CHARLOTTE (Sept. 8) - In a sport that requires you to be perfect with the drop of the light on the Christmas tree, Lucas Oil Pro Stock Ford Mustang driver Larry Morgan knows success doesn't come easy.

As owner of one of the hardest-working teams in the NHRA garage, Morgan will make sure to leave it all on the track before the end of the NHRA Carolina Nationals, just like he does every race weekend.

"It was tough leaving Indy a day early," Morgan said. "Obviously, I never want to be in a situation like that but it happens, and it can honestly happen to anyone. We're a small team that isn't working with as much as some of these other guys out here. It can be frustrating at times, but I know we're doing the best we can with what we have got. Can't do anything more than give it your all, and that's what we're doing."

It didn't take long for the veteran racer to move forward and put Indy in the past. Just like every week he's at the track, Morgan isn't counting himself out of contention.

"I'll be as ready as I can be for Charlotte," Morgan said. "I've been doing this enough now that you can't keep me down. It's such a tough Pro Stock field that you have to be practically perfect in order to make the field.

"Who knows, we may be at the top of the ladder come eliminations. Anything can happen in this sport, and that's what I love about it. Don't ever count me out; I always plan on winning."

Morgan will be ready to stun the field when qualifying sessions take place at 12:45 and 3 p.m., Friday, and 1 and 3 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations will start at approximately 1 p.m., Sunday, with both qualifying and elimination action broadcast on ESPN2 on tape delay.