NHRA Kurt Johnson Qualifying Wrap Up: Saving His Best for Last, KJ Qualifies Seventh in Phoenix

Contact:  Jon Knapp

TMG Sports Marketing, Inc.

 Ph: (704) 662-3121

jgknapp@tmgsports.net



*Saving His Best for Last, KJ Qualifies Seventh in Phoenix*

* *

*Event:  *23rd Annual* *Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals

*Day/Date: *Saturday, February 24, 2007

*Location:*  Firebird Raceway, Chandler, AZ



Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team did a complete about-face on
Saturday at the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals in Phoenix, AZ putting any
struggles from the previous day behind them and powering their way into
Sunday's final eliminations field.  On his third attempt, Johnson quickly
allayed any fear about his participation on race day with a solid
6.677-second clocking, and then punctuated his performance with the quickest
pass of the fourth and final session, an impressive 6.658-second, 207.75 mph
run in the heat to capture the seventh starting spot.



"Anytime you can go from not in the field to twelfth and then seventh on
consecutive runs, including being the quickest car in the last session, you
have to be pleased.   Things seemed to coming together rather nicely for the
ACDelco Cobalt crew today, and, looking at the runs on the computer, we
think we can pick up even further.  With as many tough teams, crew chiefs
and drivers as we have in Pro Stock, qualifying in the top half is quite an
accomplishment, and something we're pretty happy about.  However, we know we
still have work to do.



"With qualifying behind us, our focus will now be on lighting the win light
four times.  After all, it doesn't matter how fast we run, just as long as
that light keeps coming on in our lane.  We've done it twice before here at
Firebird, in 1999 & 2004, and we'd certainly like to add number three
tomorrow."



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