Pomona, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2010) – Team Mopar® driver Allen Johnson continued his strong debut outing in his new 2010 NHRA Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger, earning an always-valuable point in the standings by posting the third quickest time in qualifying today at the 50th Annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals. Johnson remains in the No. 5 spot heading into the final two qualifying sessions tomorrow at Auto Club Dragway at Pomona, Calif.
The J&J Racing driver and owner was fifth in the first qualifying session yesterday, posting a 6.611/209.39 mph run. Although he was unable to better that mark and move up the ladder with a 6.621/209.56 pass under warmer conditions today, Johnson was highly encouraged by the performance of his Mopar-powered Dodge.
“The Mopar Dodge Avenger is really, really keeping the front end down and it’s giving us a window,” said Johnson, a Greeneville, Tenn., resident. “We can’t be aggressive enough with it. It’s almost too smooth. That’s a good thing. The other car (the Dodge Stratus) was real finicky. We’ll make some adjustments tomorrow and hopefully every run we’ll pick up a little.
“I felt like the motor performed a little better than yesterday. We actually didn’t make a really good run today. If we had made a good run, we probably could have been either No. 1 or No. 2. We’ll gain a point or two here and there, and hopefully by Sunday we’ll have it whooped.”
With warmer weather likely on tap, moving up to the No. 1 Qualifier spot will be a tall order for Johnson. The Team Mopar veteran at least hopes to gain more points with quicker times in the remaining two sessions.
“It’s going to be hard to change positions because the air is going to get hotter tomorrow,” Johnson said. “We can improve in the sessions. Yesterday we were fifth in the session, and today we were third. Hopefully tomorrow we can be first or second.”
Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger driver Vinnie Deceglie remained in the No. 6 spot. V. Gaines clocked in at No. 13 in his Avenger and will look to break into the top half of the field tomorrow.
The J&J Racing driver and owner was fifth in the first qualifying session yesterday, posting a 6.611/209.39 mph run. Although he was unable to better that mark and move up the ladder with a 6.621/209.56 pass under warmer conditions today, Johnson was highly encouraged by the performance of his Mopar-powered Dodge.
“The Mopar Dodge Avenger is really, really keeping the front end down and it’s giving us a window,” said Johnson, a Greeneville, Tenn., resident. “We can’t be aggressive enough with it. It’s almost too smooth. That’s a good thing. The other car (the Dodge Stratus) was real finicky. We’ll make some adjustments tomorrow and hopefully every run we’ll pick up a little.
“I felt like the motor performed a little better than yesterday. We actually didn’t make a really good run today. If we had made a good run, we probably could have been either No. 1 or No. 2. We’ll gain a point or two here and there, and hopefully by Sunday we’ll have it whooped.”
With warmer weather likely on tap, moving up to the No. 1 Qualifier spot will be a tall order for Johnson. The Team Mopar veteran at least hopes to gain more points with quicker times in the remaining two sessions.
“It’s going to be hard to change positions because the air is going to get hotter tomorrow,” Johnson said. “We can improve in the sessions. Yesterday we were fifth in the session, and today we were third. Hopefully tomorrow we can be first or second.”
Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger driver Vinnie Deceglie remained in the No. 6 spot. V. Gaines clocked in at No. 13 in his Avenger and will look to break into the top half of the field tomorrow.
