{"id":43529,"date":"2017-09-05T11:17:38","date_gmt":"2017-09-05T18:17:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=43529"},"modified":"2018-08-16T12:34:10","modified_gmt":"2018-08-16T19:34:10","slug":"allen-johnson-to-retire-from-nhra-pro-stock-at-2017-seasons-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/allen-johnson-to-retire-from-nhra-pro-stock-at-2017-seasons-end\/","title":{"rendered":"Allen Johnson to Retire from NHRA Pro Stock at 2017 Season’s End"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Allen
Image courtesy NHRA.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At a press conference last Friday, 2012 NHRA Pro Stock world champion Allen Johnson said he will retire from Pro Stock competition at this season’s end.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been an amazing run for my dad [Roy] and I, but it just felt like now was the right time to step away from the Pro Stock chapter of our careers,\u201d said Johnson during the conference, held at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. \u201cWe\u2019ve celebrated an NHRA world championship, captured wins at historic tracks like Gainesville, Pomona and Bandimere, and basically lived our dream for 22 years. We couldn\u2019t have done it without the help and hard work of our J&J Racing team members over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n

This retirement clearly isn’t due to failing abilities, as Johnson’s announcement closely followed his season-high No. 3 qualifying effort at the NHRA Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd along with several other impressive showings.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe thought we were done at the end of 2015 and Marathon Petroleum Corporation stepped up to help us out,\u201d Johnson added. \u201cThey\u2019re a great partner of mine in business and they saw the value in the NHRA and our program, and they stepped up and saved the day. The people at Marathon Petroleum have gone above and beyond for me in business and on track and I can\u2019t thank them enough for what they\u2019ve done for our team the last two years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese past two years with the Johnson and Johnson Racing Team have been very special for the Marathon brand,\u201d said brand marketing director Bill McCleave. \u201cWhile our partnership on the racing side will come to an end, we have the privilege and honor of continuing to work with Allen as Marathon Branded Jobber Greenville Oil and Petroleum. We\u2019re also excited for Allen, Pam, Roy, and Revonda (Johnson’s family) as they enter this next chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n

With 27 NHRA national event wins under his belt, 57-year-old Johnson stands at ninth overall in Pro Stock class history. His 37 No. 1 qualifier spots also rank sixth all-time in Pro Stock. He’s in a tie for 22nd overall in NHRA history. With the support of his father Roy, who builds his engines, Johnson has driven to 59 final rounds in 497 career races, spread over the period of a 22-year career. All 22 of those years were spent competing in a Mopar Hemi-powered Dodge Pro Stock machine.<\/p>\n

\"Allen
Image courtesy Motor Sports Newswire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He began competing in the sportsman ranks back in 1977, so his time in the racing world goes back even further than his time in Pro Stock. He’s also a motorcycle fan, relying on his faithful Harley for rides off the track. A native of Kentucky, he’s close to his family, living in the same town as his two daughters.<\/p>\n

\u201cAllen Johnson has served Mopar as a beloved ambassador for more than 20 years and has earned a special place in the hearts of our fans and in the history of our brand,\u201d said Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar) FCA \u2013 Global. \u201cWe will never forget Allen succeeding in his long quest to capture a Pro Stock championship, or his amazing run of victories at our showcase event, the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI speak not just for the Mopar brand, but also on a personal level, when I say we cherish the special bonds we have built with AJ and his father Roy over the years. It\u2019s been a family affair for them, and we wish them both, as well as the entire J&J Racing team, nothing but the best as they move on to their next challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnson has always pulled out his best performances at the Mopar brand\u2019s biggest event, the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals. These are held every July at Bandimere Speedway near Denver, granting the nickname \u201cKing of the Mountain.\u201d Johnson has borne the the Mopar banner to victory seven times there, bringing him to a tie with the legendary Bob Glidden. He’s advanced to a record 11 final rounds as well. From 2007 to 2016, Johnson accomplished an astonishing 10 consecutive final-round appearances and an almost perfect 37-3 round-win record at the venue.<\/p>\n

\u201cMopar has been there for all those 22 years, through the good times and the bad, either as our primary or associate sponsor, and it\u2019s been just an amazing relationship. I\u2019ve gotten close to so many folks from the brand, including Pietro, who has shown us great support and will often text or email me despite his busy schedule,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWe\u2019ve also become friends with thousands of Mopar fans, who are some of the most passionate people you\u2019ll run into. They\u2019ve always had our back and cheered us on, I think because they know dad and I are just like them \u2014 our whole lives, all we\u2019ve ever driven is Mopar.\u201d<\/p>\n

Currently ninth in the Pro Stock standings, Johnson’s looking to lock up a top-10 spot this weekend at the U.S. Nationals to secure his place in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs for the 11th consecutive season. He has never once missed the postseason since 2007, when NHRA first adopted the playoff format.<\/p>\n

We at RacingJunk wish Johnson and his family the best as he departs from Pro Stock competition. He’s certainly leaving his mark on racing as he goes!<\/p>\n

\"Allen
Image courtesy Motorsport.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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