Mopar
Mopar Heads into Eliminations with No.2 Qualifiers at NHRA Season Opener in Pomona
Courtesy of Mopar
Pomona, CA – The 2013 National Hot Rod Association Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season is officially under way as Mopar teams 
and competitors completed their qualifying runs at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., in preparation for the final eliminations at the Winternationals this Sunday.
V. Gaines’ HEMI®-powered Dodge Avenger was the fastest Pro Stock entry in the first qualifying session of the season with a 6.538- second pass at 2.11.49 mph. That initial effort kept him second on the timing sheets through to the fourth and final session as track conditions got warmer with each pass. Gaines will face off against another Dodge entry, Deric Kramer, in the first round of eliminations on Sunday.
Mopar Ready to Defend Championships as 2013 NHRA Season Launches in Pomona
Courtesy of Mopar
Pomona, CA – This weekend’s Winternationals at the historic Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., marks the start of the 2013 National Hot Rod Association Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and Mopar is ready to pick things up right where it left off in 2012. Defending the two championships earned last season in both Pro Stock and Funny Car classes is at the top of that list.
“After earning two NHRA Championship titles, our Mopar drivers have set the bar high for this new season,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “We are looking forward to an exciting and competitive year watching our Mopar drivers and teams highlight the strength of our HEMI®-powered Dodge entries in both Pro Stock and Funny Car, and ultimately battle for win titles at every race event in defense of both championships.“
Two Championships and a Win for Mopar in NHRA Finals
Courtesy of Mopar
Pomona, CA – The 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season can now be dubbed ‘Year of the HEMI’ as Pro Stock World 
Champion Allen Johnson wrapped up his winning season by taking the victory in an all-Mopar final round battle while Jack Beckman added another Championship trophy to Mopar’s mantle by earning the Funny Car crown for Don Schumacher Racing on Sunday at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona. The two championships highlight the brand’s 75th anniversary year in which Mopar-powered drivers also captured 10 wins in each of the Pro Stock and Funny Car classes.
“All of us are very proud of Allen Johnson and Jack Beckman on bringing home two NHRA World Championships for Mopar,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “Allen’s impressive win at Pomona solidified his mark on his Championship and all the hard work behind it. It was also amazing to watch Jack and Ron Capps battle each other in their Dodge Charger R/Ts for the crown.”
Johnson Captures First Career NHRA Pro Stock Championship
Courtesy of Mopar
Pomona, CA – After 17 years, Mopar Dodge Avenger driver Allen Johnson and his J&J Racing team can finally claim a long sought after and much-desired label: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock champions. By qualifying No. 2 for the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., Johnson clinched the 2012 NHRA Pro Stock title, and will have one last chance to top off a dream year by working towards victory in the elimination rounds of the NHRA Finals on Sunday.
“Mopar salutes the new NHRA Pro Stock World Champion and we offer our heartfelt congratulations to AJ, Roy and the whole team on their efforts and well-earned honor,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “Allen’s tenacity and competitive spirit is a true testimony to the Mopar DNA. It has been a tremendous season for the J&J team earning six Wallys and 51 round wins in the Dodge Avenger, and we look forward to watching them finish out this championship season by contending for one last win on Sunday.”
With Pro Stock Title Virtually in Hand, Johnson is No. 2 in Friday Qualifying at NHRA Finals
Courtesy of Mopar
Pomona, CA – It’s been 17 long years in the making, but now Mopar Dodge Avenger driver Allen Johnson is just a day away from putting himself and his J&J Racing team in the record books as NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock champions. Johnson ended the single Friday qualifying session at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., in the No. 2 spot, with only two final qualifying rounds tomorrow standing between him and the 2012 NHRA Pro Stock title.
The Team Mopar veteran was No. 1 after Thursday qualifying with a pass of 6.565-seconds at 210.47 mph. He bettered that mark with a 6.537/211.56 run on Friday, the second-quickest of the day behind Greg Anderson, who knocked Johnson from the preliminary pole. Needing simply to qualify to earn his first career Pro Stock championship, Johnson is virtually assured of the crown considering his current No. 2 position. But true to perfectionist form, he and his J&J Racing squad are more focused on reclaiming the pole at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona than on any impending celebration.
Mopar Driver Johnson Starts Hot at NHRA Finals, Grabs Preliminary Pole and Edges Closer to Title
Courtesy of Mopar
Pomona, CA – Mopar Dodge Avenger driver Allen Johnson hasn’t officially clinched the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock championship — the key word being officially. Needing only to qualify to secure his first career Pro Stock title, the Team Mopar veteran raced to the preliminary No. 1 spot during the first qualifying session on Thursday at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., and is well on his way to celebrating a title when the eliminations field is set on Saturday.
