NHRA: The Kurt Chronicles: Pomona Edition
8 November 2000
THE KURT CHRONICLES: Kurt Johnson ACDelco News & Notes for the Auto Club
NHRA Finals
NEXT RACE:
Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Nov. 9-12, Pomona, Calif.
TV: ESPN2, Nov. 12, 10:00 p.m. (ET)
LOOKING OUT FOR NO. 2
Coming into the season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California
NHRA Finals, the hottest driver in Pro Stock is Kurt Johnson, currently
ranked second in the Pro Stock standings.
After a rocky start in 2000, Kurt rebounded to win five of 11 races
since the mid-season break in July - more victories in the second half than
any other Pro Stock driver. Johnson is undefeated in final rounds this
year (including two victories over newly crowned champion Jeg Coughlin
Jr.). He vaulted from ninth in the Winston standings in May to second place
coming into the season finale. Kurt is fresh from a victory in the
rain-delayed O'Reilly Nationals in Dallas last weekend, and he was the No.
1 qualifier at the preceding race in Houston.
"The car has been consistent, it's going straight, and it loves to
run from the Christmas Tree to the finish line," said Johnson, who last
celebrated in the Pomona Raceway winner's circle at the 1997 NHRA Finals.
"The Pomona track may be a little loose on the first run because there
won't be much rubber on surface, but my car usually doesn't have a problem
with that. If I can get my driving dialed in, I can win the trophy."
The only rough spot in Johnson's late-season surge was a surprising DNQ
in Memphis. "It was just a glitch," he said. "The motor wasn't right, the
car wasn't right, and we found some problems with the suspension. We bought
a barrel of gas and a bag of sandwiches and went testing at Atlanta
Dragway. We made 19 test runs after Memphis and qualified No. 1 in Houston.
Hard work pays off!"
Kurt is philosophic about his close-but-no-cigar season. "People
only remember who won the championship," he conceded. "We'll be back in
Pomona for the Winternationals in just a few weeks. We'll have new race
cars and plenty of engines next season. If we adapt our chassis setup to
the 2001 Cavalier project, we'll be contenders right off the bat.
"We'll be ready," he promised.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
With an 80-point advantage over his father Warren, Kurt can finish
as runner-up in the championship for the second time in his career. But if
Kurt looks over his shoulder, he'll see W.J. bearing down on him.
The NHRA Finals could become another family affair for the
Johnsons. Warren and Kurt squared off in the final round of the Finals in
1993, with W.J. taking the victory and Kurt winning the Winston Rookie of
the Year honors. Father and son finished 1-2 in the championship standings
that season, and Warren has finished ahead of Kurt in the championship
every year since then. Now with a four-round lead in the points race, Kurt
has his best chance to claim the bragging rights at the family's top-secret
R&D center in Sugar Hill, Ga.
KURT JOHNSON POMONA RACEWAY RESULTS:
Year Qualified Result
1993 Spring 15 Semi-Final
1993 Fall 2 Runner-up (to W. Johnson
1994 Spring 3 Semi-Final
1994 Fall 7 Second Round
1995 Spring 3 First Round
1995 Fall 4 Semi Final
1996 Spring 4 Second Round
1996 Fall 13 First Round
1997 Spring 5 Runner-up (to W. Johnson)
1997 Fall 6 Winner (over Martino)
1998 Spring 11 First Round
1998 Fall 3 Second Round
1999 Spring 2 Semi-Final
1999 Fall 7 First Round
2000 Spring 8 Second Round
LAST RACES:
Matco Tools SuperNationals, Houston, Oct. 29
Qualified: No. 1
Finished: Lost to Warren Johnson in semi-final round.
O'Reilly Fall Nationals, Dallas, Nov. 4
Qualified: No. 2 based on driver points
Finished: Winner; defeated Jeg Coughlin Jr. in final round.
POINTS RACE:
(After 22 of 23 events)
Driver Wins Points
1. Jeg Coughlin Jr. 10 1,956
2. Kurt Johnson 5 1,490
3. Warren Johnson 2 1,410
4. Ron Krisher 2 1,359
5. Mark Pawuk 1 1,180