Allen Johnson Las Vegas Friday report

Mopar® Dodge Avenger Pro Stock Driver Johnson Seventh in Friday Vegas Qualifying

Allen Johnson

Photo by: Ted Rossino

Las Vegas, Nev. — Team Mopar® NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson got off to a solid start in the second-to-last event of the 2012 season, seizing the preliminary No. 7 spot after the first two rounds of qualifying today at the Big O Tires NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Johnson, the No. 1 Qualifier at the fall Vegas race last year, was listed seventh after the first qualifying stanza today, motoring to a 6.654-second elapsed time (ET). Coming off a runner-up appearance in the previous NHRA event in Phoenix, the Mopar Dodge driver recorded a 6.656/207.62 effort in his second qualifying pass, maintaining his hold on the seventh spot.

“We’ve got a little different philosophy around the J&J Racing team right now,” said Johnson, who will attempt to claim the 19th pole of his career and fourth of the season tomorrow. “We’re not going for the throat every run. We’re trying to take it a little easy, learn on each pass and just get better and better.

“Solid, safe, conservative, that’s our approach, and in the end we think it’s going to pay dividends. It worked at Phoenix, where we made the finals. I think tomorrow morning will be our best chance to prove it, and move up the qualifying charts. This J&J Racing team is focused on making a second-straight final.”

Mopar-powered Vincent Nobile, winner over Johnson in the all-Mopar final at Phoenix, posted his Dodge eighth with a 6.655-second ET. Fellow Mopar-powered Dodge pilot V. Gaines was No. 16 today.