NHRA Warren Johnson Race Wrap Up: WJ Kicks Off 2008 with a Quarterfinal Finish in Pomona

Contact:  Jon Knapp   

TMG Sports Marketing, Inc.

 Ph: (704) 662-3121

jgknapp@tmgsports.net

 

WJ Kicks Off 2008 with a Quarterfinal Finish in Pomona

 

Event:  48th Annual Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Nationals

Day/Date: Sunday, February 10, 2008

Location:  Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Pomona, CA

 

Starting fourth in Sunday's final eliminations of the Carquest Auto
Parts Winternationals, Warren Johnson and the GM Performance Parts
Pontiac Racing team looked for a strong start to their 2008 POWERade
Drag Racing season.  In the first round, things seemed to go according
to plan when WJ used a 6.661-second, 208.46 mph pass to eliminate
veteran Kenny Koretsky.  However, a quicker opening run by their
second-round opponent, Allen Johnson, meant they would be racing the
less-preferred right hand lane.

 

Knowing he would need every advantage in order to overcome the apparent
disparity between the lanes and advance, WJ used a quick .024 reaction
time to gain the slight edge.  However, immediately after launching, his
car pulled out of the groove and towards the center line.  The
combination of the loss of traction and corrective action required to
maintain control produced a 6.736-second, 206.57 mph run, allowing his
rival, who also had problems during his 6.702-second pass, to edge him
at the stripe.

 

"We picked the worst time to make our worst run of the weekend.
Apparently, it didn't have enough wheelie bar stagger, which unloaded
the left rear tire and put all the traction on the right rear.  The end
result was that it took off to the left at the hit of the throttle,
sending me into the briar patch.  The worst part is that he (Allen
Johnson) was there for the taking, and we let him get away. 

 

"Even so, I'm confident this GM Performance Parts Pontiac will be in
good shape.  We just have to figure out exactly why it reacted that way
and address it.  For example, it could have been a bad shock, although
looking at the shock graph, it appears unlikely.   We'll take a look at
the data, make the necessary adjustments and/or repairs and head to
Phoenix, looking to pick up where we left off."

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