ALLEN JOHNSON: CHAMPIONSHIP FOCUSED
Mon, 2008-12-08 12:29
Mopar Pro Stock Runner Poised for Strong Championship Run in 2009 …
Allen Johnson would like to provide notice in case no one is paying attention. The Greeneville, Tenn.-based driver is pulling out all of the stops to make a run for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock championship.
He’s testing, bringing in the right personnel and his mindset is that he’s never been more focused on the task at hand.
“That’s what we’re all about and we’re trying to put all of the pieces together to make it go,” Johnson said. “Just like Greg and them did six years ago. I want everything to be perfect. We’re working hard to get in position next year to win championships.”
Don’t worry, Johnson points out, the driver’s head is no longer in a dark place, as he once eloquently stated.
Mopar Pro Stock Runner Poised for Strong Championship Run in 2009 …
Allen Johnson would like to provide notice in case no one is paying attention. The Greeneville, Tenn.-based driver is pulling out all of the stops to make a run for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock championship.
He’s testing, bringing in the right personnel and his mindset is that he’s never been more focused on the task at hand.
“That’s what we’re all about and we’re trying to put all of the pieces together to make it go,” Johnson said. “Just like Greg and them did six years ago. I want everything to be perfect. We’re working hard to get in position next year to win championships.”
Don’t worry, Johnson points out, the driver’s head is no longer in a dark place, as he once eloquently stated.
“We had our little episode earlier this year but I think the last few races of the year we got back where we needed to be,” Johnson added. “I’m all happy and smiling and ready to go.”
2008 wasn’t a bad season for Johnson, reaching the finals twice and the semi-finals eight times. But he quickly admits that squandered opportunities concluded his season with a sixth place finish in the point standings.
Beyond Johnson’s optimism stands the reality that Mopar could be in a prime position to deliver its first championship since Darrell Alderman in 1994.
The upcoming season appears to be a tempest for the other teams, particularly the GM brand, in terms of factory backing. Johnson stands as the only driver in the class on solid factory footing.
Mopar announced earlier in the season that they were discontinuing their nitro sponsorship with Don Schumacher Racing at the conclusion of 2008 and focusing their energies on Johnson’s Pro Stock team.
Rumors suggest the supply of primary engine blocks for the GM teams could exhaust as early as March although a source close to the situation confirmed with CompetitionPlus.com the manufacturer did have a budget earmarked for another retooling.
Johnson believes the quality of the Mopar parts earmarked for drag racing could inspire more teams to switch over to the brand. In the end such a move would provide even more data for the manufacturer.
“I think the Hemi parts and the parts we have developed with Mopar are head and shoulders above anything else out there,” Johnson said. “I think the Mopar personnel, the last couple of years, have done a better job promoting it and everything.”
Johnson said while his quality comments could easily be construed as toeing the company line, he says he’s a firm believer in the product he promotes.
“I’ve seen the GM blocks and the heads,” Johnson said. “You ask the GM guys and the guys who are running them -- they will tell you Mopar stuff is head and shoulders, quality, above everyone else. You get to the same point when you work with it, but you don’t have to do any cutting and welding of anything to make it work. They are ready to go. With the GM stuff, you have to weld, cut and re-weld and everything and I’ve had GM guys tell me this stuff. We used to have to do that stuff with the Mopars but now it’s one of the best heads I’ve ever used and my dad will tell you the same thing. You don’t have to get it and spend a month working on it just to get it to run right.”
Beyond that, Johnson adds, engine lease programs appear limited on the GM front, and the subsequent options for Mopar could lead to a mass exodus in the future.
Johnson will bring two engine lease programs to the table in 2009 with Johnny Gray and Vincent Deceglie.
“Where do you go get a motor if you’re a GM guy right now?” Johnson asked “Victor doesn’t have any more room and Warren and Kurt, they ain’t going to do it.”
The past few weeks have provided the calm before the storm for Johnson and the time is wisely used to prepare his personal businesses for a 2009 championship run and the associated personal demands.
“Trying to get my business in order here so that I can go racing in a couple of months,” Johnson admitted. “ I really concentrate on my business while we have that time in November and December in order to get everything straightened out so I can go with not being there for another eight or nine months and racing too.”
