NHRA: Kurt Chronicles: Seattle/Sonoma Edition
27 July 1999
THE KURT CHRONICLES: SEATTLE/SONOMA EDITION
Kurt Johnson ACDelco News & Notes for the Prolong Northwest Nationals
and Autolite Nationals
NEXT RACES:
Prolong Super Lubricants Northwest Nationals, July 30-August 1, Seattle,
Wash.
TV: ESPN2, Aug. 1, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT - check local listings.
Autolite Nationals, August 6-8, Sonoma, Calif.
TV: ESPN2, Aug. 8, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT - check local listings.
K.J. RETURNS TO SITE OF FIRST WIN IN SEATTLE
You never forget your first kiss, your first car, or your first national
event victory. Kurt Johnson will return to the scene of his memorable first
win when the NHRA circuit goes to Seattle International Raceway for the
Prolong Super Lubricants Northwest Nationals on July 30-August 1. With
three final-round appearances in six starts at SIR, K.J. can hardly wait to
get back to the Emerald City.
"We're running engines on the dyno right now, trying to find some
more power for the second half of the season," said Kurt as he made
final preparations for the second race of the three-race Western Swing.
"We're aiming to get back on top after going to the semi-final round in
Denver.
"The first 400 feet of the Seattle track is so good that you don't have
to worry about problems with tire shake," K.J. commented. "When you drive
up to the starting line and let out the clutch, you know the car is going
to go down the track. That makes a driver feel comfortable."
Kurt scored his first NHRA national event victory at SIR in August 1993
in only his 12th race. He had already notched three runner-up finishes in
his short six-month career as a professional racer, losing to his father
Warren in all three of his previous final-round appearances. But in
Seattle, Kurt beat the "Old Man" on a holeshot in the semi-final round and
then defeated Mark Pawuk to claim the first of his 14 career victories.
Kurt has advanced to the final round three times in the last six races
at SIR. After going all the way in 1993, he lost to Mike Edwards in the
1996 final and to his father in 1998.
"I've always enjoyed racing in Seattle because the trees and the
track remind me of when I was growing up in Minnesota," Kurt confided.
BACK ON TRACK
K.J. finally broke out of a slump that had left him without a round win for
2 1/2 months when he advanced to the semi-final round of the Mopar
Parts Mile-High Nationals in Denver on July 18. Miraculously, Kurt
maintained his No. 2 ranking in the Pro Stock standings throughout his long
dry spell.
"We started the season really well with two wins, a runner-up, and
three semi-finals in the first six races - and then we stumbled," said
Johnson. "No one except Dad has been performing consistently this year,
which shows just how tough the Pro Stock category is. I'm just glad we made
it through that period. Now it's time to get our act together and start
winning races again.
"Starting the second half of the season with a semi-final finish
isn't bad," Kurt declared. "It looks like we're back to where we began the
year. The car was fast in the first 330 feet in Denver, but seemed to fall
off after that. I use Dad's performance as our yardstick, and we were a
little slower than he was. I have the same power, and we should be running
at least as fast as he does. With everything we've learned about chassis
and shock absorbers over the last two months, I think we can be less
aggressive on the setup and still have a quick race car."
BY THE BAY
Evergreens will be replaced by grape vines when the NHRA tour travels south
to Sears Point International Raceway near the shore of San Francisco Bay
for the Autolite Nationals on August 6-8. In contrast to his success in
Seattle, Kurt's record at the Sonoma track is dismal. In six years, he's
yet to see a single final round.
"I qualified No. 1 at Sears Point in 1995 and 1996, but all I have to
show for results is a couple of semi-final finishes," Kurt recalled. "Sears
Point is the toughest track on the circuit for me. Usually by Sunday
afternoon, the surface is hot and slick. If I'm going to do better this
year, we'll have to get the car hooked up to the race track and be very
conservative on race day. Our goal is to get from the starting line to the
finish line - and we're not going to try to set any records!
"I figure we can't go back there and do poorly every year. This
could finally be the year our luck changes."
K.J. NORTHWEST NATIONALS RESULTS
Year Qualified Result
1993 4 Winner (over W. Johnson)
1994 7 Second Round
1995 5 Semi-Final
1996 6 Runner-up (to Edwards)
1997 1 Semi-Final
1998 3 Runner-up (to W. Johnson)
K.J AUTOLITE NATIONALS RESULTS
Year Qualified Result
1993 8 First Round
1994 5 Semi-Final
1995 1 Semi-Final
1996 1 Second Round
1997 5 Second Round
1998 3 First Round
LAST RACE:
Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals, Denver, July 16-18
Qualifying: Kurt Johnson qualified No. 3 at 7.355/187.18 mph.
Eliminations:
First Round: Kurt Johnson defeated Richie Stevens
Second Round: Kurt Johnson defeated Jim Yates
Semi-Final: Jeg Coughlin, Jr. defeated Kurt Johnson
Final Round: Jeg Coughlin, Jr. defeated Troy Coughlin
Low ET: Jeg Coughlin, Jr., 7.267 seconds (track record)
Top Speed: Warren Johnson, 189.50 mph (track record)
POINTS RACE:
(After 12 of 22 events)
Driver Wins Points
1. Warren Johnson 5 988
2. Kurt Johnson 2 807
3. Jeg Coughlin 2 699
4. Jim Yates 1 698
5. Richie Stevens 1 632
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