Auburn Hills, Mich. — Team Mopar® NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson will pull double duty during the 5th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, June 23–26, with the 2011 K&N Horsepower Challenge also part of the event.
Johnson heads to Norwalk with plenty of momentum, as he has reached at least the semifinals in three of the last four races this season, including last weekend at his home track of Bristol Dragway in Tenn., where he was the No. 1 Qualifier. The J&J Racing owner/driver earned his first win of the season on June 5 at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J.
Johnson has also experienced success at Norwalk, advancing to the final there last season. He qualified No. 2, downing Shane Gray, V. Gaines and Greg Stanfield, before falling to Greg Anderson. The native of Greeneville, Tenn. was also the No. 2 qualifier in 2009 at Norwalk and found himself as the No. 3 qualifier in each of his first two starts at the venue.
“We have a lot of confidence heading to Norwalk,” said Johnson, who will attempt to capture his tenth career Pro Stock win this weekend. “This Mopar Dodge Avenger has been running great. The driver has been driving fairly well also, so that has us excited to head up there.
“We’ve been fast there in the past and have some good notes and information to use at Norwalk. That’s Pro Stock country up there, so I always look forward to going there. We’ve been on a hot streak of late in the Mopar Dodge Avenger, and I’m focused on keeping it going.”
Johnson Looks for Second Win in the K&N Horsepower Challenge
Johnson will also take part in the 2011 K&N Horsepower Challenge this weekend at Norwalk, with eight Pro Stock drivers facing off, with bragging rights on the line. The field for the Horsepower Challenge is made up of the eight Pro Stock drivers that have earned the most points in qualifying during the 20-race challenge. Johnson earned the second most points during that span and will face seventh-seeded driver Shane Gray in the opening round of the three-round showdown.
“To go up there and be part of the ‘best of the best’ that compete in the K&N Horsepower Challenge is always special,” said Johnson. “I take it as a personal challenge being part of that event and certainly there are bragging rights on the line as well when you compete against the best, along with a big check to win.”
Johnson won the Horsepower Challenge in 2008, downing Warren Johnson in the opening round, before taking out Kurt Johnson in the semifinals. In his dramatic final-round triumph, AJ used a perfect .000 reaction time to down Greg Anderson. A check for $50,000 again awaits the winner of the Horsepower Challenge this season.
“We made a perfect run all the way down,” explained Johnson of his 2008 Horsepower Challenge title. “The driver was able to drive it in a little deeper, and it feels awesome when you are able to do that racing against the best. We are looking forward to the Horsepower Challenge this weekend and this Mopar Dodge Avenger is very fast right now.”
Johnson heads to Norwalk with plenty of momentum, as he has reached at least the semifinals in three of the last four races this season, including last weekend at his home track of Bristol Dragway in Tenn., where he was the No. 1 Qualifier. The J&J Racing owner/driver earned his first win of the season on June 5 at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J.
Johnson has also experienced success at Norwalk, advancing to the final there last season. He qualified No. 2, downing Shane Gray, V. Gaines and Greg Stanfield, before falling to Greg Anderson. The native of Greeneville, Tenn. was also the No. 2 qualifier in 2009 at Norwalk and found himself as the No. 3 qualifier in each of his first two starts at the venue.
“We have a lot of confidence heading to Norwalk,” said Johnson, who will attempt to capture his tenth career Pro Stock win this weekend. “This Mopar Dodge Avenger has been running great. The driver has been driving fairly well also, so that has us excited to head up there.
“We’ve been fast there in the past and have some good notes and information to use at Norwalk. That’s Pro Stock country up there, so I always look forward to going there. We’ve been on a hot streak of late in the Mopar Dodge Avenger, and I’m focused on keeping it going.”
Johnson Looks for Second Win in the K&N Horsepower Challenge
Johnson will also take part in the 2011 K&N Horsepower Challenge this weekend at Norwalk, with eight Pro Stock drivers facing off, with bragging rights on the line. The field for the Horsepower Challenge is made up of the eight Pro Stock drivers that have earned the most points in qualifying during the 20-race challenge. Johnson earned the second most points during that span and will face seventh-seeded driver Shane Gray in the opening round of the three-round showdown.
“To go up there and be part of the ‘best of the best’ that compete in the K&N Horsepower Challenge is always special,” said Johnson. “I take it as a personal challenge being part of that event and certainly there are bragging rights on the line as well when you compete against the best, along with a big check to win.”
Johnson won the Horsepower Challenge in 2008, downing Warren Johnson in the opening round, before taking out Kurt Johnson in the semifinals. In his dramatic final-round triumph, AJ used a perfect .000 reaction time to down Greg Anderson. A check for $50,000 again awaits the winner of the Horsepower Challenge this season.
“We made a perfect run all the way down,” explained Johnson of his 2008 Horsepower Challenge title. “The driver was able to drive it in a little deeper, and it feels awesome when you are able to do that racing against the best. We are looking forward to the Horsepower Challenge this weekend and this Mopar Dodge Avenger is very fast right now.”
