NHRA Kurt Johnson Saturday Update: KJ Captures the No. 1 Qualifying Position in St. Louis

 

KJ Captures the No. 1 Qualifying Position in St. Louis

 

Event:  Ninth Annual Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals 

Day/Date: Saturday, June 25, 2005

Location:  Gateway International Raceway, Madison, IL

 

On the strength of a 6.750-second, 204.14 mph pass made during Friday
night's second qualifying session Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Racing
Team captured the No. 1 starting position at the Sears Craftsman NHRA
Nationals in Madison, IL.  It was Johnson's second "pole" position of
the 2005 season, second at Gateway International Raceway, and 25th of
his illustrious career.  This was also the third time in his 13-year
NHRA career that K.J. was the No. 1 qualifier at consecutive national
events.

 

Having secured his position in Sunday's starting field on Friday,
Johnson used his final two attempts on Saturday to try new components in
his race car, as well as working on fine-tuning his hot weather tune-up
for race day.

 

"We did a little experimenting in the early evening session, trying a
completely new clutch.  We really didn't know what to expect, and it ran
a 6.79, giving us some good information.  We put our normal set up back
in for the last run, and it went 6.76.  The bottom line is that we got
the money and the points for being No. 1, and that's what it's all
about.

 

"We're pretty pleased.  Our ACDelco Cobalt is going down the racetrack,
and has been pretty good on parts, so with a little good luck, we should
be in good shape for tomorrow.

 

"We know the conditions we're going to be running in the first round
tomorrow afternoon, and since we've only had one run under those
conditions, we'll have to see what happens.  Fortunately, we've been
working on our car since Englishtown trying to improve our set-up, and
the car has responded.  

 

"We know we're making good power, and when you have horsepower under the
hood, you had better make good runs and the driver has to be on his
game, because it's all hills and valleys out here. You have to take
advantage of it when you can, which is what we are looking to do here in
St. Louis tomorrow night."