MOPAR'S JOHNSON LOOKING TO TURN THE TIDE IN MEMPHIS

NEWS RELEASE
August 18, 2005


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TEAM MOPAR CONTACT:
Misha Geisert
J.R. Thompson Company 
(317) 432-4110                                                                
                                             MoparPR@aol.com

MOPAR'S JOHNSON LOOKING TO TURN THE TIDE IN MEMPHIS

Center Line, Mich. -  Allen Johnson and the J & J Racing team have been on 
top of their game thus far in the 2005 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock season, but it 
seems the competition's been just one step ahead. As the series rolls into the 
Memphis Motorsports Park this weekend for the O'Reilly Midsouth Nationals, 
Johnson is looking to turn his team's hard luck into a full house. 

"All season we've been extremely competitive," Johnson said. "With our 
qualifying efforts, the lights we've had, it has been hard to swallow that we've not 
made it past the second round for a while. The guys that have been beating us 
are always the ones to beat overall, it seems. We're going into Memphis with 
the attitude that this weekend could be the turning point. If we can get some 
luck to fall our way, we'll have a better weekend and get things rolling 
again."

Earning a victory in front of the Memphis crowd wouldn't be a far stretch for 
the veteran driver, as he has already earned one series win at Phoenix, 
Ariz., earlier this season. Johnson has also sat atop the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock 
Series points, and is currently ranked 12th in the championship chase. The 
Greenville, Tenn., based team would also like to have a solid weekend of momentum 
to take with them on the road in the coming days. 

"To get a win would be great, but to get a win in our home state would be 
huge," Johnson said. "A good run would help us to build some momentum to go on 
the road with, and with this weekend and the other events in the next month, 
we'd like to kick things off on a high note."

Qualifying for the O'Reilly Midsouth Nationals event begins Friday and 
Saturday, with final eliminations scheduled for Sunday. 

Qualifying highlights will be broadcast on EPSN2 on Saturday, August 20, at 
8 p.m. EST, and NHRA2Day will air on Sunday, August 21 at 11:30 a.m. EST. 
ESPN2 will also broadcast elimination highlights on Sunday at 10 p.m. EST. 

For more information regarding Team Mopar, Johnson or the O'Reilly Midsouth 
Nationals, log on to www.moparspeed.com, www.allenjohnson.com or www.nhra.com.

Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment 
supplier of parts and accessories for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles. 

                                                 -30-