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Johnson will begin his 15th season on the Pro Stock circuit in a brand-new ride

Auburn Hills, Mich., Feb 9, 2010 - The 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season will see Team Mopar® driver Allen Johnson take the wheel of a fresh yet also familiar ride. The NHRA Pro Stock veteran began his career in 1996 driving a Dodge Avenger and he will happily return to the car that started it all when he pilots his new 2010 Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger in its competition debut at the 50th Annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals. The historic event is scheduled to take place Feb. 11–14 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.).

Allen Johnson drove his 2010 NHRA Pro Stock Mopar® Dodge Avenger to a solid NHRA national event debut today in the first round of qualifying for the 50th Annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals. The Team Mopar star grabbed the provisional No. 5 spot at Auto Club Dragway at Pomona, Calif., in his maiden run in his new Mopar HEMI®-powered machine.

Following months of testing and tuning, the Greeneville, Tenn., native's Mopar Dodge Avenger reeled off a first-class first pass. Johnson posted a 6.611 ET at 209.39 mph in the first run that counted in his Mopar Dodge. Lower elapsed times and higher speeds will come in the final two days of qualifying, according to Johnson.

Johnson smoked the tires in his first qualifying run today. He rebounded nicely in the fourth and final qualifying session of the event, which was pushed back a bit due to on-track delays. The Greeneville, Tenn., native recorded a 6.595/207.34 pass in his Mopar HEMI®-powered Dodge, his quickest run of the event. Johnson collected three bonus points overall during NHRA Winternationals qualifying and will face off with Steve Spiess in the opening round of eliminations tomorrow.

Johnson started his Mopar Dodge Avenger No. 4, gaining three bonus points overall during qualifying. The Greeneville, Tenn., native knocked off Steve Spiess in the opening round on the strength of a 6.637/209.49 run. Johnson dialed up another solid mark in his quarterfinals defeat of Roger Brogdon, clocking a 6.634/209.20 pass to collect career round win No. 190.

Johnson drew a formidable matchup in the semifinals--reigning Pro Stock champion Mike Edwards. To make matters even more difficult, the J&J Racing driver and team owner lacked lane choice. Johnson's run of 6.645/209.95 was stout but was not enough to best Edwards' 6.615/210.11 pass.