Team Mopar's Allen Johnson to Add Johnny Gray to J&J Racing Pro Stock Team in '09
Team Mopar NHRA POWERade Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson announced recently that Dodge Stratus R/T Pro Stock pilot Johnny Gray will join Johnson's J&J Racing team for the 2009 NHRA campaign. Johnson campaigns the Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T.
Johnson's team and Gray's S.K.I. Racing crew will pit side-by-side in 2009. Mark Ingersoll will continue as crew chief for J&J Racing and will also serve as an advisor for Gray's team and his crew chief, Craig Hankinson. Roy Johnson, [Allen] Johnson's father, will serve as engine tuner and builder.
"Johnny and I will work to make both cars identical, so we can get the most advantage by sharing data with each other," said [Allen] Johnson. "I think Johnny's a real talented driver and I welcome him aboard the J&J Racing team for next year."
Johnson is currently seventh in the NHRA Countdown to 1 Pro Stock playoffs. He captured the No. 1 Qualifier Award and advanced to the semifinals at the previous NHRA POWERade event in Memphis, Tenn. Johnson would like to mirror his Memphis performance with slight modifications—a berth in the finals and his first event win of the season—at this weekend's Virginia NHRA Nationals near Richmond.
"We've done pretty good at Richmond. Richmond is the first place I ever won a Pro Stock race," recalled Johnson. "Our goal is to make ground up and come out of there maybe sixty points behind the top guy and have a really good chance going to Vegas."
The Virginia NHRA Nationals is scheduled for Oct. 10–12 at Virginia Motorsports Park. One hour of qualifying coverage will air on Saturday, Oct. 11 beginning at 11:30 p.m. (EDT) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Three hours of eliminations coverage will air on Sunday, Oct. 12 starting at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more info on the NHRA, log on to http://www.nhra.com.
