NHRA Kurt Johnson Pomona Pre Race: KJ Begins His Quest for NHRA Gold in Pomona

Contact:

     Jon G. Knapp

     TMG Sports Marketing

     (704) 662-3121

     jgknapp@tmgsports.net

 

Kurt Johnson Begins His Quest for NHRA Gold in Pomona

ACDelco Cobalt Racing team starts Championship Chase at Winternationals

 

Sugar Hill, Ga., February 6, 2006 -  This weekend, athletes from around
the world will converge in Torino, Italy to participate in the XX Winter
Olympic Games.  Over the next two weeks, they will compete in events
ranging from downhill skiing to ice hockey, with each contestant looking
to take home the ultimate symbol of amateur athletic achievement - an
Olympic gold medal.  

 

At the same time, almost 6,500 miles away from the Italian Alps, Kurt
Johnson and his ACDelco Cobalt Racing team will begin their pursuit of
drag racing's greatest prize, the NHRA POWERade Championship.  Unlike
their Olympic counterparts 14-day contest, KJ & crew will compete at 23
races across the country over the next nine months, starting with the
Carquest Auto Parts Winternationals this weekend in Pomona, CA, doing
everything they can to end the season with more points than everyone
else.  

 

Four times in his stellar career, he has come close, finishing second as
he did a year ago.  Heading into his 14th year on the Pro Stock circuit,
Johnson detailed what he needs to accomplish in order to ascend that
final step, as well as assessing his chances for success.  

 

"The entire ACDelco Cobalt crew is pretty excited heading into the 2006
season," said Johnson.  "Naturally, our top priority is winning the
POWERade championship, so it's important to get off to a good start and
maintain that pace throughout the year.  We always want to win the race,
but first, we have to make sure that we consistently win rounds every
time out.

 

 "Last year, I said it would take six to eight wins to win the
championship, and we won four.  That was the difference.  The same is
true this year, and to do it, we'll need the whole package.  It will
take the car, crew, as well as the driver all doing their jobs at a
consistently high level, as well as a little luck.  We have everything
in place, and it's up to us to bring it home."

 

Armed with a fast race car and a dedicated, hard-working crew, Johnson's
odds for this weekend are improved even further by his past record at
the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.  Following a productive off-season,
which included two impressive test sessions, he is confident of adding
to his total of one win in two final round appearances at the
Winternationals.  

 

"We're starting the season with the same ACDelco Cobalt that we won and
made it to the semis with in the last two races," stated Johnson.   "We
have a good notebook on it, so we're looking to pick up where we left
off, qualifying in the top half and going deep into eliminations.  

 

"We're also going back to Pomona, where we ran well in November. We have
made some changes to the race car, which should help on that surface in
particular, have a little more power in the engine compartment, as well
as a great crew.  We've hit all the bases in the off-season so things
should be good.  We're ready to race." 

 

Quick Notes on Kurt Johnson & the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team entering

The Carquest Auto Parts Winternationals:

 

Kurt Knows How to Win the Winternationals:  This will be KJ's 14th
Winternationals, where he has one win (in 2001) in two final round
appearances, and a 22-12 elimination round record for a .647 win
percentage.

 

KJ Overall at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona:  This will be Kurt's 27th
race at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, where he has four wins in seven
final round appearances, and a 46-21 elimination round record for a .687
round-win percentage.

 

Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Record Holder:  Kurt holds the track top
speed record  at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona at 207.62 mph, which he
set in qualifying at the 2005 Auto Club of Southern California Finals
last November.

 

One year ago:  Kurt qualified second with an elapsed time of 6.706
seconds and a top speed of 206.35 mph, and advanced to the semi-finals.

 

Career Best Elapsed Time: 6.663 sec., Dallas, TX, 10/7/05

 

Career best top speed:  207.62 mph, Pomona, CA, 11/5/05

 

 

Event Schedule:

            Thursday & Friday, February 9-10:  Single qualifying session
at 2:00 p.m.

            Saturday, February 11:  Two qualifying sessions at 11: 30
a.m. & 2:30 p.m.

            Sunday, February 12:     Pre-race ceremonies starting at
10:00 a.m.

                                                    First Round of
Eliminations at 11:00 a.m.

 

Television Coverage:

            Qualifying:

                        Saturday, February 11:  10:00 p.m. -12:00
midnight

            Eliminations:

                        Sunday, February 12:     7:30 - 10:30 p.m.

            NHRA2Day:

                        Sunday, February 12:       11:30 a.m. - 12:00
noon

 

# # #