Allen Johnson, a veteran Mopar-powered Dodge racer and the 2012 NHRA Pro Stock world champion, had a banner weekend at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis. Driving the “Blackbird X” Dodge Challenger owned by Geoff Turk, Johnson made Factory X class history in qualifying, clocking a record-setting 202.55 mph speed, becoming the first driver in the class to exceed the double century mark and claiming a $10,000 bonus from Jesel in the process.

Johnson also set low elapsed time of the event with a 7.046 to qualifying number. Johnson used some driving prowess in round one, as his Dodge launched with the wheels up and began to draft out of the groove, forcing him to pedal and muscle the 2,650-pound, steel-body machine back into the center of the lane. Fortunately, opponent Stephen Bell was having worse trouble in the other lane in, and Johnson and was never headed.

In the final round, Johnson marched right down broadway to defeat Chris Holbrook and his Ford Mustang with a 7.105 at another booming 202.27 mph speed to score the class win. The win was Johnson’s first NHRA national event triumph since Denver in 2016, and his 28th overall. With the victory, Johnson is now positioned to challenge Greg Stanfield for the inaugural Factory X presented by Holley championship at Las Vegas later this month.

“How about that with this Dodge? The Turk’s, all the work they’ve put in since they wrecked their car, and Dave Zientara and their chassis shop, just getting this thing to the track has been a miracle,” said Allen Johnson. “But it feels good to be back in a car, I didn’t think I would be, but this whole deal feels good and this class is going to be special.”