CHARLOTTE (Sept. 13) - Lucas Oil Pro Stock driver Larry Morgan isn't worried about qualifying No. 15 and a first-round match with No. 2 qualifier Vincent Noble at the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals.
The veteran Morgan simply smiled when asked about racing a good friend like Nobile.
"I qualified right where I want to be," Morgan said. "I've got him right where I want him."
Morgan's best pass in qualifying was 6.671 seconds at 207.72 mph, making improvements throughout the weekend with his Ford Mustang.
"I'm glad we did make a little progress," Morgan said. "We're hanging on."
Morgan started with an experimental engine in his Mustang in the first qualifying session, but even though that engine had plenty of torque, it didn't have the speed he wanted after a 6.714-second pass at 205.04 mph.
Morgan was outside the top 12 after Friday's two sessions and had to make a good pass Saturday to qualify for the 16-car field, and he did that in Q3. Then in the final qualifying session, Morgan worked on his race-day setup with a 6.71-second pass at 207.46 mph.
"We put new tires on because tomorrow it's going to need it," Morgan said. "The track goes away here Sunday. We put a new set of tires on, and we knew it was going to shake but we had to do it anyhow.
"I ran good speed for the run, so I feel good. I'll be OK."
Morgan and the Pro Stock field will have to make tune-up adjustments for Sunday's eliminations, as cooler temperatures are expected.
"All of us are going to have to do something," Morgan said. "I hope I'm closer to that than they are."
Morgan looks forward to facing Nobile, whose dad John is buddies with Morgan.
"What'd he run that last time?" Morgan said of Q4. "Oh, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter who I run. I'm kicking all their butts."
