Johnson to participate in NHRA and Team Mopar autograph signings at event
Auburn Hills, Mich. — Team Mopar® driver Allen Johnson has a simple mission for his spring visit to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend: qualify well, go rounds in his Mopar Dodge Avenger Pro Stock car and put himself in position to vie for the win at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals.
Johnson is prepared for a rebound after early exits in the first two events on the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series calendar. The J&J Racing team owner and driver and Greeneville, Tenn. native can find encouragement in his most recent outing at Vegas in fall 2010, where Johnson seized the top spot on the qualifying charts.
“I’ve had success in the past at Vegas, recent success with our No. 1 spot in the fall, so we’re hoping we can tap into that come this weekend,” said Johnson. “We’ve got a long year ahead, so we’re not going to put any undue pressure on ourselves this early in the season, but I do feel we need to come out and flex our muscles a little bit, which we didn’t do in the first two events. It’s important to perfect our setup right out of the gate. This car is a little different, a little more friendly, and we’re still getting used to it.”
Johnson tested at Charlotte last week, working hard on his Mopar Dodge Avenger’s setup in preparation for the Vegas event.
“We mostly just worked on the clutch setup, which has been a bit iffy, so hopefully we will see an improvement in the consistency of the clutch at Vegas,” said Johnson. “More or less it’s just trying to refine what we’ve got. We’re getting closer, and our testing at Charlotte definitely helped out.”
Johnson to participate in NHRA and Team Mopar autograph signings at event
Team Mopar driver Allen Johnson will participate in two autograph sessions during the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals. Johnson will take part in an NHRA signing at the New York New York Hotel & Casino on Thursday, March 31 from 6–8 p.m. PT. He’ll be joined by a number of NHRA drivers, including Mopar-powered Dodge Charger R/T Don Schumacher Racing Funny Car stars Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Jack Beckman and Johnny Gray.
Johnson will also meet fans and sign autographs in a Team Mopar autograph session at the Mopar Direct Connection display on the Manufacturers Midway at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway from 9:45–10:15 a.m. PT on Saturday, April 2. Hagan, Capps, Beckman and Gray will also participate, along with Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger Pro Stock drivers V. Gaines and Vincent Nobile. Fans taking part in the Team Mopar autograph signing can enter to win a special Mopar die-cast car signed by the Team Mopar drivers.
“This is the first time we’ve been down at New York New York for the NHRA deal, so I’m interested to see what the turnout is like,” said Johnson. “We’re usually down in Old Las Vegas at the Fremont Street Experience, so this should be a nice change to be down in the heart of The Strip. And, of course, I always look forward to the Team Mopar autographs signings and for the chance to meet all the loyal Mopar fans who have supported me and my team for years.”
Johnson’s Statistics of Note
At Las Vegas Motor Speedway
• Qualified No. 1 at the fall 2010 event in Las Vegas, exiting in the quarterfinals
• Qualified No. 4 at the spring 2010 Vegas race
2011 Season
• Qualified No. 3 at the season-opening NHRA Winternationals
• Currently eleventh in the NHRA Pro Stock point standings
• Johnson and his J&J Racing team aided Dodge Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch in qualifying for the NHRA Gatornationals in his very first Pro Stock event
• Broke the 6.50-second barrier in a February test session at Bradenton Motorsports Park, uncorking a 6.498-second elapsed time, an unofficial record for a Pro Stock car
2010 Season
• Finished sixth in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship Pro Stock playoff standings
• Claimed four consecutive No. 1 Qualifier Awards (Dallas, Reading, Las Vegas, Pomona 2) to end the season
• Scored a victory at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, his second straight win and third in four years at his primary sponsor’s race
• Advanced past the first round at 21 of 23 events
• Posted a 37-21 round win record, the most round wins of his career
• Advanced to at least the semifinals in 12 of 23 events
• Advanced to the final round at the NHRA event in Norwalk, Ohio
• Scored his second final-round appearance of the season at the NHRA event in Topeka
