Johnson to start No. 3, earns No. 1 spot in playoffs
(9-2-2012) INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The last vestiges of Hurricane Isaac continued to plague the 58th Annual NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Sunday, as non-stop rain showers forced the cancellation of the final two qualifying sessions at Lucas Oil Raceway. With the fields now set for racing on Monday, Mopar Dodge Avenger driver Allen Johnson will start third in Pro Stock eliminations Monday, and with his qualifying berth secured, Johnson also locked up the No. 1 spot in the Pro Stock Countdown to the Championship, the six-race playoff that will begin at the next NHRA event in Charlotte.
Johnson will start No. 3 on the strength of his pass of 6.634-seconds at 208.42 mph during Friday’s qualifying session, and will meet up with Warren Johnson in the first round of eliminations set for Monday. Johnson will shoot for his fifth win of the season, 14th of his career and first at Indy.
“To have the first spot in the playoffs locked up even before we finish the U.S. Nationals is great, and it just proves the power of our Mopar HEMI engines and the performance of our J&J Racing team,” said Johnson. “I would have liked to have had another shot at taking the Indy pole, because I think that would have been the best session of the weekend, and I think our Mopar Dodge had a shot.
“Even though we have the top spot in the Countdown secure, as I’ve said before, I’m mad that I haven’t won at the U.S. Nationals. This is probably the most prestigious race on the circuit, and it would mean a lot bring home the victory here. Having a little momentum to start the Countdown also wouldn’t hurt.”
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