NHRA Kurt Johnson Friday Update: KJ Sits Sixth Midway through Joliet Qualifying

Event:  9th Annual Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Nationals

Day/Date: Friday, June 9, 2006

Location:  Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, IL

 

The first day of qualifying for the Carquest Auto Parts Nationals was
greeted by unusually cool temperatures, producing nearly ideal
conditions for the naturally-aspirated Pro Stock contingent.   As a
result, midway through qualifying, the "factory hot rods" had already
established the quickest field in the category's history.

 

Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team were up to the
challenge, posting one of the quickest elapsed times in each of the two
sessions.  After opening with a solid 6.694-second effort, Johnson
picked up the pace in the evening time trial, with his 6.664-second,
207.43 mph pass slotting him in the sixth position.  

 

Despite the strong showing, the second-generation racer was already
looking for ways to improve during one of his remaining two attempts on
Saturday.

 

"We've got some work to do.  In both runs, we were off two hundredths to
the 330-foot mark.  If we can pick that up, we'll be looking pretty
good.  We just have to figure out how to get there.  There's one
hundredth in the first 60 feet, and another in the 60 to 330 foot mark,
so it's all in the first part of the racecourse, so I think I know what
to do.

 

"Qualifying in these mineshaft conditions puts a lot of pressure on the
entire team, because you know you have to do well.  In some ways you
have to roll the dice and hope it sticks, and that it doesn't shake the
tires or burn the clutch up.  We made a couple changes to our ACDelco
Cobalt for tonight's run, and it definitely helped the back half
performance.  Now we just have to work on getting better in the front
part of the run, which is what we'll work on tomorrow."