Whether It’s Welding Metal in the Shop, or Her Competition on the Track, Drag Racing Rookie Morgan Evans Has the Spark to Be a Success
Even if you’re not at a larger event, it can be a rush of emotions to make a run on the track. You and your vehicle joining forces to make a pass, the feeling of power under your right foot, the adrenaline of speeding without worrying about seeing a cop hiding in the shadows.
It can be indescribable to watch a quick run, but being behind the wheel is an entirely different experience.
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Despite growing up in an automotive-influenced environment, and now living less than 30 minutes from the historic Orlando Speed World Dragway, Morgan Evans had never made a pass down a drag strip in her life until she got the call to be part of the Dodge Direction Connection Grudge Race.
“I was afraid of the crowd,” Morgan said. “I think the eyes on me, and the pressure I felt, made me hesitate to go out and race anything I own. This forced me to rip that bandage off, because Roadkill Nights has thousands of people watching, and you have to find a way to handle the pressure and focus.”
Even though she doesn’t have much experience behind the wheel, Morgan is well-versed in the ways of the automobile. “I was born into a car family,” said Morgan. “My dad had over 100 different cars. I have pictures of myself at early ages helping him with restorations. I was the kid in the 5-point harness telling him to ‘drive faster, and do burnouts.’ My childhood did not suck.”
Morgan played that upbringing into her early driving years, and it even led to her meeting her current fiancé, Jason Kastner. “We both had Subarus at the time, and he had a bumper I needed,” said Morgan. “I posted something on Facebook, and we met at a car meet so I could get the bumper from him, which he drug across the parking lot to me.”
That first meeting led to dinner and eventually a relationship, and although the Subarus have since been sold, they still have that bumper. “It was a sentimental thing, but we ditched the Subarus. They were broken entirely too much.”
The broken part was on par with the first vehicle Morgan owned, a Chevrolet Blazer that she was not a fan of. “It was terrible, but I have a fond memory of it.”
Since then, Morgan has dabbled in several different brands, including a square-body full size Chevrolet pick-up, a Nissan 240SX, and even a S550 version Ford Mustang. But she never forgot the Blazer, and it played into her life again recently in the form of a sister brand GMC Jimmy.
“I found it in early 2023,” said Morgan. Located just 10 minutes from her front door, the clean example was still powered by the original 2.8-liter engine, but it didn’t hang on for long after the purchase was made. “It did a burnout before it died, so that’s a plus.”
So, with a vacant engine bay, Morgan and Jason got to work installing a 5.3-liter all-aluminum LS engine, using a variety of Holley parts designed for the swap.
With the combined interest in cars, Morgan and Jason decided to start applying it in their spare time. “Welding is one thing neither Jason or I knew how to do. So, we bought welders four years ago, and taught ourselves how to do it.”
This led to the creation of Morgan’s Metals, and her well-known trophies. “We had a bunch of spare parts, and decided to use those to learn to weld by trying to make cool stuff. People saw them and started asking us to make trophies and awards for them.”
Their wrenching and welding skills would come in handy when Dodge came calling for the Direction Connection Grudge Race this year. “I think Weston (Champlin) recommended me for it, and I believe that stemmed from LS Fest in 2023 where I tagged him in something I shot. He messaged me earlier this year and mentioned ‘Dodge contacted me about an opportunity; would you like to be a part of it?’ I said yes, and that happened right about the time we started our YouTube channel, Torque n’ Tungsten, so the timing was great.”
The D-150 Dodge pick-up Morgan purchased for the task of carrying the new Hurricrate engine was revealed to the public in May. “As soon as Dodge told us we were in, we managed to find the truck and purchase it about a month before it was made public. Based on the feedback I get, and enjoying my current Chevrolet pick-up, I figured the Dodge pick-up would relate to a good chunk of people, and they have a ton of engine bay room, which we knew we needed.”
Morgan also went the ‘OE-type’ look with almost a factory-type installation versus a custom fabbed look some of her competition employed. “We really wanted to look like it belonged in there, especially considering the 2025 Dodge trucks are coming with this engine choice.”
Even though she came into the Roadkill Nights event with limited experience, Morgan managed to get to the final round, where she defeated fellow rookie Garrett Reed for the win, continuing the all-female win streak since the class was created.
“Getting into the project with the Grudge Race truck was 50-percent excitement, but also 50-percent nervousness. I had never done anything like this. Without Jason’s encouragement, I don’t know if I could have done it.”
“This was something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and having the chance to do it with Dodge and Jason made it a truly memorable experience. I never thought I’d have a chance to do something automotive related for a career, and this is something that was a blessing in that dream I’m living.”
The Roadkill Nights experience has opened Morgan’s eyes to participate in racing more in the future, and it may start close to her Cocoa, Florida homebase. “I’d like to do a drag-and-drive,” she said. “It’s something Jason had mentioned wanting to do, but since I started racing this year, I want to drive. I’m thinking we’ll start with Sick Week in 2025, and likely the GMC Jimmy will get the nod.”
To see Morgan’s latest video with coverage of the Roadkill Nights event, click below:
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Morgan Evans.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com