Johnson takes No. 5 spot in first round qualifying

In its debut run, the new Team Mopar 2010 Dodge Avenger Pro Stock car with Allen Johnson at the wheel posted a 6.611 ET at 209.39 miles per hour, good enough for a provisional No. 5 spot in the first round of qualifying for the 50th Annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals.

Thursday was the first day for qualifying at Auto Club Dragway in Pomona, California. Johnson, now in his 15th year of racing Mopar-powered Dodges, is confident the Avenger can do even better during the next two days of qualifying.

“We were really conservative on the starting line,” said Johnson. “That right lane always bites people, but maybe we were a little bit too conservative. The tune-up is close. For the first run in the new Mopar Dodge Avenger, right off the bat, we were happy. We’ll throw another Mopar HEMI motor in for tomorrow and compare motors a little bit while we’re qualifying.”

Two more Mopar-powered Avengers made their maiden runs Thursday. Vinnie Deceglie came in right behind Johnson, taking the No. 6 spot after posting a 6.613 second ET at 209.23 miles per hour. V. Gaines posted a 6.647 ET at 207.82 in his Kendall Motor Oil-backed Avenger to take the No. 11 spot.

Another round of qualifying is on tap for today, followed by two final rounds on Saturday. Eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, February 14.

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