Day of Reckoning Getting Closer for Lucas

MOHNTON, Pa. -- Sunday could be a day of reckoning for Morgan Lucas and his Lucas Oil Stabilizer-led team with crew chief, Jimmy Walsh at the helm. Entering the Toyo Tires Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, Lucas was 13 points away from a position in the coveted POWERade Top 10 and after placing his famed Lucas Oil dragster in the No. 5 starting position, he knows that he better make a strong move to get in and secure his spot.

"It's definitely a big day for us tomorrow," said a determined Lucas. "It's a big deal with a lot of pressure and a lot of things that could happen. Jimmy and I are going to do the best we can tomorrow and he's doing a great job of keeping this car together. We just need to race our race and race the track and let the chips fall where they will fall. If we're in, we're in and if we're not, we still have Indy."

Lucas qualified in the No. 5 position, for the third time of his career, on the Top Fuel ladder with a time of 3.889 seconds, 307.16 mph and will race Bob Vandergriff in his first round of eliminations on Sunday. The last time the pair met was the season-opening round at Pomona in the first round, where Lucas defeated him there and has a 4-2 win/loss record against him.

ESPN2 will broadcast the 24th annual Toyo Tires Nationals starting at 10 p.m. EDT and beginning at 11 a.m. will be NHRA Race Day presented by Lucas Oil Products.