Tue, 07 Feb 2017, 18:22 PM Marathon Petroleum's Allen Johnson Sets Goals for Pomona, Assured for 2017 Season

Courtesy of Sadie Floyd

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --

Allen Johnson

Marathon Petroleum Corporation/J&J Racing Dodge Dart driver Allen Johnson heads to Pomona, California this weekend for the season opening 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals. The 2012 Pro Stock World Champion racer is eager to qualifying at Auto Club Raceway at Pomoma after testing at Wild Horse Motorsports Park.

"We're excited to be testing and starting the new year out," Johnson said. "Yesterday's testing didn't go as well as planned in our Marathon Petroleum Dodge Dart but we've got a couple more days of testing before this weekend to get a good setup."

The feeling surrounding Johnson and the Adam Hornberger-led team is in stark contrast to how they felt pulling into the gates at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona one year ago.

"I'm much more relaxed than this time last year," Johnson remarked. "I think we'll start out this year a lot better than we did last year. It's going to be a knock-out, drag-out with everyone on raceday because everyone's got a good handle on the fuel-injection now."

Allen Johnson

2016 produced three final round appearances for Johnson, including his enormous Mopar Mile-High Nationals win in Denver, Colorado. After a respectable eighth place finish in the point standings, Johnson has realistic expectations for Pomona.

"If we can qualify in the top half this weekend and go a few rounds on raceday, I'd be very happy with that for the first race of the year," he said.

Qualifying for the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals begin on Friday, February 10th with two sessions at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. Two more qualifying runs are scheduled for Saturday, February 11th at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. Eliminations will be on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. starting with Top Fuel.

57TH ANNUAL CIRCKLE K WINTERNATIONALS RUN SCHEDULE:
Friday, February 10: two qualifying sessions at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 11: two qualifying sessions at 12:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 12: pre-race ceremonies begin at 10 a.m.
 
57TH ANNUAL CIRCKLE K WINTERNATIONALS TV SCHEDULE:
Friday, February 10 - qualifying coverage starting at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on FS1
Saturday, February 11 - qualifying coverage starting at 1 p.m. (ET) on FS1
Sunday, February 12 - live eliminations coverage starting 4:00 p.m. (ET) on FOX