KJ WINS ONE IN HIS FORMER HOME STATE
Mon, 2008-08-11 10:00
Pro Stock racer Kurt Johnson may have moved away from Minnesota decades ago, but a sense
of the home state spirit inspired the veteran into his third win of the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing season.
KJ was the quicker driver off the line and low elapsed time earner in each round of competition during the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals. This weekend’s triumph was the 39th national event win of his career, and fourth at Brainerd International Raceway, tying him with his father Warren Johnson, Bruce Allen and Lee Shepherd for the most by a Pro Stock competitor at the Minnesota quarter-mile. Pro Stock racer Kurt Johnson may have moved away from Minnesota decades ago, but a sense
of the home state spirit inspired the veteran into his third win of the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing season.
KJ was the quicker driver off the line and low elapsed time earner in each round of competition at the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals. This weekend’s triumph was the 39th national event win of his career, and fourth at Brainerd International Raceway, tying him with his father Warren Johnson, Bruce Allen and Lee Shepherd for the most by a Pro Stock competitor at the Minnesota quarter-mile.
“The ACDelco Cobalt crew had a great day today,” said Johnson. “As close as the competition is in Pro Stock, any time you can leave on all four opponents, out run them and come out with the trophy, you’ve accomplished something. Every round we ran today was like a final, and to be able to beat teams and drivers of the caliber of Yates, Edwards, Coughlin and Connolly says a lot about our team. It just feels awesome.
“It’s always great to win here in Minnesota. I don’t know what it is about Brainerd, but we always seem to do well here – I guess the track just suits my style. We also had a lot of family and friends on hand throughout the weekend to cheer us on, which makes it even better. You always want to show off for them, and I can tell you they’re all having a good time right now.”
GIVING PROPS - Johnson wanted to recognize the efforts of a fellow Minnesotan who had come to the team’s assistance in the last month. Following the unexpected departure of a crewmember prior to the start of the Western Swing, Fridley native Brian Strait, who had gone to high school with KJ joined the team on an interim basis, performing whatever duties necessary. Even though the team welcomed Rob Charmello to the crew at this race, Strait still made the trip from his current home in Las Vegas to help coach the team’s latest addition.
“Brian has been my friend for a long time, and has always been there when I needed him,” stated Johnson. “He came through for us in Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, and once we found Rob, who will need a little training but we believe is going to be good, Brian came up here and coached him, letting Justin (crewmember Belfance) and myself concentrate on doing our jobs, giving us more time to be perfect. We always talk about the hat dance teams do in the winner’s circle, and it was great to get to do it with him and the rest of the ACDelco crew here today.”
CLIMBING THE LADDER - Finally, Johnson’s performance allowed him to move up one position in the POWERade points standings, ascending to second while simultaneously gaining ground on the points leader. With only two races remaining before the start of the NHRA’s playoff season, the second-generation racer has his sights set on regaining the top position.
“It feels good to gain ground in the points standings,” said Johnson “There’s a bonus of thirty points for the leader going into the Countdown to One, and we’re after that, because they could be huge at the end of the year. For now, we’re just going to keep trying our best, and see how it all works out.
“This win is in the books, and after taking a little time to celebrate tonight, this ACDelco Cobalt crew will put it behind us and focus on doing whatever it takes to do this all over again five days from now in Reading.”
KJ was the quicker driver off the line and low elapsed time earner
in each round of competition. This weekend’s triumph was the 39th
national event win of his career.
KJ was the quicker driver off the line and low elapsed time earner in each round of competition during the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals. This weekend’s triumph was the 39th national event win of his career, and fourth at Brainerd International Raceway, tying him with his father Warren Johnson, Bruce Allen and Lee Shepherd for the most by a Pro Stock competitor at the Minnesota quarter-mile. Pro Stock racer Kurt Johnson may have moved away from Minnesota decades ago, but a sense
KJ was the quicker driver off the line and low elapsed time earner
in each round of competition. This weekend’s triumph was the 39th
national event win of his career.
KJ was the quicker driver off the line and low elapsed time earner in each round of competition at the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals. This weekend’s triumph was the 39th national event win of his career, and fourth at Brainerd International Raceway, tying him with his father Warren Johnson, Bruce Allen and Lee Shepherd for the most by a Pro Stock competitor at the Minnesota quarter-mile.
“The ACDelco Cobalt crew had a great day today,” said Johnson. “As close as the competition is in Pro Stock, any time you can leave on all four opponents, out run them and come out with the trophy, you’ve accomplished something. Every round we ran today was like a final, and to be able to beat teams and drivers of the caliber of Yates, Edwards, Coughlin and Connolly says a lot about our team. It just feels awesome.
“It’s always great to win here in Minnesota. I don’t know what it is about Brainerd, but we always seem to do well here – I guess the track just suits my style. We also had a lot of family and friends on hand throughout the weekend to cheer us on, which makes it even better. You always want to show off for them, and I can tell you they’re all having a good time right now.”
GIVING PROPS - Johnson wanted to recognize the efforts of a fellow Minnesotan who had come to the team’s assistance in the last month. Following the unexpected departure of a crewmember prior to the start of the Western Swing, Fridley native Brian Strait, who had gone to high school with KJ joined the team on an interim basis, performing whatever duties necessary. Even though the team welcomed Rob Charmello to the crew at this race, Strait still made the trip from his current home in Las Vegas to help coach the team’s latest addition.
“Brian has been my friend for a long time, and has always been there when I needed him,” stated Johnson. “He came through for us in Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, and once we found Rob, who will need a little training but we believe is going to be good, Brian came up here and coached him, letting Justin (crewmember Belfance) and myself concentrate on doing our jobs, giving us more time to be perfect. We always talk about the hat dance teams do in the winner’s circle, and it was great to get to do it with him and the rest of the ACDelco crew here today.”
CLIMBING THE LADDER - Finally, Johnson’s performance allowed him to move up one position in the POWERade points standings, ascending to second while simultaneously gaining ground on the points leader. With only two races remaining before the start of the NHRA’s playoff season, the second-generation racer has his sights set on regaining the top position.
“It feels good to gain ground in the points standings,” said Johnson “There’s a bonus of thirty points for the leader going into the Countdown to One, and we’re after that, because they could be huge at the end of the year. For now, we’re just going to keep trying our best, and see how it all works out.
“This win is in the books, and after taking a little time to celebrate tonight, this ACDelco Cobalt crew will put it behind us and focus on doing whatever it takes to do this all over again five days from now in Reading.”
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