[coverattach=1]INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 5, 2009 – Kurt Johnson will head into the final day of Pro Stock qualifying at the 55th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals still looking to break into the 16-car starting field. Johnson's best elapsed time so far this weekend of 6.675 seconds was not quick enough to crack into the top-12, but the ACDelco driver is confident that Sunday's time trials will yield better results.
"We know where the problem is and we know how to fix it," explained Johnson. "It's going to take a smooth run and two of the runs the car was spinning the tires. The other run, we got the tire hooked up but it wanted to shake. We don't have a smooth package right now that will go from A to B, and it's not putting me back in the seat, especially the runs where the tires are spinning .
"We know it's all in the bell housing and the clutch department – it needs to come together smoothly. We have some new stuff in the car that looked good in testing, but we come here and it's not working, so we're going back to a combination that we know will get the job done."
Johnson is a two-time winner at the U.S. Nationals (1996-97). In addition to his two victories at the "Big Go," Johnson was No. 1 qualifier and runner-up in 2003, and during the last two years at O'Reilly Raceway Park, the ACDelco driver has qualified No. 5 and advanced to the semifinals.
By making his first qualifying pass on Friday, Johnson secured a spot in the Countdown to 1 for the top 10 in the Pro Stock standings , and he also clinched his 17th consecutive top-10 finish.
"We need to make a move on Sunday, get solidly into the field and show everyone what we're capable of doing," said Johnson.
The No. 1 qualifier is Mike Edwards in a Pontiac. Edwards set both ends of the track record with a run of 6.581 seconds at 209.01 mph.
The 55th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals on Sept. 2 – 7, at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis is the 18th race on the 24-event NHRA Full Throttle Series tour. ESPN2 will carry nine-and-a-half hours of coverage from the U.S. Nationals. Qualifying coverage runs from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6, and then continues at 5 p.m. with a two-hour broadcast. A five-hour broadcast of final eliminations will be telecast on Monday, Sept. 7, starting at 1 p.m. Eastern.
You can follow Kurt this weekend and every race weekend on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ACDelcoRacing
"We know where the problem is and we know how to fix it," explained Johnson. "It's going to take a smooth run and two of the runs the car was spinning the tires. The other run, we got the tire hooked up but it wanted to shake. We don't have a smooth package right now that will go from A to B, and it's not putting me back in the seat, especially the runs where the tires are spinning .
"We know it's all in the bell housing and the clutch department – it needs to come together smoothly. We have some new stuff in the car that looked good in testing, but we come here and it's not working, so we're going back to a combination that we know will get the job done."
Johnson is a two-time winner at the U.S. Nationals (1996-97). In addition to his two victories at the "Big Go," Johnson was No. 1 qualifier and runner-up in 2003, and during the last two years at O'Reilly Raceway Park, the ACDelco driver has qualified No. 5 and advanced to the semifinals.
By making his first qualifying pass on Friday, Johnson secured a spot in the Countdown to 1 for the top 10 in the Pro Stock standings , and he also clinched his 17th consecutive top-10 finish.
"We need to make a move on Sunday, get solidly into the field and show everyone what we're capable of doing," said Johnson.
The No. 1 qualifier is Mike Edwards in a Pontiac. Edwards set both ends of the track record with a run of 6.581 seconds at 209.01 mph.
The 55th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals on Sept. 2 – 7, at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis is the 18th race on the 24-event NHRA Full Throttle Series tour. ESPN2 will carry nine-and-a-half hours of coverage from the U.S. Nationals. Qualifying coverage runs from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6, and then continues at 5 p.m. with a two-hour broadcast. A five-hour broadcast of final eliminations will be telecast on Monday, Sept. 7, starting at 1 p.m. Eastern.
You can follow Kurt this weekend and every race weekend on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ACDelcoRacing
