ST. LOUIS (Sept. 27) - It's anyone's race to win at Gateway Motorsports Park on Sunday, and Pro Stock driver Larry Morgan doesn't want to be counted out at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.
Posting a 6.612-second pass at 209.85 mph during the last qualifying session, Morgan's Lucas Oil Ford Mustang rounded out the field in the No. 16 position.
"I'm really proud of our car this weekend, even though the numbers may not reflect it," Morgan said. "We made four really clean passes all weekend, which hasn't been too common for us this season.
"I know there's still some speed left under the hood though. We had too much clutch in for the last run today, which slowed us down. We'll spend tonight getting the tune-up right for Sunday and make a race of it. We'll be alright for sure."
For the fifth time this season, Larry Morgan will face the bright-red Elite Motorsports Camaro of No. 1 qualifier Erica Enders-Stevens in the first round of eliminations. However, Morgan has been playing his cards close to his chest this weekend holding a special card back for this instance.
"I have no doubt that I can beat Erica tomorrow," Morgan said. "I have a few tricks left up my sleeve for her tomorrow. I have a brand-new Boyer engine in the truck that I could throw in my car for tomorrow. Nothing could compete with that kind of power, not even Erica."
As much as he would love to use his truck-pulling engine in his Ford Mustang during round one, Morgan is confident that he doesn't need tricks to beat the fastest woman in St. Louis.
"What I keep telling everyone is you never know what could happen on race day," Morgan said. "Anything can happen, especially with the streak of No. 1 qualifiers going down early in the rounds. Don't count me out, that's for sure.
"Anything can happen, especially when it comes to me."
Eliminations will start at approximately noon, Sunday, with action broadcast on ESPN2 on tape-delay basis.
