Kurt Chronicles: Phoenix Edition

KURT JOHNSON PRIMED FOR PHOENIX SHOOTOUT

    You can certainly understand Kurt Johnson's separation anxiety.
Following the season-opening Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Johnson's
ACDelco rig has been parked in Phoenix in anticipation of the CSK Nationals
at Firebird International Raceway on Feb. 22-24. Among the precious cargo
under lock and key in Arizona are Johnson's record-setting GM Drag Race
Competition Engines.

    "As long as nobody has stolen the trailer, we should be all right,"
Kurt said from his top-secret engine shop in Sugar Hill, Ga. "With our race
engines 2,000 miles away, we've been testing new ideas on the dyno every
day. I have my fingers crossed that we'll pick up three or four horsepower
before the Gatornationals."

    In an engine that produces more than 1,300 horsepower, three or
four additional ponies may seem insignificant. But given the ferocity of
the competition in Pro Stock, just one horsepower can mean the difference
between victory and defeat.

    There is also a brand-new ACDelco Cavalier to occupy idle hands in
Kurt's workshop. Pro Stock chassis, like Pro Stock engines, are constantly
evolving to a higher level.

    "This is our fourth-generation car from Jerry Haas, and it
looks promising," Kurt reported. "We've widened and strengthened the
chassis to make it stiffer. We'll find out soon whether or not it works."

    Johnson has experienced the full range of racing emotions at
Firebird International Raceway. He crashed there in his rookie season in
1993, and he won there in 1999. This year's event will mark his tenth race
at the Arizona track.

    "We're going to start off in Phoenix with the car set up just the way
it left Pomona," he said. "We think the starting line at Firebird will be
a little better than the first 60 feet at the Winternationals. If we need
more traction, we know what to do.

    "Firebird does have some bumps, and I think our double-rail chassis
will be an advantage," Johnson reported. "The stiffer frame lets the
shock absorbers do their work. The Cavalier I'm driving now is very similar
to the double-rail Camaro that won in Phoenix in 1999. That car stayed
hooked up even on a bumpy track, and I hope that this car does the same."

    Johnson is fourth in the NHRA POWERade championship standings after
a semifinal finish at the K&N Filters Winternationals. He'll be reunited
with his beloved engines at Firebird International Raceway before Friday's
first qualifying session -- and he's counting the minutes.

KURT JOHNSON'S FIREBIRD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY RECORD

Year Qualified  Result
1993    3       Semifinal
1994    4       Semifinal
1995    4       First Round
1996   13       First Round
1997    8       Second Round
1998    4       Second Round
1999    2       Winner (over T. Coughlin)
2000    1       First Round
2001    2       Second Round