Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Lucas, 20, to replace the late Russell in Top Fuel car

Thursday, July 22, 2004 | 9:23 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

NHRA team owner Joe Amato has named Morgan Lucas to replace the late Darrell Russell in Amato Racing's Top Fuel dragster, Amato announced this week.

Lucas, 20, is scheduled to make his professional debut next month at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. Lucas is the son of Lucas Oil Products founder Forrest Lucas.

Russell died as the result of injuries suffered in a crash during the NHRA national event at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., on June 27.

"I hit the jackpot when I hired Darrell Russell," Amato said in a release posted on his team's Web site. "We all know what he did for this team and what he meant to me and the NHRA as a whole.

"Now I've got another young kid that's shown lots of promise and we'll give him a chance to see how the big boys race. I'm happy to give him the chance to shine."

Lucas, who had been competing in Top Alcohol Dragster this season, first must complete his NHRA license upgrade before he can race the Top Fuel dragster competitively.

"This is such an honor for me," Lucas said. "For Joe to go out on a limb like this is something. He's placing a lot of trust in me and I'm so appreciative.

"Darrell Russell was a true hero. It will be impossible to follow him. I know I can't even come close to replacing him and what he meant to so many people, but I've made a vow to myself that I will do my very best to honor him and his memory at all times."

Lucas is third in the Top Alcohol Division 7 standings and is ranked eighth nationally. Lucas, the 2003 Division 7 champion, scored his first TAD victory of the season earlier this year at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Amato Racing did not field a Top Fuel dragster in last weekend's Mile-High Nationals near Denver -- the first NHRA national event after Russell's death. The team will not return to the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series until the Aug. 13 event in Brainerd.

"We brought out a brand-new Grand Am, we liked what we saw, we brought it to this race painted in the new Summit Racing colors, and showed that we weren't as crazy as some people thought we were," said Anderson, who drives for team owner Ken Black of Las Vegas. "We won nine races with the other car but we were able to win with this one on its maiden voyage.

"I have confidence through the roof in (crew chiefs Rob Downing and Jeff Perley), the rest of the crew and the job they are doing. It doesn't take them much more than one crack at it to figure things out. They are on top of their game and I'm very fortunate to have them making the calls on the Summit Racing Pontiac Grand Am."

Anderson, who established an NHRA Pro Stock record with 12 victories last season, has won 10 of 13 races this season and 22 of the past 36, dating back to the 2003 season opener. Anderson holds a commanding 456-point lead over Kurt Johnson in the Pro Stock standings.

Teammate Eric Medlen bounced Worsham in the opening round of eliminations, allowing Force to leave Bandimere with a 27-point advantage despite his second-round loss. Force, a 12-time NHRA Funny Car champion, went into the race with only a three-point edge over Worsham.