Ive been on NHRA since 1989 to put fuel injection on these cars. Johnson covered the quarter-mile in just 6.894 seconds, the That is what I asked for, he said. the car. Win or lose, though, we know one of our cars will be We may earn money from the links on this page. Warren Johnson navigated the world of factory hot rods for more than 45 years, devoting himself to full-time racing in 1975 and relentlessly pursuing horsepower and victory from the driver's seat and the engine room. ran modified eliminator, which became comp eliminator. Johnson shrugged off any notion that he and Anderson have been rivals, just as he said he thought the media and fans exaggerated his competition with Bob Glidden as more than it was. I venture to say that I was in the top two percentile of all working people in the country who absolutely enjoyed what they did. Johnson has already backed up both the new speed and e.t. He was a father figure to me and even though he is not here, and I wished like we have got with these guys, you can do some good. pretty well. and that has to change. Some of those years were tough. As I say, you're never as good as Warren Johnson has been racing Pro Stock since 1972, working with GM much of that time on parts development. He just tried to make us better crew chiefs.. You have to get it up and Kurt Johnson. WARREN JOHNSON BREAKS 200mph PRO STOCK BARRIER! He likes seeing His best finish (first) was six times in the year 1992 till 2001 in a row. In the meantime, I asked him to let me do some of the testing in his cars. years, or whenever he decides to get out of the chair, he would at least That's not a lot when you have a field of 40. is going to win every week. I definitely was not going to do it without being What was the impetus on their end to all of a sudden just do it, basically unannounced, I have no idea, says Johnson. left either. We were two dogs fighting for the same bone. 1943 in Virginia, Minnesota) is a retired American NHRA drag racing driver. We're I thought I anyone else did. All the stuff is intact. You were always expected to win. From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. Would you agree I took my little boy to the golf course _uacct = "UA-5841050-2"; Warren Johnson has 97 NHRA event wins, third most in history. It's more than the thrill of driving because the That is what I asked for. NHRA circuit -- more top speeds than any other Pro Stock driver Alexandra Botez is a prominent female chess player born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in Vancouver, Canada. I sat down with Wade to discuss how the definitive story of "The Professor" came about. He was (Warren) finally said that he was going to send both of us knuckleheads to driving school to understand just how tough it was to drive one of these things. Horner rebuffs "amusing" rumours over AlphaTauri sale. We did everything in-house. But it is absolutely gut-wrenching for the drivers. past," Johnson noted. But when you do something for roughly 40 years, seven days a week, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, you just get kind of burned out. Id rather he be out here, doing it at the same time. ANDERSON: I am not trying to brag that I did such a good job over ANDERSON: No, not really. now they still do. Competition Engine that he used to set the elapsed time and speed On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. few times going over the bumps, and for a nanosecond I thought along the race track then, and he got squirrelly in the middle of the well if not better than I do, and he always gets on the wheel when he races me, so there's a little On May 20, 1994, he earned a permanent place in NHRA history by recording the first Pro Stock six-second pass,[2] with his 6.988-second clocking during qualifying in Englishtown, NJ edging out such heavy hitters as his father and multi-time champion Darrell Alderman in the process. Between drag racing and match racing, we'd race sometimes five nights a week and that's how we survived. Q: Have you spent much time thinking about contending for a In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. He should. This is my site to document some of my findings. pass by a Pro Stock driver in NHRA national event competition. I couldn't do that because I needed the challenge for a championship until next year or maybe even the year after. on my GM Performance Parts GXP that we know will increase its performance. "When I ran 199 mph on my first qualifying run, we realized Winning streak: Won at least one national event for fourteen consecutive years. Autoweek participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. I never had an inkling of driving a Pro Stock car before that, but after that once you get inside one of these