ACDelco's Kurt Johnson will start Sunday's Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals from the No. 11 spot and he
will race Greg Stanfield in round one of eliminations. Johnson's qualifying e.t. of 6.721 seconds
at 205.54 mph came during Friday's lone session, and during Saturday's only round of time trials he
did not improve upon his position.
"We were way too aggressive this morning and we thought the track could handle it," Johnson said.
"We had a motor issue yesterday with a vacuum leak in the carburetor. We felt that affected the run
and really softened it up. The motor was fine today - it really came to life and it just
annihilated the tires. Right now we can run in the top eight, and it's a matter of getting the job
done tomorrow."
The unpredictable weather, annoying rain showers and track "weepers," where water has been seeping
through the pavement on the top end of the racing surface, have been schedule busters this weekend
at Maple Grove Raceway. The usual four-session qualifying format was pared down to two rounds after
the final volley of rain overcame the facility late Saturday afternoon, and the teams made the most
of the situation.
"When you have these kind of conditions you have to be spot-on perfect on every run," Johnson said.
"We were confident that we could improve today, and we still feel confident that there's a lot left
in this ACDelco Chevrolet. Power-wise we won't be where we need to be until next week. The K & N
car has really stepped it up this weekend, and we'll be at that level come Indy, so were at a
little bit of a disadvantage right now, but I still feel we can run in the top eight. When you can
do that you have a chance to win.
"We have Stanfield in the first round, and we're overdue against him, that's for sure. He's had my
number lately, but I've had his for awhile."
The No. 1 qualifier was Mike Edwards in a Pontiac followed by Greg Anderson (Pontiac), Warren
Johnson (Pontiac), Jason Line (Pontiac) and Ron Krisher (Chevrolet). A notable non qualifier was
fifth-place Allen Johnson.
The 25th annual Toyo Tire NHRA Nationals on Aug. 20 - 23 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa., is
the 17th race on the 24-event NHRA Full Throttle Series tour. ESPN2 will broadcast a two-hour
qualifying show beginning at 12 a.m. on Sunday, August 23, and will repeat the show later in the
morning at 10 a.m. NHRA Race Day begins at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday on ESPN2, and a three-hour
broadcast of final eliminations will get underway at 10 p.m. Eastern.
