JOHNSON KEEPS WINNING STREAK ALIVE WITH NHRA FINALS
VICTORY
POMONA, Calif. - Kurt Johnson saved his best performance for the
last event of the 2002 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. K.J. returned to
the NHRA winner's with a final-round victory over Gene Wilson at the Auto
Club NHRA Finals, keeping his winning streak alive. He has now won at least
one national event for eight consecutive seasons. Kurt's last victory came
at Pomona Raceway when he won the 2001 Winternationals.
"When you go up there in the final round and you haven't won a race
all year, it brings out the best in you," said Johnson. "I knew Gene was
going to be tough; he was hitting .40 reaction times all day. I was pumped
getting into the car. You have to stay cool, but my adrenaline was
flowing."
Johnson put his ACDelco Cavalier in the No. 2 qualifying spot for
the season-ending event with a single run down Pomona Raceway. On
Thursday afternoon K.J. nailed down the second spot behind his father
Warren with a 6.806-second elapsed time at 203.28 mph. After persistent
rain washed out scheduled qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday, NHRA
officials set the field on the basis of the single qualifying runs along
with three seeded top-10 drivers.
"NHRA made a wise decision to run the race as scheduled instead
of postponing it," Kurt commented after qualifying. "The track is green
after the rain washed off the rubber, but it's really no different than
when we test at an unprepared race track. Looking at the track, we're
probably going to go with the right lane. We're the last pair out, so we
can see which lane to choose. Even little advantages like going last and
having lane choice work in your favor when the competition is as tough as
it is in Pro Stock."
Kurt's Cavalier again carried special KISS graphics that celebrated
the legendary rock 'n' roll band's 30th anniversary. The second-generation
driver dispatched Mark Whisnant in the first round of eliminations with
a 6.817-second elapsed time (the quickest of the round) and a 202.91 mph
speed (fastest of the round).
Johnson took out Tommy Lee in the second round, 6.825 to 6.846. He got
a break in the semifinal round when Greg Anderson's car broke behind
the starting line. Kurt put his foot down and won lane choice for his
final-round contest with Gene Wilson with a 6.842-second e.t.
The final outcome was never in doubt as K.J. was first off the
starting line with a .425-second reaction time and first to the finish line
with a 6.801-second elapsed time at 202.88 mph - the quickest run of
eliminations.
"You give it your best every time, but you never know if it's going
to happen or not," Kurt commented. "I've been trying just as hard for the
last six races; it just all came together today. I'm pretty happy right
now."
Johnson and his ACDelco team will have 13 weeks to prepare for the
start of the 2003 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, which will begin at
the season-opening K&N Winternationals on Feb. 6-9 at Pomona Raceway.
KURT JOHNSON RACE RESULTS
Qualified: No. 2 at 6.806/203.28 mph
First Round: Johnson (6.817/202.91) defeated Mark Whisnant (6.8798/201.88)
Second Round: Johnson (6.825/202.58) defeated Tom Lee (6.846/202.00)
Semifinal Round: Johnson (6.842/202.21) defeated Greg Anderson (broke)
Final Round: Kurt Johnson (6.801/202.88) defeated Gene Wilson
(6.843/201.79))
Low ET: Warren Johnson, 6.797 seconds (track record)
Top Speed: Greg Anderson, 203.58 mph (track record)
PRO STOCK CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
(After 23 of 23 events)
Driver Wins Points
1. Jeg Coughlin Jr. 8 1643
2. Jim Yates 1 1432
3. Greg Anderson 2 1368
4. Warren Johnson 1 1296
5. Ron Krisher 1 1169
6. Kurt Johnson 1 1158
7. Mike Edwards 2 1007
8. Allen Johnson 1 946
9. Gene Wilson 0 885
10. Mark Whisnant 0 860
NEXT RACE
K&N Filters Winternationals, Pomona, Calif., Feb. 6-9, 2003
