Johnson Qualifies No. 4 at NHRA Gatornationals, Advances to Semis at Delayed NHRA Arizona Nationals

March 13, 2010

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

 

TEAM MOPAR(r) QUALIFYING REPORT
2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 3 of 23
March 11-14
41st Annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals

Gainesville Raceway
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Johnson Qualifies No. 4 at NHRA Gatornationals, Advances to Semis at
Delayed NHRA Arizona Nationals


Gainesville, Fla. (March 13, 2010) - Team Mopar(r) driver Allen Johnson
put together a successful outing today at Gainesville Raceway,
qualifying No. 4 in his Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger for the 41st
Annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals and advancing to the semifinals
in the postponed NHRA Arizona Nationals. 

 

The first qualifying session today doubled as the quarterfinals of the
NHRA Arizona Nationals. Johnson faced Jason Line in a rematch of the
2009 Gatornationals final, but this time it was Johnson who emerged on
the winning end, recording a 6.559/211.16 pass to Line's 9.900/92.48
run. The mark also lifted Johnson up to No. 4 in Gatornationals
qualifying.

 

The J&J Racing driver and Greeneville, Tenn. native drew defending NHRA
Pro Stock champ Mike Edwards in the semifinals for the second straight
event with, unfortunately, the same result. Johnson's Mopar Dodge shook
the tires soon after takeoff and he watched as Edwards drove away for
the win. 

 

Despite the setback, Johnson remained encouraged by his two consecutive
semifinals appearances to start the season in his new Mopar Dodge
Avenger. He'll look to steer his HEMI(r)-powered Pro Stocker to a first
career NHRA Gatornationals win tomorrow.

 

"It's a great start, two straight semifinals in this brand new Mopar
Dodge," said Johnson. "But we've got to get up and down the track to be
competitive. We'll take it and build on it tomorrow, hopefully learn
from it and go one more round.

 

"I always feel good at Gainesville. We finished runner-up here last year
and it's always an upbeat atmosphere. I feel confident, so we'll see if
we can get in that final again."

 

Johnson will go head-to-head with Shane Gray in the first round of
eliminations. Mopar-powered Dodge Pro Stock driver and No. 8 qualifier
Vinnie Deceglie will face Ronnie Humphrey in opening stanza, while V.
Gaines, who posted his Dodge Avenger No. 12, will battle with Rodger
Brogdon.