“It would certainly be nice to win one in Topeka, ” said Johnson. “I’ve turned on my share of win lights there in my career, but never been the last car standing on Sunday night, so we have a little added motivation heading into this weekend.
“With every race, we keep learning what our ACDelco Cobalt needs to run, which helps us adapt to different conditions. Therefore, we’re going into Kansas looking to do what we think is right with the tune-up, without being over-confident on what will work. That attitude took us all the way to the winner’s circle in Madison, and we’re hoping it brings more of the same in Topeka. ”
Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Chevy Cobalt Racing team
By the Numbers – O’Reilly Summer Nationals edition:
0 – KJ career wins at Heartland Park Topeka entering this event, making it one of five stops on the 2008 POWERade circuit where he has yet to win (Norwalk, Richmond, Charlotte, Englishtown)
1 – No. 1 qualifying performances at HPT entering this weekend, which came in 1995.
3 – Final round appearances by Kurt Johnson in Topeka, with the most recent coming in 2006.
5.61 – KJ’s average starting position in Topeka in 18 previous career starts.
6.581 – KJ’s career best elapsed time (in seconds) recorded last month in Madison, IL.
7 - Number of finishes in the semifinals or better by Kurt in his previous 18 Topeka starts.
14 – Following his win in Madison, consecutive years in which Kurt has won at least one national event, the longest active streak in Pro Stock, and the second longest among all NHRA professional categories (although John Force, who is riding a 22-year string, has yet to win in 2008).
15 – Top half starts by Kurt at HPT (in 18 prior starts)
21 – KJ Topeka national event appearances coming into this event, dating back to 1993, when he qualified second and advanced to the quarterfinals.
23 – KJ Heartland Park Topeka round wins in his 18 prior starts, versus 18 losses for a. 561 win percentage
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