Warren Johnson Rebounds to Qualify Eighth in Columbus
For the second consecutive day, rain threatened to wash out the on-track activities at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. Fortunately, the skies cleared in the middle of the afternoon, allowing time trials to be completed, and GM Performance Parts Grand Am pilot Warren Johnson took full advantage of the opportunity.
Entering Saturday's action outside the top sixteen necessary to qualify, Johnson quickly eliminated any doubts of his participation on race day by covering the National Trail Raceway quarter-mile in 6.833-seconds with a top speed of 202.21 mph on his first attempt on Saturday afternoon to claim the eighth starting position for Sunday's eliminations.
"Although I didn't like it when it rained this morning, I wasn't concerned, simply because there was nothing I could do to stop it. The conditions prior to the downpour were excellent, and rose by about 3,000 feet of altitude after that, but they were the same for everyone. In fact, looking at the ladder, everyone in the field qualified with times run today, so overall, it worked out just fine.
"On our first run today, we overcompensated for the problems we encountered last night, costing us about a hundredth, which would have put us in the top five. However, it was still a fairly decent run, and it gained our GM Performance Parts Grand Am a position in the top half of the field, so I think we'll keep it."
Ironically, Johnson's first round opponent will be quite familiar, as he will be facing his son, Kurt Johnson, who qualified in the ninth position.
"The easiest way to explain our meeting Kurt in the first round is that it has been one of those years. I guess you could say that's the drag in drag racing.
"However, our preparations will be the same as if we were facing anyone else. I learned a long time ago not to concern myself with who is in the other lane, because I'm a little too short to reach over and drive that car, so I simply concentrate on doing the best job I can in my own lane."
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
For the second consecutive day, rain threatened to wash out the on-track activities at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. Fortunately, the skies cleared in the middle of the afternoon, allowing time trials to be completed, and GM Performance Parts Grand Am pilot Warren Johnson took full advantage of the opportunity.
Entering Saturday's action outside the top sixteen necessary to qualify, Johnson quickly eliminated any doubts of his participation on race day by covering the National Trail Raceway quarter-mile in 6.833-seconds with a top speed of 202.21 mph on his first attempt on Saturday afternoon to claim the eighth starting position for Sunday's eliminations.
"Although I didn't like it when it rained this morning, I wasn't concerned, simply because there was nothing I could do to stop it. The conditions prior to the downpour were excellent, and rose by about 3,000 feet of altitude after that, but they were the same for everyone. In fact, looking at the ladder, everyone in the field qualified with times run today, so overall, it worked out just fine.
"On our first run today, we overcompensated for the problems we encountered last night, costing us about a hundredth, which would have put us in the top five. However, it was still a fairly decent run, and it gained our GM Performance Parts Grand Am a position in the top half of the field, so I think we'll keep it."
Ironically, Johnson's first round opponent will be quite familiar, as he will be facing his son, Kurt Johnson, who qualified in the ninth position.
"The easiest way to explain our meeting Kurt in the first round is that it has been one of those years. I guess you could say that's the drag in drag racing.
"However, our preparations will be the same as if we were facing anyone else. I learned a long time ago not to concern myself with who is in the other lane, because I'm a little too short to reach over and drive that car, so I simply concentrate on doing the best job I can in my own lane."
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
posted by David @ 3:43 AM
<< Home