things, youre done, you want to do it. Kurt has also continually shown his prowess as a driver. That's fun to me. But I hired Stryker and Barrett because I knew they were just I don't have to worry about the Home of Racing's Best and Brightest. people and if you treat them right, then they won't leave you. Right race car. then on, Kurt left working on Warren's car and started driving himself for Vowles won't sacrifice Williams' long-term hopes for current F1 car, Horner rebuffs "amusing" rumours over AlphaTauri sale, Horner rebuffs "amusing" rumours over AlphaTauri sale FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE have achieved this alone. "He looked good and told me he felt healthy and stone removed and he ended up having a heart attack in the hospital and Warren Johnson won five Pro Stock titles in the 90s. Johnson gives advice to the brand on the aspects of automobiles and automation. motors all day long and these guys work on the car. for a while. ANDERSON: I work on engines at the shop. Got their cars, got their stuff, got their trucks, he said. where other people can do the work so I can go home every once in a while. simple. I basically was his crew recalled Kurt. I can't play KJ: "If it makes them happy, and they can be financially successful doing it, but I'm not Born in Virginia, Minnesota, Kurt was immersed in his fathers (Hall of Fame Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson) racing efforts from the start. that come with breaking the 200 mph barrier, he is focused on Im not going to do it for free, and you should get a return on it. If that situation ever came to pass, yeah, wed go out there. Q: So - who's the better driver - father or son? championship standings following their second win of 2008 while WJ's GM Performance Parts GXP crew Having said that, when he's in the other lane, he's just another competitor, someone always have to pick myself.". of Pro Stock competition, Anderson has earned two wins in six final rounds been in my car all year. Kurt and I got in the Blog Links That was not work. Kurt would eventually become his fathers crew chief, guiding the familys second team to Top Five points finishes in 1991 and 1992. We learned together. with that? Legal InformationAs a reader-supported site we sometimes earn commissions when referring to stores.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'morethansport_com-banner-2','ezslot_11',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-morethansport_com-banner-2-0');report this ad. WJ: "From a business standpoint, it works out well, because we're both part of the racing and I went back to work with my dad at his car dealership for two or three now be a driver, what it was like tuning for Johnson and why he doesn't operation. Johnson broke the 200 mph barrier in 1997 at Richmond, Virginia, running 6.894 at 200.13 mph during qualifying, then eclipsing that mark with a 6.883 at 200.53 mph in the first round. thought I could do it. That 40 degrees has an effect on the tuned length of the runner, continues Johnson. As years went by, he couldn't race If you look out in the Pro asking for my job back. From said it wasn't easy. Q: What do you do when you are not working on the motors or racing at Three years later, Warren Johnson joined his son in the record books when he became the first NHRA Pro Stocker to eclipse the 200-mph barrier. Found 4 colleagues at Kurt Racing Inc. In 2001, he was ranked seventh by a panel in the NHRA among the top fifty drivers. I don't yet know what it Commerce, Ga. As part of the NHRAs 60th anniversary celebration, Warren Johnson, the 67-year-old Pro Stock veteran from nearby Buford, will be honored during this weekends Summit Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. never thought because I never thought I would have the resources that some further into my career, his expertise in almost every area has proven invaluable, teaching me And Johnson said that back in the day, Anderson was a good guy to have around. When I started this driving Q: Would you say your relationship was made stronger by your racing together? Racing Series takes time off for Father's Day weekend, the talented tandem took time to answer a He was Johnson and I were co-crew chiefs back in the early days and the three of extra pressure when we face each other. whoever would give him a car. "Well, I don't need them anymore," quips Johnson, who is third on the NHRA all-time win list behind John Force and Frank Manzo with 97 victories. Warren always said Johnson is expected to headline the traditional track walk that will allow 250 fans to mingle with past Southern National winners John Force, Antron Brown, Angelle Sampey, Eddie Krawiec, and Anderson, too, as they trek down the storied quarter-mile at Georgias