NHRA- Morgan Lucas

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Lucas ready to add Topeka trophy to his collection

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 15) – If recent history holds true, Morgan Lucas and the GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster should be the odds-on favorite at this weekend's Dollar General NHRA Summernationals at Heartland Park Topeka.

Lucas' car has been solid all season -- he has two wins, four poles and is fourth in class points -- but the past few races have been either feast or famine for the GEICO team. An early exit in Charlotte was followed by a win in Houston the next time out. The next week, Lucas suffered a first-round loss in Atlanta, so he must be due for another win.

"We struggled in Charlotte, tested afterward and came out in Houston and we were much better," Lucas said. "It didn't work out so well in Atlanta but regardless of that, this is still the best race car and race team I've ever had. I like our chances."

Despite being on a bit of a roller-coaster the last month, Lucas said spirits are running high in his pit, and the crew has put the rest of the class on notice about what to expect when the team hits its stride.

"I'm really excited about that the future holds," Lucas said. "Some of the guys said, 'Let (other teams) win now. We'll take ours in the playoffs.' Once we get enough laps under our belt, they're going to hate us."

Lucas admitted that a win this weekend will not be a breeze, given the intense nature of the competition in the class and his own checkered history in Topeka.

"I've never had much success in Topeka," Lucas said. "I went to the semis once and went to the semis in an Alcohol Dragster once, too. That track's got my number, but I also said that at Houston before we got there and we ended up winning. They're all race tracks. It's all in how you race them. I'd love to put a trophy from Topeka on my shelf."

Qualifying for the Dollar General NHRA Summernationals gets under way at 4:30 p.m. CDT from Heartland Park Topeka. Qualifying continues at noon Saturday with eliminations getting under way at 11 a.m. Sunday. ESPN2 will broadcast the qualifying show at 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday and the eliminations show at 7 p.m. on Sunday.