Kurt Chronicles: Brainerd Edition NHRA Nationals

For Release: August 15, 2002
Contact: Rick Voegelin
TMG Sports Marketing
rickvoegelin@compuserve.com
831-761-2201


THE KURT CHRONICLES: Kurt Johnson ACDelco News & Notes for the Rugged
Liner NHRA Nationals, Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 16-18


JOHNSON BACK IN COMFORT ZONE AT BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

With a victory at the Pro Stock Invitational in Woodburn, Ore., and a
strong performance at the Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals in Sonoma, Calif.,
Kurt Johnson's ACDelco Cavalier is back on track. K.J. intends to use
this weekend's Rugged Liner NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International
Raceway as a launching pad for a late-season surge in the POWERade
championship race.

Johnson grew up in Minnesota, and the series' annual visit to Brainerd is
a homecoming for the 39-year-old professional racer. K.J. is a two-time
winner at BIR: He defeated Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the final round in 2000 and
defeated Jim Yates in the final round in 1997.

"We've done well in Brainerd before and we have a good notebook on the
track," said Johnson. "I've won there twice in the last five years, and I
think we have a shot at a third win this weekend.

"We learned at the last race that the car now has a much wider window with
the changes we made," Kurt continued. "Solving the chassis problems gave me
an opportunity to focus on the motor and fine tune the carburetors. We're
making steady progress, but there is always room for improvement."

Johnson had some unexpected help on race day at the Fram-Autolite Nationals
in Sonoma, Calif., when his father failed to qualify for the first time in
15 seasons. After his own struggles this season, Kurt was sympathetic to
Warren's plight.

"Sunday morning is the worst when you wake up and you've got nothing to
work on," he revealed. "Dad kept his streak alive when his back was up
against the wall at other races, but this time he just wasn't able to pull
it off. Even when you have the best equipment, years of experience and a
good crew behind you, there is still that small element of luck involved in
racing."

While racing luck is elusive, Johnson will have the advantages of a
capable crew and a powerful ACDelco Cavalier when he returns to the land of
his birth.

KURT JOHNSON'S BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY RECORD
Year  Qual.   Result
1993    3    Semifinal
1994    7    First Round
1995    5    Second Round
1996   10    First Round
1997    3    Winner (over Yates)
1998    9    Semifinal
1999    2    Semifinal
2000    2    Winner (over J. Coughlin)
2001    3    Second Round

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  E-mail from: Rick Voegelin, 15-Aug-2002