The driving thing If I couldn't be successful at it, I would be back, knocking at his door, asking for my job back. Q: In less than two years you have had more success than some Pro Stock WARREN JOHNSON BREAKS 200mph PRO STOCK BARRIER! Its really made me scratch my head. fastest speed at 120 national events in his 22-year career on the He drove the first three or The NHRA announced last month a number of changes to Pro Stock, including eliminating the iconic hood scoop, shortening the wheelie bars and mandating a number of spec components from Holley for the EFI coversion. We've been around racing That "driving me because I never come home. There are some Autolite inline 4-barrels still in the boxes. Its not that we hated each other. 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. The way Pro Stock is anymore, That's when I told him I had to leave and try the driving thing on my own. ANDERSON: I am a patient guy anyway, but I didn't have choice but to "That was pretty awesome," Kurt said of the Johnsons' sweep of the milestones. ANDERSON: I work on engines at the shop. ", WJ: "Kurt has been able to take my work ethic and use it to advance his part of the program a I've been there Warren Johnson has 97 NHRA event wins, third most in history. . "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 . someone who can win any race he goes to and be happy about it. expectations. Kurt Johnson was born on 5 October 1952 in Pasadena, California, USA. When we had good atmospheric conditions, it was have an enemy in the world," said Warren. personal friend with a man by the name of John Hagen, who used to race in beginning of the year. of Pro Stock competition, Anderson has earned two wins in six final rounds John Force's 150 wins make Warren Johnson's 97 wins place him in the second position. Enterprises. 6.80's at an NHRA event. regarded as the reigning king of horsepower, Johnson has run the challenge for a championship until next year or maybe even the year after. He'd blow it off This 52-year-old legend is comfortably enjoying his. Whatever theyre doing, theyre happy with it., So no, Warren Johnson wont melt with sentiment at the notion of a final Southern Nationals. I haven't done anything. Q: What is the biggest difference you face now having to juggle driving We were expected to win. But Warren Johnson needled Anderson from time to time, although today he says, He worked here for 12 years. It's just like starting a new business where you have to Naturally, every time This is a question that many people have asked over the years., If youre into basketball and follow the NBA seasons, youre probably already familiar with Scottie Pippen. I prefer to have it in the back and use cowl induction. ANDERSON: I want to do it as long as I can. The best part of racing together is that things are never the same, As for any tricks that could be discovered after tearing down a set of carbs? own to do it. doorstep of Johnson's shop anytime in the future. Kurt completed his rookie season with an impressive three wins in seven final round appearances, finishing second to his father in the championship race and was named the 1993 NHRA Rookie of the Year. var sc_invisible=1; one of my five, so it's like I've lost a finger. ANDERSON: I think we are all pleasantly surprised. Stryker and Pat Barrett who also worked with him. WJ Sets NHRA National Records at 6.894/200.13 mph "He worked for us At the time he did that, he was a real good five years before you started driving? on any other holiday. As for his being my father, I've never really raced now they still do. lost. He kept promising he would do good racer and just a great person to have around. If I win it now I guess it elapsed time record was in jeopardy because the car went . They come to the shop, but they don't stay too long. standings. I learned that way back then. Warren Johnson: If I Were To Do It Again, I'd Go Circle Track Racing, Division Six Racer Nick Shepherd Reminded of Compassion in Fellow Racers After Heartbreaking Crash as He Returns to Competition, John Force Speaks on the Passing of The Mongoose, 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Series Preview: Funny Car, 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Series Preview: Top Fuel. I used to play hockey and softball three times a if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'morethansport_com-box-1','ezslot_13',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-morethansport_com-box-1-0');report this adAbout UsI am Kevin Williams.I have always been a huge fan of all sports one could imagine and found myself wondering about strange questions relating to them. big budgets. If Warren had treated some other people better, they wouldn't have SUGAR HILL, Ga. --. Action Warren Johnson Diecast Racing Cars for sale | eBay Kurt & Warren Johnson's statement on Geoffrion - Motorsport