Team Marathon Petroleum No. 12 at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

CONCORD, N.C. (April 29, 2017) – Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson will head into raceday at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in the No. 12 position in his Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing Dodge Dart.

On Friday, Johnson hit zMAX DRAGWAY with a tune-up to see what the track would hold. The Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing Dodge Dart launched a little too aggressively and he shook a little after the 60-foot mark; he coasted to a 12.005-second pass at 94.79 mph. The Adam Hornberger-led team came back in the second session on Friday and greatly improved with a 6.657, 208.33.

In the first session on Saturday, Johnson ran his best of the weekend when he lit up the scoreboards with a 6.644, 208.55. Johnson clocked in with a 6.674, 209.14 in the closing round of qualifying but he felt there was more out there for his car in the final session.

“The run in the third session was the best run we’ve made all year compared to the rest of the field,” Johnson said. “We were sixth-fastest of the session in Q3. I think we could’ve done that the fourth round too if the car in front of us wouldn’t have leaked any fuel on the track the pair before us.”

“We definitely made some improvements here at zMAX DRAGWAY this weekend so far in our Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing Dodge Dart,” he added.

Johnson’s No. 12 qualifying position will line him up against Jason Line, Chris McGaha and Alan Prusiensky in the first round of eliminations tomorrow.

“With the Four-Wide, I need to focus on my own lane and just get staged first, get on the throttle first, and hopefully get off the clutch first.”

ALLEN JOHNSON, MARATHON PETROLEUM/J&J RACING DODGE DART
Qualified: No. 12
ELIMINATIONS
JOHNSON vs. Chris McGaha, Alan Prusiensky, and Jason Line
QUALIFYING
Friday: 12.005-seconds, 94.79 mph (Session 1); 6.657, 208.23 (Session 2)
Saturday: 6.644, 208.55 (Session 3); 6.674, 209.14 (Session 4)