NHRA Friday: Sitting Sixth, Kurt Johnson looks to Move up the Ladder on Saturday in Memphis

Friday Qualifying Results		

Sitting Sixth, Kurt Johnson looks to Move up the Ladder on Saturday in Memphis


Event: 16th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals 
Location:  Memphis Motorsports Park
       Memphis, TN
Day/Date: Friday September 19, 2003

For the first time since August, rain did not play a role in the Friday qualifying sessions at an NHRA national event, and the Pro Stock contingent took full advantage shattering both ends of the track record at the O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals in Memphis, TN.  

Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco racing team were among the racers making news.  Johnson posted two solid runs, with his best elapsed time of 6.787 seconds placing him sixth at the qualifying midpoint.  However, Johnson's top speed of 203.71 mph was the best among the "factory hot rods", and reset the Memphis Motorsports Park track record.

Even so, Johnson already his sights set on the third qualifying session on Saturday, with plans to improve his starting position even further.

"I think we left a lot on the table tonight.  We knew the track would be good, but it was even better than we had estimated, causing us to run through the clutch.  Even so, we still had a top speed, and a respectable time. 

"If the conditions tomorrow morning are close to what we had tonight, I believe our ACDelco Cavalier will be pretty fast.  We just have to put some clutch in it and go, hoping it doesn't shake.  If we do that, a 6.74 is definitely possible.  We're pretty excited."