NHRA Kurt Johnson Houston Pre Race: KJ Sees Racing as Best Way to Honor Fallen Star

Contact:

     Jon G. Knapp

     TMG Sports Marketing

     (704) 662-3121

     jgknapp@tmgsports.net

 

KJ Sees Racing as Best Way to Honor Fallen Star

ACDelco Cobalt crew head to Houston Raceway Park saddened yet motivated

 

Sugar Hill, Ga., March 28, 2007 - By its very nature, the racing world
is at its best when there are cars on the track.  Whether making laps at
Martinsville or rocketing down the quarter-mile at Houston Raceway Park
both racers and fans alike will be happiest when competition resumes
this weekend.  However, for those involved in the O'Reilly NHRA Spring
Nationals in Houston, TX, there will be a natural reticence due to the
tragic events of a week ago, where a testing accident claimed the life
of young Funny Car star Eric Medlen.

 

Although acknowledging a sense of reluctance while preparing for this
weekend's event, Kurt Johnson noted an equally strong motivation based
the ACDelco Cobalt crew's responsibility to their sponsors, the fans,
and even their departed comrade's memory to ensure that the fourth stop
on the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule proceed as
planned.

 

"Our sport has suffered a tremendous loss, and I'm sure there are a few
of us who would rather not be racing this weekend," said Johnson.
"There is no doubt that Eric Medlen will be missed by all of us who were
fortunate enough to come in contact with him, and we will be keeping his
family as well as the John Force Racing team in our thoughts.  

 

"However, I believe it would be a disservice to his memory if this
weekend's race was not contested as planned.  Drag racing is not only a
sport, it is also a business, the way we earn a living.  There are many
people who are depending on us to be in Houston, from sponsors who will
be hosting hospitality events to the fans who have planned their
vacations around this race.  

 

"Therefore, our ACDelco Cobalt crew will be at Houston Raceway Park on
Friday ready to race.  Our hearts may be heavy, but the best way I can
see to honor Eric is to go out and put on a great display of the sport
he loved."

 

For more information on Kurt Johnson, ACDelco and the Drive to Win
Sweepstakes, please visit www.acdelco.com. 

 

 

Kurt Johnson & the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team 

By the Numbers - O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals edition:

 

2 - KJ Houston Raceway Park wins, which came in 1999 & 2003

 

3 - HRP Final Round Appearances, coming in 1999, 2002 & 2003

 

6.613 - KJ's career best elapsed time (in seconds) recorded in October
2006 in Richmond, VA

 

13 - Consecutive years in which Kurt has won at least one national
event, the longest active streak in Pro Stock.

 

15 - Top half qualifying starts for KJ in Baytown, where his average
starting position is 5.47

 

18 - KJ Baytown starts, dating back to his rookie season in 1993

 

24 - KJ elimination round wins at HRP, versus 16 losses for a .600 win
percentage.

 

209.26 - KJ's career best top speed (in mph) recorded in October 2006 in
Richmond, VA

 

2003 - Year of KJ's most recent Houston Raceway Park win, when he
qualified second and defeated Terry Adams, Ron Krisher, Jim Yates and
Scott Geoffrion.

 

Event Schedule:

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

            Saturday, March 31:    Two qualifying sessions at 11:15 a.m.
& 2:00 p.m.

            Sunday, April 1:              Pre-race ceremonies starting
at 10:00 a.m.

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

Television Coverage:

            Qualifying:

                        Saturday, March 31:        7:00 - 9:00  p.m.

            Eliminations:

                        Sunday, April 1:               4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

            NHRA RaceDay:

                        Sunday, April 1:                 11:00  - 11:30
a.m.

 

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