Norwalk: Pro Stock Horsepower Challenge preview

LUCRATIVE K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE OFFERS BONUS CASH FOR TOP EIGHT PRO STOCK DRIVERS

NORWALK, Ohio -- Greg Anderson will lead the K&N Horsepower Challenge field as the No. 1 seed for the sixth consecutive year as the lucrative special event takes center stage June 27 during the third annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

A purse of $76,000 is available for the eight drivers competing in the K&N Horsepower Challenge. The winner of the 25th annual K&N Horsepower Challenge will earn $50,000. The runner-up will earn $10,000, the two semifinalists $3,000 each, and the four first-round finishers $2,500 apiece.

Anderson, from Charlotte, N.C., qualified No. 1 at six of the 24 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events where drivers could earn K&N Horsepower Challenge points. It is Anderson's seventh career appearance in the bonus event.

The $148,000 K&N Horsepower Challenge showcases the eight best Pro Stock qualifiers during a 24-race span between the 2008 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, and 2009 United Association NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. Besides the $76,000 available in the K&N Horsepower Challenge, bonuses of $72,000 were paid to quick Pro Stock qualifiers throughout the 24-race K&N Horsepower Challenge series.

Drivers accumulated points during qualifying at those events, and a $3,000 bonus was awarded to the No. 1 qualifier at each race.

This year's K&N Horsepower Challenge field features five of the bonus event's 11 past winners. Top seed Anderson, who won the event in 2004 and '06, will face five-time Challenge qualifier Ron Krisher in the opening round. No. 2 qualifier Mike Edwards, a two-time event runner-up, is making his sixth appearance in the bonus race and will face three-time winner Warren Johnson in the opening round. Defending winner Allen Johnson will meet two-time winner Jeg Coughlin in the first round. Four-time winner Kurt Johnson will meet Jason Line in the opening round, a two-time runner-up in the bonus event.

Other past winners of the K&N Horsepower Challenge include Larry Morgan, Bruce Allen, Bob Glidden, Darrell Alderman, Jim Yates and Dave Connolly.

K&N Horsepower Challenge rounds are scheduled for noon, 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on June 27.

2009 K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE FINAL STANDINGS:
1. Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GXP 3,785
2. Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., ART/Young Life Pontiac GXP 3,580
3. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., J&J Racing/Team Mopar Dodge Stratus 3,525
4. Jason Line, Terrell, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GXP 3,450
5. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., ACDelco Chevy Cobalt 3,400
6. Jeg Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt 3,330
7. Warren Johnson, Buford, Ga., K&N Engineering Pontiac GXP 2,660
8. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Valvoline Chevy Cobalt 2,585

2009 K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE ROUND PAIRINGS:

FIRST ROUND (Noon): Anderson vs. Krisher; Edwards vs. W. Johnson; A. Johnson vs. Coughlin; Line vs. K. Johnson.

SEMIFINALS (2 p.m.): Anderson-Krisher winner vs. Line-K. Johnson winner; Edwards-W. Johnson winner vs. A. Johnson-Coughlin winner.

FINAL (3:30 p.m.)

-credit: nhra