SGMP Testing Photos From Marvin T. Smith
Marvin T. Smith shot these photos at SGMP Friday 2-08-08. Thanks for sharing your photos, Marvin! Click on the link below for more photos.
Photos
Photos
posted by David @ 2:34 AM
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
WJ is Ready to Do Some High-Speed Prospecting in Pomona
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
GM Performance Parts Team looks for strong start to 2008 season
Sugar Hill, Ga., February 5, 2008 – In the mid 1800’s people flocked to the state of California as part of the legendary Gold Rush. From Sutter’s Mill in Coloma to Rancho San Francisco just north of Los Angeles, successful prospectors overcame the stiff competition by devising new and ingenious techniques for retrieving the precious metal.
Over 150 years later, Warren Johnson and his GM Performance Parts Pontiac Racing team arrive in the Golden State in search of their own rewards. Just as with the pioneers, they will use the very latest technology at their disposal, and their success will rely on a combination of hard work, resourcefulness and luck.
However, pick-axes and mules have been replaced by socket wrenches and 1,400-horsepower race cars. In addition, the Johnson-led crew’s prospecting will take place in bursts of a few seconds on a quarter-mile strip in Pomona, CA, and the gold they will be looking to strike will be the winner’s trophy at the season-opening Carquest Auto Parts Winternationals, the first stop on the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule.
“This will be my 29th Winternationals, but the challenge and primary objective of this exercise remains the same,” said Johnson. “This race is the first indicator of the effectiveness of your off-season efforts. In the matter of four days, you establish whether your hard work paid off or you have to go back and dig deeper to catch up.
“Personally, I think our GM Performance Parts Pontiac crew is in better shape than we have been in some time, and our success is a matter of applying what we have properly. You come to this race looking to be the first one to win in that particular year, and that is number one on my ‘To Do ‘ list.”
With over thirty years experience at this venerable facility, The Professor has logged more runs at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona than some of his competitors have had in their entire careers. In addition, his nine wins (five of which have come in this opening race) and seventeen final round appearances certain classify him as an expert on how to tame this tricky track.
“One of the more unusual characteristics about the track in Pomona is that it drops 16 feet in elevation from the start to the finish line,” said Johnson. “In fact, if you took a bicycle, you could probably coast the entire way, but you’d work up one heck of a sweat coming back. Fortunately, the surface is usually better for the Winternationals than it is for the Finals in November, simply because less time has passed since the last race, and it has not been subjected to the heat of the summer.
“Therefore, you can use a set-up for this race that is pretty close to what you ran in the Finals. That bodes well for us, as our GM Performance Parts Pontiac performed the best it had all season back in November.
“I like our chances for this weekend. Certainly, some of the newer cars may have an edge aerodynamically. However, given the fact that no one has had any real test time with them, they won’t be able to take full advantage of their performance differential. As a result, I believe we should be right in the thick of the battle all weekend, allowing us to start 2008 on the right foot.”
Warren Johnson and the GM Performance Parts Pontiac Racing team
By the Numbers - Carquest Auto Parts Winternationals edition:
4.333 – Average starting position by WJ in 27 Winternationals starts
5 – a) WJ Wins at the Winternationals in 11 final round appearances
b) No. 1 qualifying performances by WJ at the NHRA season-opener
9 – Total national event wins by WJ at The Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, which is the most at any individual racetrack in his Pro Stock career
25 – Top half starts by WJ at the Winternationals
42 – Different drivers WJ has faced at the Winternationals in his career.
59 – Elimination round wins by WJ at the Winternationals, versus 22 losses for a .782 win percentage.
97 - Total elimination round wins by WJ at The Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, versus 40 losses, for a .708 win percentage.
1976 – First year WJ raced in the Winternationals, when he qualified second and advanced to the second round.
2003 – WJ’s most recent Winternationals win, when he qualified second and defeated Troy Coughlin, Kurt Johnson, Darrell Alderman and Allen Johnson en route to his 89th career win.