• Claimed his 200th career round win at the NHRA St. Louis race
• Advanced to four straight semifinals to start the season in his new Mopar Dodge Avenger
• Banked his first final-round appearance of the year at the NHRA Houston event
2009 Season
• Clinched a spot in the 2009 NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs
• Captured wins at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver and O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka
• Finished seventh in NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock point standings
• Made three finals appearances, scoring a runner-up finish at NHRA Gatornationals
• Captured seventh career No. 1 Qualifier Award at NHRA event in Seattle, reaching semis
• Made eight semifinals appearances
• Posted a 30-20 round win record for the season
2008 Season
• Finished seventh in NHRA Pro Stock standings
• One of only 10 drivers to qualify for NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs
• Won K&N Horsepower Challenge bonus event at Norwalk, recording perfect .000 reaction time to defeat Greg Anderson for victory
• Powered to three No. 1 Qualifier Awards
• Made eight semifinals appearances
• Posted two straight runner-up finishes at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals and Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals
• Racked up 28-24 round win record
2007 Season
• Finished career-best fourth in NHRA Pro Stock point standings
• One of only four Pro Stock drivers to qualify for inaugural NHRA Countdown to 1 playoff
• Claimed win at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver
2006 Season
• Finished sixth in NHRA Pro Stock standings, scoring win at Seattle
Career
• Qualified for Countdown to Championship in all four years since NHRA adopted playoff format in 2007
• Claimed eight career NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock wins
• Captured 15 career No. 1 Qualifier Awards
• Claimed more than 200 career round wins
• Has a career best elapsed time of 6.545-seconds and a career best speed of 211.73 mph
• Recorded 21 career final round appearances
• Competed in 300th race at 2009 NHRA St. Louis event
• Scored second career win at Atlanta in 2002 and finished eighth in point standings
• Seized first career win in 1999 at Richmond and went on to claim first top 10 finish in standings
• Made NHRA Pro Stock debut in 1996, driving a Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger
Auburn Hills, Mich. — Team Mopar® driver Allen Johnson has a simple mission for his spring visit to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend: qualify well, go rounds in his Mopar Dodge Avenger Pro Stock car and put himself in position to vie for the win at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals.
Johnson is prepared for a rebound after early exits in the first two events on the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series calendar. The J&J Racing team owner and driver and Greeneville, Tenn. native can find encouragement in his most recent outing at Vegas in fall 2010, where Johnson seized the top spot on the qualifying charts.
“I’ve had success in the past at Vegas, recent success with our No. 1 spot in the fall, so we’re hoping we can tap into that come this weekend,” said Johnson. “We’ve got a long year ahead, so we’re not going to put any undue pressure on ourselves this early in the season, but I do feel we need to come out and flex our muscles a little bit, which we didn’t do in the first two events. It’s important to perfect our setup right out of the gate. This car is a little different, a little more friendly, and we’re still getting used to it.”
Johnson tested at Charlotte last week, working hard on his Mopar Dodge Avenger’s setup in preparation for the Vegas event.
“We mostly just worked on the clutch setup, which has been a bit iffy, so hopefully we will see an improvement in the consistency of the clutch at Vegas,” said Johnson. “More or less it’s just trying to refine what we’ve got. We’re getting closer, and our testing at Charlotte definitely helped out.”
Johnson to participate in NHRA and Team Mopar autograph signings at event
Team Mopar driver Allen Johnson will participate in two autograph sessions during the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals. Johnson will take part in an NHRA signing at the New York New York Hotel & Casino on Thursday, March 31 from 6–8 p.m. PT. He’ll be joined by a number of NHRA drivers, including Mopar-powered Dodge Charger R/T Don Schumacher Racing Funny Car stars Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Jack Beckman and Johnny Gray.
