Pro Stock racer Allen Johnson proclaimed during the NHRA Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga., that his team had effectively caught the defending series champion Mike Edwards in terms of power and performance.

Friday night in Bristol, Tenn., during the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Johnson’s hometown Bristol Dragway, Edwards performance proved Johnson's comments might have been a bit premature.

Edwards cranked out a 6.725 elapsed time at 204.94 to claim the provisional pole, and if it holds will mark his tenth of the season, 32nd career and second consecutive in Bristol.

So much for the hometown advantage.
Pro Stock racer Allen Johnson proclaimed during the NHRA Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga., that his team had effectively caught the defending series champion Mike Edwards in terms of power and performance.

Friday night in Bristol, Tenn., during the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Johnson’s hometown Bristol Dragway, Edwards performance proved Johnson's comments might have been a bit premature.

Edwards cranked out a 6.725 elapsed time at 204.94 to claim the provisional pole, and if it holds will mark his tenth of the season, 32nd career and second consecutive in Bristol.

So much for the hometown advantage.

“He’s definitely closed the gap if he hasn’t caught me that’s for sure,” admitted Edwards, when asked Friday night if Johnson had caught him. “I think we’re so close; we’re just really, really close. You know there are a couple of other teams that ran really close to us but for sure A J and that whole team is doing a tremendous job and they’re so close.”

Edwards believes while he has been dominant early in the season, this year’s Countdown to 1 might just be the closest in Pro Stock history. The fan in him believes he’d enjoy watching the battle from the outside. For now, he’s more than elated to be in the thick of it.

“It’s going to go down between him and me and a couple of other teams as far as fighting it out for that spot,” Edwards said. “You know we’ll just have to see what the rest of the season holds; I promise you it’s going to be exciting for the fans.”

If he’s the champion, he’ll accept it. If not, he’ll accept the outcome as well.

“I’m truly living my dream,” said Edwards. “You start saying stuff like that, seven wins, and number one qualifier is just, for me I’ve been doing this a long time and I never dreamed I could do that. And I am living a dream and I’m just blessed. God has given me so much to be thankful for and I just praise Him and give Him all the glory.”