Team MoparR Driver Allen Johnson Collects No. 6 Spot in NHRA Finals Qualifying

Nov. 14, 2009

Contact: Darren Jacobs, (248) 553-4566, Cell: (313) 530-9910
E-mail: djacobs@jrthompson.com  

 

TEAM MOPAR(r) PRO STOCK QUALIFYING REPORT
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 24 of 24
Nov. 12-Nov. 15
Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals

Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Team Mopar(r) Driver Allen Johnson Collects No. 6 Spot in NHRA Finals
Qualifying 


Pomona, Calif. (Nov. 14, 2009) - Mopar(r)/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T
NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson captured the No. 6
spot in the final round of qualifying today for the Automobile Club of
Southern California NHRA Finals. Johnson will go head-to-head with
fellow Mopar-powered Pro Stock pilot Vinnie Deceglie in the first round
of eliminations tomorrow at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in the 2009
season finale.

 

Johnson opened qualifying on Thursday with a run of 6.658-seconds at
207.88 mph in his Mopar HEMI(r)-powered Dodge. The Greeneville, Tenn.,
native moved from No. 10 to the No. 2 spot on Friday with a stellar pass
of 6.611/209.78. Despite bettering his Friday mark with a run of
6.606/209.20 in the first qualifying session today, Johnson was ranked
No. 5 heading into the final round of qualifying. 

 

Johnson wrapped up his 2009 qualifying efforts with a solid pass of
6.617/209.07, good enough for a starting position of No. 6 tomorrow. His
opening-round battle with Deceglie means a face off between two J&J
Racing-prepped Mopar HEMI-powered Dodges.

 

"We changed a lot of things since the first session on Thursday," said
Johnson of the adjustments made by crew chief Mark Ingersoll to his
Mopar Dodge. "We actually tested a new motor on that last run. We're
feeling pretty good. We've got a starting position in the top half and
lane choice tomorrow. We'll try to make a really good run first round so
we can maintain lane choice. That's going to be the ticket tomorrow. 

 

"Vinnie's been driving really well. I'm going to have to be on my game
tomorrow. We hate to have to run against him. We'd rather face him in
the finals, but you have to just be happy to be in the show."

 

Johnson is targeted to debut his new Mopar Pro Stock Dodge Avenger at
the 50th Annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals in Pomona on Feb.
11-14, 2010. A victorious send-off for the Dodge Stratus would be sweet
indeed, according to the Mopar Pro Stock veteran.

 

"It would be very cool to send the Stratus out with a win," said
Johnson. "It would be a great accomplishment and a nice reward for all
the folks at Mopar and Chrysler Group LLC."

 

The five-strong Mopar-powered Pro Stock field in eliminations includes
No. 7 qualifier Johnny Gray, who will face Kurt Johnson in the opening
stanza. No. 15 Rickie Jones will battle Ron Krisher, while No. 16 Larry
Morgan, winner of the last event at Las Vegas, will meet up with Mike
Edwards, who clinched the 2009 NHRA Pro Stock championship today.