Team Mopar driver Allen Johnson has earned four career final-round appearances at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, CO, the most he has scored at any one track in his 15-year NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock career. Johnson will look to make his fifth final-round appearance and seize his third win at his primary sponsor Mopar’s marquee event, the 31st Annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, July 23–25.
The Greeneville, TN, native is enjoying one of the best years of his career. The Team Mopar veteran is second in the Pro Stock standings and has earned three No. 1 Qualifier Awards and three runner-up finishes. Despite his status as one of the leading contenders for the 2010 NHRA Pro Stock championship, Johnson has yet to capture a victory this year. His last win? The 2009 Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.
“It’s a confidence-builder to be heading to Bandimere Speedway now, where we can hopefully get the monkey off our back,” said Johnson, who has a current streak of three consecutive final-round appearances at Bandimere. “We have an awesome car with our Mopar Dodge Avenger and good things seem to happen to us at the Mopar Mile-Highs, so hopefully this will be our weekend.”
Johnson, who also won at Denver in 2007, seems to thrive under the pressure of competing in his primary sponsor’s headline race.
“This is just a fun weekend for me and the entire J&J Racing team,” said Johnson. “It’s great to have the chance to catch up with our old friends from Mopar and meet new folks who have come on board. If it all works out, we can provide the Mopar contingent with some thrills this weekend and a Wally Trophy when all is said and done on Sunday.”
Johnson Among NHRA Drivers in Free Autograph Session at Mopar Big Block Event
Team Mopar driver Allen Johnson will join the Mopar throngs when the 31st Annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals festivities commence with the annual Mopar Big Block Event, scheduled for Thursday, July 22 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. MDT on the streets of downtown, Golden, CO. The Mopar Big Block Event is the “Official Starter” of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.
Mopar will highlight the Big Block Event with the reveal of its new Mopar ’10 Challenger. Dodge and Mopar collaborated to create Mopar ’10, a “Mopar modified” 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T.
Admission to the event is free for fans, with food and drink available for purchase at booths hosted by local vendors. Johnson will be joined by NHRA stars Tony Schumacher, Cory McClenathan, Ron Capps, Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan, V. Gaines, Vinnie Deceglie, Danny Gruninger, Judy Lilly and Roy Johnson in a free autograph session.
“The Mopar Big Block Event is exhilarating for us,” said Johnson. “It’s a perfect way to start off the weekend, meeting all the Mopar fans who will be cheering us on. It’s an event a Mopar fan shouldn’t miss if you’re anywhere near the Golden area.”
SpeedFreaks TV and radio hosts Kenny Sargent, Crash Gladys and Statt Mann Caruthers will emcee the Mopar Big Block Event, with hard-rocking band Rated M Live kicking out the jams as attendees check out the Mopar race and show vehicles on display on the streets of Golden. Race Central Radio’s Kurt Hansen will broadcast live from the Mopar Big Block Event from 6–8 p.m. MDT on AM 1510 Mile High Sports Radio. Fans around the globe can also listen in to Hansen’s broadcast online at www.racecentralmedia.com.
Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals
The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals is scheduled to take place July 23–25 at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, CO. Qualifying coverage will air on Saturday, July 24, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (EDT) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Three hours of eliminations coverage will air on Sunday, July 25, beginning at 7 p.m. (EDT) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more information on the NHRA, log on to http://www.nhra.com.
