Brainerd: Mopar Saturday qualifying notes

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 19, 2000) - Dodge Motorsports driver Larry Morgan saved the best for last.

The Dodge Avenger Pro Stock veteran, who was the final car in the last qualifying round on Saturday, set low elapsed time of the session at 6.965-seconds and vaulted to third for tomorrow's Colonel's Truck Accessories NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

Morgan, who managed a speed of 196.79 mph, was sitting 17th going into the session. As the night cooled, Morgan's blast brought the Minnesota crowd to its feet.

"That was an absolutely perfect run," said Morgan, who will face Mark Osborne in round number one. "At that point, we had not qualified for the show. To move all the way up to third is just amazing."

"We just had a bad coil," Morgan added. "Once we changed that, it was great. I am so pumped for tomorrow."

Darrell Alderman, driver of the Team Mopar Dodge Avenger, squeaked into the 16th position with a 7.004/196.64 combination. Alderman will take on top-qualifier Bruce Allen in a round-one eliminator.

"My car rolled through the lights and I slipped off the line," Alderman noted. "I think we could have run a 6.96. I like our chances tomorrow."

Alderman's Team Mopar teammate Scott Geoffrion failed to qualify with his new Rick Jones chassis and Hemi engine. The nine-time national event winner struggled during the weekend.

"I shook the tires real hard," Geoffrion said. "The track was really slick at the top end and I almost wound up in the wall. I think a Funny Car (Frank Pedregon) had laid some oil down. It's a new car, so we're in good shape."

Matco Tools/Mopar Parts Nitro Funny Car shoe Dean Skuza landed the fifth-qualifying position with a 4.945/312.50 effort following Friday's final session. Skuza will take on Tony Pedregon in round number one.