Kurt Chronicles: Dallas Edition

For Release: Oct. 4, 2002
Contact: Rick Voegelin
TMG Sports Marketing
rickvoegelin@compuserve.com
831-761-2201


THE KURT CHRONICLES: Kurt Johnson ACDelco News & Notes for the O'Reilly
Fall Nationals, Dallas, Oct. 11-13


JOHNSON BUILDS A SOLID RECORD ON CONCRETE QUARTER-MILE

    Kurt Johnson can hear the clock ticking as the 2002 NHRA POWERade
Drag Racing Series winds down. With three races remaining on the 23-event
schedule, K.J. knows that time is running out as the series goes to the
all-concrete quarter-mile at the Texas Motorplex for the O'Reilly Fall
National on Oct. 11-13.

    Johnson has built a reputation for winning on the rock-hard drag
strip near Dallas. He has competed 13 times in NHRA national event
competition at the Texas Motorplex, scoring three victories in five
final-round appearances. He won in 1993 over his father Warren, in 1995
over Robert Patrick, and in 2000 over Jeg Coughlin Jr. He was the No. 1
qualifier in 1997 and 2000.

    "I can't wait to go to Dallas," Kurt declared after his semifinal
finish in Chicago on Sept. 29. "I've had success there in the past, and
with the way my ACDelco Cavalier is running, I think we can win at the
Motorplex again."

    The unique Texas track has the only all-concrete racing surface on
the national tour. Its smooth surface offers abundant traction, but also
demands respect.

    "Some racers have problems there, but we've always been able to run
right down the middle of the lane," said K.J. "All of my cars have been
good there - Cutlasses, Firebirds, Camaros and Cavaliers. As long as the
concrete is scraped and sprayed correctly, it's actually a better surface
than most tracks. The Motorplex is a premier facility, and it's always a
pleasure to race there."

    K.J. has momentum on his side going into the O'Reilly Fall
Nationals. Since August, he's climbed from 12th to sixth in the
championship standings with a series semifinal-round finishes. The only man
standing between Kurt and the winner's circle is his current nememis,
points leader Jeg Coughlin Jr. Coughlin has won all five of the pair's
races this season, including the last two matches in Memphis and Chicago. 

    "Jeg's got my number this year," K.J. said with a laugh. "I've had
his number in the past, but this year I'm on the wrong side of the stats.
It's just a matter of time until they balance out.

    "Races that were once decided by hundredths of a second are now decided
by thousandths," Kurt continued. "We only need a couple of thousandths to
start turning on the win light in my lane, and I think we can find them in
the dyno room before we leave for Dallas.

    "With our performances in the last two months, the competition
definitely knows we're back," Johnson added. "My confidence level is up,
and I know that I can drive with the best of them on Sunday. The car is
running well, and the ACDelco team is totally focused on making the right
decisions. We're going to keep hammering away until that door to the
winner's circle opens."


KURT JOHNSON'S TEXAS MOTORPLEX RECORD:
Year        Qual.  Result
1993          6    Winner (over W. Johnson)
1994          5    Semifinal
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    Semifinal
1999 Fall     4    First Round
2000 Spring   1    First Round
2000 Fall     2    Winner (over J. Coughlin)
2001         11    First Round

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  E-mail from: Rick Voegelin, 04-Oct-2002