CHARLOTTE (Sept. 13) - Lucas Oil/GEICO driver Morgan Lucas has a chance to help out the Top Fuel field, including Morgan Lucas Racing teammate Richie Crampton, as well as himself in eliminations during the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals on Sunday.

Lucas is matched up with points leader Doug Kalitta in the first round, meaning a Lucas victory will be celebrated by the contenders in the Countdown to the Championship.

Lucas isn't racing full time this season and isn't in the Countdown. Crampton, however, is eighth in the points standings and could use Lucas' help.

"We've got an opportunity to shake some things up in points," Lucas said. "But Doug (Kalitta) and (crew chief) Jim (Oberhofer) and (team owner) Connie (Kalitta), that's a great group over there. They can run as quick and fast as anybody, so you've got to be up for it as a driver."

Lucas qualified No. 14 with a best pass of 3.887 seconds at 278.46 mph, pitting him against No. 3 qualifier Kalitta, whose best run was 3.831 seconds at 318.62 mph.

Lucas is the defending champion of this race, so he and crew chief Aaron Brooks know the way to victory lane. Plus, Brooks thrives in the forecast weather conditions Sunday, with temperatures not expected to top 75 degrees.

"I'm sure Aaron's going to be frothing at the good conditions if they happen," Lucas said. "We've kind of got a pattern of not doing well in qualifying, just having weird problems. But we've seemed to pull it together for race day, so hopefully we can do that tomorrow and help our teammate out and get them to go some rounds. They've got a good race with (Steve) Torrence coming up.

"It's good when both cars are matched up with Countdown cars. It gives every opportunity to make your own destiny, so we'll see what happens."