ATLANTA - Running the Dixie Chopper-sponsored dragster, Morgan Lucas scored the first victory of his career Sunday, April 19 at Atlanta Dragway.

The 25-year-old Lucas, the youngest driver in the NHRA nitro division, dodged raindrops and outran top qualifier Spencer Massey to capture the rain-plagued event.

After enduring hours of rain, Lucas and Massey staged a fierce battle with both drivers getting on and off the gas several times to get their cars through the finish line. In the end, Lucas got there first with a 5.231-second time at 162.86 mph in his Geico/Lucas Oil/Dixie Chopper dragster. Massey logged a 5.418 finish at 145.25 mph.

"The TV guys asked me what I imagined my first win would be like and, believe me, I've had five years to think about this so it's something I have imagined quite a few times. But in the end, no matter how it happens, it's an incredible feeling," Lucas said.

"I probably imagined something a lot prettier, but we got it done. That last 75 feet of the track, after our blower belt came off, seemed like it took forever. But it's time for this crew to enjoy something they've worked at for a very long time. I hope this is just the first of many we can celebrate together," he added.

Lucas beat Joe Hartley, Bob Vandergriff, and Cory McClenathan to reach his sixth final round. The victory came in his 107th career start in Top Fuel.

The only regret for the Indianapolis-based driver was that his parents, Lucas Oil owners Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, weren't on hand in Atlanta to see the win.

"I knew that would happen," Lucas said. "This is just a message to them that they had better not miss any more races. We need them here with us."

With the win, Lucas moved into the top five in the Full Throttle points standings.

Next up for Lucas is the 13th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals event May 1-3 in St. Louis.