Team Mopar® Pro Stocker Allen Johnson Seeks to Keep Streak Burning at Brainerd
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Center Line, Mich. — During the NHRA Western Swing, Team Mopar® driver Allen Johnson posted back-to-back runner-up finishes [Mopar Mile-High Nationals and Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals] as well as a quarterfinals finish [Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals]. Johnson will attempt to nourish his recent momentum with a strong performance at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway on August 7–10.
Johnson posted a 7-3 round record during the Western Swing and his Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T team captured the points lead in the NHRA Pro Stock Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship. Johnson has also moved from seventh to fifth in the Pro Stock standings. They’re looking forward to the brief return home between the Western Swing and Brainerd.
“It’s big to have a break to recharge your batteries, especially for our crew,” said Johnson. “They haven’t been home in about six weeks [dating back to the NHRA Englishtown event]. It wasn’t much of a break, though. We tested earlier this week, so it was very short down time. The boys were right back at it.”
Johnson has yet to officially clinch a spot in the NHRA Countdown to One, a six-race playoff between the top 10 in Pro Stock points set to commence following the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis. With just three races remaining before the Countdown cut, Johnson has an eye on clinching a Countdown berth and another on preparing his set up for when the Countdown begins.
“These next three races are really critical,” said Johnson. “We have to learn to be consistent and focus on winning, not just qualifying well. That’s our focus, just getting in a good stride as we get ready for the Countdown. Dad [Roy Johnson, Allen’s engine builder and father] has really been giving me some awesome engines to work with. The Mopar HEMI® power plants have been great recently, just making a ton of horsepower.”
Johnson stats
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals is scheduled for August 7–10 at at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway Two hours of qualifying coverage will air starting at 8:30 p.m. (EDT) on Saturday, August 9 on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Three hours of eliminations coverage will air on Sunday, August 10 starting at 7 p.m. (EDT) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more info on the NHRA, log on to NHRA.com.
70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.
Originally used in the 1920s, Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It was also widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s – the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “Special Parts” for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.
Today, Chrysler LLC’s Global Service & Parts division is responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of nearly 250,000 authentic Mopar replacement parts, components and accessories for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles sold around the world. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler Engineering standards.
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/Moparlogo.jpg" alt="Moparlogo" align="right"borders="0"/>
Center Line, Mich. — During the NHRA Western Swing, Team Mopar® driver Allen Johnson posted back-to-back runner-up finishes [Mopar Mile-High Nationals and Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals] as well as a quarterfinals finish [Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals]. Johnson will attempt to nourish his recent momentum with a strong performance at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway on August 7–10.
Johnson posted a 7-3 round record during the Western Swing and his Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T team captured the points lead in the NHRA Pro Stock Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship. Johnson has also moved from seventh to fifth in the Pro Stock standings. They’re looking forward to the brief return home between the Western Swing and Brainerd.
“It’s big to have a break to recharge your batteries, especially for our crew,” said Johnson. “They haven’t been home in about six weeks [dating back to the NHRA Englishtown event]. It wasn’t much of a break, though. We tested earlier this week, so it was very short down time. The boys were right back at it.”
Johnson has yet to officially clinch a spot in the NHRA Countdown to One, a six-race playoff between the top 10 in Pro Stock points set to commence following the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis. With just three races remaining before the Countdown cut, Johnson has an eye on clinching a Countdown berth and another on preparing his set up for when the Countdown begins.
“These next three races are really critical,” said Johnson. “We have to learn to be consistent and focus on winning, not just qualifying well. That’s our focus, just getting in a good stride as we get ready for the Countdown. Dad [Roy Johnson, Allen’s engine builder and father] has really been giving me some awesome engines to work with. The Mopar HEMI® power plants have been great recently, just making a ton of horsepower.”
Johnson stats
- Posted two back-to-back runner-up finishes [Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals and Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals in July 2008]
- Currently fifth in the NHRA Pro Stock standings
- Banked $50,000 with the K&N Horsepower Challenge bonus event win [June 2008 NHRA stop in Norwalk, Ohio] – recorded a perfect .000 reaction time to beat Greg Anderson
- Johnson’s J&J Racing team leads the points standings in the NHRA Pro Stock Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship
- Qualified in the top half of the field in 13 of 15 2008 NHRA POWERade events to date
- Advanced to at least the quarterfinals in 12 of 15 2008 NHRA POWERade events to date
- Appeared in 14 career final rounds
- Claimed his fourth career No. 1 qualifier award at the 2008 Phoenix event
- Has a 17-15 round win record through 15 events
- Finished fourth in the 2007 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock points standings
- One of four Pro Stock drivers to qualify in inaugural NHRA Countdown to 1 title playoff
- Captured his 5th-career win at the 28th Annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals in July 2007
- Posted two runner-up finishes in 2007
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals is scheduled for August 7–10 at at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway Two hours of qualifying coverage will air starting at 8:30 p.m. (EDT) on Saturday, August 9 on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Three hours of eliminations coverage will air on Sunday, August 10 starting at 7 p.m. (EDT) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more info on the NHRA, log on to NHRA.com.
70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.
Originally used in the 1920s, Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It was also widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s – the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “Special Parts” for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.
Today, Chrysler LLC’s Global Service & Parts division is responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of nearly 250,000 authentic Mopar replacement parts, components and accessories for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles sold around the world. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler Engineering standards.
