NHRA: Kurt Chronicles: Dallas/Houston Edition
19 October 2000
THE KURT CHRONICLES: Kurt Johnson ACDelco News & Notes for the O'Reilly
Fall Nationals and Matco Tools SuperNationals
NEXT RACES:
O'Reilly Fall Nationals, Oct. 20-22, Dallas
TV: ESPN2, Oct. 22, 6-9 p.m. (ET)
Matco Tools SuperNationals, Oct. 27-29, Houston
TV: ESPN2, Oct. 29, 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (ET)
NO. 2 AND TRYING HARDER
With three races remaining on the NHRA calendar, Kurt Johnson has set
his sights on clinching the No. 2 spot in the Pro Stock championship
standings. K.J. has already set a personal-best record with four victories
in 2000. A runner-up finish in the points race would duplicate his 1993
finish when he was honored as the Winston Rookie of the Year.
Kurt and his ACDelco team are working overtime to prepare for the
O'Reilly Fall Nationals in Dallas on October 20-22 and the Matco Tools
SuperNationals in Houston on October 27-29. After missing the cut for the
16-car Pro Stock field at the preceding race in Memphis, Johnson took on a
strenuous testing schedule.
"We tested at Atlanta Dragway three days in a row and made 19 runs,"
Kurt said. "We learned a lot and changed our entire setup. I believe we've
figured out why we didn't qualify in Memphis. We had never encountered
conditions like that before, and what we were doing was completely wrong
for this chassis.
"We've thrown a little bit of everything at our ACDelco Camaro to
get ready for Dallas and Houston," Kurt continued. "I could fill a book
with the information we've gathered on what it likes and what it doesn't
like. The car ran 6.95 at 200 mph at Atlanta when there was nobody else on
the track, so I think we're in great shape to close the year with a strong
finish."
Kurt was a winner the first time he drove at the Texas Motorplex in
1993, defeating his father Warren in the final round. He scored a second
victory in Dallas over Robert Patrick in 1995, and was runner-up in 1996
and 1998. Kurt was the No. 1 qualifier at the Castrol Nationals last May at
the Motorplex.
"I expect the conditions in Dallas will be similar to what we had when
we raced at the Motorplex earlier this year," Kurt predicted. "Maybe a
little more sunshine and a little warmer track temperature."
Kurt notched his single career victory at Houston Raceway Park in
1999 when he defeated Mike Edwards in the final round. "It's time to win
again in Houston," Kurt asserted. "My goal is to clinch the No. 2 spot in
the championship before we go to Pomona. I want to leave Houston with a
healthy lead over the No. 3 driver so we can concentrate on ending the
season with a victory at the NHRA Finals."
Kurt is already looking ahead to the start of the 2001 season and
the debut of his new ACDelco race car. "I plan to wear out the engine dyno
this winter," he declared. "If I can put another ten or 15 horsepower under
the hood, we'll be looking good."
KURT JOHNSON TEXAS MOTORPLEX RESULTS:
Year Qualified Result
1993 6 Winner (over W. Johnson)
1994 5 Semi Final
1995 6 Winner (over Patrick)
1996 15 Runner-up (to Yates)
1997 Spring 11 Second Round
1997 Fall 1 Second Round
1998 Spring 5 Runner-up (to Edwards)
1998 Fall 5 Second Round
1999 Spring 2 Semi Finals
1999 Fall 4 First Round
2000 Spring 1 First Round
KURT JOHNSON HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK RESULTS:
Year Qualified Result
1993 3 First Round
1994 4 Semi Final
1995 5 Second Round
1996 4 Second Round
1997 Spring 3 Semi Final
1997 Fall 11 First Round
1998 Spring 9 First Round
1998 Fall 1 Second Round
1999 Spring 3 Winner (over Edwards)
1999 Fall 4 First Round
2000 Spring 7 Second Round
LAST RACES:
Advance Auto Parts Nationals, Topeka, Kan., Oct. 1
Qualified: No. 3
Finished: Lost to Darrell Alderman in second round.
AutoZone Nationals, Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 8
Qualified: No. 20 - did not qualify
POINTS RACE:
(After 20 of 23 events)
Driver Wins Points
1. Jeg Coughlin Jr. 10 1,827
2. Kurt Johnson 4 1,295
3. Ron Krisher 2 1,267
4. Warren Johnson 1 1,239
5. Mark Pawuk 1 1,052