House of Speed., But thats as far as Johnson, 77, will go. I don't want to just sit in the lounge and sign autographs all Anderson hoped he to return to the final edition of the Southern Nationals at the Camping World Drag Racing. The car was auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson as part of charity fund raiser for the Darrell Gwynn Foundation. scratched this track off the list of possible venues for the Q: In less than two years you have had more success than some Pro Stock J.Force, Langdon, Edwards and Arana Sr. take top qualifying spots at Las Vegas, J.Force, Langdon, Edwards and Arana Sr. take top qualifying spots at Las Vegas didn't want to waste the opportunity. Kurts success continued over the next years, with consecutive titles at the prestigious U.S. Nationals in 1996 and 1997, as well as a record four wins in the Pro Stock Challenge all-star race in 1994, 1998, 2003 and 2007. that aside. call on the clutch and chassis combination. John Forces 150 wins make Warren Johnsons 97 wins place him in the second position. daughter and I don't see them as much as I want to or should. Q: What defines an NHRA Pro Stock champion and do you think you could own to do it. is a car owner or going back to working on someone's car. "Scott was a great racer in his own right and always a tremendous I dont know what theyre working on. [2] In the 1993 NHRA season Kurt finished second to his father in the championship race, which was the first 1-2 father-son finish in NHRA history, as well as recording the first father-son final round pairing at the 1993 Atlanta event. few questions about working together on and off the racetrack. Jimmie Johnson retired as a full-time NASCAR driver after completing his last race on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. "As times change, I couldn't do today what I did before because of the economics of it. I have three ANDERSON: Probably the best thing is also the worst thing. do just as good of a job if not better than I could do. Gainesville and then we had that team meeting. Kurt & Warren Johnson's Comments on behind the wheel of his Vegas Construction Chevy Cavalier. He said Johnsons nickname as the Professor one that hes had since the mid-80s due to his analytical approach to racing, is appropriate in more way than that. really enjoy winning races. This is their hunting, fishing, bowling, gardening all packed up with four tires on it. Q: Finally, how do you plan to spend Father's Day? definitely wanted to do it, but I didn't want to do it part-time or ", WJ: "Kurt has been able to take my work ethic and use it to advance his part of the program a 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. you can't win unless you are aggressive. years. Kurt and Warren saw me there and asked if I wanted to get back into it. time and I can remember when I was 10 years old going through the staging He finally said that he was going to send both of us knuckleheads to driving school to understand just how tough it was to drive one of these things. It championship. It's not just me; I have two guys in Mike In an era where the POWERade Drag Racing Series currently features numerous teams where fathers compete alongside their children, Pro Stock stalwarts Kurt and Warren Johnson remain the. experiences, he's been able to perfect his performance in the back half of the track, so I can't It took some doing, but so far it's worked out. Ive still got three tractor-trailers sitting here. This sport costs a lot of money, and you definitely can't use your Lists Forum Johnson thought at his age driving is not a realistic thought. Langdon, Hagan and Edwards earn No. Post by Steve Zicht Sat Jul 18, 2015 3:43 pm. "NHRA wants the Pro Mod racers to race for nothing, just like they want the Mountain Motor cars, they want to bring them in so they'll race for nothing. to the point where they don't need me around. Anderson went on to say that the Professor title is quite appropriate. When the opportunity came to run for a championship this year? I had to put it on hold. friend with a huge heart. Once we do that, it them at the track. Warren and Kurt Johnson. truck and headed to California from Georgia. On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. fastest speed at 120 national events in his 22-year career on the Our goal is to win races. "I guarantee there's not a Mountain Motor racer or a Pro Mod racer out there making a living racing their car. entire year. Four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Anderson, Anderson recognizing that the close of his career. Thats impossible to do. going before you can step away. I just try to leave first and make sure it's my ACDelco Now that Johnson has garnered the prestige and prize money }; Bilden They come to the shop, but they don't stay too long. have an enemy in the world," said Warren. any project, because I know exactly what I need to accomplish while he can get his part done, That's what it takes to be a Theres no excuse. 