CHICAGO (May 30) -- The excitement of bringing Ford Motor Company's big blue oval back to Pro Stock drag racing has been replaced by frustration for veteran driver Larry Morgan as the engine builder from Newark, Ohio, continues to search for an agreeable tune-up for his BOSS-powered Lucas Oil Ford Mustang.
Morgan insists his 500-inch motor is making plenty of horsepower and he's got plenty of data from the dyno room to prove his point. He says the chassis and body of his flashy red, white, and blue 2010 Mustang is definitely slick enough to carry him to the winner's circle. The problem, it seems, is the fuel delivery system, which has been so temperamental he's literally run out of parts repairing the stuff he's broken.
"I'm like a Top Fuel guy I've been blowing up so much stuff this year," Morgan said. "I love those guys but I don't want to be like them, especially in that department. I've scuffed up so much stuff my suppliers can't keep up. That never happens in Pro Stock.
"We've put ourselves in a big ol' hole and now we've got to dig our way out, and that's going to take some work. I'm plenty hard-headed trying to do things by myself but I've decided to bring in a specialist that is one of the top carburetor guys in the country to help us figure this out. We need to get this straight because as soon as we do, things are going to change quite a bit for us."
Properly regulating the fuel going into the combustion chamber should curtail the internal engine problems that have plagued Morgan since his surprise semifinal start to the season.
"We knew we'd be on a learning curve this year," Morgan said, "and that's exactly what it's been for us. The good news is we're so much further along now than we were at the start of the year in Pomona.
"We want to win as much as all those diehard Ford fans want us to win. We'll get there, without question, and I hope we start something in Chicago. I like that track and it will give us a real good platform to see if we're moving in the right direction."
Pro Stock qualifying for the 13th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals begins with two sessions at 3 and 6 p.m. CDT Friday.
