Sig Sauer/Lucas Gun Oil pro Morgan Lucas hoping to hit the bulls-eye in Epping

EPPING, NH – Top Fuel veteran Morgan Lucas knows it’s just a matter of time before his Sig Sauer/Lucas Gun Oil dragster returns to the form that carried him to a pair of wins in just seven NHRA starts last season. That time can’t come soon enough as the multi-time NHRA race champion performs in his title sponsor’s backyard of New England Dragway.

“You can literally walk to Sig Sauer’s tactical training grounds from here,” Lucas said. “And their headquarters is just a couple miles past that. We’re that close. So obviously we want to do well for them.

“The cars been a handful to figure out. It’s an older chassis and as these dragsters age it gets harder to make them consistent. That’s what we’re missing right now. This car can run huge numbers, but it’s only doing it some of the time. You won’t find a lot of success in drag racing if your car doesn’t go down the track every time.”

Lucas and crew chief Aaron Brooks hope a reliable combination shows up Sunday when eliminations for the NHRA New England Nationals begin. Lucas, who is racing a part-time schedule again this year as he learns the family business, will start against Tony Schumacher, who qualified with a 3.742 at 324.12 mph. Lucas’ best run so far is the 3.908 at 302.48 mph he posted Friday night.

“Mom and Dad are here and they don’t come to as many races as we’d like so I really want to do well for them as well,” Lucas said. “It’s so cool to see them up at the starting line giving me the ‘thumbs up’ before every run. I know they only want the best for us, and the guys know it too.

“There’s certainly no lack of effort over here. You work just as hard, if not harder, when you’re struggling as you do when everything is perfect. Drag racing is just a never ending puzzle that you’re trying to solve, and it becomes a little harder when you’re only racing select events, but no excuses, we have the ability to run well and hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for us.”

ESPN2 will broadcast all the qualifying action from 7:30-10 p.m., Saturday, and the elimination rounds from 5-8 p.m., Sunday.