<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/k_johnson07.jpg" alt="k_johnson07" align="right"borders="0"/>
Sugar Hill, Ga. , October 3, 2007 – Kurt Johnson has a clearly defined mission entering this weekend’s Torco Racing Fuels Nationals in Richmond , VA. With only one race remaining before the Countdown to One, the final stage of the three-tiered POWERade Championship format installed this year, the ACDelco Cobalt racer must ascend two positions in the points standings in order to be among those still vying for this season’s title. Although this objective is certainly within his reach, Johnson knows he will need a flawless performance as well as a little luck to get the job done.
“This weekend, we have to be both perfect and lucky,” stated Johnson. “First and foremost, we have to win the race with our ACDelco Cobalt. If we do that, hopefully the rest of the cards will fall into place. Certainly, as the last race of the Countdown to Four, there’s some pressure, but not any more than there is trying to win any place we race. Besides, we’re not going to worry about things we can’t control. Going into Richmond , we’re focused on running fast, qualifying well and getting the trophy on Sunday.”
In order to reach his goal, Johnson must accomplish two things. First, he and his crew must overcome the slight lapses that have plagued them in the last two races, leading to early elimination round exits. In addition, they must find a way to tame a tricky Virginia Motorsports Park surface that has held them out of the winner’s circle in seven previous visits. Energized by the twin challenges that lay before him, the popular Georgia-based driver heads to the Old Dominion state determined to deliver a winning performance.
“We’ve gotten the performance of our ACDelco Cobalt where it needs to be, and I believe we’re ready to roll,” said Johnson. “Over the last two races there was a concern with my reaction times falling off, and we hadn’t been able to get the car to react as well as we’d like. However, we discovered some issues with the clutch linkage, which I think we’ve fixed, and have gone over the rest of the car with a fine-toothed comb to make sure everything is working to perfection.
“It would be nice to ‘double up” this weekend, getting into the next stage of the Countdown, as well as scoring our first win at Virginia Motorsports Park . From what I understand, the track should be better than it was last year, when the texture was way too coarse. Fortunately, they’ve ground it from one end to the other, so it should be pretty decent. However, we won’t really know until we get there, and even then, it will be the same for everyone, so it’s going to come down to a matter of execution. The opportunity is there – we just have to make sure and take advantage of it.”
This year, ACDelco is teaming with Kurt Johnson to produce the “ ACDelco Drive to Win” Sweepstakes, where entrants can win awards, racing trips and prizes, including the grand prize: a 2007 Cobalt SS complete with Genuine Chevrolet Accessories. For more information on Kurt Johnson, ACDelco and the Drive to Win Sweepstakes, please visit Drive To Win | ACDelco
Kurt Johnson & the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team By the Numbers – Torco Racing Fuels Nationals Edition:
1 – a) Career No. 1 qualifying performances by Kurt in Richmond , which came in 1999
b) Virginia Motorsports Park final round appearances by KJ, coming in 1997
4 – Tracks on the 2007 POWERade Drag Racing Series Schedule where KJ has yet to win ( Topeka , KS , Englishtown , NJ , Norwalk , Ohio and Richmond , VA )
5 – Top half qualifying starts for KJ in his 7 prior starts at VMP.
5.29 – Average starting position for KJ in his seven prior Virginia starts.
6.613 – KJ’s career best elapsed time (in seconds) recorded in October 2006 in Richmond .
10 - KJ elimination round wins in Richmond , versus 7 losses for a .588 win percentage
13 - Consecutive years in which Kurt has won at least one national event, the longest active streak in Pro Stock.
7 – Total Pro Stock appearances by Kurt Johnson at Virginia Motorsports Park coming into 2007, dating back to 1995, when he qualified sixth and advanced to the semifinals.
209.26 - KJ’s career best top speed (in mph) recorded in October 2006 in Richmond , VA.
Facing a Clear-Cut Challenge, KJ is Resolute Heading to Richmond
ACDelco Cobalt Racer Determined to Qualify for the Countdown to One
Sugar Hill, Ga. , October 3, 2007 – Kurt Johnson has a clearly defined mission entering this weekend’s Torco Racing Fuels Nationals in Richmond , VA. With only one race remaining before the Countdown to One, the final stage of the three-tiered POWERade Championship format installed this year, the ACDelco Cobalt racer must ascend two positions in the points standings in order to be among those still vying for this season’s title. Although this objective is certainly within his reach, Johnson knows he will need a flawless performance as well as a little luck to get the job done.
“This weekend, we have to be both perfect and lucky,” stated Johnson. “First and foremost, we have to win the race with our ACDelco Cobalt. If we do that, hopefully the rest of the cards will fall into place. Certainly, as the last race of the Countdown to Four, there’s some pressure, but not any more than there is trying to win any place we race. Besides, we’re not going to worry about things we can’t control. Going into Richmond , we’re focused on running fast, qualifying well and getting the trophy on Sunday.”
In order to reach his goal, Johnson must accomplish two things. First, he and his crew must overcome the slight lapses that have plagued them in the last two races, leading to early elimination round exits. In addition, they must find a way to tame a tricky Virginia Motorsports Park surface that has held them out of the winner’s circle in seven previous visits. Energized by the twin challenges that lay before him, the popular Georgia-based driver heads to the Old Dominion state determined to deliver a winning performance.
“We’ve gotten the performance of our ACDelco Cobalt where it needs to be, and I believe we’re ready to roll,” said Johnson. “Over the last two races there was a concern with my reaction times falling off, and we hadn’t been able to get the car to react as well as we’d like. However, we discovered some issues with the clutch linkage, which I think we’ve fixed, and have gone over the rest of the car with a fine-toothed comb to make sure everything is working to perfection.
“It would be nice to ‘double up” this weekend, getting into the next stage of the Countdown, as well as scoring our first win at Virginia Motorsports Park . From what I understand, the track should be better than it was last year, when the texture was way too coarse. Fortunately, they’ve ground it from one end to the other, so it should be pretty decent. However, we won’t really know until we get there, and even then, it will be the same for everyone, so it’s going to come down to a matter of execution. The opportunity is there – we just have to make sure and take advantage of it.”
This year, ACDelco is teaming with Kurt Johnson to produce the “ ACDelco Drive to Win” Sweepstakes, where entrants can win awards, racing trips and prizes, including the grand prize: a 2007 Cobalt SS complete with Genuine Chevrolet Accessories. For more information on Kurt Johnson, ACDelco and the Drive to Win Sweepstakes, please visit Drive To Win | ACDelco
Kurt Johnson & the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team By the Numbers – Torco Racing Fuels Nationals Edition:
1 – a) Career No. 1 qualifying performances by Kurt in Richmond , which came in 1999
b) Virginia Motorsports Park final round appearances by KJ, coming in 1997
4 – Tracks on the 2007 POWERade Drag Racing Series Schedule where KJ has yet to win ( Topeka , KS , Englishtown , NJ , Norwalk , Ohio and Richmond , VA )
5 – Top half qualifying starts for KJ in his 7 prior starts at VMP.
5.29 – Average starting position for KJ in his seven prior Virginia starts.
6.613 – KJ’s career best elapsed time (in seconds) recorded in October 2006 in Richmond .
10 - KJ elimination round wins in Richmond , versus 7 losses for a .588 win percentage
13 - Consecutive years in which Kurt has won at least one national event, the longest active streak in Pro Stock.
7 – Total Pro Stock appearances by Kurt Johnson at Virginia Motorsports Park coming into 2007, dating back to 1995, when he qualified sixth and advanced to the semifinals.
209.26 - KJ’s career best top speed (in mph) recorded in October 2006 in Richmond , VA.
