Team Mopar’s Pro Stock duo of Allen Johnson and Richie Stevens Jr. head to this weekend’s Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals in Phoenix with their eyes on the big prize-victory lane.
The two Pro Stock drivers both exited early at the season-opening Pomona, Calif., event on Feb. 11. They feel confident they’ll post better results at Firebird Int’l Raceway, based on their productive track record at the facility. Johnson, driver of the Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T, recorded his third career victory at Phoenix in 2005. Teammate Stevens Jr., driver of the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T owned by Don Schumacher Racing, took the No. 1 qualifier spot at the same event.
Johnson is upbeat as the Mopar/J&J Racing team motors to Phoenix, and he believes he will benefit from a testing session in Tucson, Ariz., on Wednesday. He proved at Pomona that his Dodge Stratus R/T can be the car to beat, as he qualified second at the event. He also posted a career-best speed of 207.85 mph during qualifying. In fact, Johnson believes the car may have had a bit too much power heading into the first round at Pomona.
“It’s sort of like hitting with a 6-iron when you needed a pitching wedge, ” Johnson, currently ninth in the Pro Stock points battle after Pomona, observed. “We were just a little bit aggressive, and on race day you just have to maybe not live on the edge all the time. I feel positive [heading into Phoenix], because we sort of got a kick in the you-know-where, early, to get our attention. I think that will get everybody’s game face on. “
Although he made an early exit in the Pomona opener, Stevens Jr., emerged from the event with all-important championship points, by making the 16-car field on his final qualifying run.
“If we can go out there and go some rounds, that’s what we need, ” said Stevens Jr., who is tied for 13th in the points standings. “The more rounds you go consistently is where you build the points up. “
The duo of Johnson and Stevens Jr., is ready to unleash HEMI power at the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals on Feb. 23-25 at Firebird Int’l Raceway.
