by Susie Arnold, Bernstein Racing
BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Tommy Johnson, Jr., driver of the Monster Energy Funny Car, hails Bristol Dragway as one of his favorite tracks on the 24-event NHRA tour.
“I just love this facility,” said Johnson, “plus Bristol, before it was renovated into the premiere facility it is now, was the site of my first alcohol Funny Car win in 1987.”
Johnson, who was in the final four at Phoenix in February, acknowledges that the start of the 2008 season has been much slower than expected.
“NHRA has mandated a rule change on our Funny Car chassis that will come into effect by the July Denver event,” said Johnson. “We have tested this new-style chassis twice, most recently after the last event in St. Louis. In both tests, this chassis has performed better. Since this Hadman-built chassis is showing so much promise, we plan to run it at Bristol.
“At the St. Louis event we ran one of our best elapsed times this season,” said Johnson, “Our team has been working around the clock to make more performance strides.”
Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying begins Friday, May 16 at 4:30 p.m. followed by a second session at 7 p.m. There are two qualifying sessions Saturday 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with eliminations scheduled to begin at noon Sunday.
Monster Mentions: Johnson to attend Medal of Honor dinner. Tommy Johnson will accompany wife Melanie Troxel to the prestigious Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation banquet, Thursday, May 15 at the grand ballroom of the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta as guests of one of Troxel’s car owners Roger Burgess. Brian Williams, anchor of NBC nightly news and emcee of the dinner will pay respect to 25 Medal of Honor recipients. Also receiving tributes will be former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn and Kimberly Dozier, the CBS correspondent who was so badly wounded in Iraq on Memorial Day, 2006. Dozier has written a book, Breathing the Fire.
“It is quite an honor to have an opportunity to attend this dinner,” said Johnson. “I’m looking forward to being in the company of some of our country’s real heroes.”
O’REILLY THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
TELEVISION ADVISORY
Qualifying – May 17 – ESPN2
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. ET
NHRA Race Day – May 18 – ESPN2
11-11:30 a.m. ET
Eliminations – May 18 – ESPN2
6:30 – 10 p.m. ET
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