Sun, May 17, 07:00 PM Kurt Johnson Collects $50,000 for Pro Stock Challenge Win

Courtesy of Judy Stropus, Chevrolet Communications Mopar Parts Nationals

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. - Kurt Johnson won his second Pro Stock Challenge of his career today, when he defeated Steve Schmidt in the final round, collecting $50,000 for his efforts. Kurt won with an elapsed time of 6.970 seconds and a top speed of 198.00 mph, driving his ACDelco Camaro Z28 for the first time in his five appearances in this special NHRA event since its inception in 1985. Schmidt's numbers were 7.001/198.41.

Johnson, of Sugar Hill, Ga., won this event in 1994 against Mark Osborne, the same year he went into the history books when he became the first driver to break the 7-second mark with his 6.98-second pass here in the NHRA national event the same weekend.

Chevy Camaros have won twice here before, in 1985 and '86, when Bruce Allen drove the model to back-to-back victories.

The Pro Stock Challenge showcases the eight best Pro Stock qualifiers during a 21-race span between the 1997 Parts America Nationals and 1998 Castrol Lone Star Nationals. Drivers accumulate points during those events. Kurt Johnson was third in the final standings.