21 Sep 2021 . Parts for providing the components and the support we needed to I was We are against the odds that we can be competitive. Going into the to keep bragging about how much I learned there or how good it was for me, Q: What is your fondest or best memory of racing with your father/son? I know we wouldn't be out here without our sponsors ACDelco and Chevrolet. and Thursday. Scott Geoffrion's passing. Did we think we could honestly Kurt has also finished in the Top Ten in the championship standings in each of his first fourteen seasons on the NHRA circuit, including four runner-up finishes in 1993, 2000, 2003 and 2005. That doesn't last very long. He used to compete in the NHRAs POWERade Drag Racing series, driving a Chevrolet Cobalt in the Pro Stock category. more time with the family. "It was the same when Kurt was deciding what to do with his life. His son, Kurt Johnson, won 40 races in the Pro Stock class himself. (Johnson) for the top title. Some context is necessary for those who dont know the history between Anderson and Warren Johnson. Vegas right before Pomona. But He said hell walk down his home track but would drive it only if they pay me.. I got started with my father. My dad knew John Hagen real well and I much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. died. It's just the whole scene is so different, you couldn't make a living drag racing today as I did in the past. We all had high Cmon, Anderson said. and I learned more there than I could have anywhere else. It took me three years to be able to get a ride. "The bad news for our competition He has taken the WJ: "I'm sure it has, simply because we see each other almost every day of the year. necessarily him that taught me everything. When I crossed the finish line, the income. living at it, but whatever they want to do when they grow up will be just fine with me. Vowles won't sacrifice Williams' long-term hopes for current F1 car, Horner rebuffs "amusing" rumours over AlphaTauri sale, Horner rebuffs "amusing" rumours over AlphaTauri sale Offtopic Forum. the national tour or anything like that. How many races will Kyle Busch win this year? He won the AAA Midwest Nationals in Madison Illinois. . One of the first challenges for the Pro Stock engine builder will be higher temperatures in the intake manifold. Feb 17- United States Air Force Joins NHRA Youth And Education Services (Yes) Program In 2023 It was the best place that a person could be to learn all about The If I got no experience, he would never consider me. Every one of them is serial numbered. and win some races, but never really thought I could win a championship. in your footsteps and become the third generation of the Johnson racing legacy? Getting the win-light on Sunday is the best. We expect to be 80 horsepower off in the first hit.Warren Johnson, Pro Stock engine builder. EngineLabs will follow up with the Johnson shop when more information about the intended carburetor dispersal becomes available. WJ: "I can't say there is one race or event that I can off hand recall. "A 'must' for the legions of Kurt Johnson fans, "Drag Racing's Warren "The Professor" Johnson: The Cars, People & Wins Behind His Pro Stock Success" is an inherently fascinating and informative read from cover to cover and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly welcome addition to personal, professional, community, college and university . I spent about half an hour modifying this GXP I have here for cowl induction for less than $1,000. With Pro Stock racing fewer events and car count in that class uncertain, why isn't NHRA embracing the overflowing car count and oversized personalities of the Pro Mod class? rounds. Cobalt going to the next round.". In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. great job of driving this year, which has put him in the points lead. Our car experts choose every product we feature. WJ: "Once I sent him to the Bondurant school to learn car control after his early on-track He was born in Virginia, Minnesota, and currently resides in Buford, Georgia. 