Morgan Lucas preview

Event: Gainesville

Top Fuel points leader Lucas brings powerful GEICO dragster to Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 7) -- It's been more than a week since the all-Morgan Lucas Racing Top Fuel final in Pomona and the magnitude of the accomplishment is finally setting in with team owner and driver Morgan Lucas.

Morgan Lucas doing a burnout in his Geico Powersports / Lucas Oil Top fuel Dragster

Ted Rossino

"That Sunday night, we had a little fun, but that wasn't the end of the celebration," said Lucas, driver of the victorious GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster. "That win really meant a lot to everybody involved with our race team."

It was a win that has energized the entire MLR organization as Lucas heads into this weekend's 42nd annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals in central Florida.

"It gave us confidence and the knowledge we need to press harder on some things," Lucas said. "We know we're a championship capable team. We weren't 100 percent perfect in Pomona, but we made it down the track and outlasted everybody else on difficult track conditions."

Now the team sets its sights on not just chasing more wins, but also a championship.

"Now we know what it's like, now we've got the taste," Lucas said. "It only took Dickie Venables three tries to win his first race as our crew chief. We've got greater aspirations than this win.

"I feel like we're on to something. All Dickie needs is more chances and we'll do nothing but improve."

The good vibrations make the trip to Florida even more enticing.

"I look at Gainesville and see one of the most prestigious, historic, exciting races on the schedule," Lucas said. "It's an honor to get to race there, but it's even more exciting to look at the race knowing we have a great chance of winning there. It's a great feeling and I can't wait to get down there.

"Everybody is just on Cloud 9 and now we're ready to keep that feeling going."

The Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals get under way with qualifying at noon EST at Gainesville Raceway. Qualifying continues on Saturday with eliminations starting at 11 a.m. Sunday.