NHRA Kurt Johnson Qualifying Wrap Up: A Solid KJ Will Start Third in Pomona

Contact:  Jon Knapp   

TMG Sports Marketing, Inc.

 Ph: (704) 662-3121

jgknapp@tmgsports.net

 

A Solid KJ Will Start Third in Pomona

 

Event:  48th Annual Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Nationals

Day/Date: Saturday, February 9, 2008

Location:  Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Pomona, CA

 

Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team were the picture of
consistency during qualifying for the Carquest Auto Parts
Winternationals in Pomona, CA, with their 6.644-second pass on Saturday
morning capturing the third starting position for Sunday's final
eliminations.  

 

Posting three runs in the 6.64-second range and one 6.66-second attempt
on Saturday afternoon, the red, white and blue crew earned the NHRA's
Full Throttle Award for this event, which is given to the most
consistent and highest qualified car throughout the qualifying
procedure.  

 

Although naturally pleased with his team's performance at the Auto Club
Raceway at Pomona, and the progress they had made in such a short time
with their new car, with a top starting position assured, KJ's focus
immediately turned towards winning his second Winternationals title.

 

"Our new ACDelco Cobalt has been pretty fast right out of the box, but
It all comes down to learning what it needs.  We only have 19 runs on it
after qualifying, and with each run down the track we find out more
about its tuning window.

 

"For example, the atmospheric conditions and racetrack we ran on this
afternoon were the worst we had ever faced.  We were a little
conservative, leaving it pretty much alone, as we had run 6.64 in
similar conditions yesterday and felt we were in the running for the
Full Throttle award.  However, the track was probably a little better
than we thought it would be, and as a result our tune-up was a little
soft.

 

"Even so, we learned that we need to get after it for tomorrow, putting
some clutch in it, and making things happen. I need to do my job on the
tree, and we need to go from A to B. We need it all.  Certainly, we're
pleased to make four runs in qualifying within two hundredths of each
other, and to take home the Full Throttle award, but now we're ready to
win the race."

 

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