TMG Sports Marketing
GM Performance Parts Team looks for strong start to 2008 season
Sugar Hill, Ga., February 5, 2008 – In the mid 1800’s people flocked to the state of California as part of the legendary Gold Rush. From Sutter’s Mill in Coloma to Rancho San Francisco just north of Los Angeles, successful prospectors overcame the stiff competition by devising new and ingenious techniques for retrieving the precious metal.
Over 150 years later, Warren Johnson and his GM Performance Parts Pontiac Racing team arrive in the Golden State in search of their own rewards. Just as with the pioneers, they will use the very latest technology at their disposal, and their success will rely on a combination of hard work, resourcefulness and luck.
However, pick-axes and mules have been replaced by socket wrenches and 1,400-horsepower race cars. In addition, the Johnson-led crew’s prospecting will take place in bursts of a few seconds on a quarter-mile strip in Pomona, CA, and the gold they will be looking to strike will be the winner’s trophy at the season-opening Carquest Auto Parts Winternationals, the first stop on the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule.
“This will be my 29th Winternationals, but the challenge and primary objective of this exercise remains the same,” said Johnson. “This race is the first indicator of the effectiveness of your off-season efforts. In the matter of four days, you establish whether your hard work paid off or you have to go back and dig deeper to catch up.
“Personally, I think our GM Performance Parts Pontiac crew is in better shape than we have been in some time, and our success is a matter of applying what we have properly. You come to this race looking to be the first one to win in that particular year, and that is number one on my ‘To Do ‘ list.”
With over thirty years experience at this venerable facility, The Professor has logged more runs at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona than some of his competitors have had in their entire careers. In addition, his nine wins (five of which have come in this opening race) and seventeen final round appearances certain classify him as an expert on how to tame this tricky track.
“One of the more unusual characteristics about the track in Pomona is that it drops 16 feet in elevation from the start to the finish line,” said Johnson. “In fact, if you took a bicycle, you could probably coast the entire way, but you’d work up one heck of a sweat coming back. Fortunately, the surface is usually better for the Winternationals than it is for the Finals in November, simply because less time has passed since the last race, and it has not been subjected to the heat of the summer.
“Therefore, you can use a set-up for this race that is pretty close to what you ran in the Finals. That bodes well for us, as our GM Performance Parts Pontiac performed the best it had all season back in November.
“I like our chances for this weekend. Certainly, some of the newer cars may have an edge aerodynamically. However, given the fact that no one has had any real test time with them, they won’t be able to take full advantage of their performance differential. As a result, I believe we should be right in the thick of the battle all weekend, allowing us to start 2008 on the right foot.”
Warren Johnson and the GM Performance Parts Pontiac Racing team
By the Numbers - Carquest Auto Parts Winternationals edition:
4.333 – Average starting position by WJ in 27 Winternationals starts
5 – a) WJ Wins at the Winternationals in 11 final round appearances
b) No. 1 qualifying performances by WJ at the NHRA season-opener
9 – Total national event wins by WJ at The Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, which is the most at any individual racetrack in his Pro Stock career
25 – Top half starts by WJ at the Winternationals
42 – Different drivers WJ has faced at the Winternationals in his career.
59 – Elimination round wins by WJ at the Winternationals, versus 22 losses for a .782 win percentage.
97 - Total elimination round wins by WJ at The Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, versus 40 losses, for a .708 win percentage.
1976 – First year WJ raced in the Winternationals, when he qualified second and advanced to the second round.
2003 – WJ’s most recent Winternationals win, when he qualified second and defeated Troy Coughlin, Kurt Johnson, Darrell Alderman and Allen Johnson en route to his 89th career win.
posted by David @ 1:36 AM
KJ Hopes to Give the Field the New Car Blues in Pomona
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
ACDelco Cobalt crew preps new ride for NHRA season-opener
Sugar Hill, Ga., February 5, 2008 – Kurt Johnson and his ACDelco Cobalt racing team will head west this weekend as they kick off their pursuit of the 2008 POWERade Pro Stock championship with the Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, CA. Racing in the most competitive division in all of motorsports, this talented crew knows they will have to be at their very best in order to open the year with a victory.
