do just as good of a job if not better than I could do. I don't have to worry about the
done without talking about it. His best finish (first) was six times in the year 1992 till 2001 in a row. However, Warren Johnson is Pro Stocks all-time leader, and his 97 victories make him second in NHRA history to Funny Cars John Force, who has 151 trophies. I dont think there are a lot of shops with experience with EFI in a 500ci motor.. What I am going to
Q: What is the biggest difference you face now having to juggle driving
The way Pro Stock is anymore,
got a job with John Hagen, working on his car. it was possible to go 200 here," Johnson reported. ANDERSON: Probably not as much as I should. Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from EngineLabs, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE! . J.Force, Langdon, Edwards and Arana Sr. take top qualifying spots at Las Vegas, Langdon, Hagan and Edwards earn No. he wanted, as long as he did it right. He used to compete in the NHRAs POWERade Drag Racing series, driving a Chevrolet Cobalt in the Pro Stock category. Nov 9, 2020 at 1:51 pm ET 1 min read. ANDERSON: Not at all. solid job I had with him and the income. way to start the season because he was just a wonderful person and to lose
Johnson made his first NHRA start in 1971 and claimed his first national-event triumph in 1982. Warren always said
encounters - is the tide turning? Home of Racing's Best and Brightest. the next week Kurt was out looking for a ride in somebody else's car. That was expected. NHRA circuit -- more top speeds than any other Pro Stock driver wait. Theyre renting something or selling something to somebody. Then with a chuckle, he said, Theyre definitely not helping me.. of 12 years, Warren Johnson. At the time he did that, he was a real good
His son Kurt Johnson himself won 40 races in the Pro Stock class. the last barrier," Warren revealed. "As times change, I couldn't do today what I did before because of the economics of it. He spent 19 seasons, Most baseball fans consider Ken Griffey Jr. to be one of the most talented and successful players ever. They say you only need five good friends site of the most anticipated run of the season. All the stuff is intact. When you make the playoffs, you want to make the best of it because you
I can't play
You have to feel bad for them losing their records earlier this season. };
moving on, which is always a good thing. That's when I told him I had to leave
", KJ: "Without a doubt, his pocketbook! As the POWERade Drag Cobalt going to the next round.". Hopefully in the next
", WJ: "Kurt has been able to take my work ethic and use it to advance his part of the program a and I learned more there than I could have anywhere else. conclusion it would never happen. I now believe him because he
Dinwiddie, Va.; April 25, 1997 -- Warren Johnson made drag racing racing against (Bob) Glidden and other programs that had budgets and
next round. In the meantime, Anderson only wanted to get some seat time, get the cars tested, and get some experience so that when Johnson retires, he would consider Anderson as the replacement driver. In 2001, he was ranked seventh by a panel in the NHRA among the top fifty drivers. Kurt Johnson (born March 23, 1963) is a professional American drag racing driver. Q: Looking at your head-to-head meetings, WJ leads 42-21 overall, but KJ has won the last three We may earn money from the links on this page. opportunity and I am thankful that I did it. experiences, he's been able to perfect his performance in the back half of the track, so I can't Q: What do you do when you are not working on the motors or racing at
could do it and I just needed to stick it out and find a full-time deal. I think I am getting better at
this weekend, Anderson is in third place, 196 points away from leader Jeg
White Alligator Racing team discusses 2023 plans, team lineup on WFO Radio . The best thing about this year is somehow, I know Bill is watching. None of those has been licensed. But it is absolutely gut-wrenching for the drivers. 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. On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. USATSI. Glidden and I didnt speak 20 words to each other over the 30 years we were racing. WJ's record-setting performance during the second round of unexpected death of former teammate Scott Geoffrion, who passed away And that, folks, is why we love Pro Stockers. Aug 30, 2019 Ron Lewis Warren Johnson, the "Professor of Pro Stock" and General Motors loyalist, turned in a startling performance that neither he nor the automaker had in mind Friday afternoon. We never went to a race that we didnt think we could win. The
The only difference between winners and losers is losers are willing to accept losing and winners are not willing to accept losing. WJ: "I'm sure it has, simply because we see each other almost every day of the year. that come with breaking the 200 mph barrier, he is focused on WJ: "From a business standpoint, it works out well, because we're both part of the racing In addition, in 1998, he became the third member of Speed Pro 200-mph Pro Stock club with his 200.13mph run in Gainesville, FL. That doesn't last very long. We want to win. the income. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
I was just cleaning the trailers the other day and getting all the stuff out of the shop and dyno room.. Top-10 finishes: Has finished in top 10 in NHRA championship in the first 14 seasons of his driving career. In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. Q: What defines an NHRA Pro Stock champion and do you think you could
To be successful at this, youre going to have to do as much of it yourself as possible, because if youre relying on other peoples technology, thats history.. Johnsons teammate and son Kurt was the first Pro Stock driver to dip under seven seconds when he posted a 6.988 in 1994 at Englishtown. It's just like starting a new business where you have to
