Wed, 25 Aug 2010, 12:52 PM Allen Johnson Trades Drag Strip for Road Course

By Mopar Speed Prepares for Dodge Viper Cup Event

Allen Johnson practiced with road racer Cindi Lux in preparation for his upcoming stint as a celebrity driver in the Dodge Viper Cup Series.

Team Mopar® NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series driver Allen Johnson used his downtime from NHRA Pro Stock competition to try his hand at a little road racing. The veteran straight-line pilot trained with experienced road racer Cindi Lux at Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, Aug. 20 in preparation for his upcoming stint as a celebrity driver in the Dodge Viper Cup Series.

Johnson, currently second in the NHRA Pro Stock point standings, got seat time in a Dodge Viper Competition Coupe during his practice session. He will take the wheel of a Mopar-powered Dodge Viper ACR-X in the Dodge Viper Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway on Sept. 11-12. If Johnson captures the win as the celebrity driver, his purse will be donated to benefit the charity of his choice.

"It was awesome to have the chance to go road racing," said Johnson, who will begin the NHRA Countdown to 1 playoffs next weekend at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Ind. "I got to do four thirty-minute sessions, and when you get done there isn't a dry place on you. It is hard work. You have to know when to brake, how hard to go into the turns, how to hit the apex-there's a lot to it.

"Cindi really helped me to learn the fine points of road racing. The Viper is making a lot of power and it's got a lot of stick. You can throw it in turns at 80-90 mph and it will stick. I feel like I made a lot of progress with the practice, and getting ready for the real race with the professionals. I feel like I may have something for them."

The Dodge Viper Cup series features the new Dodge Viper ACR-X, the ultimate special-edition model of America's ultimate sports car. A contingency program sponsored by Dodge Motorsports and Mopar will pay out more than $200,000 during the 2010 season. Payouts for each race are in cash and Mopar vouchers come as credit toward purchase of Mopar parts and accessories. For more information on the Dodge Viper Cup, visit www.viperheadquarters.com.