NHRA Friday Kurt Johnson Update: KJ Is No. 1 on Friday in Memphis

KJ Is No. 1 on Friday in Memphis

 

Event:  18th Annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals 

Day/Date: Friday, August 19, 2005

Location:  Memphis Motorsports Park, Memphis, TN

 

Despite blistering midsummer temperatures that handicapped the normally
aspirated "factory hot rods" Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Cobalt Racing
team continued their string of strong performances during Friday's
opening qualifying sessions for the O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals in
Memphis, TN.  After opening with a class-leading 6.831-second, 202.21
mph pass in the afternoon time trial,  Johnson came back in the evening
to rocket down the Memphis Motorsports Park quarter-mile in 6.787
seconds with a top speed of 202.85 mph to claim the No. 1 position
midway through qualifying.

 

"That was a tremendous run for our ACDelco Cobalt, especially given the
conditions.  It was straight as a string, didn't do anything crazy, kept
the front end on the ground, and ran well to sixty feet.

 

"We've been trying a couple new engine components, and, ironically, the
corrected numbers are off where we'd like them to be.  Although we
should be running a little quicker, when you're quicker than everyone
else, it doesn't really matter.

 

"Although we're pleased with the performance, we have to make sure we
stay consistent in the heat tomorrow, getting ready for Sunday."