Lucas set to kick-off 2007 NHRA season

Pomona, Calif. - Just like the Super Bowl Champions, the NFL Indianapolis Colts, Morgan Lucas sets off on his 2007 NHRA POWERade Top Fuel season with a renewed vigor and desires a red-hot start to go along with a championship winning ending. In addition, nothing would make him any happier than a great drag racing performance in his Lucas Oil dragster for the 47th annual running of the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.

Lucas will have plenty to keep him occupied with three teams under his direction. His first priority will be the two-car operation of his own Top Fuel ride, but also he's introducing the new Melanie Troxel team that will sharing information and provide Morgan Lucas Racing twice as much race data and input.

Add to that, his Lucas Oil Racing Top Alcohol A-Fuel dragster team will campaign for most of the year with the task of taking the NHRA Lucas Oil Series Sportsman championship in 2007.

"We have a major agenda this year," said the 23-year old team manager/driver Lucas. "I know most people would think we've bit off too much, but with the great people I have at all the stations, everything should run very smooth. This is our first race of the season and we want to kick it off in the right direction and we feel as if we can."

In preseason testing, the Lucas Oil teams has taken a cautious approach by acquiring data in small proportions understanding the feedback they receive resulting in the short and half-track passes in the preceding weeks at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix.

"Everyone is trying so hard to place all the pieces together," said a confident Lucas. "We'll get this figured out to be ready to unleash a full pass at Pomona. It's so important to start the season off in a positive way. It sets the tone and we already have to start thinking about the POWERade points. Just like what Melanie's team did last year. We have the same knowledge, so how else can I be, but excited in looking towards the Winternationals."

His Lucas Oil Alcohol dragster program is picking up momentum with early season testing results proving very positive recording his quickest time of the sportsman segment of his career at 5.21 seconds.

"We need to keep going forward and everyone is working so well together so, we should have few surprises to come out of that camp," said Lucas.