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NHRA: Kurt Johnson Runs 6.77 in Testing

5 December 1999

ACDelco Camaro Turns Unofficial 6.77-Second ET in Top Secret Session

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Christmas came early for NHRA Pro Stock drag racer
Kurt Johnson when he made the quickest run of his career in pre-season
testing at Montgomery (Alabama) Motorsports Park. Johnson's ACDelco Camaro
Z28 turned a 6.77-second elapsed time at 201.88 mph, unofficially the
quickest e.t. in Pro Stock history. Kurt's time was well below the
6.822-second NHRA national record held by his father, five-time champion
Warren Johnson.

    The Johnsons were conducting the first of several scheduled chassis
tests in preparation for the start of the 2000 racing season. Kurt's
ACDelco team concentrated on suspension and shock absorber development
during the marathon three-day test in Montgomery.

    "I had intended to make only 1/8th mile runs, but after we worked on
the shocks and four-link, the car felt so good that I ran it all the way to
the finish line," Johnson reported. "The 6.77-second run was as smooth as
silk, but I had no idea that it was that quick. We made another
suspension adjustment, and my Camaro ran 6.80 on back-to-back passes.

    "Obviously the atmospheric and track conditions were exceptional, and
that certainly helped the car's performance," he explained. "I think the
knowledge we gained at this test will be valuable to our chassis
development program and will help us to improve our consistency next
season."

    Warren's GM Goodwrench Service Plus team evaluated several
suspension configurations during the private test session. "Our objective
wasn't to run fast, but rather to gather the information we need to make
sure that our chassis program is going in the correct direction," said the
silver-haired Professor of Pro Stock. "Given the power level of the engine
we were using, I'm quite pleased with our results."

    Warren and Kurt Johnson will continue their relentless testing
regimen through the holidays as they prepare for the season-opening NHRA
AutoZone Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., on February 3-6, 2000.