If Larry Morgan feels comfortable heading back to state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway for this weekend’s 8th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals, it is easy to understand why.
It was just a few short months ago that the Pro Stock veteran ended a 120-race winless streak at the track with a victory at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Those good vibes have carried over throughout the year, and that also holds true heading into the opening event of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship.
Morgan will start the chase for the Pro Stock world championship in his FireAde Chevrolet Camaro sixth in the points standings, his best starting spot entering the Countdown, and he has his sights set on another strong performance in Charlotte.
“Well I can tell you this much, the last time I was there, I kicked everybody’s butt, so hopefully that carries over,” Morgan said. “I don’t have to run as many guys at the same time this weekend, so I can concentrate on one at a time now!
“I really believe that we have not done our best yet, and I think that right now, hopefully we can show a lot of what we have. We’ve got good power, we’ve got a good group of guys – we’ve got everything going for us.”
Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Jonathan Gray (Pro Stock), and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the playoff opener. ESPN2 will provide national television coverage of the NHRA Carolina Nationals. The event has kicked off the Countdown to the Championship since 2007 and provides drivers a chance to make an impressive opening statement during the six-race playoff.
Morgan plans on taking advantage of the moment, much like he did in March when he won for the first time since 2009. It signaled the start of Morgan’s strong turnaround, which has included a final-round appearance in Chicago and another win in Denver.
It has rejuvenated Morgan, who has a strong chance to finish in the top five in Pro Stock for the first time since 2004. To get there and also compete for a world championship, Morgan, who has 12 victories, knows everything has to be on point.
“We’re three rounds behind the leader, so it’s like starting all over,” Morgan said. “We’re in good shape, to be honest with you. We just need to try and minimize anything that can go wrong and make sure that we capitalize on how good the car is running and the way we qualify. We need to look at every point and go for everything you can go for. We need to have on the right tires, have the clutch right, and I need to shift on time. If I shift on time, I’m going to run good. I’m going to work real hard on that for the Countdown.”
Morgan lost a close second-round bout to eventual winner, current points leader, and reigning world champion Erica Enders at the most recent race, the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, but he saw positives to take into the NHRA’s playoffs even in defeat.
Morgan’s Camaro has continued to impress all season and performed well in Indy, which is an ideal sign considering that the Countdown kicks off with three straight weekends of racing.
“It feels real good, especially after my last run at Indy, after we got the car straightened out, and it ran so well,” Morgan said. “We’re really excited heading into the Countdown. The way I look at it now is it’s all good right now, and I hope I don’t mess it up. It’s a pretty fast car.”
Morgan will face a number of challengers in Pro Stock, which boasts a loaded Countdown field headed by Enders, who has an impressive six wins in 2015. Other stars in the Countdown include four-time world champion and four-time 2015 winner Greg Anderson, who is in second to begin the Countdown; his teammate Jason Line; two-time event winner in 2015 Chris McGaha, who is third; Allen Johnson; Vincent Nobile; Shane Gray; Jonathan Gray; and rookie Drew Skillman.
Morgan, though, is prepared and appears ready for the vast challenges that will come his way in the next two months.
“You have to have all your ducks in a row, and you better have been prepared for this because it’s all going to happen so quick,” Morgan said. “We need to make the right moves all the time, and we’ll be just fine. I’ve got a car that’s more than capable, and I’m more than capable if I can keep my head on straight. And I plan on doing that. I’ve tried to stay calm, and we’ll try to do everything right.”
Tony Schumacher
Matt Hagan
Andrew Hines
In Top Fuel, reigning world champion and current points leader Tony Schumacher has his sights set on a ninth Top Fuel world title. “The Sarge” won in Charlotte a year ago to kick off his championship quest, and he’ll again face off against a loaded Countdown field, including Antron Brown and Richie Crampton, who both have four wins in 2015 and will start from the second and third spots, respectively, three-time world champion Larry Dixon, Brittany Force, Doug Kalitta, J.R. Todd, Steve Torrence, and Dave Connolly.
Hagan drove his Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger to a victory at the event a year ago in Funny Car, which helped him get the jump on the competition en route to his second world championship. But everyone is chasing red-hot Jack Beckman, the points leader who won his sixth race of the year with a memorable weekend in Indy. Along with Hagan, who is in second, major threats will be Tommy Johnson Jr., John Force, Robert Hight, Ron Capps, Del Worsham, who moved to fourth heading into the Countdown, Tim Wilkerson, Cruz Pedregon, and Alexis DeJoria, who will start the quest for her first championship from the No. 10 position.
Defending Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ Andrew Hines is a two-time winner of this event and will battle defending winner and teammate Krawiec, who is the points leader, for the title. Others to watch include Hector Arana Jr., who starts the Countdown in second; Jim Underdahl; Hector Arana Sr.; Karen Stoffer; alligator farmer Jerry Savoie, who won in Indy for the first time in his career and moved all the way to fourth; Chip Ellis, who jumped into eighth after a runner-up finish in Indy; Scotty Pollacheck; and local favorite Matt Smith.
Drivers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series also will look to thrill fans with their 250-mph machines and become winners during the weekend.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.
