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Bristol, TN (July 6, 2007) – Skoal Racing and Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr. are preparing for the postponed O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol this weekend where they expect to re-enter the top eight in points standings in the POWERade Series Championships. The event, originally slated for May 18-20, had to be re-scheduled due to poor track condition.
Johnson is coming off a surprising defeat at the hands of Cruz Pedregon in the first round at Norwalk , despite a solid showing. He had qualified for the fourth slot coming into the track's elimination rounds and dramatically captured the trophy at Englishtown the week before.
"The crew has worked diligently all season to get the Skoal Racing Impala at its current performance level, and it's paid off," said Johnson. "This is a tough stretch of consecutive races for everyone and all we can ask for is to perform near or better than where we are right now. This is a big test, and Skoal Racing is passing so far."
Johnson currently sits ninth in the NHRA Funny Car points standings, right below Jack Beckman. Him, Johnson and Pedregon are all within striking distance of each other (473, 463, and 461, respectively).
At last year's race in Bristol, Johnson advanced to the second round where he was defeated by Gary Scelzi.
A new television show featuring Johnson and wife Melanie Troxel (NHRA Top Fuel dragster) will debut on ESPN2 on Sunday, July 8. The program, called "King of the Strip," is scheduled for 10:30am ET, preceding the "NHRA Race Day" telecast.
SKOAL RACING SHOOTING FOR TOP 8
- Tommy Johnson Jr.'s TV Show "King of the Strip" to Debut on Sunday -
Bristol, TN (July 6, 2007) – Skoal Racing and Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr. are preparing for the postponed O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol this weekend where they expect to re-enter the top eight in points standings in the POWERade Series Championships. The event, originally slated for May 18-20, had to be re-scheduled due to poor track condition.
Johnson is coming off a surprising defeat at the hands of Cruz Pedregon in the first round at Norwalk , despite a solid showing. He had qualified for the fourth slot coming into the track's elimination rounds and dramatically captured the trophy at Englishtown the week before.
"The crew has worked diligently all season to get the Skoal Racing Impala at its current performance level, and it's paid off," said Johnson. "This is a tough stretch of consecutive races for everyone and all we can ask for is to perform near or better than where we are right now. This is a big test, and Skoal Racing is passing so far."
Johnson currently sits ninth in the NHRA Funny Car points standings, right below Jack Beckman. Him, Johnson and Pedregon are all within striking distance of each other (473, 463, and 461, respectively).
At last year's race in Bristol, Johnson advanced to the second round where he was defeated by Gary Scelzi.
A new television show featuring Johnson and wife Melanie Troxel (NHRA Top Fuel dragster) will debut on ESPN2 on Sunday, July 8. The program, called "King of the Strip," is scheduled for 10:30am ET, preceding the "NHRA Race Day" telecast.