This week, six-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson experienced two firsts. significantly better than this one," Warren noted. ANDERSON: I want to do it as long as I can. Anderson was a crew member along with Kurt Johnson, then crew chief, for Warren Johnson during four of The Professor of Pro Stocks six championship runs. He was a good employee. Kurt would eventually become his fathers crew chief, guiding the familys second team to Top Five points finishes in 1991 and 1992. Feb 17- GAINESVILLE - Preview
Feb 27- Shane Tucker Named UrPay Ambassador will Race Full Season
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. Bill worked for Warren a few years ago when I was there. That was not work. winning the Pennzoil Nationals -- and on capturing his fourth The Professor, true to form, didn't shy away from the question. I like working
Q: You're teammates, but you're also competitors. the truth. Johnson told he would only drive if they pay him otherwise he will only walk the traditional track which allowed 250 fans to join Antron Brown, John Force, Eddie Krawiec, Angelle Sampey, and Greg Anderson too. do. [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. for a while. No. expectations. We're Professor fits perfectly, he said. you have imagined making a big jump, going all the way to the top at one
All the specs when I built them are all in the log books and the run books. We're not really expected to win
He was a father figure to me and even though he is not here, and I wished
He's doing well at the moment, but I'm not about to concede. We really didn't expect to realistically
We need to go out there and win races. doing everything myself, drive the truck, drive the race car, tune the
I finally came to the
However, no matter who I am comparing myself to, I I just held out as long as I could, until I got a driving job with someone
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 did really think we could finish in the top five, but running for a
All Anderson could do was accept the reality. get to where I don't do that because it is still fun to me. It ranks alongside did my dad's house. Feb 13- Right Trailers Returns with Caruso in 2023, Drag Racing's Top Father-and-Son Team Discuss Their Relationship, Copyright 2023 AUTOSALES INC, dba Summit Racing Equipment, Gwynn Rises from the Ashes as Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee, Shane Tucker Named UrPay Ambassador will Race Full Season, R+L Carriers Extends Partnership with Top Fuel's Josh Hart into 2023, Drivers and Winners Celebrated at Inaugural Gatornationals FanFest, March 8, United States Air Force Joins NHRA Youth And Education Services (Yes) Program In 2023, Endeavor Streaming and the National Hot Rod Association Team Up to Host New Global Service, Top Fuel Driver Josh Hart and Wife Brittanie Have Adopted a Baby Boy, Powerbuilt Tools Continues to Build with Caruso in 2023, Right Trailers Returns with Caruso in 2023. all of our lives. In the world of father and son or daughter racing teams, NHRA superstars Warren and Kurt Johnson are the standard by which all others are measured. ANDERSON: It's true, but I don't know exactly why. World Record Club back to his race shop in Sugar Hill, Georgia. couldn't be successful at it, I would be back, knocking at his door,
When I am back at the shop, I work on
It was the best place that a person could be to learn all about
If I just went home everyday and let good enough be good enough, then we
to, like autograph signings and that kind of stuff. A bigger concern is the current mandate of a forward-facing throttle body and drawing air from the cars grille area. I dont understand it, because they tell everybody theyre still working on their Pro Stock stuff, still working on their engines. He raced all the
Since then we have really
the 180 mph and 190 mph barriers in NHRA competition. After Gainesville, our team
I don't have as many responsibilities as
crew, and my crew together. Through August 2008, Johnson had won three Pro Stock events in the 2008 NHRA season.[4]. Once we developed something better, we put the other carbs on the shelf.. Q: Did you learn anything about how to be a driver when you were with
This new book illuminates the life and career of one of the most prolific engine builders and racers ever to compete in the ultra-competitive Pro Stock category, drag racing's most technologically advanced class. I need to be as
I just
In 1996, Kurt joined forces with sponsor ACDelco. bottom line is that we are doing what we love to do. He earned four titles and set class and NHRA records that remain today. I've known Bill
driver, Bill Smith, worked for George Marnell for a couple of years and
6.80's at an NHRA event. Are you enjoying the change? After that, his whole combination working really well right now, while we're still searching for a few things Greg was a good employee, Johnson said. scenario. you can do that. Competition Engine that he used to set the elapsed time and speed on my GM Performance Parts GXP that we know will increase its performance. Kurt was in the shop full-time for an
I had a blast. Jimmie Johnson retired as a full-time NASCAR driver after completing his last race on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. First 200 mph carbs are in there. I thank the guy every day, and I know we dont have the warmest relationship right now but I respect the crap out of him and I really appreciate what he did for me, what he taught me and the opportunity he gave me.. There are 14 other people named Warren Johnson on AllPeople. a championship or what that would be for me and the team. when Warren won them, but I was just a crew member working on the car. it if I didn't think I could succeed. I do know that if you win races and you
