Mon, 14 Dec 2009, 07:50 PM Johnson Records First-Ever Run in Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger at PBIR

Courtesy of Darren Jacobs

NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series racer Allen Johnson made history this morning at Florida's Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR), as the Team MoparR driver launched on his first-ever run in his new 2010 NHRA Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger.

"It was very smooth on that first run," said Johnson. "We wanted to make sure the parachute and brakes worked, so I let up about half-track. We were very conservative. It was at .995 seconds around the 60-foot mark. It was real smooth."

Johnson and his J&J Racing crew plan to test the HEMIR-powered Mopar Dodge Avenger through Wednesday, Dec. 16, at PBIR in preparation for the car's race debut at the 50th Annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 11-14, 2010.

"We're going to get after it during the test runs in the afternoon," Johnson said. "We'll run it as much as we can, maybe about five or six passes. I'm encouraged by the first run and excited to see what we can do with it when we go all out."

Visit http://www.moparspeed.com on Monday, Dec. 21, for complete coverage of Johnson's first test sessions in the Mopar Dodge Avenger.

"We're going to make 2010 the most exciting year for Viper yet with specially developed cars for the street and the track. The ACR-X is targeted at road-racing enthusiasts who want to successfully compete in our ultimate American sports car."

The 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X will do battle in a brand new spec series called the Dodge Viper Cup. A contingency program sponsored by Dodge Motorsports and Mopar will pay out more than $200,000 during 2010. Mopar will provide vouchers for credit toward purchase of Mopar parts and accessories for racers earning rewards under the program.

Mopar Shines at 2009 PRI Trade Show
Mopar brought a boatload of buzz to the 22nd Annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, as the brand transformed the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., into the center of the Mopar universe on Dec. 10-12.

In addition to the reveal of the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X (see story above) Mopar took center stage-literally-as "RaceFanRadio's" Charlie Brown and "GoRacingTV's" Mike Collins and Peter Keane broadcast live from the Mopar Stage during the three-day show. A long list of Mopar luminaries, including Team Mopar NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock star Allen Johnson; Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge Brand; and Mopar racing legend "Big Daddy" Don Garlits chatted with RaceFanRadio.com and GoRacingTV.com as show attendees looked on and online audiences listened and watched via the Web.

Crowds clogged the Mopar exhibits at PRI to catch a glimpse of the hot Mopar-fueled machines on display, including Johnson's new 2010 NHRA Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger, Garlits' Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by Mopar vehicle, and the Dodge Challenger 1320 Image Vehicle. Garlits provided show attendees with a pleasant surprise, as "Big Daddy" took part in an impromptu autograph session in the Mopar exhibit on the PRI show floor. New Mopar parts also drawing attention in the Mopar display included the Mopar 572 HEMIR crate engine and three new all-aluminum versions of the popular 6.1-liter HEMI block.

Video coverage from the Mopar Stage is currently available "On Demand" at http://www.goracingtv.com and http://www.racefanradio.com. For more information on the many Mopar vehicles and parts on display at the 2009 PRI Show, click on the PRI link at http://www.mopar.com.

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