Johnson wins at Mopar Mile-High Nationals

Posted on July 26th, 2010 • by Bill Cawthon

Another Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals is in the books and once again Mopar celebrating a fantastic event at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo.

The 31st Annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals kicked off with the Mopar Big Block Event in Golden, Colo. on Thursday night, July 22. Mopar fans packed the streets of Golden to see the reveal of the Mopar 10 Challenger, the first-ever Mopar edition of a Chrysler Group vehicle. Attendees also enjoyed a Team Mopar autograph session and checked out the Mopar race and show cars on display.

The Mopar 10 Challenger also took part in a special race during the pre-finals ceremonies on Sunday, July 25. Jim Sassorossi, Director, Mopar Parts, Sales and Marketing, and SpeedFreaks radio host Kenny Sargent introduced the Mopar 10 to the cheers of the Thunder Mountain fans.

Team Mopar NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson continued his recent stretch of domination at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo., claiming his first win of the season and second straight at Thunder Mountain. Johnson has now earned three wins in four years at his primary sponsor’s headline event.

Johnson, the No. 1 Qualifier, steered his HEMI-powered Mopar Dodge Avenger Pro Stock car to a first-round win over Bob Yonke, posting a 6.973-second elapsed time (ET) at 197.83 mph. The J&J Racing owner and driver knocked off Greg Anderson with a 6.998/197.59 pass, then dispatched former teammate Johnny Gray in the semis with a 6.997/197.45 run.

Johnson posted a scorching .004 reaction time (.000 is perfect) in his final-round match against Jeg Coughlin, his fourth consecutive final-round appearance at the Mopar Mile-Highs. The Team Mopar veteran’s 6.974/198.26 mark was more than enough to beat Coughlin’s 7.858/135.09 pass and earn him his eighth career Pro Stock win in 21 final-round appearances.

“I’ve got an awesome setup here. The engine guys, what they do here is unbelievable,” said Johnson, currently second in the Pro Stock points. “We made perfect runs every time. I just can’t say enough about our guys. And I was real tickled by how I did my job after the second round. We’ve got to continue this pace, be aggressive and go toward that championship.

“All the folks from Mopar, including the boss, Pietro (Gorlier), and Byron Kearney from Dodge, have been our good luck charms. They’re family to me. It’s not just a sponsor relationship. It’s so special to have them here.”

Mopar-powered Pro Stocker Vinnie Decegelie advanced as far as the quarterfinals at the Mopar Mile-Highs, with Dodge Avenger driver and Denver native V. Gaines falling in the first round. Next up is the 29th annual NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 12-15.