Phillips takes a header

Ken Phillips got a different view of the racetrack at the New Year’s Bracket Bash at Auto Club Dragway at Fontana, Calif. His headers reportedly saved the day. We’ll have complete results later in DRO. (James Drew photos) [1/5/2010]

Johnson surprises dad with Challenger

Mopar Pro Stock stalwart Allen Johnson surprised his dad and engine-builder , Roy Johnson, with a belated Christmas present on New Year’s Day that would turn any father green with envy — a brand-new Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by Mopar vehicle.

Roy Johnson built a reputation on Southern drag strips as a champion sportsman racer, earning the 1975 and 1976 IHRA world championships driving his ‘71 Dodge Challenger and inspiring his son’s racing career. Allen overheard his dad raving about the Mopar Drag Pak during the vehicle’s debut at the 2008 Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver and a seed was planted for how the son could pay back the father.

"Dad was talking about wanting to play with one of those Drag Paks at Denver in 2008," said Allen Johnson. "I began thinking about it and then I talked with Dale (Aldo, Coordinator, Performance Parts, Mopar) about getting in line for a Mopar Drag Pak vehicle for Dad."

Allen Johnson had the Drag Pak body delivered to B&B Racecars, based in Hohenwald, Tenn., toward the end of October. B&B hammered out the car, complete with a retro paint scheme nearly identical to that in which Roy Johnson campaigned in the ‘70s, in a little over two months. Roy Johnson’s Drag Pak will be powered by a 5.7L HEMI engine supplied by noted Mopar engine builder Gary Stanton and is the lowest serial-numbered vehicle of the few Drag Paks to carry the 5.7L HEMI.

A group of about 20 friends and relatives crowded the J&J Racing shop on New Year’s Day for the surprise reveal, after Allen’s mom, Revonda, took husband Roy out on an "errand" for a few hours.

"When they came back, I watched for them and when they pulled in, I hollered at Dad to come into the shop," Allen recalled. "He walked in, opened the door, and it was like, ‘Bam!’ It was awesome. Dad was completely surprised and shocked."

Roy Johnson plans to compete in his Mopar Drag Pak at divisional races close to home during down time from the NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock circuit, and may compete in NHRA national events at Bristol and Atlanta. He joins other celebrity owners of Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by Mopar vehicles, including "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, owner of the first factory-built Drag Pak, and Pro Stock driver Jeg Coughlin, who plans to debut his Mopar Drag Pak at the NHRA Winternationals in February.  (photo courtesy Mopar) [1/5/2010]