[coverattach=1]ENGLISHTOWN, N.J., June 14, 2009 – The 40th annual UA NHRA Supernationals were run today at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, and in the Pro Stock category, Kurt Johnson advanced to round two of eliminations before losing to Allen Johnson.
Johnson came into today's race with the ACDelco Chevrolet qualified in the No. 4 spot after posting a 6.605 second run at 208.52 mph. The Sunday scenario for Johnson was almost a repeat script of last weekend's race in Chicago with Johnson defeating Justin Humphreys in round one and facing Allen Johnson in the second stanza, with Allen Johnson holding lane choice.
These were the same two opponents faced by the ACDelco driver, in identical order, last weekend at Route 66 Raceway, but unfortunately for KJ, this weekend's race had a different ending, with Allen Johnson taking the round-two win light with a 6.601 e.t. to a 6.622-second run.
"The car's not moving as well off the line as it should be and we slowed a little more in that right lane than we should have," Johnson said. "We put up good numbers in qualifying, and that's all fine and dandy, but we came here to win and we have to figure out how to get that done. If that's not happening then we're not happy."
With Sunday's quarterfinal appearance, Johnson leaves this event seventh in the Pro Stock standings, and closing the deficit with sixth-place Greg Stanfield to 36 points.
"This second-round tease is getting old and we're going to have to fix it," Johnson said. "We have all the right equipment and all the right people to get that done. It's a matter of putting the right pegs in the right holes. Right now, there seems to be about six or seven of us in the middle of the pack chasing the two at the top. The good thing is that we can get on a run just like the leaders and make a move – I'm certain of that.
"We'll head home to Sugar Hill, regroup and evaluate what we've done over the last three races. We know we're better than this and we know we can run better than what we did in that second round. We'll need to be selective about the areas we choose to work on because we don't have the time or the luxury to do otherwise, but there will be some additional R & D in the engine department to make it better."
The next stop on the schedule is the 3rd annual Summit Racing Equipment Nationals on June 25 – 28 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. On Saturday, June 27, is the K & N Horsepower Challenge, a bonus event that will feature eight Pro Stock drivers who earned the most points in qualifying over the past year. Kurt Johnson qualified in the No. 5 spot for the Horsepower Challenge and will race No. 4 qualifier Jason Line in round one.
"That extra jackpot in Norwalk is something we always like to see," Johnson said. "It gives you some added incentive to turn on the win light."
Johnson came into today's race with the ACDelco Chevrolet qualified in the No. 4 spot after posting a 6.605 second run at 208.52 mph. The Sunday scenario for Johnson was almost a repeat script of last weekend's race in Chicago with Johnson defeating Justin Humphreys in round one and facing Allen Johnson in the second stanza, with Allen Johnson holding lane choice.
These were the same two opponents faced by the ACDelco driver, in identical order, last weekend at Route 66 Raceway, but unfortunately for KJ, this weekend's race had a different ending, with Allen Johnson taking the round-two win light with a 6.601 e.t. to a 6.622-second run.
"The car's not moving as well off the line as it should be and we slowed a little more in that right lane than we should have," Johnson said. "We put up good numbers in qualifying, and that's all fine and dandy, but we came here to win and we have to figure out how to get that done. If that's not happening then we're not happy."
With Sunday's quarterfinal appearance, Johnson leaves this event seventh in the Pro Stock standings, and closing the deficit with sixth-place Greg Stanfield to 36 points.
"This second-round tease is getting old and we're going to have to fix it," Johnson said. "We have all the right equipment and all the right people to get that done. It's a matter of putting the right pegs in the right holes. Right now, there seems to be about six or seven of us in the middle of the pack chasing the two at the top. The good thing is that we can get on a run just like the leaders and make a move – I'm certain of that.
"We'll head home to Sugar Hill, regroup and evaluate what we've done over the last three races. We know we're better than this and we know we can run better than what we did in that second round. We'll need to be selective about the areas we choose to work on because we don't have the time or the luxury to do otherwise, but there will be some additional R & D in the engine department to make it better."
The next stop on the schedule is the 3rd annual Summit Racing Equipment Nationals on June 25 – 28 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. On Saturday, June 27, is the K & N Horsepower Challenge, a bonus event that will feature eight Pro Stock drivers who earned the most points in qualifying over the past year. Kurt Johnson qualified in the No. 5 spot for the Horsepower Challenge and will race No. 4 qualifier Jason Line in round one.
"That extra jackpot in Norwalk is something we always like to see," Johnson said. "It gives you some added incentive to turn on the win light."