Therefore, some may question their decision to bring a new and virtually untested car to the traditional drag racing season-opener. While conceding that any on-track experience with this new chassis will be beneficial in the long run, Johnson pointed to the combination of unfavorable weather, and a more pressing need to continue work on off-season research and development projects that could start paying dividends this weekend.
“Our current ACDelco Cobalt is the result of lessons we learned from the previous two editions, and we believe it’s going to be the best one yet,” said Johnson. “Certainly, we would like to have had more track time with it prior to Pomona, but it really wasn’t an option.
“For one thing, once the car was ready to test, Mother Nature simply didn’t cooperate. We also took extra time making sure we were fully prepared for the start of the season, and that included working on a few projects that we think should help us.
“As a result, we’ve had limited experience with this new car, but we’re pretty pleased with the results so far. We made some decent runs at the Pontiac Pro Stock Showdown last weekend, and, for the most part, it’s responded nicely to the changes we’ve made. We’re still getting a handle on its tuning window, but the whole ACDelco crew is pumped heading into our first real race.”
Adding an extra degree of difficulty to this already daunting challenge is the racing surface at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. In his 16-year Pro Stock career, Johnson has experienced both sides of the competitive spectrum on the California quarter-mile, winning four times in seven final round appearances but also having two high-profile on-track incidents, including a scary, high-speed trip into the top-end sand trap last November. Undaunted, he is optimistic about his chances to repeat his winning performance from this event in 2001, when he powered another new race car to the winner’s circle in its first national event.
“We’ve had our share of ups and downs at the Auto Club Raceway,” said Johnson. “It’s a tricky track, especially in the right lane which rises and falls, as well as having several bumps in it. You have to take it all into account when deciding on what kind of set-up you’re going to use.
“I’ve won races at Pomona, but also lost a couple race cars. It’s just part of the game. However, it has been a few years since I’ve won there, and it’s about time we changed that. We have fresh engines and a new car that looks like it’s going to be fast. We took a brand new ACDelco Chevy to the winner’s circle in 2001, and if everyone on the team does their job, I see no reason why we can’t repeat that performance this weekend.”
Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Chevy Cobalt Racing team
By the Numbers - Carquest Auto Parts Winternationals edition:
0 – Number of runs Kurt’s new ACDelco Cobalt has made in national event competition coming into the Winternationals.
1- KJ Winternationals wins, which came in 2001, when he qualified fifth and defeated Mark Osborne, Mike Edwards, Bruce Allen and Darrell Alderman.
2 – KJ Winternationals final round appearances in 1997 & 2001
6.613 – KJ’s career best elapsed time (in seconds) recorded in October 2006 in Richmond, VA.
6.27 – KJ’s average starting position at the Winternationals
8 – Number of finishes of the semifinals or better by Kurt in his previous Winternationals starts.
11 – Top half starts by Kurt at the Winternationals
13 – Consecutive years in which Kurt has won at least one national event, the longest active streak in Pro Stock, and the second longest among all NHRA professional categories.
15 – Previous KJ Winternationals starts, dating back to his rookie debut in 1993.
22 – KJ Winternationals round wins, versus 14 losses for a .611 win percentage
36 – Kurt career national event wins, most recently at the 2007 Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals in Phoenix, AZ
209.26 - KJ’s career best top speed (in mph) recorded in October 2006 in Richmond, VA
Event Schedule:
Thursday & Friday, February 7 & 8 – Single qualifying sessions at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 9 - Two qualifying sessions at 12:00 noon & 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 10 – Pre-race ceremonies begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by
The first round of eliminations at 11:00 a.m.
Television Schedule:
Qualifying: Saturday, February 9 – 8:00 - 10:00p.m.
Eliminations: Sunday, February 10 – 7:30 – 11:00 p.m.
NHRA RaceDay: Sunday, February 10 - 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.
(Please consult your local listings for exact times, as the schedule is subject to change )
TMG Sports Marketing
ACDelco Cobalt crew preps new ride for NHRA season-opener
Sugar Hill, Ga., February 5, 2008 – Kurt Johnson and his ACDelco Cobalt racing team will head west this weekend as they kick off their pursuit of the 2008 POWERade Pro Stock championship with the Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, CA. Racing in the most competitive division in all of motorsports, this talented crew knows they will have to be at their very best in order to open the year with a victory.
