Okay, so let me tell you about this whole Allen Johnson racing thing. I got into it a while back, and it’s been a wild ride, to say the least. It all started when I stumbled upon some old racing videos from the late 70s and early 80s. This guy, Allen Johnson, and his dad, Roy, were tearing it up in their Mopar-sponsored super stock cars. I was hooked.
I started digging deeper, found out Allen was still involved in the scene, even after retiring from NHRA Pro Stock in 2012. Turns out, the guy’s a legend. He clinched the Pro Stock championship that year, and man, he did it in style. Won the event at Pomona and everything.
But here’s the kicker, he didn’t just disappear after retiring. Nope, he started driving this “Blackbird X” Dodge Challenger. This car, oh boy, it’s a beast. In the Factory X class, Allen set a record-setting speed, 202.55 mph. I couldn’t believe it. This got me thinking, “I gotta get in on this.”
So, I started following his races, watching every video I could find. One race, he was up against Kurt Johnson, looked like he had it in the bag, but then, bam, something went wrong around the 1200 feet mark. He lost the lead, lost the race. Still, seeing him push those cars to the limit, it was inspiring.
Then there’s the whole technical side of it. I learned that Pro Stock engines, they’re no joke. They use electronic fuel injection, special gas, and they’re capped at 500 cubic inches. But get this, they can crank out over 1,300 horsepower. And these cars, they can run in the 6.5-second range, going over 210 mph. It’s insane! And the RPMs, they go up to like 10,500, which is controlled by an ECU. Modern engines are even pushing 12!
I also found out that Allen’s all about that discipline, you know? He emphasized the importance of a strict routine to stay in top shape for racing. He mentioned working on strength and flexibility, which makes sense if you’re gonna be driving with precision for hours.
- Training: I started hitting the gym, focusing on exercises that would help with driving endurance and precision.
- Research: I kept diving into the technical aspects, learning about the cars, the engines, the whole setup.
- Watching: I analyzed Allen’s races, trying to pick up on his techniques, his strategies.
- Implementing: When I got a car, I started a routine for my own body that would get me in better shape for driving.
It’s been a journey, getting into this racing world inspired by Allen Johnson. I’m still learning, still pushing myself. But one thing’s for sure, it’s an adrenaline rush like no other, and I’m loving every minute of it.
