NHRA Kurt Johnson Pre Race: After a One-Week Delay, KJ Looks to Make His 300th Race a Winner

ACDelco Cobalt pilot hopes to reach milestone and winner's circle in Richmond

Sugar Hill, Ga., October 12, 2006 - The POWERade Drag Racing Series returns to Richmond, VA this weekend for the rain-delayed Torco Racing Fuels Nationals. This marks the third time during the 2006 campaign that the straight-line set has had their competitive schedule altered by a day or more, following similar postponements in Memphis, TN and Reading, PA.

In the previous instances where eliminations were delayed, Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team have experienced both ends of the competitive spectrum. Although they were able to score their third win of the season in the Tennessee race, an off-track excursion in Reading forced the team to make extensive emergency repairs in order to continue racing.

But the delay means little more than an inconvenience to the second-generation racer, as he prefers instead to focus on the task at hand. After all, Johnson will be looking to add two entries on his already extensive racing resume, simultaneously entering the 300th race of his NHRA Pro Stock career while adding Virginia Motorsports Park to his list of racing successes.

"I'm excited to go back to Richmond," stated Johnson. "This will be my 300th Pro Stock race, and I'd like to make it my 36th national event win. The way the air looks, it should be a very fast racetrack, and the national record should get knocked out of the park, with the Pro Stock cars dipping into the 6.50s from the very first hit. The surface at the starting line is a little too coarse, so it won't hold rubber the way it should, which will leave a couple hundredths on the table. But it's the same for everybody, so we'll just have to adapt to it as best we can.

"However, we're not going to concern ourselves with the numbers. Our goal is to make a good hit on every run, going from A to B smoothly, with no tire shake and making sure the clutch isn't slipping. If we do that, good things will happen for this ACDelco Cobalt."

Quick Notes on Kurt Johnson & the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team entering The Inaugural Torco Racing Fuels Nationals:

A Personal Milestone for a Second-Generation Racer: Kurt will be entering the 300th race of his NHRA Pro Stock career this weekend, dating back to the 1993 Winternationals in Pomona, CA. In that time, he has made 282 starts, recorded 35 wins in 65 final round appearances with a 442-247 elimination round record for a .642 round win percentage. In addition, he has posted 27 No. 1 qualifying performances.

KJ has Richmond in his sights: This will be KJ's seventh career appearance at Virginia Motorsports Park, where he has one final round appearance wins in 1997 and a 10-6 elimination round record for a .625 win percentage. VMP is one of only four tracks on the POWERade Drag Racing circuit where KJ has yet to win.

KJ's Richmond Qualifying Stats: In his six previous career starts at Virginia Motorsports Park, Kurt has one No. 1 qualifying performance in 1999, five starts in the top half of the field, and an average starting position of 4.67.

Track Record Holder: Kurt holds the Virginia Motorsports Park Pro Stock elapsed time record with his 6.840-second clocking from April 1999.

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, October 13:                   Two qualifying sessions at 2:30 &
5:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 14:              Two qualifying sessions at 12:00 noon
& 2:30 p.m.

            Sunday, October 15:                 Pre-race ceremonies
starting at 10:00 a.m.

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

Television Coverage:

            Eliminations:

                        Sunday, October 15:               7:00  - 9:30
p.m.

            NHRA2Day:

                        Sunday, October 15:               12:30  - 1:00
p.m.

 

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