Allen Johnson looking toward a win at Reading

Team Mopar Driver Johnson Seeks First Final-Round Appearance and Win at Reading
Johnson aims to gain points in NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs

Pro Stock Driver Allen Johnson

Photo by: Ted Rossino

Auburn Hills, Mich. — For Mopar® Dodge Avenger NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson, every race is of the utmost importance. With just four events remaining in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs, the intensity and focus of Johnson’s J&J Racing team has risen to a whole new level as the Team Mopar veteran attempts to make up ground in the Countdown at the 27th Annual NHRA Nationals, scheduled for Sept. 29–Oct. 2 at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pa., near Reading.

Johnson enters the third round of the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs in the seventh position, just 53 points out of the top-five and 62 markers out of third, with a possible 16 rounds of racing remaining on the season.

“We have to get aggressive,” said Johnson of his approach for the final four races of the season. “We’ll try to be consistent, yet aggressive at Reading. We have to win rounds and go to the final, plain and simple. We’re certainly capable of it and have a great car with this Mopar Dodge Avenger.”

Johnson was the No. 1 Qualifier at Maple Grove Raceway last season, as he wrapped up the year as the top qualifier at four consecutive events. The native of Greeneville,Tenn. has been among the top half of the field in qualifying at Reading six times in his career, while advancing to the quarterfinals of eliminations on four occasions, with a trip to the semifinals in 2008, as he seeks his first final-round appearance and win at the venue. Johnson has been one of the most consistent qualifiers this season in Pro Stock, garnering three No. 1 Qualifier awards, with starts in the top half of the field in 17 of 18 events.

“We always love going to Reading,” noted Johnson. “We have some confidence heading up there, especially now that we have a race under our belt with our new car. The weather is supposed to be very good this weekend and it’s always a fast track.”

Johnson and his J&J Racing team debuted a new Mopar Dodge Avenger chassis prior to last weekend’s event in Dallas, featuring a special Mopar Express Lane paint scheme for the Countdown. The car, which helped him qualify sixth in its debut, is the same combination utilized by his rookie teammate Vincent Nobile, who is currently fifth in the Countdown.

“We were getting better and better each run with the new car at Dallas,” said Johnson. “It still needs some modifications, but overall we are very happy with it. We have to make some changes so that the car fits me better and we’re doing that this week. The new graphics look great and the fans were really excited to see a new look and they loved it.”

Johnson’s Statistics of Note