With rain in the area (the Top Fuel qualifying session was washed out), Pro Stock competitors were luckily able to make their qualifying runs, with Johnson leading the pack thanks to an elapsed time of 6.565-seconds at 210.47 mph. Three qualifying sessions remain as Johnson attempts to secure a class-best 11th No. 1 spot of the season, 29th of his career and second at Pomona — and most importantly, the 2012 NHRA Pro Stock title.
Johnson Hits Jackpot with Vegas Victory, All But Clinches Title Heading to Pomona
Courtesy of Mopar
Photo Courtesy of Roger Richards and Comp Plus
Las Vegas, NV – For NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson, the dream the Mopar Dodge Avenger 
driver has harbored for 17 years is so close he can almost touch the championship trophy, almost taste the champagne. The key word: Almost.
Johnson emerged triumphant in a Mopar final-round duel on Sunday at the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, knocking out teammate Vincent Nobile to earn a sweep of both 2012 NHRA Vegas events. It is his sixth victory of the season and 15th Pro Stock win of his career. Most importantly, Johnson is now 126 points ahead of the second-place Jason Line — the Team Mopar veteran needs only to qualify at the season-ending NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., to clinch his first title.
And as strong as the day was for Johnson, it was even better for Mopar. The brand celebrated not one, but two Pro class wins at Vegas, as Ron Capps defeated fellow Dodge Charger R/T driver Jack Beckman in an all-Mopar Funny Car final. The Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) duo are 1-2 in the points standings, with Capps now just four points behind Beckman in the chase for the Funny Car championship — giving Mopar the distinct possibility of dual championship celebrations at Pomona.
With Pro Stock Title in Reach, Johnson Will Start No. 2 at Vegas
Courtesy of Mopar
Las Vegas, NV – The prize is near, but Team Mopar driver Allen Johnson knows plenty of work remains in order to reach the ultimate goal: the 2012 NHRA Pro Stock championship. Johnson will start No. 2 and face fellow Mopar-powered driver Deric Kramer in the opening round of eliminations at the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Johnson enters the Sunday money rounds with an 86-point lead over the second-place Jason Line, with just eight rounds of eliminations remaining: four at Vegas and four at the season-ending event in Pomona, Calif.
The Greeneville, Tenn., native and Mopar Dodge Avenger/J&J Racing driver and team owner claimed the provisional pole with an elapsed time (ET) of 6.600-seconds at 208.68 mph on Friday, and was second quickest in the first qualifying session today with a 6.606/209.07, earning two bonus points. Johnson wrapped up the day by posting a 6.622/208.36 effort, giving him the quickest pass in three out of the four qualifying sessions and a total of 11 all-important bonus markers as he attempts to lock down the first Pro Stock championship of his 17-year career.
Mopar Pro Stock Driver Johnson Earns Preliminary Pole at Vegas
Courtesy of Mopar
Las Vegas, NV – Each point accumulated represents another step towards the Championship title for Mopar Dodge Avenger NHRA Pro Stock driver and current points leader Allen Johnson. The 17-year Team Mopar veteran took exactly six more important steps towards securing that elusive first Pro Stock championship, racking up the most bonus points possible and seizing the provisional pole following the first two rounds of qualifying for the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday.
Johnson shot to the top spot in his first qualifying effort, putting up an elapsed time (ET) of 6.600-seconds at 208.68 mph. The Greeneville, Tenn., native and five-time Pro Stock event winner this season was also quickest and fastest in the second session, as he once again had the field covered with a 6.609/207.69, giving him six huge bonus points and total lead over second-place Jason Line of 86 markers, which represents more than four rounds of racing.
Going Rounds the Goal for Team Mopar® Driver Johnson as NHRA Pro Stock Title Fight Hits Vegas
Courtesy of Mopar
Auburn Hills, MI — All season long, Team Mopar® NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson has had a pretty simple approach — be consistent, go rounds and let the points fall where they may. That mantra will remain intact heading into the final two rounds of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Johnson, the current points leader, continues his bid for his first Pro Stock title as he returns to the track this week in the 12th annual Big O Tires NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Oct. 25–Oct 28.
“Las Vegas is a track I’ve always enjoyed racing at and I’m really looking forward to this week’s event,” said Johnson. “We’ve always had a pretty good setup and notes for Vegas and have run well there over the years. Having won there earlier this year definitely boosts our confidence going back for the second time.”
