NHRA Preseason Update: KJ Targets Successful Shakedown at Pontiac Pro Stock Showdown

Contact:

     Jon G. Knapp

     TMG Sports Marketing

     (704) 662-3121

     jgknapp@tmgsports.net

 

KJ Targets Successful Shakedown at Pontiac Pro Stock Showdown 

 

Sugar Hill, Ga., February 1, 2008 - NHRA Pro Stock star Kurt Johnson
will be doing something this weekend many people can identify with,
namely taking his new car for a ride to see what it can do.  In this
case, however, his trips will be confined to the quarter-mile track at
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and should only last for a little
over six seconds at speeds exceeding 200 mph.  Even so, every attempt
the ACDelco Cobalt racer makes at the third annual Pontiac Pro Stock
Showdown will be important, as the information gathered could set the
foundation for a successful 2008 season.

 

"We're going to be shaking our ACDelco Cobalt down this weekend in Las
Vegas," said Johnson.  "Between the fickle weather, the research and
development work we were doing at the shop, and getting this car
finished, we really didn't have a chance to test, so this will be our
first time at the track since Pomona.  

 

"The way I see it, we're about to set a wild animal loose and try to
tame it with our bare hands.  It's going to be interesting."

 

Even though this event is intended as an exhibition, and has no true
bearing on the championship, as the first competitive outing of the
year, it offers racers the opportunity to gauge their progress against
that of their rivals, and to potentially set the tone for the year
ahead.  As such, winning remains a top priority.

 

"This weekend will be the first chance for everyone to get a general
idea of where they stand," said Johnson.  "We're confident that we made
some gains during the offseason, and the challenge will be applying
those gains to the racetrack. To be honest, our biggest concern is the
car.  We need to know how big of a tuning window we'll have to work
with.

 

"Therefore, one of our primary goals for this weekend will be
establishing a baseline tune-up for this particular ACDelco Cobalt, a
benchmark from which we can start to adjust for the conditions.  That is
why we will probably stay in Las Vegas and test on Sunday and possibly
Monday.

 

"We'll also use this track to reestablish our race day routine.  It will
be a good opportunity for our new crew member, Jarrett (Hadorn), to see
what it's like without the pressure of a national event.   But even
though this just a tune-up, make no mistake, this ACDelco crew is going
to Las Vegas to win."

 

Autograph Session:  Kurt will be joining his father, GM Performance
Parts Pontiac pilot Warren Johnson, and numerous other stars of the Pro
Stock division at an autograph session at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino,
which will be held from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 1.  The
Suncoast Hotel and Casino is located at 9090 Alta Drive in Las Vegas.  

 

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