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NHRA: Johnson Jr. riding Funny Car hot streak into Houston Raceway Park

27 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

BAYTOWN, Texas - John Force has been the season-long dominator in Funny Car and has already been crowned the nine-time champ, but in recent events, Tommy Johnson Jr. has been the force to be reckoned with in the 6,000 horsepower category.

The Ottumwa, Iowa racer won two of four consecutive final round appearances at NHRA national events from Reading, Pa. to Dallas, and if the past performance of his Wes Cerny-tuned Interstate Batteries Pontiac Firebird at Houston Raceway Park is any indication, Johnson just might make it five finals in a row at the third annual Matco Tools SuperNationals presented by Racing Champions, Oct. 28-31.

Cruz Pedregon drove the Joe Gibbs-owned machine to the Funny Car win last season at the $1.7 million race, 21st of 22 events in the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

"I know the Interstate Batteries Pontiac has a great history at Houston and I'm looking forward to going there," Johnson said. "This car has posted some great numbers there in the past and I'm confident that we'll be able to maintain that kind of performance this time out."

With a victory at Houston, Johnson can move one step closer to his goal of finishing in the Winston Top 10. After only 11 events, Johnson has climbed to ninth in the point standings.

"We want to finish in the top 10," said Johnson, who replaced Pedregon in the car at the NHRA national event in Columbus, Ohio. "The guys didn't think we would have a decent chance at doing it and I kept telling them that we did. If we could finish seventh, eighth or ninth after missing the first part of the season that would be great for the team and our program."

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