NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

To succeed at this weekend’s 35th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway and during the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, Funny Car standout Tommy Johnson Jr. knows it will take one incredible performance after another.

It can be a daunting task to consistently dip into the 3.80s to knock off a star-studded lineup but with a world championship set to be on the line within the next month, Johnson is ready to embrace the challenge.

He advanced to the final round last year during a record-breaking weekend at Brainerd in his 10,000-horsepower Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T and with the bar being constantly raised in the class during the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, Johnson is seemingly enjoying himself even more.

“You’re going to have to run 3.80s to win and with the way the class is as a whole, it’s just so close,” said Johnson Jr., who is currently eighth in the Funny Car points standings. “It puts a lot of importance on the driver and these performances are outstanding to see. There’s a huge factor with the driver and reaction times and I love that challenge. The class as a whole is so good and a lot of fun, and I’m just really enjoying it.”

Richie Crampton (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the pivotal event that will be broadcast on FS1 for the first time. FS1 is also adding 30 minutes of live NHRA programming on Saturday to televise the final rounds of Top Fuel and Funny Car from the postponed event in Seattle. The added telecast will air from 3 to 3:30 p.m. ET and will feature the Funny Car final between Del Worsham and Ron Capps, as well as the Top Fuel final between Antron Brown and Steve Torrence. Both final rounds will take place during the third round of qualifying.

The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals also serves as the penultimate race of the regular season before the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship begins. Johnson won earlier this season in Bristol, but doesn’t head to Brainerd riding a massive wave of momentum. He hasn’t made it out of the second round in the past four races, meaning Johnson is still searching for performances that can win races and, ultimately, championships.

“This is the time of the season when you need to start performing at your best,” said Johnson, who has 13 career victories. “This is kind of when we were peaking last year. This year, we haven’t peaked yet. But I feel confident we’re getting there and that’s big. I can see our performance coming around and it’s important to be at your best this time of the year. I would love for nothing more than to go to Brainerd and hit the tune-up. Indy is coming up, so if you’re going to do any fine-tuning, you better do it here.”

Johnson, who won at Brainerd in 2006, used the momentum from last year’s runner-up performance at the facility en route to three final-round appearances in the Countdown to the Championship and a third-place finish in the points.

The Don Schumacher Racing driver would love to repeat that performance, adding a few wins to the mix, but Johnson knows the importance of having everything in line when the NHRA’s six-race playoffs begin.

“It’s been a good year but not a great year by any means, but we’ve learned the last two seasons it’s about being on your game for the last six races,” Johnson said. “We’re certainly not delaying the performance, but we’re learning right now and we’re trying to be at our best in the Countdown.”

To be at his best at Brainerd, Johnson believes a series of runs in the 3.80s will be necessary to get past a loaded lineup that includes points leader Ron Capps, who has four wins this year and five career Brainerd victories. Johnson will also have to contend with the likes of 11-time Brainerd winner John Force, who has won back-to-back races in 2016, Jack Beckman, Courtney Force, reigning world champion Del Worsham, Matt Hagan, Hight and Tim Wilkerson.

Despite that considerable challenge, consider Johnson one of many who enjoy the unique atmosphere that Brainerd International Raceway presents.

“There’s a fun attitude about Brainerd and ‘The Zoo’ is legendary,” Johnson said. “It makes for a fun weekend all-around, and I’m going to go in with a fun and comfortable attitude. Looking at the forecast, the record book better be filled in with pencil.”
 
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 3 and 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 19, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 218-824-RACE (7223) or 866-444-4455. Tickets also are available online at www.brainerdraceway.com. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult.