With 16 regular season events in the books, the post-season is here for Mopar® Dodge Avenger NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson, as the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin with the NHRA Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C., Sept. 15–18.
Johnson opens the six-race shootout as the No. 6 seed, following a consistent regular season in which the Team Mopar driver scored a win at Englishtown, N.J. and advanced to at least the semifinals in four events. The second generation driver starts the post-season 70 points out of the top spot, as he chases his first NHRA Pro Stock title. With his birth this year in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs, Johnson has now qualified for the post-season all five seasons since the format was adopted.
"We’re going in the right direction heading into the Countdown," said Johnson. "The main thing is that we have to be consistent with our Mopar Dodge Avenger. We were consistent going into Indy, but not quite fast enough. Our main goal is to be consistent and not make any mistakes. We’ve tested a ton at Charlotte recently to be ready, so we need to have a good first race."
The native of Greeneville, Tenn. advanced to the second round of the Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte in April, and has reached the semis in two of his five career appearances at the state-of-the-art venue. Johnson has qualified in the top half of the field three times at Charlotte and has been one of the fastest drivers this season, with three No. 1 Qualifier awards and starts among the top half of the field in 15 of 16 events. Johnson was the top qualifier in each of the last four races of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs last season.
"We really enjoy the Countdown," noted Johnson. "It was created to bring excitement for the fans and I think it does exactly that. We have proven that we are one of the big boys year after year by making the Countdown, and this year is no exception. We are very focused heading into it and have one goal, and that is to win a championship."
Johnson opens the six-race shootout as the No. 6 seed, following a consistent regular season in which the Team Mopar driver scored a win at Englishtown, N.J. and advanced to at least the semifinals in four events. The second generation driver starts the post-season 70 points out of the top spot, as he chases his first NHRA Pro Stock title. With his birth this year in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs, Johnson has now qualified for the post-season all five seasons since the format was adopted.
"We’re going in the right direction heading into the Countdown," said Johnson. "The main thing is that we have to be consistent with our Mopar Dodge Avenger. We were consistent going into Indy, but not quite fast enough. Our main goal is to be consistent and not make any mistakes. We’ve tested a ton at Charlotte recently to be ready, so we need to have a good first race."
The native of Greeneville, Tenn. advanced to the second round of the Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte in April, and has reached the semis in two of his five career appearances at the state-of-the-art venue. Johnson has qualified in the top half of the field three times at Charlotte and has been one of the fastest drivers this season, with three No. 1 Qualifier awards and starts among the top half of the field in 15 of 16 events. Johnson was the top qualifier in each of the last four races of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs last season.
"We really enjoy the Countdown," noted Johnson. "It was created to bring excitement for the fans and I think it does exactly that. We have proven that we are one of the big boys year after year by making the Countdown, and this year is no exception. We are very focused heading into it and have one goal, and that is to win a championship."
