Bristol, Tennessee (June 20, 2015) - Father's Day this year has been a special time for Lucas Oil Top Fuel driver Richie Crampton.
In addition to qualifying for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals on Saturday at Bristol Dragway, Crampton has a special guest in the Morgan Lucas Racing pit area this weekend: daughter Emma.
Crampton's partner Stephanie Laski and their daughter are in Bristol, enabling Crampton to spend Father's Day weekend with his only child.
"It's really cool to have her and Stephanie here," Crampton said. "Emma hasn't been to many races, so it's great to spend time with her at the track. It's great to have her around, and I definitely miss her a lot when I'm on the road."
Crampton snared the No. 11 qualifying spot with a top pass of 3.805 seconds at 315.56 mph, and while that's only the second time this season he has not qualified in the top half, the native Australian isn't worried.
"We're good," Crampton said. "We unfortunately just missed on the cooler, night sessions, which inevitably hurts you a little bit in qualifying, but looking at the ladder, I don't think it really matters. There's no easy side, so as long as we're in, that's the main thing.
"It appears to be a two-lane racetrack, too, so I don't think lane choice is going to matter either."
Crampton, a two-time winner so far in 2015, squares off against Antron Brown in the first round of eliminations Sunday. Brown qualified No. 6 with a pass of 3.770 at 318.39 mph. The two have not met heads-up this year.
After a long day Saturday that was interrupted by rain, temperatures are expected to be in the low 90s Sunday, but Crampton, crew chief Aaron Brooks, and the Lucas Oil team are ready.
"It's exciting for us," Crampton said. "Aaron Brooks has got a handle on the hot-weather package, and the Lucas Oil boys are doing a great job. We'll treat it like any other race day and hope it's a good, long day."
