FW: ACDelco/Kurt Johnson/NHRA Pro Stock Report/Friday Qualifying at Phoenix

From: Jeff Romack
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 9:45 PM
To: Jeff Romack
Subject: ACDelco/Kurt Johnson/NHRA Pro Stock Report/Friday Qualifying at Phoenix

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Romack
ACDelco Racing Communications
Office: 317.843.5447
Cell: 317.698.1016
jfromack@cs.com
www.ACDelco.com

Kurt Johnson currently No. 8
qualifier after first day at
NHRA Phoenix

PHOENIX, Feb. 20, 2009 - The 25th annual Lucas Oil Slick Mist NHRA Nationals got underway today at Firebird International Raceway, and after two rounds of time trials, ACDelco's Kurt Johnson has his Pro Stock Chevrolet qualified in the No. 8 spot.

After the rain and cold weather that plagued the season's first event two weeks ago in Pomona (Calif.), sunshine and warm weather greeted the racers when they entered the gates of FIR on Friday, and Johnson was happy to have an afternoon when he would be able to make two full passes down the track.

"It's kind of exciting, to make two runs in a row," Johnson said. "Then to be able to come back - it looks like we picked it up (in the second session) by about .019 on e.t. - and a little over a half mile an hour. We're doing what we need to do, we're just not making big enough gains right now. We know we should be running faster than what we've run so far. We definitely have room for improvement. You look at the options of changing motors, or leaving this stuff in that we're not quite familiar with, and we have some decisions to make."

Johnson opened up the first round of qualifying with a 6.669 e.t. at 207.43 mph and then stepped up during the afternoon session with a 6.650-second run at 208.01 mph. He'll have an opportunity to improve his position in the 16-car field during Saturday's final two qualifying rounds.

"We have something in the car that we haven't played with before and it shows potential," Johnson said. "We know it should be running better than what it shows on the (computer) screen. I feel to be better in the long run we need stick to our guns and see if we can message a hundredth (of a second), two hundredths, a few thousandths out of it every run and see if we can make it better. We haven't made a perfect run yet, but we know the tune up is not quite right. I think we'll be looking good by Sunday.

"Tomorrow looks like it could be 500 feet better and that equates to almost two-hundredths. Running at noon compared to almost 2 o'clock when we ran today, it should be quicker out there again. We're just going to have to be consistent."

Winternationals' runner-up Mike Edwards was the No. 1 qualifier tonight in Pro Stock after posting a 6.605-second run at 208.53 mph

The 25th annual Lucas Oil Slick Mist NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz., on Feb. 20 - 22 is the second race on the 24-event NHRA Full Throttle schedule. A two-hour telecast of qualifying coverage can be seen on ESPN2 on Sunday, Feb. 22, beginning at 12 a.m. (ET). The broadcast continues on ESPN2 on Sunday when NHRA Race Day will kick off eliminator coverage starting at 11:00 a.m. (ET), and concludes with three hours of final eliminations coverage beginning at 7 p.m. (ET).

ACDelco is a global leader in high-quality automotive replacement parts and related services and offers quality aftermarket products for all makes and models, plus GM original equipment replacement parts. For more information go to www.ACDelco.com.

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