Defending champ Lucas looking sharp in GEICO Powersports dragster

ATLANTA (May 14) -- Defending event champion Morgan Lucas joined a select group of Top Fuel racers that managed to run three-second passes Friday at a hot and muggy Atlanta Dragway. Lucas' 3.960 at 303.03 mph in the GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil dragster placed him fifth on the provisional grid with two time trials left.

Lucas' teammate under the GEICO Powersports umbrella, Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Karen Stoffer, is still figuring out the larger engine on her Suzuki, but she did manage to earn the No. 11 spot with a 7.091 at 185.13 mph.

Both Lucas and Stoffer will run twice more on Saturday with qualifying sessions scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.

"We tried a different supercharger (in Round 2) and probably overcompensated for what we were trying to do but overall we're happy," Lucas said. "We're just tickling this thing. We don't want to step on our toes. We're in the top five so there's no reason to complain.

"If we can just keep doing this -- getting the car down the track every time -- then we should turn on some win lights on Sunday and put ourselves in a position to find some luck and win this thing again."

Both of Lucas' Friday runs were competitive. He opened with a 4.020 at 292.27 mph that had him third after the first session.

"Getting in the car and feeling some confidence that you'll go down the track and pop the 'chutes makes sitting in there for 15 to 20 minutes and sweating like we did today worthwhile," Lucas said. "Being the defending champion of the race doesn't count for much, really, but I do like the fans here and it's neat to hear people say they watched us win it last year.

"I just really like my racecar right now, and my team."

Stoffer's run of record came in Round 1. She later slowed to a 7.315 at 178.92 mph.

"It's always darkest before the dawn," she said optimistically.