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster one to watch at the 35th annual Summit NHRA Southern Nationals.
Crampton, of Adelaide, Australia, was barely getting started when he arrived in the Peach State last season. He had just one round win to his credit and was a distant ninth in the standings, a whopping 356 points behind leader Antron Brown. It wasn’t until later in the year that his Aaron Brooks-led team found a rhythm, eventually bagging a pair of victories and Auto Club Rookie of the Year honors.
“Looking back, I was so raw,” Crampton said. “What amazes and humbles me now is how this team stayed so supportive. From everyone at Lucas Oil and GEICO, to Forrest, Charlotte, Morgan and Katie Lucas, on to (crew chief) Aaron (Brooks) and the rest of the crew, no one wavered in those early days. I was so happy when I got it together later in the year and had so much success. It was my way of paying them back for their support.”
Crampton has wasted little time in showing his thanks this season. He’s stormed out of the gates in the first six races, winning a total of nine elimination rounds and claiming the title of the spring Las Vegas race just one month ago. In a wide-open Top Fuel championship points race, he’s a solid sixth overall and less than one race (100 points) off the pace set by leader Tony Schumacher.
“There’s a lot to be said for racing at these various tracks for s second time, and in some instances at places we visit more than once a year, for the third time,” Crampton said. “All drag strips are long and straight but they definitely have their own personality and are different in their own ways.
“It’s great to have a comfort level now. There is a lot less for me to take in so I can focus that much more on what I need to do to turn on win lights. Plus, I think the feedback I have after each run with Aaron, Rob (Centorbi, assistant tuner) and each of the crew guys is better now. That helps us fine-tune the racecar.”
Another benefit Crampton will enjoy this weekend is having teammate and car owner Morgan Lucas competing in a second dragster, sponsored by Team Lucas corporate partner E3 Spark Plugs. For the last two years, Lucas has run a partial schedule as he learns the family business.
“Having Morgan will be a huge help,” Crampton said. “First of all, he’s won here before. Plus, he’s been my driving mentor from Day 1. I can ask him anything. And running two cars gives us twice as much data every round, yet another advantage.
“I’m excited. It’ll be fun having Morgan there and I know we’re both looking forward to showing the E3 Spark Plus folks a good time. The Southern hospitality of the fans in Georgia is pretty cool also. It should be a great weekend.”
Qualifying rounds will take place at 4:30 and 7 p.m., Friday, and 1:30 and 4 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations start at 11 a.m., Sunday. ESPN2 will carry all the action.
