Friday, March 26, 2010

Lucas Oil racers looking to improve in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 26) -- After the first day of qualifying at the inaugural NHRA 4-Wide Nationals two of the drivers flying the Lucas Oil colors are safely in the field with the third still trying to earn a spot in Sunday's eliminations.

Top Fuel driver Shawn Langdon sits ninth in the Lucas Oil/Speedco dragster after a best pass of 3.898 seconds at 302.96 mph.

"The first run we had kind of a parts failure," Langdon said of his run of record. "We didn't run that good. The early numbers were decent, but it pulled the motor down real hard and it didn't run in the back half. Tonight the track was just too cold and we never had a chance to get down.

"We're in, but there's room to improve."

This is the first national event in NHRA history to run four wide, mainly because this two-year-old racetrack is the only one on tour capable of staging such an event. Although the prerace process was noticeably different, Langdon said he took to the different staging procedure right away.

"My two reaction times today were .007 and .025 (seconds) on the tree," he said. "Those were two of my best lights of the season. I'm 100-percent comfortable with it, and hopefully I'll use it to my advantage on Sunday."

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hector Arana sits third in the field after the first day on his Lucas Oil Buell. Arana, the defending series champion in the bike class, ran a 6.942 at 191.59 mph. He's .038 seconds off the pace set by provisional No. 1 Matt Smith.

Larry Morgan's Lucas Oil Ford Mustang is still trying to find a spot in the Pro Stock field. He currently sits 18th after a best pass of 6.684 seconds at 206.80 mph.

Qualifying for the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals continues Saturday at 11:45 a.m. EDT.

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