Larry Morgan ready for action at Phoenix

New grandfather Morgan wants to celebrate baby with Phoenix win

PHOENIX (Oct. 11) – With a new addition to the family and an improving race car, Larry Morgan and the Lucas Oil Ford Mustang Pro Stocker is ready for action at this weekend's 27th annual Arizona NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.

Pro Stock Driver Larry Morgan

Photo by: Ted Rossino

"I've got a brand new grandbaby that came home from the hospital this week," a beaming Morgan said. "Hopefully Grandpa can cap the weekend off with a good race at Phoenix. It may be the only time I'll have to win a trophy bigger than the baby."

The Lucas Oil Mustang has been running better in recent weeks as Morgan has qualified in the top half of the ladder at two of the last three races and won a round in each of the last two races.

"We're excited to go out there," Morgan said. "We think we've got a clutch package now that will be able to contend with this track."

It's been more than 18 months since the NHRA last raced at Firebird. The Pro Stock drivers refused to race on the track after two cars flipped over during the last event, which was run in February of 2010.

The track has undergone significant milling and repaving since that race, but Morgan said his guard will still be up during the weekend.

"It's hard to say how the track will be," Morgan said. "You just don't know what you are going to be up against at this track. We've never raced at this track in conditions that will be as hot as this."

The temperature isn't the only concern on Morgan's mind.

"If they have been running a traction compound that is different than stuff the NHRA uses, and that could make it one of the worst tracks we've been at all year," Morgan said. "It's happened a few times this year.

"But it's going to happen to everybody, not just me. We've got a car that seems to respond to hot weather, so I'm pretty pumped about it all."