NHRA Friday: Sitting 15th on Friday, KJ Aims to Move Up on Saturday In Phoenix

Event: 20th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals
Location:  Firebird Raceway
       Chandler, Arizona
Day/Date: Friday March 5, 2004

Kurt Johnson had an eventful first day of qualifying at the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals in Phoenix, Arizona.  On his first attempt, despite battling a combination of mechanical gremlins and a soft clutch set-up, Johnson's ACDelco Cavalier posted an extremely competitive 6.836 second elapsed time with a top speed of 203.71 mph.

Returning in the early evening for his second run at Firebird Raceway, KJ looked to take advantage of the improved atmospheric conditions.  Unfortunately, a severe case of tire shake prevented the second-generation racer from bettering his earlier time, placing him 15th halfway through the qualifying procedure, with designs on regaining his position among the leaders on Saturday. 

"Considering what we went through, we were pretty happy with that 6.83 on the first run.  We had put new brake pads on the car, and I gave it an extra 100 lbs. of pressure.   As a result, I couldn't get it to stage, so I got the clutch hot before we even launched, and then it melted it on the run.  With all that, we still ran an .83.

"We figured we could pick up about four hundredths for tonight's session, so we made some changes in the gearing.  Unfortunately, it just wanted to wheel stand, putting it on the wheelie bars, which caused it to shake the tires and get them waffled up.  It wasn't pretty.

"We'll calm it down for tomorrow and see if we can get the ACDelco Cavalier back in the top half where it belongs, getting lane choice for Sunday."