Darren Morgan’s title clinching run might not have scored high in style points but in terms of emotional gratification, there was no equal.

Needing only a green light to secure his crown, Morgan apparently double clutched on the starting line and eventually coasted to an 11-second championship parade during the first day of professional qualifying at the ANDRA Castrol Edge Winternationals.

“I’ve done it before but to do it under our own steam, with a group of volunteers, the most bucks-down team … and to make it through is pretty cool,” Morgan said Saturday evening following the cancellation of Saturday’s activities due to rain.

 Darren Morgan’s title clinching run might not have scored high in style points but in terms of emotional gratification, there was no equal.

Needing only a green light to secure his crown, Morgan apparently double clutched on the starting line and eventually coasted to an 11-second championship parade during the first day of professional qualifying at the ANDRA Castrol Edge Winternationals.

“I’ve done it before but to do it under our own steam, with a group of volunteers, the most bucks-down team … and to make it through is pretty cool,” Morgan said Saturday evening following the cancellation of Saturday’s activities due to rain.

Morgan couldn’t say for certain what happened to the car off of the starting line but did confirm the car suffered some damage on the run. The car will be repaired and ready to run for Sunday’s continuation of qualifying.

“We wanted to go up there and find out [if we fixed it] but the rain stopped that,” Morgan added.

Morgan needed only 20 points to clinch his title, a requirement he said, should have come one race earlier during the Nitro Champs meeting staged in Sydney two weeks ago.

“We’ve got the No. 1 on the car for next season and that’s what matters after what we went through to get to this point,” Morgan said.

Morgan is the confirmed champion for this evening but next season is unconfirmed. There’s currently no named major sponsor for the dragster.

“We haven’t got a sponsor for next season and the dollar is very tight,” Morgan revealed.

HE’S THE YOUNGEST - The championship also confirmed Ben Patterson, a Lance Larsen protégé, as drag racing’s youngest ever championship winning nitro tuner.

“He might be the youngest, but he’s also the hardest working too,” said Morgan.

The young Patterson will be traveling to the United States in July where he will accompany Larsen in the nitro pits.

 

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