Veteran Pro Stock driver Larry Morgan confirmed to CompetitionPlus.com he will be filling in for Richie Stevens at the U.S. Nationals Sept. 2-5 in Indianapolis and drive the Camaro for Beaver Motorsports and owned by Mark Beaver.

“Mark called me up and asked me if I could drive the car and I told him I’m sure I can,” Morgan said. “I feel bad for Richie. I would really like the thank the guys for giving me this opportunity. The last time I ran Pro Stock was like three or four years ago. I’m excited about doing it. Mark and I are best friends and I’m glad to help him out.” 

Stevens, a six-time NHRA national event Pro Stock winner, has competed in a limited schedule for Beaver Motorsports this season, but is unable to drive in Indy because he’s dealing with aftermath of Hurricane Ida in his hometown of New Orleans. 

Stevens’ family business is Stevens Used Auto Parts in New Orleans.

“Larry is just filling in Indy and he may also drive for us at Maple Grove (Sept. 9-12 in Reading, Pa.),” Beaver said. “He was gracious enough to fill in for us and try and help us with our program. Richie couldn’t think of better person to jump in than Larry. Larry has won the U.S. Nationals before, and he knows how to win it. Larry knows what he’s doing and a good guy to fill with the driving duties, but also help the team along with our program. He done a little bit of consulting with us this year.

“In New Orleans, they still have no power, and the flights are canceled out of New Orleans, so Richie is staying there to take care of his business and everything else and we are good with that. Richie is our long-term driver. He’s part of the family.”

The primary sponsors on the Camaro will be VitaCshot.com, Racersdirect.com, Strutmaters.com with Chip Lofton and Beaver Bonding.

Stevens has competed in five NHRA national events for Beaver Motorsports this season and they were running Frank Iaconio Racing Engines, but that will change in Indy.

“We are still getting our feet wet and if we can have a good qualifying position with our new motor program, and hopefully we can make a round or two,” Beaver said. “We have some pretty high hopes for our new motor program with Titan Racing Engines. That’s the old Gray engine shop in Denver, N.C. I want everybody to understand this our engine and they are just working to try and make it better. They are trying to point us in the right direction and work on us with reliability.

“Eddie Bennett will be our crew chief and Vince Shull is our back-half guy.”

Morgan, meanwhile, is going to have a hectic schedule in Indy this week. Morgan is a 19-time NHRA winner in 46 final round appearances. He won Pro Stock twice in Indy.

“I’m actually going to be running a Comp car there as well and my full-time job at the races is working with Frank Manzo and Mike Castellano on the Pro Mod car,” Morgan said. “I’m going to be pretty busy. I’m going to need an Uber driver to run around the pits. The reason I’m running that Comp car is Danny Jesel built an engine and I race that car with that engine. It will be the first time it has ever been raced. That car is owned by Eugene Kelly. He’s one of my best friends. He has this Neon. I drove Eugene’s B Altered at Norwalk in 2017 and I got runner-up. That’s the car I will be driving in Indy this week. We just took his Hemi out and put Jesel’s motor in it. The index is 7.66.”

Morgan is a 19-time NHRA winner in 46 final round appearances.

“Richie has shaken that car down pretty good,” Morgan said. “Richie is a very good driver and I hate this for him. I know that is probably best that Mark has someone temporary to come in and do this because that’s Richie’s ride. Mark said I might run Maple Grove (Sept. 9-12 in Reading, Pa.) because Richie had a prior commitment.”

The last time Morgan ran fulltime in NHRA Pro Stock was in 2015. He finished seventh in the points standings and won two races in Charlotte and Denver and was runner-up in Chicago.

“I have done well in Pro Stock,” Morgan said. “I have won at Indy a couple of times, and I have been runner-up there two or three times. I feel good, but I just have to get some laps in the car.”