Wed, 28 May 2008, 03:48 PM Justin Humphreys Back in Summer Nationals

Courtesy of Joe Sherk Allen Johnson Offers Ride in Dodge Stratus

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Justin Humphreys will be among the Pro Stock contingent in the Summer Nationals after all, thanks to an offer from Allen Johnson and Don Schumacher Racing.

"We'll definitely be at Topeka," said Humphreys, who 24 hours earlier abandoned hope following the unexpected departure of the RaceRedi Motorsports team's engine supplier. "Allen Johnson and his team are good friends of ours and he and Schumacher Racing stepped up and offered us a ride in one of their Dodge Stratus R/Ts.

"They are good people and we are excited to be able to work with them. We definitely appreciate it. It will be exciting to have the horsepower to run with everyone."

"This is a good thing for us," added Humphreys, "because it gives us a chance to do what we need to do to keep earning points and get back in the top 10."

The second-year Pro Stock competitor and former Nopi and Sport Compact champion was a fixture in the top 10 through the first seven races, but he dropped out after two successive non-qualifying events. He's 11th with 296 points, 31 out of 10th place.

"We want to tell everyone we really appreciate all of the support from the other race teams and racing associates. Thanks to good will among our peers, and Allen Johnson in particular, we will be running Johnson Mopar Engines this weekend in Topeka. Our love for the racing industry reaches far beyond the norm and we thank all of the other teams and representatives that shared our disappointment over the sudden absence of engines and gave us offers of their support," said team co-owner Virginia Humphreys.

"I'm glad to be going racing," Justin Humphreys concluded.