So far, so good for Top Fuel driver Lucas as he heads to Dallas

Morgan Lucas

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

Instead of getting overwhelmed by the playoffs as a whole, Lucas is looking at each race - including this weekend's tilt at Texas Motorplex - as an individual opportunity to gather up clusters of points.

"It's another small battle for us this week," Lucas said. "All these little battles will add up to the big picture. We just need to come in and have another good showing if at all possible and just keep working toward filling in the big picture."

After winning one round in Charlotte last week, Lucas remained in sixth place, but he's a little more than two rounds out of fourth and a smidgen more than three rounds out of second.

After struggles during the heat of the summer, the GEICO dragster is starting to show the spirited form that produced three wins and four No. 1 qualifiers during the NHRA's regular season.

"The car wants to run again," Lucas said. "During the summer, we tried everything we could to make it happy and it just wasn't having it. We've been able to figure some things out and it's getting back to normal.

"Getting back into position where we're earning a point or two or three every qualifying round is really going to add up as we get deeper into these playoffs."

Lucas said he's looking for a little redemption at Texas Motorplex this weekend.

"Last year we struggled there and didn't qualify," Lucas said. "We just couldn't get a lot of things figured out on the car. All of that is in the past now. I won here in a Top Alcohol Dragster back in 2003, so it's a track I like.

"It's a cool facility and a lot of great drag racing fans come out."

Source: Geico/Lucas Oil Racing