Another strong qualifying effort for Kurt Johnson at the 40th annual UA NHRA Super Nationals will
have the ACDelco driver starting in the No. 4 spot in Pro Stock on Sunday after his Chevy Cobalt
posted a 6.605 e.t. at 208.52 mph during the third session of time trials at Old Bridge Township
Raceway Park.
Just like he did last week in Chicago, Johnson improved with every qualifying run and advanced up
the qualifying ladder after each session. The ACDelco Chevy driver was qualified No. 9 after round
one of time trials, improved to No. 6 during yesterday's second session, and then made a big move
today when he advanced to the No. 4 position in a session that saw a lot of movement in the highly
competitive Pro Stock category. The final round of Pro time trials was cancelled due to rain.
"We were No. 2 in 60-foot and No. 2 to the 330 (feet), so that's where we needed to make the big
move," Johnson said. "I was going to be happy going up there and running a (6) sixty-two, and we
spit out a (6) sixty. I actually ran it a little high going into third - it got up on the rev
limiter and knocked a little bit out of it. I think there's room for improvement. We'll definitely
take that (6) sixty - it's something we can work with, especially since No. 1 was a fifty-eight,
and Krisher knocked it out of the park on that run".
This race marks the fourth time this season that Johnson has qualified No. 4 or better, the eighth
time in the first 11 races of 2009 that he's qualified in the top half of the field, and the 55th
consecutive event in which he has successfully qualified.
Johnson has never won at this race but he's advanced to the final round twice; in 1993 when he was
runner-up to his dad, Warren Johnson, and in 2004 when he was runner-up to Jason Line. On Sunday,
the ACDelco Chevrolet driver will race Justin Humphreys in round one of eliminations. Johnson
defeated Humphreys in round one last Sunday in Chicago.
"We're No. 4, we got lane choice and we're looking good," Johnson said. "The ACDelco Chevrolet
picked up with every run. We were kind of off on our first run and we came back strong last night
on our second run. Better yet, we went from being qualified ninth, to sixth to No. 4. We're making
the right calls on the ACDelco Chevrolet and it's working."
ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise an hour of qualifying highlights beginning 7 p.m. (ET) on
Saturday, June 13, followed by a second hour of qualifying beginning at 11:30 p.m. NHRA Race Day, a
30-minute pre-race show, will air at 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, June 14, on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD. ESPN2
and ESPN2 HD will feature three hours of eliminations coverage at 10 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, June 14.
