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The 2008 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock campaign doesn't officially start until Feb. 7–10 at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. But for Team Mopar driver Allen Johnson, the opening bell has already been rung.
The veteran drag racer, not content after a career year in 2007 that included a fourth-place finish in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock standings and a berth in the NHRA Countdown to 1 playoff, conducted test sessions recently with his Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T team, with three more sessions on tap for this week and a final tune-up at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway set for Feb. 1–2. It's crystal clear that Johnson remains just as hungry as ever for his ultimate goal—a NHRA Pro Stock championship.
"The first test session was just to break in the new car. We put 14 runs on it," said Johnson, who took delivery on his Rick Jones chassis around Christmas. "It was focused on getting the car balance for this car, and getting it going straight. The session this week, we will continue breaking in the car, and will add some different parts, such as clutch parts. And, of course, Dad [Roy Johnson, Allen's father and engine builder] will have two or three engine combinations that he will want to test and see how they go down the track.
"We'll continue to do that at Vegas at the Pro Stock Superbowl. That will be the final test. What we will do there will be to put in what we found best at the previous test sessions, and just optimize everything at Vegas."
For more information on Allen Johnson or the NHRA, log on to allenjohnson.com or nhra.com.
'Testy' Johnson Ready to Ring in 2008 NHRA Pro Stock Season
The 2008 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock campaign doesn't officially start until Feb. 7–10 at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. But for Team Mopar driver Allen Johnson, the opening bell has already been rung.
The veteran drag racer, not content after a career year in 2007 that included a fourth-place finish in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock standings and a berth in the NHRA Countdown to 1 playoff, conducted test sessions recently with his Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T team, with three more sessions on tap for this week and a final tune-up at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway set for Feb. 1–2. It's crystal clear that Johnson remains just as hungry as ever for his ultimate goal—a NHRA Pro Stock championship.
"The first test session was just to break in the new car. We put 14 runs on it," said Johnson, who took delivery on his Rick Jones chassis around Christmas. "It was focused on getting the car balance for this car, and getting it going straight. The session this week, we will continue breaking in the car, and will add some different parts, such as clutch parts. And, of course, Dad [Roy Johnson, Allen's father and engine builder] will have two or three engine combinations that he will want to test and see how they go down the track.
"We'll continue to do that at Vegas at the Pro Stock Superbowl. That will be the final test. What we will do there will be to put in what we found best at the previous test sessions, and just optimize everything at Vegas."
For more information on Allen Johnson or the NHRA, log on to allenjohnson.com or nhra.com.