The storm begins this week as Johnson and the team head to Palm Beach International Raceway for testing prior to the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Orlando starting on Thursday.
Allen Johnson would like to provide notice in case no one is paying attention. The Greeneville, Tenn.-based driver is pulling out all of the stops to make a run for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock championship.
He’s testing, bringing in the right personnel and his mindset is that he’s never been more focused on the task at hand.
“That’s what we’re all about and we’re trying to put all of the pieces together to make it go,” Johnson said. “Just like Greg and them did six years ago. I want everything to be perfect. We’re working hard to get in position next year to win championships.”
Don’t worry, Johnson points out, the driver’s head is no longer in a dark place, as he once eloquently stated.
Mopar Pro Stock Runner Poised for Strong Championship Run in 2009 …
Allen Johnson would like to provide notice in case no one is paying attention. The Greeneville, Tenn.-based driver is pulling out all of the stops to make a run for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock championship.
He’s testing, bringing in the right personnel and his mindset is that he’s never been more focused on the task at hand.
“That’s what we’re all about and we’re trying to put all of the pieces together to make it go,” Johnson said. “Just like Greg and them did six years ago. I want everything to be perfect. We’re working hard to get in position next year to win championships.”
Don’t worry, Johnson points out, the driver’s head is no longer in a dark place, as he once eloquently stated.
“We had our little episode earlier this year but I think the last few races of the year we got back where we needed to be,” Johnson added. “I’m all happy and smiling and ready to go.”
2008 wasn’t a bad season for Johnson, reaching the finals twice and the semi-finals eight times. But he quickly admits that squandered opportunities concluded his season with a sixth place finish in the point standings.
Beyond Johnson’s optimism stands the reality that Mopar could be in a prime position to deliver its first championship since Darrell Alderman in 1994.
The upcoming season appears to be a tempest for the other teams, particularly the GM brand, in terms of factory backing. Johnson stands as the only driver in the class on solid factory footing.
Mopar announced earlier in the season that they were discontinuing their nitro sponsorship with Don Schumacher Racing at the conclusion of 2008 and focusing their energies on Johnson’s Pro Stock team.
Rumors suggest the supply of primary engine blocks for the GM teams could exhaust as early as March although a source close to the situation confirmed with CompetitionPlus.com the manufacturer did have a budget earmarked for another retooling.
Johnson believes the quality of the Mopar parts earmarked for drag racing could inspire more teams to switch over to the brand. In the end such a move would provide even more data for the manufacturer.
“I think the Hemi parts and the parts we have developed with Mopar are head and shoulders above anything else out there,” Johnson said. “I think the Mopar personnel, the last couple of years, have done a better job promoting it and everything.”
Johnson said while his quality comments could easily be construed as toeing the company line, he says he’s a firm believer in the product he promotes.
“I’ve seen the GM blocks and the heads,” Johnson said. “You ask the GM guys and the guys who are running them -- they will tell you Mopar stuff is head and shoulders, quality, above everyone else. You get to the same point when you work with it, but you don’t have to do any cutting and welding of anything to make it work. They are ready to go. With the GM stuff, you have to weld, cut and re-weld and everything and I’ve had GM guys tell me this stuff. We used to have to do that stuff with the Mopars but now it’s one of the best heads I’ve ever used and my dad will tell you the same thing. You don’t have to get it and spend a month working on it just to get it to run right.”
Beyond that, Johnson adds, engine lease programs appear limited on the GM front, and the subsequent options for Mopar could lead to a mass exodus in the future.
Johnson will bring two engine lease programs to the table in 2009 with Johnny Gray and Vincent Deceglie.
“Where do you go get a motor if you’re a GM guy right now?” Johnson asked “Victor doesn’t have any more room and Warren and Kurt, they ain’t going to do it.”
The past few weeks have provided the calm before the storm for Johnson and the time is wisely used to prepare his personal businesses for a 2009 championship run and the associated personal demands.
“Trying to get my business in order here so that I can go racing in a couple of months,” Johnson admitted. “ I really concentrate on my business while we have that time in November and December in order to get everything straightened out so I can go with not being there for another eight or nine months and racing too.”
The storm begins this week as Johnson and the team head to Palm Beach International Raceway for testing prior to the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Orlando starting on Thursday.
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