What do you think of the new points format that NHRA implemented this year? Will it help teams like yours out?
Morgan: I think it’s fine, I’ve got no problem with it.
What needs to be done to help Pro Stock thrive?
Morgan: I look back and Max Naylor without a doubt, without a doubt, he has the best program out here. He brought in a sponsor and does very well for them. I mean, he promotes that product (Jagermeister) better than anybody I’ve ever seen. Just look at his deal over there. You know he never raced much before he came into Pro Stock, but he’s out there, qualified at most of the races this year and he’s done a fine job. He takes care of his sponsor. How many people come out here and really take care of their sponsorship?
They want the money and they run, but I’ve found throughout my time that you have to take care of the sponsors because they’re not lined up behind the trailer.
But if there is a sponsor, NHRA wants to grab it and take it to a fuel team. It’s real simple, I can remember years ago David Nickens and I had a deal put together with AutoZone, but NHRA got wind of it and the next thing you know they (AutoZone) didn’t do it but became a title sponsor for a race. So they (NHRA) knocked potentially two racers out of being able to come out here. That’s just how it is and you’re not going to beat that until something changes there, but as I see it nothing’s going to change. They tell us, ‘If you’ve got a potential sponsor call us and we’ll help you out,’ but you know what? You can’t even tell them about it.
What can you say about your own sponsorship?
Morgan: This Lucas deal, I’ve been working on it for about a year and trust me, it’s not for a lot of money, but I’ll tell you, the association that I have with Forrest Lucas and his wife and that group over there, I’d almost do it for nothing. They’re just such great people and really, everybody should buy Lucas Oil because look what they do for the sport in general. Without those people supporting the Sportsman program, it wouldn’t be here, because NHRA sure doesn’t care about it. Well, I shouldn’t say they don’t care, but their main concern is to make the show go on.
Last year you were pretty critical of NHRA, but how do you feel they’re doing now, overall?
Morgan: Yeah, last year I had some bitches, but right now, I think they’re doing a good job. I just wish they had more people that had more drive to help this show happen, but they don’t and that’s a problem. There were just things that they did last year that just weren’t right and I was very vocal about it and they didn’t like it and I didn’t like it myself, but you know what? If it’s coming out of my mouth, that’s just how it is, take it or leave it.
After more than 20 years of racing professionally do you have any thoughts of retiring?
Morgan: Look how old Warren (Johnson) is (64); if I can last that long I’d be happy. But I’ve got a kid that’s getting ready to be in this, he’s 17, Nick, and I’ve got another boy, Austin (15), but I don’t think he’s so much into it, but you never know, you never know. Either way, I’ll be around for the long haul. I’ve been lucky. I’ve been involved with some great sponsors and great people, I’ve had some success and all the media, they’ve been good to me. All in all, I feel pretty blessed to be out here.
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