Therefore, some may question their decision to bring a new and virtually untested car to the traditional drag racing season-opener. While conceding that any on-track experience with this new chassis will be beneficial in the long run, Johnson pointed to the combination of unfavorable weather, and a more pressing need to continue work on off-season research and development projects that could start paying dividends this weekend.
“Our current ACDelco Cobalt is the result of lessons we learned from the previous two editions, and we believe it’s going to be the best one yet,” said Johnson. “Certainly, we would like to have had more track time with it prior to Pomona, but it really wasn’t an option.
“For one thing, once the car was ready to test, Mother Nature simply didn’t cooperate. We also took extra time making sure we were fully prepared for the start of the season, and that included working on a few projects that we think should help us.
“As a result, we’ve had limited experience with this new car, but we’re pretty pleased with the results so far. We made some decent runs at the Pontiac Pro Stock Showdown last weekend, and, for the most part, it’s responded nicely to the changes we’ve made. We’re still getting a handle on its tuning window, but the whole ACDelco crew is pumped heading into our first real race.”
Adding an extra degree of difficulty to this already daunting challenge is the racing surface at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. In his 16-year Pro Stock career, Johnson has experienced both sides of the competitive spectrum on the California quarter-mile, winning four times in seven final round appearances but also having two high-profile on-track incidents, including a scary, high-speed trip into the top-end sand trap last November. Undaunted, he is optimistic about his chances to repeat his winning performance from this event in 2001, when he powered another new race car to the winner’s circle in its first national event.
“We’ve had our share of ups and downs at the Auto Club Raceway,” said Johnson. “It’s a tricky track, especially in the right lane which rises and falls, as well as having several bumps in it. You have to take it all into account when deciding on what kind of set-up you’re going to use.
“I’ve won races at Pomona, but also lost a couple race cars. It’s just part of the game. However, it has been a few years since I’ve won there, and it’s about time we changed that. We have fresh engines and a new car that looks like it’s going to be fast. We took a brand new ACDelco Chevy to the winner’s circle in 2001, and if everyone on the team does their job, I see no reason why we can’t repeat that performance this weekend.”
Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Chevy Cobalt Racing team
By the Numbers - Carquest Auto Parts Winternationals edition:
0 – Number of runs Kurt’s new ACDelco Cobalt has made in national event competition coming into the Winternationals.
1- KJ Winternationals wins, which came in 2001, when he qualified fifth and defeated Mark Osborne, Mike Edwards, Bruce Allen and Darrell Alderman.
2 – KJ Winternationals final round appearances in 1997 & 2001
6.613 – KJ’s career best elapsed time (in seconds) recorded in October 2006 in Richmond, VA.
6.27 – KJ’s average starting position at the Winternationals
8 – Number of finishes of the semifinals or better by Kurt in his previous Winternationals starts.
11 – Top half starts by Kurt at the Winternationals
13 – Consecutive years in which Kurt has won at least one national event, the longest active streak in Pro Stock, and the second longest among all NHRA professional categories.
15 – Previous KJ Winternationals starts, dating back to his rookie debut in 1993.
22 – KJ Winternationals round wins, versus 14 losses for a .611 win percentage
36 – Kurt career national event wins, most recently at the 2007 Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals in Phoenix, AZ
209.26 - KJ’s career best top speed (in mph) recorded in October 2006 in Richmond, VA
Event Schedule:
Thursday & Friday, February 7 & 8 – Single qualifying sessions at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 9 - Two qualifying sessions at 12:00 noon & 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 10 – Pre-race ceremonies begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by
The first round of eliminations at 11:00 a.m.
Television Schedule:
Qualifying: Saturday, February 9 – 8:00 - 10:00p.m.
Eliminations: Sunday, February 10 – 7:30 – 11:00 p.m.
NHRA RaceDay: Sunday, February 10 - 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.
(Please consult your local listings for exact times, as the schedule is subject to change )
posted by David @ 1:30 AM
