Team Mopar(R) Driver Johnson's Brainerd Run Ends in Semis
Mopar(R)/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson had another solid outing, advancing to the semifinals at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals on Sunday, Aug. 16, at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway. It was the seventh semifinals appearance of the season for the veteran Team Mopar driver.
Johnson's Mopar HEMI(R)-powered NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock car was stellar as usual during qualifying, as the Greeneville, Tenn. native posted his Mopar Dodge in the No. 2 spot. Johnson met up with another Mopar-fueled driver, V. Gaines, in the first round of eliminations on Sunday. Gaines reeled off a near-perfect reaction time of .004 (.000 is perfect) at the starting line but Johnson was able to reel him in with a pass of 6.680/205.82.
Johnson knocked off Warren Johnson in the quarterfinals to advance to a semifinals battle with Greg Anderson. A.J.'s day ended on a holeshot loss as his superior run of 6.655/207.50 to Anderson's 6.661/207.64 was nullified by Anderson's better reaction time off the starting line.
Johnson remains fifth in the Pro Stock standings, with his spot in the Countdown to 1 playoffs secured. Next up for the Mopar-powered trio is the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa., Aug. 21–23.