NHRA Kurt Johnson Pre Race: KJ Looks to Add another High Point to His Phoenix Resume

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     Jon G. Knapp

     TMG Sports Marketing

     (704) 662-3121

     jgknapp@tmgsports.net

 

KJ Looks to Add another High Point to His Phoenix Resume 

ACDelco Cobalt pilot recalls his rough 1993 start at Firebird Raceway

 

Sugar Hill, Ga., February 20, 2006 - Kurt Johnson and his ACDelco Cobalt
Racing team head to Phoenix, AZ this weekend for the Checkers Schuck's
Kragen Nationals, the second stop on the NHRA's POWERade Drag Racing
schedule.  This will be Johnson's fourteenth career appearance at
Firebird International Raceway, where he has experienced both ends of
the competitive spectrum.  

 

For example, Johnson received a rather rough introduction to the Arizona
quarter-mile during his rookie season in 1993.   Making only his Pro
Stock second start, the young driver squared off against former teammate
Scott Geoffrion in the second round.  Unaware of his opponent's
red-light start, Johnson powered down track, recording the quickest and
fastest pass of the round at 7.208 seconds, 192.67 mph.  However, in
attempt to slow down following the run, his brakes locked, sending him
into a jarring crash which prevented him from answering the bell for the
semi-finals.

 

"Scott was actually at fault, because if he hadn't red-lighted, I
wouldn't have crashed," joked Johnson in recalling the incident.  "I had
difficulty seeing the tree that weekend, so I was unaware that Scott had
red-lit, and I stared at his front fender in front of me all the way
down the track.  As a result, when I got to the finish line, I was less
concerned about what I should have been doing, namely stopping, than I
was about losing.    When I finally tried to stop, I couldn't find the
chute handle, so I hit the brakes.  

 

"It was the third different car I had driven in three weeks, and the
brakes were much more sensitive, so I barely touched them, they locked
up, and the rest is history.  It was a combination of a lack of
experience and a lack of thinking that caused us to lose a car that
could have won the race.  Of course, that was a long time ago, and I've
since learned that it's better to end the day with the winner's trophy
than out in the desert with a wrecked race car."

 

Johnson's fortunes at Firebird Raceway have improved considerably since
that original race, as he has scored two wins there, with the most
recent coming in 2004.  Naturally, this weekend he will look to continue
this positive trend, and add to his list of successes in the Arizona
desert.  

 

"We're looking forward to getting to Phoenix, because we're pretty
confident about having a good weekend with our ACDelco Cobalt," stated
Johnson.  "As with any track we race on, we have to make good runs and I
have to do my job at the starting line.  Firebird can be a little
tricky, so whoever adapts to it the best will be successful.  It can get
slippery near the top with dirt and dust blowing in from the desert, so
it will be important to stay in the groove.

 

"We're definitely hungry coming out of Pomona.  We learned a lot about
our car at that race, and the main thing is that we don't out-trick
ourselves.  We'll stick to the basics and concentrate on getting down
the racetrack.  We have the people and the parts to get to the top of
this program - it's just a matter of executing." 

 

 

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

The Checkers Schuck's Kragen Nationals:

 

Kurt's Career in Chandler:  This will be KJ's 14th career appearance at
Firebird International Raceway, where he has two wins (in 1999 & 2004)
in two final round appearances, and a 18-11 elimination round record for
a .621 win percentage.

 

One year ago:  Kurt qualified fourth with an elapsed time of 6.746
seconds and a top speed of 204.94 mph, but was upset in the first round.

 

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

 

Career best top speed:  207.72 mph, Pomona, CA, 2/12/06

 

Event Schedule:

Friday, February 24:        Two qualifying sessions at 3:30 & 6:00 p.m.

            Saturday, February 25:    Two qualifying sessions at 12 noon
& 2:30 p.m.

            Sunday, February 26:       Pre-race ceremonies starting at
10:00 a.m.

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

Television Coverage:

            Qualifying:

                        Saturday, February 25:    8:00 - 10:00 p.m.

            Eliminations:

                        Sunday, February 26:      7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

            NHRA2Day:

                        Sunday, February 26:      6:30 - 7:00 p.m.

 

(All times Eastern.  Please check your local listings for exact
broadcast times in your area.)

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