Atlanta: Toyota Motorsports preview

LUCAS RETURNS TO SITE OF FIRST TOP FUEL WIN -- After previously reaching five Top Fuel finals, Morgan Lucas captured his first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series victory last year at the Atlanta Dragway. The win was the first of three on the season as he went on to win at both Brainerd and Memphis. This year, Lucas has reached two semi-finals and enters this weekend's action eighth in points and on pace for his second consecutive berth in the NHRA Countdown.

Ironically, with Lucas success at Atlanta last year, he was the only one of the six current Toyota-sponsored drivers to advance past the second-round. Teammate Shawn Langdon and Antron Brown each reached round #2, while Larry Dixon, Del Worsham and Cruz Pedregon were eliminated in the first round.

TOYOTA DRIVERS ENJOY ATLANTA SUCCESS -- While Morgan Lucas was the most recent of the Toyota drivers to win at the Atlanta Dragway, he's certainly not alone. In fact, five of the six Toyota-sponsored drivers have won in the Peach State. Larry Dixon leads the way as a three-time winner (2003, 2002 and 1996), Antron Brown won in 2008 and Lucas won in 2009 all in Top Fuel Competition. Both Toyota Camry Solara Funny Car drivers also have been victorious at Atlanta with Cruz Pedregon (1998) and Del Worsham (1991).

DIXON WIDENING LEAD -- With three victories and a total of five semi-final appearances in the first six races this season, Larry Dixon has extended his Top Fuel Dragster point lead to 41 as the series reaches the midway point of the regular season this weekend. In addition to his pursuit of a third NHRA Top Fuel championship, Dixon will tie Joe Amato for second in all-time Top Fuel victories at 52 with his next win.

-source: toyota motorsports