Allen Johnson
I haven’t done a blog since Gainesville, so I’ll try to catch up on all that’s happened since then. We had the Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte. My J&J Racing/Mopar Dodge Avenger squad and I adapted to it, and it was fun for a change and generated some publicity. However, I don’t think the place for it is in a competitive points race. Now, if they want to do a four-wide high dollar incentive race during qualifying, sort of like the K&N Horsepower Challenge, that’s fine. Maybe they do a big shootout with the top four in points from each class during qualifying. I could see doing something like that. But a regular points race, where we’re all so serious about winning a championship, it’s just not a place for it.
I helped out the B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) auction and attended their pancake breakfast fundraiser during the Four-Wides. I’m a big supporter of the organization, which was founded by NHRA Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert in memory of his two sons who were killed in a car accident. I’ve supplied auction items to them for the last couple years, and I donated the jacket of my racing suit this year, while my primary sponsor Mopar donated autographed hats and photos. My firesuit jacket was the highest selling item, so I was pretty proud of that!
The auction raised enough money for B.R.A.K.E.S. to provide hands-on driver training for 65 teens. It’s one of my favorite charities—the work they’re doing to educate teenagers about the need to be responsible behind the wheel. I didn’t flip any pancakes during the breakfast, but I went from table to table meeting people. B.R.A.K.E.S. really has a lot of support in the drag racing community.
Being a Tennessee boy through and through, I was very happy with the success of the University of Tennessee basketball team during their March Madness run. They overcame a lot of adversity from the middle of the year, losing their best player, and to come back and make the Elite Eight of the tournament was awesome. If not for a last second shot we would have been in the Final Four. Head coach Bruce Pearl is doing a great job. Pam and I both follow the Volunteers really close.
My dad Roy, who is also my J&J Racing team’s engine builder, is close to getting the Mopar Challenger Drag Pak vehicle I surprised him with for Christmas on the track and racing. He just finished running the engine on the dyno with engine builder Gary Stanton. Gary showed him how to do the fuel injection on the computer and the motor is sitting in front of the car. I think after Vegas he’s going to get the motor in the car and get ready to go. We’ll probably go up to Bristol Dragway, which is close to our shop in Greeneville, and test during the track’s regular test ‘n’ tune day.
I got to play some golf a little in Houston. I hit the links with some of the Super Comp drivers, Greg Odom, Craig Anderson and Gary Ross, who works for NHRA. Those are the boys who also support the Greg Morris Golf Tournament, which I take part in each year during the NHRA stop in Dallas. I didn’t play very well. I can’t remember what I shot, but I didn’t break 80 for the round. I also had a chance to go out to dinner with Erica Enders and her family, who are from the area. We ate at Lupe Tortillas, a restaurant that sponsors Erica. Then I went out and made the finals at the Houston race, after advancing to the semis in the previous four events, so that made my week.
This weekend we’re going out west to Vegas, where I have a chance to earn my 200th career round win. If all goes well, I’ll end the event with 202 round wins—and a Wally trophy for my eighth NHRA National event victory!