CHARLOTTE (Sept. 13) - Nothing can diminish the confidence of GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel driver Richie Crampton after winning the U.S. Nationals two weeks ago, so even though the leading rookie of the year contender qualified No. 15 for the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals, he remains hopeful for a better showing in eliminations.
"Tomorrow's another day, for sure," Crampton said. "Hopefully, it's going to be a little cooler, and we know we can run well. We've just had some unusual luck here during qualifying. As with everyone, it's kind of a tricky racetrack when it's this hot.
"(Crew chief) Aaron Brooks loves this racetrack. I'm still pretty confident, even though we qualified 15th. We haven't lost it completely since last week, so we'll be all right."
Crampton's best pass was 3.891 seconds at 311.05 mph, but his Morgan Lucas Racing team has been perfecting its setup for Charlotte. Morgan Lucas won this race a year ago, so Crampton knows his team can go fast on Sunday.
"We've adapted to this racetrack," Crampton said. "The starting line is a little bit different than we're used to, with it going up to kind of a ramp just past the Christmas Tree. That's forced us to make some changes that we don't have to do at other racetracks, and it's cost us a couple runs.
"We still have some good data from last year, when we ran really good. It should be business as usual tomorrow."
In a rematch of the U.S. Nationals final, Crampton gets No. 2 qualifier Steve Torrence in the first round Sunday. Torrence's best pass was 3.810 seconds at 317.57 mph.
"It's pretty cool to get to race Steve-O again this week," Crampton said. "He's got a hell of a race car, so we know we'll have to be trying our hardest to do what we know we can and try to get around him again."
Charlotte kicks off the Countdown to the Championship, the six-race playoffs that determine NHRA champions. Crampton is eighth in the standings, 90 points out of the lead.
