NHRA Kurt Johnson Topeka Pre Race: KJ Looks to Complete the Puzzle in Topeka

Contact:

                Jon G. Knapp

                TMG Sports Marketing

                Ph: (704) 662-3121

                jgknapp@tmgsports.net

 

KJ Looks to Complete the Puzzle in Topeka

Strong start has ACDelco Cobalt crew targeting win at O'Reilly Summer
Nationals

 

Sugar Hill, Ga., May 25, 2005 - This weekend's O'Reilly Summer Nationals
in Topeka, KS will mark Pro Stock standout Kurt Johnson's fourth race
with his ACDelco Cobalt.  By all accounts, this combination has been
both historic and productive, as the second-generation became the first
to qualify, score elimination round wins and advance to a final round
with the latest member of the Pro Stock Bow Tie Brigade.  This
performance has also catapulted Johnson into fifth place in the POWERade
Championship standings as he chases his first title, giving the
hard-working team's confidence a welcome boost.

 

"The performance of this ACDelco Cobalt has definitely headed us in the
right direction," said Johnson.  "With two semifinals and a runner-up in
its first three races, it's been pretty good, and it's only going to get
better.  We've gone to the semis and the final with it, so now, anything
less than a win will be a bit of a disappointment.  

 

"We battled some clutch issues at the last race in Columbus, so we'll go
back to the set-up we used in the past.  After all, we won Phoenix last
year with that combination, and were the runners-up in Topeka, so we
know it works.  We're not here to just go a few rounds - we're here to
win all four."

 

Armed with their new race car, the Johnson crew will head west to
Heartland Park Topeka to compete for the third consecutive weekend.  KJ
has attended every NHRA national event held at this multipurpose
motorsports facility since 1989, and although he has reached the
winner's circle as a member of his father's crew, he has yet to make
that trip with his own race car.  Having come close with runner-up
finishes in his last two visits to the Kansas quarter-mile, he returns
this weekend ready to seal the deal.

 

"We've been going to Topeka for sixteen years, and the two things that
stand out in my mind are the long ride up to the starting line and the
winds that blast you as you come through the tower," said Johnson.  "I
remember when we first went there in 1989, because it was the same year
we moved into this shop.  It may have a little age on it, but it's still
a good track.  

 

"Most importantly, it's one of the places we have yet to win.  We've
come close the last two years, but we really want that Topeka 'Wally'.
It won't be easy, and there are plenty of other guys looking to grab the
same brass ring.  Fortunately, we're coming in off a runner-up finish in
Columbus one week ago with a race car that we know is fast.  We were the
runner-up last week both in qualifying and eliminations, so we're coming
to Heartland Park ready to do whatever it takes to climb that last
step."

 

 

Notes on Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team entering 

The O'Reilly Summer Nationals:

 

*	KJ in Topeka:   This will be Kurt's 18th appearance at Heartland
Park Topeka, where he has two final round appearances in the last two
years, and one No. 1 qualifying performance in 1995. 

 

*	One year ago:   Kurt qualified fifth with an elapsed time of
6.871 seconds and a top speed of 200.56 mph and defeated Bruce Allen,
Kenny Koretsky and No. 1 qualifier Steve Johns en route to a runner-up
finish.

 

*	Career Best Elapsed Time: 6.671 sec., Gainesville, FL, 3/20/05

 

*	Career best top speed:  207.13 mph, Gainesville, FL, 3/20/05

 

Event Schedule:

            Friday May 27 -                       Two qualifying
sessions at 4:30 & 7:30 p.m.

            Saturday, May 28 -                 Two qualifying sessions
at 12:00 noon & 3:00 p.m.

 

            Sunday, May 29 -                   Pre-race ceremonies begin
at 10:00 a.m. followed by

                                                            the first
round of eliminations at 11:00 a.m..

 

Television Schedule:

            Qualifying:                   Saturday, May 28 -
8:00 - 9:00 p.m.

                               (Repeat)    Sunday, May 29 -
2:30 - 3:30 a.m.

            Eliminations:               Sunday, May 29 -
8:00 - 11:00 p.m.

                               (Repeat)    Monday, May 30 -
2:30 - 4:30 a.m.

 

            NHRA2Day:                 Sunday, May 29 -
11:30 a.m. - 12 noon

(Please consult your local listings for exact times, as the schedule is
subject to change.)

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