NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Winning the world’s most prestigious drag race is not something that Morgan Lucas takes lightly. The Top Fuel standout won the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals a year ago for the first time, cementing a memory that will forever be at the top of his successful career.

The driver of the 10,000-horsepower Lucas Oil dragster will return to Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis for the 62nd edition of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, Aug. 31-Sept. 5, with hopes of going back to back at the biggest drag race in the world – which he knows will be no easy task. 

"I've been going to the U.S. Nationals since 1996, and I know for some people that's not that long, but I was 10, 11 years old then,” Lucas said. “Knowing the history and knowing my name is on the same list with some of the best who have ever been involved in the sport is incredible. It's Indy. It just feels big, feels special, and so many fans show up. I equate it to winning the Indy 500, even though I know there are a lot of people who might argue with me. But in my mind, it is."

Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also last year’s winners. For the first time, the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals will be aired live on FOX and FOX Sports 1 (FS1). It also serves as the last event of the 18-race regular season before the six-race Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship begins.

With an increased number of points in play via the point-and-a-half system for this event (150 points to the winner), the drama on championship Monday is expected to be more intense than ever. Now racing on a part-time basis, Lucas, who will make his fifth start of the 2016 season, won’t figure into the Countdown to the Championship mix, which makes the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals even more important for the 12-time Top Fuel winner.

Lucas claimed the victory a year ago over Dave Connolly in the final round, giving the Morgan Lucas Racing team two straight wins in Indy following teammate Richie Crampton’s victory in 2014. It was a thrilling experience for Lucas, who was fortunate enough to share the memorable weekend with those close to him.

"There are two things that stand out for me,” Lucas said. “First, having my family there, and then having the father of one of my best friends [Terry Fischle] with us. He's a cancer survivor and had never been to Indy before. He was helping us out with the team, and then he got to be there for the win. [It was] a pretty special moment all the way around for my family and for someone I consider extended family."

Lucas will be one of nearly 1,000 drivers competing in 12 categories at the event known as the Big Go, and the Upland, Calif., native knows he will be dueling against a star-studded lineup in Top Fuel. When it comes to the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, that list starts with nine-time event winner Tony Schumacher, but Lucas will also have to deal with the likes of reigning world champion and points leader Antron Brown; Doug Kalitta, a three-time winner in 2016; Brittany Force; Shawn Langdon, who won in Indy in 2013; Steve Torrence; Leah Pritchett; Clay Millican; Crampton; J.R. Todd; and Terry McMillen.

But even in a part-time role, Lucas has proven to be a legitimate threat. He won in Brainerd and Pomona in 2014, captured the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals win a year ago, and advanced to the semifinals this year in Seattle, running a career-best 3.701-second pass.

"It's obviously pleasing,” Lucas said. “We kind of set our goals in a realistic standard, and when we do things like we've done the past couple years and win, that's obviously the best-case scenario. Because of the part-time schedule and how hard it is to win, we don't go into races thinking that's going to be the outcome. We work to do that, but we get what we get out of it, and we're happy to be out there putting on a show for the fans."

Lucas’ presence and success also helps teammate Crampton, who won five times last year and will be competing for a world championship this season. Having two cars can have its advantages during the Countdown to the Championship, and Lucas makes sure he is prepared every time he races.

"It's more data acquired that has the potential to help, and I can slow somebody down in the points,” Lucas said. “Realistically, it could have as much of an adverse effect. We hope [crew chief] Aaron [Brooks] can get the information he needs in order to make the decisions he needs to make to be successful.

"Richie Crampton and Jason Rush out of our shop fabricated a practice Tree, so I'll get in there and hit the Tree when I'm at the shop. I still try to work out to keep my weight in check. I think it's like anything else. If you want to do it bad enough, you get in and do the best you can."
 
The first of five Mello Yello Series qualifying sessions is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2. Two more sessions will take to the track on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 2:45 and 6:45 p.m., and the final two qualifying sessions will take place on Sunday, Sept. 4, at 11:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 5. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Top Fuel will be contested Saturday, Sept. 3, with rounds at 4, 5:15, and 8 p.m. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Funny Car takes place on Sunday, Sept. 4, for the eight qualified drivers, with rounds at 12:30, 3, and 4:45 p.m.

The FOX national broadcast channel and FS1 will televise coverage of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals for the first time in event history. FS1 will air highlights from the event on Sunday, Sept. 4, at noon and 5 p.m. ET. The broadcasts will continue on FS1 with two hours of live coverage on Monday, Sept. 5, starting at 11 a.m. ET. The extensive coverage will then continue live on the FOX national broadcast channel at 1 p.m. EST.
 
For tickets for the world’s most prestigious drag race, call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, 800-884-NHRA (6472), or log on to NHRA.com/tickets.