| KJ Has Mixed Emotions Following
Gainesville Test Fellow Racer’s Accident Overshadows
Happiness with ACDelco Cobalt’s Performance
Sugar Hill, Ga., March 20, 2007 – After a trying weekend at the ACDelco
Gatornationals, Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team got
right back to work on Monday, participating in a one-day test session at
Gainesville Raceway. Making four passes in the Florida sun, they
rediscovered the consistent performance that had eluded them in
qualifying only two days before, as Johnson recorded the two quickest
passes of his Pro Stock career, opening with a 6.584-second, 209.83 mph
run followed by an equally strong 6.593-second, 210.08 mph pass on his
second attempt.
Although these numbers are unofficial as they did not occur in national
event competition, they did serve to lift the team’s spirits and give
them a renewed sense of confidence heading into the next race in
Houston, TX.
“I feel much better today than I did on Saturday,” said Johnson. “All of
our numbers were good, and we were racing under conditions that were not
nearly as favorable as they were the last two days, including a
racetrack that was almost ten degrees hotter and a 12 mph headwind that
gusted even higher. The main difference, however, was the unfortunate
lack of fans in the stands.
“I believe the combination we found today should put our ACDelco Cobalt
in good shape for the rest of the year. With the information we
gathered, there are some areas of the race car we won’t even have to
mess with from here on out, reducing the number of variables in the
tune-up and making it somewhat easier to produce consistent, repeatable
runs.”
However, Johnson’s enthusiasm was dampened by the on-track incident
involving fellow racer Eric Medlen, who was seriously injured while
making a test run in his Funny Car.
“When everything’s said and done, what we do on the racetrack means
little when something happens as it did to Eric Medlen on Monday,” said
Johnson. “It was a typical test day after the event, with everyone out
there working on their stuff, focusing on making their race cars better,
trying to go fast and learn something, but still having fun. Then
something terrible like that happens. At the end of the day, you’re
supposed to be able to go back to your hotel, or catch your flight home,
not be laid up in a hospital bed. Fortunately, these incidents are rare,
but when they happen, they remind you how dangerous this sport can be,
and what really is important.
“Eric is a tough kid and a good racer, and right now our thoughts and
prayers are with him, his father John and the Medlen family, as well as
the entire John Force Racing organization, hoping he makes a complete
and speedy recovery.” |
