Allen Johnson No. 4 Going into Raceday at CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals

CHANDLER, AZ – Allen Johnson took the lessons learned from the first race of the season and applied them to the track during qualifying at the 32nd annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals. Johnson powered his Marathon Petroleum Corporation/J&J Racing Dodge Dart GT to the top half of the field in the No. 4 spot.

On Friday’s first session, Johnson clocked in with a 6.677-second pass at 206.83 mph. Johnson came back for Friday’s second qualifying session and powered his Marathon Petroleum Co. Dart to the finish line with a 6.674, 206.73.

In the heat of Saturday’s first qualifying session, Johnson had the opportunity to improve his qualifying position with a 6.649, 207.11 and made the fourth quickest pass of the session but wounded the engine. After replacing the engine, Johnson and his team came back in final qualifying and ran 6.681, 207.91.

“We ran the same motor for the first two runs,” said Johnson. “This morning, we put in what we thought was our best motor and made a good run but we unfortunately wounded it. The sister motor was put in between qualifying runs today and we made a bad run. We’re still trying to educate ourselves and we’re still trying to learn.”

Although Johnson is still gaining knowledge on the new fuel injection system, they qualified in the No. 4 spot, a more improved standing before raceday than just two weeks earlier at the Winternationals where the team started in the No. 10 position.

Johnson ended qualifying in the top half of the field and will have lane choice over Deric Kramer in the first round of eliminations on Sunday morning.

“Deric is always good on the tree. You can’t go up there and be lax against him. I guarantee I better go up there and be on time.”

On the eve of raceday, Johnson believes there is still a learning curve but they have what it takes to take home the Wally at the end of the day on Sunday.

“We just gotta get better each run and build on what we did this morning for tomorrow. We are making some great runs with the car and I think we have a good setup.”