[coverattach=1]Switch to new Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger in 2010 ends Johnson’s seat time in Stratus
Auburn Hills, Mich. — Team Mopar® driver Allen Johnson can’t wait to race his 2010 NHRA Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger, which made its debut last week in the Mopar display at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. However, Johnson has some unfinished business in the Dodge Stratus R/T he has driven to five wins since 2003. Johnson will aim to retire the Stratus in style with a victory in the season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, scheduled to take place Nov. 12–15 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.).
The new Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger has been officially approved for competition by the NHRA and is targeted for its competition debut at the 50th Annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 11–14, 2010. Johnson took part in a Team Mopar autograph session at SEMA, with his Mopar Dodge Avenger serving as a backdrop.
“Seeing the car, hearing the positive reactions of the fans at SEMA to the new car, it gets me really pumped up about next year,” said Johnson. “I know Mopar, Dodge Motorsports Engineering and all the folks at Chrysler Group LLC have put a lot of work into the Avenger. I look forward to racing it next year and achieving some great accomplishments with it.”
Johnson has many fond memories of his time behind the wheel of the HEMI®-powered Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T, including two wins this season, at the O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka and the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver. He would like nothing better than to create one final fond memory with the Stratus at Pomona this weekend.
“The Dodge Stratus has been an awesome car for us,” Johnson said. “Five of my seven wins came in the Dodge Stratus. It would be real big to go out with a bang, and to also gain some momentum for next year with the new Avenger. We are going to throw everything at the Stratus, some new parts, to try to make good runs and send it out with a win.”
Johnson’s Statistics of Note
2008 Season
2007 Season
The Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals is scheduled to take place Nov. 12–15 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.). Two hours of qualifying coverage will air on Saturday, Nov. 14, beginning at 10:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Three hours of eliminations coverage will air on Sunday, Nov. 15, beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more information on the NHRA, log on to NHRA.com.
The Mopar Brand: Authentic Motor Parts and Accessories for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.
Mopar—a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts—was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC.
The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s—the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “special parts” for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.
In addition to its proud muscle-car heritage, Mopar established a solid reputation as a one-stop shop for proven, quality-tested, reliable and original parts. Just this year, in 2009, Mopar has introduced more than 200 new parts and accessories.
“Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same team that creates all of our factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles,” said Pietro Gorlier, President & CEO, Mopar Service, Parts & Customer Care, Chrysler Group LLC. “At Mopar, we offer more than 280,000 parts and accessories for customers who want to customize and refresh their rides.”
Today, Mopar is responsible for the distribution of authentic Mopar replacement parts, components and accessories for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles sold in more than 90 countries. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering standards.
Auburn Hills, Mich. — Team Mopar® driver Allen Johnson can’t wait to race his 2010 NHRA Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger, which made its debut last week in the Mopar display at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. However, Johnson has some unfinished business in the Dodge Stratus R/T he has driven to five wins since 2003. Johnson will aim to retire the Stratus in style with a victory in the season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, scheduled to take place Nov. 12–15 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.).
The new Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger has been officially approved for competition by the NHRA and is targeted for its competition debut at the 50th Annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 11–14, 2010. Johnson took part in a Team Mopar autograph session at SEMA, with his Mopar Dodge Avenger serving as a backdrop.
“Seeing the car, hearing the positive reactions of the fans at SEMA to the new car, it gets me really pumped up about next year,” said Johnson. “I know Mopar, Dodge Motorsports Engineering and all the folks at Chrysler Group LLC have put a lot of work into the Avenger. I look forward to racing it next year and achieving some great accomplishments with it.”
Johnson has many fond memories of his time behind the wheel of the HEMI®-powered Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T, including two wins this season, at the O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka and the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver. He would like nothing better than to create one final fond memory with the Stratus at Pomona this weekend.
“The Dodge Stratus has been an awesome car for us,” Johnson said. “Five of my seven wins came in the Dodge Stratus. It would be real big to go out with a bang, and to also gain some momentum for next year with the new Avenger. We are going to throw everything at the Stratus, some new parts, to try to make good runs and send it out with a win.”
Johnson’s Statistics of Note
- At Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
- Advanced to the quarterfinals and qualified No. 4 at the NHRA Finals in 2008
- Posted a runner-up finish at Pomona in 2003 at the NHRA Winternationals
- Clinched a spot in the 2009 NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs
- Captured two wins, at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver and O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka
- Currently seventh in NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock point standings
- Has 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 through 22 events
- Has 29-19 round win record
- Qualified No. 3 at each of first three events
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 semifinal 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 1 in each of first three years since NHRA adopted playoff format in 2007
- Claimed seven career NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock wins
- Claimed 187 career round wins
- Recorded 17 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
The Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals is scheduled to take place Nov. 12–15 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.). Two hours of qualifying coverage will air on Saturday, Nov. 14, beginning at 10:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Three hours of eliminations coverage will air on Sunday, Nov. 15, beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more information on the NHRA, log on to NHRA.com.
The Mopar Brand: Authentic Motor Parts and Accessories for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.
Mopar—a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts—was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC.
The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s—the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “special parts” for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.
In addition to its proud muscle-car heritage, Mopar established a solid reputation as a one-stop shop for proven, quality-tested, reliable and original parts. Just this year, in 2009, Mopar has introduced more than 200 new parts and accessories.
“Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same team that creates all of our factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles,” said Pietro Gorlier, President & CEO, Mopar Service, Parts & Customer Care, Chrysler Group LLC. “At Mopar, we offer more than 280,000 parts and accessories for customers who want to customize and refresh their rides.”
Today, Mopar is responsible for the distribution of authentic Mopar replacement parts, components and accessories for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles sold in more than 90 countries. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering standards.
