TJ GETS SEAT TIME DURING MONDAY MORNING NATIONALS

Tommy Johnson Jr. returned to Funny Car driving on Monday with an appearance in the Monday Morning Nationals.

The Monday Morning Nationals is a term given to testing the day after an event. Yesterday, Johnson was a fill-in for Don Schumacher Racing’s Johnny Gray, who had a prior obligation and could not test following the NHRA O’Reilly Spring Nationals outside of Houston.

Johnson drove a Funny Car for the first time since 2009.

“It felt really good to be behind the wheel again,” Johnson said. “When they texted me right before the final round on Sunday to ask if I could do it, ‘I said, absolutely, I am there.”

Johnson has no reservation of driving a fuel car whether it’s on Sunday or Monday. He’s more than ready to accept the challenge.

“I always jump at the chance to drive,” admitted Johnson. “I am always willing to jump in whatever capacity I need to in order to help DSR. It really felt good to get back behind the wheel again.”

There was no adjustment period for Johnson who has driven Top Fuel dragsters exclusively for the last two seasons.

“About the only adjustment for me was in the seat because Johnny is bigger than I am,” said Johnson. “It wasn’t a problem fitting in there, maybe it just wasn’t as perfect of a fit as you’d like. It was fine for testing.

“There was a part of me that was concerned initially when it came time to drive after being in a dragster. That went away as soon as the body was lowered. It really didn’t seem strange after that. As soon as the body lowered, it felt as if I had always been there.” Johnson hopes more opportunities for seat time arise this season. He would prefer to race in a national event, but for now, testing on Monday for DSR is nothing short of a blessing.

“Everyone has always teased me that if DSR needed a test driver, they have one with me,” Johnson said. “It just worked out this time.”

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