NORWALK, Ohio -- Allen Johnson added his name to the list of K&N Horsepower Challenge winners when he bested Greg Anderson in the final of the special race-within-a-race bonus event for Pro Stock competitors this weekend during the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals.

Johnson earned a $50,000 payday for his Saturday victory.

Johnson, making his fifth appearance in the special event, won the final on the starting line, cutting a perfect .000 light that gave him the needed edge to deny Anderson a third win in the Challenge. Anderson ran a quicker 6.717, but it wasn't enough to overcome the .024-second he gave up on the starting line to Johnson, who turned on the win light with a 6.725.

"The perfect light in the final, I don't know where that came from," said Johnson, who is the first Mopar driver to win the Challenge since Darrell Alderman's victory in 1991. "I haven't been driving too good lately. In the second round, I was able to cut a little better light, and then in the final, of course, you're just sucking up everything you've got to really get it close, and fortunately, it was green and perfect.

"Thanks to K&N; they put up some big bucks and worked with us all year with some promotions. To win this means a lot, especially being the first Mopar driver to win in the last 17 years. I don't think this will be our last time. Dad (engine builder Roy Johnson) and the crew are just doing such an awesome job."

The No. 2 qualifier, Johnson earned a spot in the final with victories over the other Johnsons in Pro Stock, Kurt and Warren. He defeated Warren on a holeshot, 6.758 to 6.754, in round one, then overpowered Kurt with a 6.729 that was low e.t. of that round.

Johnson didn't fare as well on Sunday during the running of the national event. He qualified third but lost in the second round.