Johnson will also meet fans and sign autographs in a Team Mopar autograph session at the Mopar Direct Connection display on the Manufacturers Midway at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway from 9:45–10:15 a.m. PT on Saturday, April 2. Hagan, Capps, Beckman and Gray will also participate, along with Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger Pro Stock drivers V. Gaines and Vincent Nobile. Fans taking part in the Team Mopar autograph signing can enter to win a special Mopar die-cast car signed by the Team Mopar drivers.
“This is the first time we’ve been down at New York New York for the NHRA deal, so I’m interested to see what the turnout is like,” said Johnson. “We’re usually down in Old Las Vegas at the Fremont Street Experience, so this should be a nice change to be down in the heart of The Strip. And, of course, I always look forward to the Team Mopar autographs signings and for the chance to meet all the loyal Mopar fans who have supported me and my team for years.”
Johnson’s Statistics of Note
At Las Vegas Motor Speedway
• Qualified No. 1 at the fall 2010 event in Las Vegas, exiting in the quarterfinals
• Qualified No. 4 at the spring 2010 Vegas race
2011 Season
• Qualified No. 3 at the season-opening NHRA Winternationals
• Currently eleventh in the NHRA Pro Stock point standings
• Johnson and his J&J Racing team aided Dodge Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch in qualifying for the NHRA Gatornationals in his very first Pro Stock event
• Broke the 6.50-second barrier in a February test session at Bradenton Motorsports Park, uncorking a 6.498-second elapsed time, an unofficial record for a Pro Stock car
2010 Season
• Finished sixth in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship Pro Stock playoff standings
• Claimed four consecutive No. 1 Qualifier Awards (Dallas, Reading, Las Vegas, Pomona 2) to end the season
• Scored a victory at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, his second straight win and third in four years at his primary sponsor’s race
• Advanced past the first round at 21 of 23 events
• Posted a 37-21 round win record, the most round wins of his career
• Advanced to at least the semifinals in 12 of 23 events
• Advanced to the final round at the NHRA event in Norwalk, Ohio
• Scored his second final-round appearance of the season at the NHRA event in Topeka
• Claimed his 200th career round win at the NHRA St. Louis race
• Advanced to four straight semifinals to start the season in his new Mopar Dodge Avenger
• Banked his first final-round appearance of the year at the NHRA Houston event
2009 Season
• Clinched a spot in the 2009 NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs
• Captured wins at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver and O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka
• Finished seventh in NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock point standings
• Made three finals appearances, scoring a runner-up finish at NHRA Gatornationals
• Captured seventh career No. 1 Qualifier Award at NHRA event in Seattle, reaching semis
• Made eight semifinals appearances
• Posted a 30-20 round win record for the season
2008 Season
• Finished seventh in NHRA Pro Stock standings
• One of only 10 drivers to qualify for NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs
• Won K&N Horsepower Challenge bonus event at Norwalk, recording perfect .000 reaction time to defeat Greg Anderson for victory
• Powered to three No. 1 Qualifier Awards
• Made eight semifinals appearances
• Posted two straight runner-up finishes at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals and Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals
• Racked up 28-24 round win record
2007 Season
• Finished career-best fourth in NHRA Pro Stock point standings
• One of only four Pro Stock drivers to qualify for inaugural NHRA Countdown to 1 playoff
• Claimed win at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver
2006 Season
• Finished sixth in NHRA Pro Stock standings, scoring win at Seattle
Career
• Qualified for Countdown to Championship in all four years since NHRA adopted playoff format in 2007
• Claimed eight career NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock wins
• Captured 15 career No. 1 Qualifier Awards
• Claimed more than 200 career round wins
• Has a career best elapsed time of 6.545-seconds and a career best speed of 211.73 mph
• Recorded 21 career final round appearances
• Competed in 300th race at 2009 NHRA St. Louis event
• Scored second career win at Atlanta in 2002 and finished eighth in point standings
• Seized first career win in 1999 at Richmond and went on to claim first top 10 finish in standings
• Made NHRA Pro Stock debut in 1996, driving a Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger
