Johnson Drives to Pro Stock Semifinal in Dodge Stratus R/T
Mopar Motorsports NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series National Trail Raceway Hebron, Ohio Elimination Notes & Quotes Johnson Takes Dodge Stratus R/T to Its First Pro Stock Semifinal Mopar Funny Cars Drive to the Second Round HEBRON, Ohio (June 15, 2003) Allen Johnson drove the new Mopar backed Dodge Stratus R/T Pro Stock car to its first semifinal during today¹s NHRA national event at National Trail Raceway. Johnson lost in the semifinal to Greg Anderson, who posted quick time of the round at 6.895 seconds at 199.91 mph. Johnson logged a 6.907-second elapsed time at 199.49 mph. Johnson defeated Jim Yates in the first round, clicking off a 6.900-second elapsed time at 198.96 mph. It was the third-quickest elapsed time time of the round. The Greeneville, Tenn., resident then took out defending Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin, Jr., in round two. Johnson ran a 6.907-second lap at 198.85 mph. ³I thought if I could have gotten by the second round -- I would have had a shot at it,² Johnson said. ³The Stratus was absolutely awesome all day. We ran three 6.90-second runs in a row. It was like bracket racing out there. The team did an awesome job this weekend and we¹ve found our power again. If we have a break or two we¹ll win some races.² Darrell Alderman and his Mopar Parts Dodge Neon R/T fell in the first round of competition to Kurt Johnson. The three-time POWERade Pro Stock World Champion shut off at half track, allowing Johnson to cruise to victory. ³The car just spun the tires off the track,² Alderman said. ³We were better than Kurt all the way up to that point, but we got real loose and I had to shut it off. We were spinning the tires a little bit too.² Funny Car WrapŠ Whit Bazemore and his Matco Tools Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car were barely edged at the finish by John Force in the second round of competition. The duo ran identical elapsed times of 4.980 seconds, but Force¹s .061 of second reaction time was quicker than Bazemore¹s .077. Bazemore advanced to the second round by outrunning Dean Skuza. The Indianapolis resident logged a 4.866-second elapsed time at 315.93 mph; while Skuza drove to a 4.913-second elapsed time at 295.21 mph. ³It¹s pretty frustrating,² Bazemore said. ³It may have been a close race, but it¹s still frustrating. We have a team over hear that¹s capable of winning every single race. But we just didn¹t get the job done today. I did the best job I could do, and had the best light of the weekend against John. It¹s just how it goes some times. ³We always prepare ourselves,² Bazemore added. ³We have built the very best Dodge Stratus we could build, but you still need chips to fall your way.² The Oakley backed Dodge Stratus R/T of Gary Scelzi smoked the tires in the second round and lost to Ron Capps. In round one, Scelzi ran a 4.830-second elapsed time at 321.42 mph to beat out Cruz Pedregon¹s 5.217-second lap at 223.95 mph. ³It¹s frustrating,² Scelzi said. ³I had a great car in qualifying and had a great car in the first round. It became hot in the second round and we thought we pulled it back enough. It puffed the tire once, I brought it back, but then it just went up in smoke. I don¹t know how to fix it and I don¹t know what to say. It¹s just frustrating. We¹ve been getting in trouble before the Dodge body can take over. We weren¹t trying to run a big speed, we were just trying to get down the race track. A five flat probably would have won the race. It¹s just one of those deals.² -Mopar.com- For more information, contact: David Harris, Cox Marketing Group Public Relations Manager Mopar Motorsports NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series davidh@coxmarketinggroup.com (704) 799-2114 office (704) 756-9301 - mobile