NHRA

Brainerd Kurt Johnson interview (Pro Stock)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: NHRA Communications (818) 914-4761 CONSISTENCY HELPS KURT JOHNSON CLIMB HIGH IN PRO STOCK STANDINGS BRAINERD, Minn. -- Quick, it's NHRA Pro Stock trivia time. Only two drivers have won at least one round at ...

Edited: May 8, 2001, 12:19 PM

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: NHRA Communications (818) 914-4761 CONSISTENCY HELPS KURT JOHNSON CLIMB HIGH IN PRO STOCK STANDINGS BRAINERD, Minn. -- Quick, it's NHRA Pro Stock trivia time. Only two drivers have won at least one round at every event this year. One is points leader and defending NHRA Winston champion Jim Yates. The other is named Johnson. Kurt Johnson, that is. Kurt Johnson might not be the first driver that comes to mind when mentioning Pro Stock powerhouses, because he is winless this season in the ACDelco Pontiac Firebird. But quiet consistency and four runner-up finishes have earned him a solid third place in the Winston standings. "You just have to keep after it and keep going rounds," Johnson said. "You've got to win those rounds to earn points. The car is right there." The car and driver also could be right in the winner's circle at the 16th annual, $1,425,050 Champion Auto Stores Nationals, Aug. 14-17 at Brainerd International Raceway. The race is the 15th of 22 events this season in the $30-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Johnson, a Minnesota native who lives in Lawrenceville, Ga., has been consistent in every aspect of racing this season. Besides winning at least one round at every race, he has qualified in the top half of the 16- car field at 12 of 14 events. He knows that consistency will create a victory. But Johnson also knows that it might be tough for him to climb any higher in the point standings. Yates has looked unflappable lately in his quest for a second consecutive NHRA Winston championship, and the guy trying to catch Yates from second is Johnson's father, Warren Johnson. "You always want to be No. 1," Kurt Johnson said. "Being third, you're fighting with two guys ahead of you that are pretty bad, pretty awesome, with a lot of experience under their belts. If I had their experience, I think I could be right up there with them."

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