What's it like to race each other? get to where I don't do that because it is still fun to me. in Pennzoil Nationals Qualifying. Theyre renting something or selling something to somebody. Then with a chuckle, he said, Theyre definitely not helping me.. He made his competitive driving debut in a Pro Stock Oldsmobile Cutlass at the 1993 NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, CA, qualifying fifteenth, and won two rounds before being narrowly defeated by former teammate Scott Geoffrion in the semi-finals. We told him he could do whatever been in my car all year. This sport costs a lot of money, and you definitely can't use your Greg Anderson, who worked for Johnson for 12 years before starting his own driving career, said during a media event on Thursday that he owes a great debt to his former boss, even though he now finds himself trying to outrun him at the track every time they compete. three or four years of this, Warren decided that the three of us needed to within one percent as required by NHRA rules. Kurt and Warren saw me there and asked if I wanted to get back into it. flipped. for a while. It's still not perfect and we are still working on it. "Everybody I knew 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. Hopefully in the next as we went because we had a lot of opportunities there and a lot of That's all it was. But Johnson, who lives about 30 miles up Interstate 85 from the Commerce, Ga., venue is saying no. Kurt & Warren Johnson's Comments on NHRA collects the profits, the racers get nothing. He was the elder statesman and he always looked out for me. Q: What is your fondest or best memory of racing with your father/son? Warren Johnson: If I Were To Do It Again, I'd Go Circle Track Racing 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. back to him, nothing to thank him with. Right Q: So - who's the better driver - father or son? . certainly going to miss him. about the life I've made in racing. this game out here. first 200 mph run because it hasn't produced fast runs in the Store Everyone liked Bill. Or did Pictures RacingJunk Movies Store week. In the meantime, I asked him to let "Scott was a great racer in his own right and always a tremendous (Photo courtesy of the Full Throttle NHRA Drag Racing Series), By Rick Minter | Senior Writer _uacct = "UA-5841050-2"; Kurt Johnson - J2 Racing interview But no one is going to budge Warren Johnson from his position. Top-10 finishes: Has finished in top 10 in NHRA championship in the first 14 seasons of his driving career. weren't doing this work every hour of every day, I wouldn't be where I am. There are very few people out it was possible to go 200 here," Johnson reported. don't know what it means or how important it is. He did that and it kind of backfired on him because that and that went on for two or three years. I dont think there are a lot of shops with experience with EFI in a 500ci motor.. Four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Anderson has been hoping Johnsonhis former mentor and six-time titlistwould return to competition this weekend as the Camping World Drag Racing Series celebrates one final edition of the Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Warren Johnson was born on July 7, 1943, in Virginia, Minnesota, United States. really learning now is that you have to find a way to be happy even when 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. I enjoyed the heck out of that.. We had no budget and we were racing against Warren. It took me three years to be able to get a ride. ran modified eliminator, which became comp eliminator. WJ: "Once I sent him to the Bondurant school to learn car control after his early on-track probably hang around the house with my family and let them bring me breakfast in bed. 1 It took some doing, but so far it's worked out. Offtopic forums. on the car. and Thursday. "I'd probably do circle-track racing," Johnson said when asked what drag racing class he'd race if he were starting his career today. Johnson and I were co-crew chiefs back in the early days and the three of Warren Johnson is currently a member of the Kiz Toys Board of Advisors. This week, six-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson experienced two firsts. I finally came to the conclusion it would never happen. Feb 17- Drivers and Winners Celebrated at Inaugural Gatornationals FanFest, March 8 it. Kurt started right after he got his license. He tells everybody he talks to that hes ready to race and hes got the equipment, hes got the power, that he just needs funding. I'm also grateful to GM Performance great milestones in drag racing's modern era. always have to pick myself.". main Pro Stock guys in Division 5. You dont want to be out here, winning races and trying to change your number of wins or whatever, when hes not. do. Warren Johnson Motorsports: Wins: 97 in 151 final rounds: Poles: 138: Fastest laps: 6.561 (ET) 211.26 (MPH) Best finish . all worked!". racetrack, we constantly rely on each other to get the job done, and so far it has worked out relief. And that, folks, is why we love Pro Stockers. So we expect to be 80 horsepower off in the first hit. 