NHRA Kurt Johnson Denver Pre Race: His First Objective Reached, KJ Heads to Denver Targeting the Title

Contact:

     Jon G. Knapp

     TMG Sports Marketing

     (704) 662-3121

     jgknapp@tmgsports.net

 

His First Objective Reached, KJ Heads to Denver Targeting the Title

Poised & prepared ACDelco Cobalt crew mines for NHRA gold in the
Colorado Rockies

 

Sugar Hill, Ga., July 11, 2006 - Several months ago, at the start of
this year's POWERade Drag Racing season, ACDelco Cobalt pilot Kurt
Johnson was among the many competitors eyeing a run at the 2006 Pro
Stock championship.  However, facing a 23-race title chase, this
second-generation racer established additional objectives to gauge his
performance along the way and validate his claim for the golden "Wally".

 

For example, one such benchmark came early in the season.  After getting
off to an uncharacteristically slow start in the first four races, he
found himself outside of the Top Ten and facing a large points deficit.
At that point he decided he would need to be in the Top Five by the
midseason mark in order to have a realistic shot at the championship.
With two wins in three final round appearances and two semi-final
finishes in the next seven races, he easily accomplished this initial
goal.

 

Now, as the stars of the straight-line travel to Denver, CO for the
Mile-High Nationals and the start of the second half, Johnson and crew
have challenged themselves with a formula to put them on top when their
racing year draws to a close in November.

 

"We're pretty confident heading into the Mile-Highs," stated Johnson.
"Over the last few races, everyone on the crew has been doing their job,
our ACDelco Cobalt is telling us what it wants and responding to those
changes and we're seeing the results on the racetrack.  

 

"We had a huge win in Chicago, a runner-up finish in Topeka, and were
one thousandth off the pole in St. Louis.  If we can maintain that pace
throughout the second half, averaging a semi-final or final round
finish, we should be fine.  Although we enter every race to win,
realistically we know we won't win them all, but if we get our share, as
well as have a little bit of luck go our way, I like our chances.  

 

"There are a lot of good cars that still have a shot at the POWERade
championship.  It's going to be tough, and it might even come down to
which side the coin lands on, but we're committed to coming out on top."

 

As the opening stop in both the second half of the season and the
traditional three-race West Coast swing, Bandimere Speedway presents the
competitors with its own unique challenges.  Nestled in the side of the
Rocky Mountains in the Denver suburb of Morrison, it sits at an altitude
of 5,860 feet, where the lack of horsepower-producing oxygen cripples
the carbureted Pro Stock Cars.  Naturally, the key to success lies in
adapting to the conditions, requiring a solid set of notes and a good
handle on your race car.  With two wins and four final round appearances
in his previous trips to this scenic speedplant, Johnson is confident he
has both areas handled, and is cautiously optimistic about continuing
his championship charge.

 

"A lot is made of the conditions at Bandimere, but in reality, it's just
like anywhere else," opined Johnson.  "You have a starting line, a
finish line, and win lights.  We had a good test there a few weeks ago,
so we should be in good shape. We found what direction not to go in,
which will be helpful heading into this weekend.  Hopefully, we can be
strong from Q1 (the first qualifying session), put it on the pole or
near the top and have lane choice for round one on Sunday.  We'll start
from there and work our way forward.  We've won in Denver before, so we
have a pretty good idea of what needs to be done.  Now, it's a matter of
doing it.

 

"We'd certainly like to get the second half off to a good start, but
we're not putting any extra emphasis on any of these next three races.
After all, they will neither make you nor break you.  We've used the
time since the St. Louis race to get everything ready, and have what we
feel is a solid inventory of race motors ready to run.  Our ACDelco
Cobalt is fully prepared, the crew is focused on the task ahead, and
we're ready to get the job done.  I guess you could say we're ready to
climb the mountain."

 

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

The Mile-High NHRA Nationals:

 

Kurt Has Been to the Top of the Mountain:  This will be KJ's 14th career
appearance at Bandimere Speedway, where he has two wins (in 1995 & 2000)
and a 26-11 elimination round record for a .703 win percentage.  

 

KJ's Bandimere Qualifying Stats:  In his 13 previous career starts in
Colorado, Kurt has one No. 1 qualifying performance (in 2000), ten
starts in the top five positions, and an average starting position of
4.53.

 

One year ago:  Kurt qualified fourth with an elapsed time of 7.134
seconds and a top speed of 194.04 mph, and advanced to the semi-finals.

 

Career Best Elapsed Time: 6.646 sec., Joliet, IL, 6/11/06

 

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

 

Event Schedule:

Friday, July 14:                Two qualifying sessions at 4:15 & 7:15
p.m.

Saturday, July 15:            Two qualifying sessions at 10:30 a.m. &
5:15 P.M.

            Sunday, July 16:               Pre-race ceremonies starting
at 11:00 a.m.

                                                     First Round of
Eliminations at 12:00 noon

Television Coverage:

            Qualifying:

                        Saturday, July 15:    10:00 p.m. - 12:00
midnight

            Eliminations:

                        Sunday, July 16:      9:00 p.m. - 12:00 midnight

            NHRA2Day:

                        Sunday, July 16:      11:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon

 

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

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