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Kurt Chronicles: Pomona Edition

For Release: Nov. 5, 2002
Contact: Rick Voegelin
TMG Sports Marketing
rickvoegelin@compuserve.com
831-761-2201


THE KURT CHRONICLES: Kurt Johnson ACDelco News & Notes for the Automobile
Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Pomona, Calif., Nov. 7-10


JOHNSON READY TO MAKE FRONT PAGE NEWS AT NHRA FINALS

    He has a fast race car in his transporter, a seven-year winning streak
on the line, and a winning record at Pomona Raceway. What more could
ACDelco Pro Stock driver Kurt Johnson want for motivation at this weekend's
season-ending NHRA Finals?

    "We just have to take care of business," said Johnson, who qualified
No. 1 and set the track speed and elapsed time records at the preceding
event in Las Vegas on October 27. "Our game plan is to go out to Pomona and
do what we've been doing."

    Kurt's performance at the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals earned a
place on the front page of the official results sheet - a spot reserved for
the finalists, the No. 1 qualifiers, and the drivers who run the quickest
times and fastest speeds of the event. Savvy observers rely on the front
page to determine who's hot and who's not. And right now, K.J. is very hot
in Pro Stock.

    "It feels good to have a fast race car again," said Johnson. "After we
set the track records in Dallas and Las Vegas, I remembered the races where
we struggled during the summer. A good e.t. is like a breath of fresh air.
Now it's just a matter of putting the ACDelco Cavalier in the winner's
circle."

    Johnson has competed 20 times in NHRA national event competition at
Pomona Raceway, scoring three victories in five final-round appearances. He
won the NHRA Finals in 1997 over Tom Martino and in 2000 over Jeg Coughlin
Jr. Johnson also won the 2001 Winternationals at Pomona Raceway, defeating
Darrell Alderman in the final round.

    K.J. is often reminded that 45 races have passed since that last
victory at the Winternationals. He's also aware that he has won at least
one race for seven consecutive seasons, and he knows that the NHRA Finals
is his last chance to keep that streak going.

    "It's tough out there on Sunday," he conceded. "Drivers have
qualified 16th and won races this season. It's so important to make the
right calls at the right time. The only way to control your fate is to
maintain lane choice on Sunday and keep digging for those good reaction
times."

    Johnson's ACDelco Chevy will wear special KISS graphics that it debuted
in Las Vegas, and K.J. will again don his red-hot flamed driver suit. The
special edition ACDelco Cavalier salutes the legendary rock band's 30th
anniversary.

    "The 20 pounds of vinyl definitely didn't slow the car down in Las
Vegas," Johnson laughed. "It was cool to meet Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley
from KISS. I have to take my hat off to them because they were all business
at the races. They signed autographs for hours and did media interviews all
day long. They're real rock 'n' roll pros."

    While many drivers are thinking about new cars for next season, Johnson
is quite content with his current ride.

    "Dad's trying to talk me into a new car, but I said 'No thanks,'"
Kurt laughed. "I like this one. It's less than a year old. It's ready to
win - and so am I."

KURT JOHNSON'S POMONA RACEWAY RECORD:
Year          Qual.  Result
1993 Spring    15    Semifinal
1993 Fall       2    Runner-up (to W. Johnson)
1994 Spring     3    Semifinal
1994 Fall       7    Second Round
1995 Spring     3    First Round
1995 Fall       4    Semifinal
1996 Spring     4    Second Round
1996 Fall      13    First Round
1997 Spring     5    Runner-up (to W. Johnson)
1997 Fall       6    Winner (over Martino)
1998 Spring    11    First Round
1998 Fall       3    Second Round
1999 Spring     2    Semifinal
1999 Fall       7    First Round
2000 Spring     8    Second Round
2000 Fall       6    Winner (over J. Coughlin)
2001 Spring     5    Winner (over Alderman)
2001 Summer     2    Semifinal
2001 Fall      DNQ
2002 Spring     6    Semifinal

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  E-mail from: Rick Voegelin, 05-Nov-2002