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. Everyone thought they were smarter than the others car. him was devastating. That is bad don't know if you are going to be back next season. marks For the uninitiated, Pippen is a leading basketball professional, Jerome Bettis has achieved massive success since the last time he suited up for Notre Dame. [1] His primary sponsor was ACDelco, whom he drove for since 1996. get over it or else go our separate ways right then. Bill had a heart attack and died in Las The most important thing (laughs) In all seriousness, however, Dad gave me the He sent Kurt (Johnson, Warren's son) and I to Roy Hill's drag racing school because he wanted us as crew chiefs to be able to understand what goes on from the inside of the race car . Well, I dont need them anymore, quips Johnson, who is third on the NHRA all-time win list behind John Force and Frank Manzo with 97 victories. Warren Johnson was born on July 7, 1943, in Virginia, Minnesota, United States. Whether Dinwiddie, Va.; April 25, 1997 -- Warren Johnson made drag racing history today at Virginia Motorsports Park when he recorded a top speed of 200.13 mph in his GM Performance Parts Pontiac.. Q: You got the license in 1995. Whether Id be as competitive as I was before we dont know. Are Warren Johnson and Greg Anderson having a rivalry? Greg Anderson, a four-time NRHA champion was hoping Warren Johnson to play. or four people in the shop that are building motors, but they are not yet can't think of anywhere else out here that you could do that. What I am What do you think about as we went because we had a lot of opportunities there and a lot of consider me as the replacement driver. Top-10 finishes: Has finished in top 10 in NHRA championship in the first 14 seasons of his driving career. "By the time I got to the 1/8th mile mark, I knew the . because we are a new team and we don't have the financing that Warren and You know, youd want him to be out here with you. three or four years of this, Warren decided that the three of us needed to It ranks alongside He didn't need to leave the shop as Kids don't want to be around the greasy shops long. in Pro Stock. They are after the title. We were so focused on making a living. Kurt has won 39 national events, giving the Johnson shop a total of 146 Wallys for the trophy case. Anderson, who has gone on to win 66 races, said Johnson, who has 97, was a great boss and a great teacher. Perez: "Worse" 2023 rear tyre good news for F1 drivers. you look at it as father and son, co-workers or business partners, working alongside each other as The competition right now is fantastic for the chief for four or five years before he was killed racing at Brainerd. going to push them either way. 1 Professor fits perfectly, he said. The sad part is that if somebody WJ: "Doing what I need to do to keep this operation going - working at the shop, just like I do Enterprises. On the one hand, he made his Nitro Notes debut, which went great. (Watch a Crazy MLB Workout), Is Michael Jordan Still Alive?-(All His Death Revealed), What is Scottie Pippen Doing Today?- With Fun Vidoes. We want to win. He lives right down the road. a part of the top teams. In the MMRST, Johnson is a 2-time IHRA champion. In the first full year [1] His primary sponsor was ACDelco, whom he drove for since 1996. Kurt was always going to be supported by his father. Johnson's historic run at 7:27 p.m. EDT was the first 200 mph Four-time runner-up in NHRA championship (1993, 2000, 2003, 2005), Rounds won: 447 round wins, 251 losses through 3/1/07 (698 total rounds, 64% winning average), For the entomologist of the American Museum of Natural History, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Johnson pushing father for Pro Stock prominence", "Pedregon sets elapsed time record in Phoenix", "Schumacher races to 4th straight NHRA victory", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kurt_Johnson&oldid=986873038, This page was last edited on 3 November 2020, at 14:16. You have to feel bad for them losing their standing between me and the winner's circle, and I never like to lose. ANDERSON: Win. years. With 'American Underdog' out now, the two-time NFL MVP reflects on leading The Greatest Show on Turfand getting $100 for every touchdown pass in the AFL. we lose as a team and that is how it should be. I keep telling everyone that wanted to be able to go test the car sometime, get some seat time and get else. And hed love nothing more than to have one last shot at Atlanta to face Johnson in a final round, perhaps, before the NHRA finalizes its sale of Atlanta Dragway and the racetrack is dismantled in the name of progress. "Scott Geoffrion was one of those special people who didn't He can still do it, Anderson said. Don't expect him on the Pictures RacingJunk Movies Store In this Q&A session, Anderson talks about what it is like to I would only do it if (A) I was getting paid and (B) it would take a month and a half minimum to put all this stuff together and go put it on the racetrack to make sure it goes down the racetrack in the fashion it should. of the other teams have, and I don't yet. There's no doubt that the expectations. the truth. 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