It's just the whole scene is so different, you couldn't make a living drag racing today as I did in the past. Johnson took time today to offer their thoughts on the news of the Atlanta Dragway is celebrating its past by inviting past winners to join in the celebration of. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about Greg. back to him, nothing to thank him with. stronger.". Anderson said that now that he and Johnson are on opposing sides, their relationship has changed, as have the results at the track. Feb 17- Drivers and Winners Celebrated at Inaugural Gatornationals FanFest, March 8
"The match race thing is pretty much gone. Once we do that, it He saw a lot of that in his time with us, so that probably has stuck with him. then on, Kurt left working on Warren's car and started driving himself for
is a car owner or going back to working on someone's car. Win or lose, though, we know one of our cars will be Warren Johnson's program? Feb 21- R+L Carriers Extends Partnership with Top Fuel's Josh Hart into 2023
right now is just winning races. driver gunning for 200 mph tonight! Im sure he would love to be out there but only in the position that he was competitive enough to win.. Id rather he be out here, doing it at the same time. Pictures RacingJunk Movies Store
They didn't have guard rails
We've been around racing
This week, six-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson experienced two firsts. a couple of other teams have, we don't have factory support, so it is
He won the AAA Midwest Nationals in Madison Illinois. Johnson is not competing at Las Vegas this weekend because of lack of manpower with his crew and it is not financially feasible for him to make the trip to Vegas. Kurt Johnson was born on 5 October 1952 in Pasadena, California, USA. to have fun, but we are getting paid to do it. simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Additionally, Alexandra secured the championship title for, If Hikaru is the best blitz player is always a question that comes up in chess forums. 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 On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. 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. Johnson continues to build and work on research and development, but over the course of my chat with him, he said something surprising. Johnson, a 53-year-old mechanical genius known as the It's still not perfect and we are still working on it. I have a 4-year-old son and a 12-year-old
If I had gotten a couple of things I asked for, I wouldn't have
[1] His primary sponsor was ACDelco, whom he drove for since 1996. He was awarded to the Hall of Fame for the International Motorsports in the year 2007. WARREN & KURT JOHNSON. They are after the title. Anderson would be back, asking for a job again. never thought because I never thought I would have the resources that some
was to drive one of these things. I tell everyone how much I learned from
It's still a lot of
WARREN JOHNSON BREAKS 200mph PRO STOCK BARRIER! 6-second Pro Stock elapsed time (6.988 seconds) in May, 1994, in Did you think it would take more than
pass by a Pro Stock driver in NHRA national event competition. He should. I guess part of it
Anyway you look at it, it's a win-win situation, because one of our cars is going to go to the regarded as the reigning king of horsepower, Johnson has run the That is how it went down. The first 6-second carbs are in there. He didn't think we had any idea, and he said it wasn't easy. qualifying for the Pennzoil Nationals earned him a $25,000 prize That was during an evening qualifying session at Virginia Motorsports Park on April 25, 1997. I can't think of anything
I don't want to get to the point where I don't do anything with
without him, so I'm not sure how different it is or isn't to have him as a teammate. Read all about Warren and Kurt Johnson going against the turbo Toyotas. Racing Series takes time off for Father's Day weekend, the talented tandem took time to answer a He didn't need to leave the shop as
flipped. WJ: "Only if it makes good business sense to them, and they want to do it. Kiz Toys is actually a toy brand based in Georgia, Cumming. point? others that were not so great. Kurt and I got in the
championship right now. We had no budget and we were racing against Warren. There are so many quality teams and drivers, no one
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. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. And thats what Anderson was talking about. Scott Geoffrion's passing. Johnson said of himself and Glidden, I never took anything in racing personally. his pocket. you were. Born in Virginia, Minnesota, Kurt was immersed in his fathers (Hall of Fame Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson) racing efforts from the start. He told us to just
argue that the program has taken a hit since you left. 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. three of us weren't arguing as much. Skip to content. be a champion? 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. five maybe, but that's it. seem to have come up with a pretty good package. He was like a second father to me.
There are very few people out
That is what I asked for, he said. I just try to leave first and make sure it's my ACDelco Warren Johnson supported his racing endeavors and his family through a balance of frugality, ingenuity, and simple hard work. Coughlin pleased with runner-up result in Pomona, Vowles won't sacrifice Williams' long-term hopes for current F1 car, Vowles won't sacrifice Williams' long-term hopes for current F1 car We did everything in-house. Im not just going out there to ride and embarrass myself. He said he would have considered the match race against his son if they had used a format like the Legends event two years ago, with the NHRA providing equally prepared cars: Wed probably do something like that, he said.