Pomona: Team Mopar Saturday notes

ALLEN JOHNSON, MOPAR/J&J RACING DODGE STRATUS R/T

JOHNSON SAVES THE BEST FOR LAST, SECURES NO. 5 SPOT IN NHRA WINTERNATIONALS QUALIFYING

Team Mopar® driver Allen Johnson kicked off his 2008 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock season in dramatic fashion, posting his best qualifying run in the final session today and claiming the No. 5 spot in tomorrow's elimination rounds at the NHRA Winternationals.

The veteran Team Mopar driver piloted his HEMI®-powered Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T Pro Stock car to a best run of 6.652 at 207.88 mph in the final of four qualifying sessions stretched out over three sunny days at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif. Johnson's run was second-best of the two qualifying sessions held on Saturday. The Greeneville, Tenn., native also posted runs of 6.674/208.30, 6.677/207.85 and 12.954 at 67.14.

With his clutch performance, Johnson moved into the top half of the always-cutthroat Pro Stock field and will have critical lane choice in the first round tomorrow.

"We struggled all weekend to make a good run, but that last run, everything worked perfectly," said Johnson. "I think we were among the top one or two fastest cars of the day. We're happy. We have lane choice tomorrow, and I think lane choice is going to count for a bunch. Hopefully, we can keep lane choice for a few rounds and go to the finals."

Johnson will face the Mopar HEMI-powered Dodge Stratus R/T piloted by Matt Hartford and tuned by David Nickens in the first round. Johnson and Hartford also met in the first-round last weekend at the Pro Stock Showdown in Las Vegas.

Added Johnson: "We'll go up there, have fun, and hopefully I can do my job and go rounds."

-credit: mopar