One race remains for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin, and the Mopar® Dodge Avenger driver is seeking to build momentum to carry into the six-race shootout as he chases his first title. Johnson will get his chance at the final regular season event, the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 31–Sept. 5.
Johnson was the No. 2 qualifier last season at the U.S. Nationals, advancing to the semifinals for the fourth time in his career at Indy. He first reached the semis at the 2002 event, with back-to-back appearances in the semifinals in 2005 and 2006. The Team Mopar veteran claimed the top spot in qualifying at the U.S. Nationals in 2008 and has been among the four fastest drivers in qualifying at the event in each of the last four years. The second generation driver has garnered three No. 1 Qualifier awards this season and has lined up in the top half of the field in 14 of 15 starts.
"I always love going to Indy," said Johnson. "It’s a great race and a landmark event. We aim to do well there every year. We’ve run pretty strong there over the years and have been to the semifinals several times. We need to treat it like the Countdown has already started. We have to be fast right out of the box in our first qualifying run and have the car right."
Johnson is currently sixth in the Pro Stock standings heading into the U.S. Nationals, with the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs kicking off in two weeks. The top-10 drivers will have their points reapportioned to reflect their spot in the standings before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin.
"Our goal still is to move up in points," said the native of Greeneville, Tenn. "That was our goal going into Brainerd as well, and we stubbed our toe there. We want to be in a good position when the Countdown begins and we are going to do some testing before Indy to work on our consistency and fine tune our Mopar Dodge Avenger."
For more information on the NHRA and 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, visit NHRA.com.
Johnson was the No. 2 qualifier last season at the U.S. Nationals, advancing to the semifinals for the fourth time in his career at Indy. He first reached the semis at the 2002 event, with back-to-back appearances in the semifinals in 2005 and 2006. The Team Mopar veteran claimed the top spot in qualifying at the U.S. Nationals in 2008 and has been among the four fastest drivers in qualifying at the event in each of the last four years. The second generation driver has garnered three No. 1 Qualifier awards this season and has lined up in the top half of the field in 14 of 15 starts.
"I always love going to Indy," said Johnson. "It’s a great race and a landmark event. We aim to do well there every year. We’ve run pretty strong there over the years and have been to the semifinals several times. We need to treat it like the Countdown has already started. We have to be fast right out of the box in our first qualifying run and have the car right."
Johnson is currently sixth in the Pro Stock standings heading into the U.S. Nationals, with the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs kicking off in two weeks. The top-10 drivers will have their points reapportioned to reflect their spot in the standings before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin.
"Our goal still is to move up in points," said the native of Greeneville, Tenn. "That was our goal going into Brainerd as well, and we stubbed our toe there. We want to be in a good position when the Countdown begins and we are going to do some testing before Indy to work on our consistency and fine tune our Mopar Dodge Avenger."
For more information on the NHRA and 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, visit NHRA.com.
