Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Win Nearly as Big as Pro Stock Championship for Johnson
The perfect ending for Team Mopar® driver and NHRA POWERade Pro Stock veteran Allen Johnson’s 2008 season would be celebrating his first ever NHRA Pro Stock championship. Coming in a close second would be a triumph at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals scheduled for Aug. 27 – Sept. 1 at O’Reilly (Ind.) Raceway Park.
“It would be almost as important as winning the championship to get a win at Indy,” said Johnson, who posted a 2007 quarterfinals appearance and 2006 semifinals showing at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. “Just to have your name in the record books would be huge.” Heading into the biggest race of the year as well as the start of the Countdown, Johnson and his J&J Racing team [led by engine builder Roy Johnson (Johnson’s father) and crew chief Mark Ingersoll] are doing the exact thing every championship team must do: Peak at the perfect moment.
“It was our plan all along,” said Johnson, who has advanced to at least the semifinals in four of his last five events, including two runner-up finishes. “The power dad has been making with our Mopar HEMI® engine is unbelievable.”
The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is scheduled for Aug. 27 – Sept. 1 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. Qualifying coverage will air at 12:30 to 1:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday, Aug. 31 on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Eliminations coverage will air at noon to 2 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. (EDT) on Monday, Sept. 1 on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more info on the NHRA, log on to http://www.nhra.com.