NHRA Sunday: Kurt Johnson Powers to Runner-Up Finish in Englishtown, Gains Ground in Championship Battle

Contact: Jon G. Knapp
									TMG Sports Marketing 
									Phone: (704) 662-3121
										    															             jgknapp@tmgsports.net	
Final Results		

Kurt Johnson Powers to Runner-Up Finish in Englishtown, Gains Ground in Championship Battle

Event: 35th annual NHRA SuperNationals
Location:  Old Bridge Township Raceway Park
       Englishtown, New Jersey
Day/Date: Sunday June 20, 2004

Kurt Johnson gave his POWERade championship hopes a boost by driving his ACDelco Cavalier a runner-up finish at Sunday's final eliminations of the NHRA Supernationals in Englishtown, NJ.  Johnson's strong showing, coupled with current points leader Greg Anderson's first-round loss, allowed him to narrow the deficit to first place by sixty points.  It was Johnson's fourth final round appearance of the 2004 season, 54th of his career and second at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. 

Starting from the fifth position, Johnson quickly served notice that he would be a contender, posting a 6.755-second elapsed time in his first round victory over Jeg Coughlin, which was the third quickest pass of the weekend in the Pro Stock category.  After defeating Jim Yates in the second round, K.J. used a 6.783-second, 204.94 mph pass against rival Darrell Alderman to advance to the championship round for the second time in three races.

Facing Jason Line in the final, Johnson made a strong bid, combining his best reaction time of the day at .041 with a 6.771-second, 204.29 mph pass.  Unfortunately, it fell just shy of holding off his opponent's 6.761-second, 203.58 mph effort.

"It was a good drag race that just didn't go our way.  We're really happy with our ACDelco Cavalier.  It really proved itself in the heat of the day, making some of the strongest runs of eliminations in Pro Stock.  We could use a little more power, because even though it was running good speed, that was all it had today.

"Even though you are never truly satisfied unless you win, we're going to leave Raceway Park happy.  We gained sixty points on the leader, and any time you can do that, it's been a good day.  If we're able to duplicate that performance a few times, we'll be in really good shape.

"Of course, Jason (Line) is right behind me, so that's another reason I would have liked to have won, but we have a lot of racing left.  It's too early to worry about points.  We're going to get to work and make some power, and let the real car guys on this ACDelco team do their job. The rest will take care of itself."								# # #