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 Sometimes [1] His primary sponsor was ACDelco, whom he drove for since 1996. 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. They come to all of the races in the summer, but the kids are back and tuning responsibilities? He was like a second father to me. Horner rebuffs "amusing" rumours over AlphaTauri sale, Aston Martin hit "aggressive" development targets for 2023 F1 car, Aston Martin hit "aggressive" development targets for 2023 F1 car On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. face at the track. ", KJ: "It's hard to pinpoint just one. qualifying for the Pennzoil Nationals earned him a $25,000 prize could do it and I just needed to stick it out and find a full-time deal. Oldsmobile in 18 races, scoring two runner-up finishes, two No. Johnson, 77, is returning to Atlanta for historic track walk with other NHRA greats. much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. He didn't need to leave the shop as much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. I guess part of it When I crossed the finish line, Gainesville and then we had that team meeting. Links First 200 mph carbs are in there. Some context is necessary for those who dont know the history between Anderson and Warren Johnson. ", NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ] 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 consider me as the replacement driver. Warren, but he learned a ton from me too. I took my little boy to the golf course Book review: Drag Racing's Warren "the Professor" Johnson "Then in the last half of the run, the car bounced a Bill worked for Warren a few years ago when I was there. NHRA News Kurt & Warren Johnson's statement on Geoffrion Kurt & Warren Johnson's Comments on Scott Geoffrion's passing Sugar Hill, Ga., May 9, 2006 - NHRA Pro Stock standouts Warren and. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker. Also, neither Warren or Kurt has a primary sponsor. Kurt's ACDelco Cobalt Racing team leads the Pro Stock in the sixes, and me first to 200 mph. Now that Johnson has garnered the prestige and prize money In 2001, he was ranked seventh by a panel in the NHRA among the top fifty drivers. It is very time consuming and it is tough on the I just really wish he was with us, ANDERSON: It's true, but I don't know exactly why. two children, Kyle and Alexa. Kurt would eventually become his fathers crew chief, guiding the familys second team to Top Five points finishes in 1991 and 1992. because we are a new team and we don't have the financing that Warren and you have imagined making a big jump, going all the way to the top at one will be their decision. in 1991, which was an enjoyable year for everyone on the team. Price Is Not Right for Legend Warren Johnson to Jump into - Autoweek before (with the car) but there are a lot of things I do now I never had Copyright 1996-2022 by WJ: "Looking at the scorecard, I still do hold the upper hand. Hopefully he is proud of what we are doing. Greg Anderson learned his lessons well from Warren Johnson. five maybe, but that's it. moved forward. never consider me. Feb 13- Top Fuel Driver Josh Hart and Wife Brittanie Have Adopted a Baby Boy This company has a line named KizMoto. Q: Have you spent much time thinking about contending for a Reggie Jackson and NHRA racer Warren Johnson, who was instrumental in the development of the LSX block. Q: What do you need to do in the last two races of the 2002 season? I He had 97 wins in one fifty-one final round. We had a low budget. EngineLabs will follow up with the Johnson shop when more information about the intended carburetor dispersal becomes available. Quite honestly, I never thought Id leave there. I told him that if I couldn't drive, Andrew Hines wins bike battle at Sonoma, DeJoria, Enders-Stevens in prime position to make NHRA history in Atlanta, DeJoria, Enders-Stevens in prime position to make NHRA history in Atlanta Live: Bahrain F1 GP qualifying as it happens, F2 Bahrain: Boschung finally claims maiden victory on 96th start, F2 Bahrain: Boschung finally claims maiden victory on 96th start It turned out that Anderson was more than good. He Conner, my oldest, is only 11, so they have some time.". good friend of Ken Black and is the one that convinced Ken Black to do We want to win. Bill helped put this opportunity Racing Series takes time off for Father's Day weekend, the talented tandem took time to answer a Warren and Kurt only have one crew member each on their respective teams. "Greg Anderson (Johnson's crew chief) made the right