LUCAS: TOP FUEL WILL HEAT UP IN TOPEKA, LITERALLY
Tue, 2009-05-26 12:28
Morgan Lucas believes the Top Fuel program at this weekend’s O’Reilly NHRA Summernationals will heat up both literally and 
figuratively.
This weekend’s event, 10th on the 24-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series tour, is expected to present the warmest conditions the tour has faced thus far in 2009. That factor is certain pose a tuning challenge to even the most seasoned decision makers.
Lucas speaks with authority when he says the weather will separate the contenders from the also ran operations.
"Topeka is going to be the first consistently hot conditions we're going to face this year," said the 25-year-old from Indianapolis. "As we've seen in the past, the teams that transition the best from cool weather racing to hot weather racing are usually the ones in the hunt for the championship at the end of the year. We want to be in that group. Temperatures Expected to Hover at 90 Degrees All Three Days …
Morgan Lucas believes the Top Fuel program at this weekend’s O’Reilly NHRA Summernationals will heat up both literally andfiguratively.
This weekend’s event, 10th on the 24-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series tour, is expected to present the warmest conditions the tour has faced thus far in 2009. That factor is certain pose a tuning challenge to even the most seasoned decision makers.
Lucas speaks with authority when he says the weather will separate the contenders from the also ran operations.
"Topeka is going to be the first consistently hot conditions we're going to face this year," said the 25-year-old from Indianapolis. "As we've seen in the past, the teams that transition the best from cool weather racing to hot weather racing are usually the ones in the hunt for the championship at the end of the year. We want to be in that group.
"When it's cooler outside, you can really get after it and usually the race tracks will take pretty much anything you throw at them. When it starts warming up and the tracks get a little tricky, that's when the crew chiefs earn their pay because they have to dance that fine line between getting from A-to-B and over-powering the track. In a sense, they have to de-tune the engines because we're making way more power than we need."
Bristol provided a hint of the challenges to come. On Saturday, of the three day event, many teams struggled to navigate the complex racing surface.
Forecasters predict the temperatures could climb as high as 90 degrees for Saturday’s qualifying, the warmest of 2009. That could provide a less than stellar Saturday of qualifying mimicking Bristol’s troubled efforts.
"Everyone was struggling big-time," Lucas said. "I think that one day really caught a lot of people off guard. Plus, it's hard when you go from cool and tight to hot and slippery in less than half a day.”
While Bristol fluctuated between cool and hot, Topeka appears to be consistent throughout the two days of professional qualifying and Sunday’s eliminations.
"Racers are part-time weathermen and we've all been looking at the long-range forecasts for Topeka,” Lucas said. “It certainly appears that it's going to be hot but the good news is that it's going to be hot all weekend. As long as we don't get any rogue tornados blowing through, we should all be on a level playing field.
"One thing you can count on at Heartland Park is that the track will be perfect. The crew at that track is really proud of their facility and it shows. Plus, the fans are always fired-up and that makes it exciting for the drivers. I can't wait to get there.”
figuratively. This weekend’s event, 10th on the 24-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series tour, is expected to present the warmest conditions the tour has faced thus far in 2009. That factor is certain pose a tuning challenge to even the most seasoned decision makers.
Lucas speaks with authority when he says the weather will separate the contenders from the also ran operations.
"Topeka is going to be the first consistently hot conditions we're going to face this year," said the 25-year-old from Indianapolis. "As we've seen in the past, the teams that transition the best from cool weather racing to hot weather racing are usually the ones in the hunt for the championship at the end of the year. We want to be in that group. Temperatures Expected to Hover at 90 Degrees All Three Days …
Morgan Lucas believes the Top Fuel program at this weekend’s O’Reilly NHRA Summernationals will heat up both literally and
figuratively. This weekend’s event, 10th on the 24-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series tour, is expected to present the warmest conditions the tour has faced thus far in 2009. That factor is certain pose a tuning challenge to even the most seasoned decision makers.
Lucas speaks with authority when he says the weather will separate the contenders from the also ran operations.
"Topeka is going to be the first consistently hot conditions we're going to face this year," said the 25-year-old from Indianapolis. "As we've seen in the past, the teams that transition the best from cool weather racing to hot weather racing are usually the ones in the hunt for the championship at the end of the year. We want to be in that group.
"When it's cooler outside, you can really get after it and usually the race tracks will take pretty much anything you throw at them. When it starts warming up and the tracks get a little tricky, that's when the crew chiefs earn their pay because they have to dance that fine line between getting from A-to-B and over-powering the track. In a sense, they have to de-tune the engines because we're making way more power than we need."
Bristol provided a hint of the challenges to come. On Saturday, of the three day event, many teams struggled to navigate the complex racing surface.
Forecasters predict the temperatures could climb as high as 90 degrees for Saturday’s qualifying, the warmest of 2009. That could provide a less than stellar Saturday of qualifying mimicking Bristol’s troubled efforts.
"Everyone was struggling big-time," Lucas said. "I think that one day really caught a lot of people off guard. Plus, it's hard when you go from cool and tight to hot and slippery in less than half a day.”
While Bristol fluctuated between cool and hot, Topeka appears to be consistent throughout the two days of professional qualifying and Sunday’s eliminations.
"Racers are part-time weathermen and we've all been looking at the long-range forecasts for Topeka,” Lucas said. “It certainly appears that it's going to be hot but the good news is that it's going to be hot all weekend. As long as we don't get any rogue tornados blowing through, we should all be on a level playing field.
"One thing you can count on at Heartland Park is that the track will be perfect. The crew at that track is really proud of their facility and it shows. Plus, the fans are always fired-up and that makes it exciting for the drivers. I can't wait to get there.”
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