Lucas to pull double duty in A/F

Lucas to pull double duty in '07: TF & TAD

Taking a page from Kevin Harvick’s 2006 NASCAR Busch Grand National series playbook, a highly energetic Morgan Lucas will mount an all-out assault on the Lucas Oil championship in 2007, racing his family-owned Lucas Oil Top Alcohol dragster in conjunction with his professional operation on the NHRA POWERade tour.

Expanding his racing horizons is nothing new to Lucas, as he did double-duty for part of the season in 2006, capturing back-to-back Lucas Oil series event wins at Infineon Raceway in Somona, Calif., in what proved to be a dress rehearsal for a campaign of nearly 31 races in 2007.

With twin titles in mind, Lucas has retained the services of championship tuner, Steve Boggs for his Top Alcohol assault. The addition of Boggs, who took Mitch Meyers to the title in 2004, has Lucas psyched about his season.

“I have 19 races set up for next season with the Alcohol car alongside my Top Fuel car,” said an excited Lucas. “I don’t think it will be a big distraction because the driving styles are so similar. In my opinion, I think it will make me better. Some people will say more laps while others will say more stress. The key is having the right people working hard, organizing everything so I won’t have to worry about it. That way, I can get in the car and be free of mind to win races.”

In addition to Boggs, Lucas has tapped some of the division’s best talent with Javid Marusich, Scott Trimble, Rick Johnson, and Bobby Lucas taking up the task of day-to-day operations.

“As I said earlier, it’s all about the people,” Lucas said. “If I had to be hands on with every detail, I wouldn’t have time to drive the car. The people in this organization are so good that they stay on top of everything they should stay on top of, which makes my job so much easier. They are just smart people.”

Lucas has five professional Top Fuel final round appearances as well as a spectacular record of 10 Lucas Oil Division Top Alcohol wins in 11 final round appearances in a career that has only spanned five years.

“There are a handful of really good A-Fuel crew chiefs in my opinion, but just a few that are excellent,” said Lucas. “I think Steve Boggs is one of those elite few. I talked with Steve and we really wanted to put this team together. I consider him a smart guy with a championship-winning tune-up. He spent the past year with John Fink and improved his program immensely. From there we talked and said let’s put this together and go chase some points. I finished second in the Lucas Oil points in 2003 and I want to win a championship. There’s nothing wrong with having strong sportsman roots.”

The 23-year old Lucas has always felt fortunate to have just one race car, but it’s always been his dream of driving for his own two-car operation and it’s an important step for him to reach this point of his racing career.

“Our team is based out of Indianapolis, so we’re going to declare for the NHRA Division 4 region, racing with Spencer Massey’s and Tom Conway’s cars. Our plans are to get in there and duke it out with them. We’ll run the national events, as the schedule permits. Who knows; we might throw a couple of more in there.”

The fundamentals of drag racing have the young Lucas encouraged to take on the double-duty driving as he increases his racing empire. He feels comfortable in the Top Alcohol car and believes the more runs he can make on the quarter-mile will help improve his already considerable driving skills in all categories.

“It gives me that many more hits at the tree,” Lucas said proudly. “Most folks have a practice tree, but I'm going to be using the one at the track. Besides, how many opportunities do you have working with a guy like Steve Boggs to win championships … not too many. We’re going to be joining the Torco Race Fuels family as well as the Lucas family next year. With all the stuff going on this year, we’re going to have fun. Our car is being painted as a replica of our Top Fuel car and I expect good things from it.”

Lucas and his Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster and Top Alcohol car will begin testing in Phoenix at Firebird Raceway on Jan. 26 along with his pro teammate, Melanie Troxel. The NHRA POWERade season begins with the season-opening CarQuest Auto Parts Winternationals at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona on Feb. 8 - 11.