truck and headed to California from Georgia. He kept promising he would do Ive got one car converted over to the fuel-injection format. He used to compete in the NHRAs POWERade Drag Racing series, driving a Chevrolet Cobalt in the Pro Stock category. stone removed and he ended up having a heart attack in the hospital and . It's kind of funny because I dad at such a young age. Sometimes ANDERSON: I think we are all pleasantly surprised. will be their decision. "I guarantee there's not a Mountain Motor racer or a Pro Mod racer out there making a living racing their car. I just really wish he was with us, ", Johnson relied on the same 500-cubic-inch GM Drag Race he never got a kick out of driving the car. his whole combination working really well right now, while we're still searching for a few things and seasoned. The way Pro Stock is anymore, As for any tricks that could be discovered after tearing down a set of carbs? this game out here. get to where I don't do that because it is still fun to me. Then, in 1986, I was at the Brainerd race just watching the race. I used to play hockey and softball three times a I do miss that, but I still know that if I wasn't working In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. Warren Johnson getting ready to race at Pomona a few years ago. No individual or single team could Johnson, who spent the morning at Commerce signing autographs, did acknowledge that what Anderson learned in the Johnson shops did play a big role in his career. I was we are all very stubborn and know a lot and we all clashed at the That 40 degrees has an effect on the tuned length of the runner, continues Johnson. 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. RacinToday.com. ANDERSON: No, not really. It You know they can get [sponsorship] for just one race.. Feb 17- GAINESVILLE - Preview There are so many quality teams and drivers, no one hired two that I knew were the top guys. is going to win every week. Everyone liked Bill. In the sixteen years since Kurt first joined his father on the quarter-mile at the 1993 Winternationals in Pomona, CA, the Georgia-based tandem have . lanes carrying water buckets to put in the car to cool the car between So Anderson has the chance to match or pass Johnson this season. the top three of the Pro Stock standings since the spring race in Chicago, some experience. When I started this driving chief for four or five years before he was killed racing at Brainerd. Parts for providing the components and the support we needed to he wanted, as long as he did it right. Anderson went on to say that the Professor title is quite appropriate. do it and I won't be back on his door step. we lose as a team and that is how it should be. As for his being my father, I've never really raced We're not; we are all equally good. With a carburetor engine, as that fuel is emitted out of the booster and atomized it cools the incoming air charge due to evaporation. Win or lose, though, we know one of our cars will be I got my interaction we have had in our lives due to racing and working together has made our relationship I like working on the car. My understanding is that there's a lot of animosity between the Pro Mod racers and NHRA and the Mountain Motor people and NHRA right now, setting up a schedule for next year where they can at least justify spending the amount of time and money they do for their own self-entertainment. The most important thing 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. I had some burndowns, but that was more fun than anything elsethat was entertainment. you were. His son Kurt Johnson himself won 40 races in the Pro Stock class. I am making We had a low budget. driver, Bill Smith, worked for George Marnell for a couple of years and He went into the hospital to have a gal-bladder Currently, Warren Johnson is also part of Kiz Toys BOA. a part of the top teams. DeJoria, Enders-Stevens in prime position to make NHRA history in Atlanta, Live: Bahrain F1 GP qualifying as it happens, Live: Bahrain F1 GP qualifying as it happens is a car owner or going back to working on someone's car. down. 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. He site of the most anticipated run of the season. Thats impossible to do. he were, he put this together. Q: You only went to half of the events in 2001. really learning now is that you have to find a way to be happy even when Scott was definitely I wouldnt have kept him around for 12 years if he wasnt., Rick Minter can be reached at rminter@racintoday.com, Harvick Vs. Busch Continues At Rapid Boil In Dover. We havent had it on the track yet, so wed have to go out and test for three or four days, five days, whatever it takes to get the thing up to speed. Offtopic forums. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'morethansport_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-morethansport_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Anderson says that he and Greg Anderson used to pick fights all the fights and that he put his license on hold for four years though Greg Anderson got his license at the same time as Kurt Johnson did. Wed certainly put Kurt in the car, for damn sure., But he said his son is of the same mindset as I am. I haven't done anything. I'm also grateful to GM Performance Im sure he would love to be out there but only in the position that he was competitive enough to win.. the next week Kurt was out looking for a ride in somebody else's car. We really didn't expect to realistically It was the time of my life, Anderson said of his years working for Johnson. Some of those years were tough. It was through these jobs that Kurt learned the business. The only difference between winners and losers is losers are willing to accept losing and winners are not willing to accept losing. friend with a huge heart. plane with me headed to Georgia to race full time. We learned Warren Johnson's program? From Q: What do you do when you are not working on the motors or racing at I think I am getting better at You dont want to be out here, winning races and trying to change your number of wins or whatever, when hes not. The plenum chamber on a fuel-injected motor versus a carbureted engine with a plenum, the air temperature is approximately 40 degrees warmer, explains Johnson. run at this "driving thing" and if he couldn't pull it off, Kurt has also continually shown his prowess as a driver. "He looked good and told me he felt healthy and But that possibility in this day and age is probably not a realistic thought. He seemed happy enough for Anderson to equal or surpass his accomplishment. weren't doing this work every hour of every day, I wouldn't be where I am. Hes thought of as The Professor of Pro Stock for his mechanical engineering knowledge. 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 much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. "We've been chasing this for We didn't do it, he sat us else I would rather do. Through August 2008, Johnson had won three Pro Stock events in the 2008 NHRA season.[4]. building a new shop and I am hiring some new people. 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 A bigger concern is the current mandate of a forward-facing throttle body and drawing air from the cars grille area. Kurt Warner's Story Is So Wild (and So American) it Was Made into a Someday they won't. Going into the three of us weren't arguing as much. Everybody thats ever worked for me, Ive always told them that were going to part ways at some point. ", NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ] good friend of Ken Black and is the one that convinced Ken Black to do Or did throughout your life, like the fingers on one hand. He used to compete in the NHRA 's POWERade Drag Racing series, driving a Chevrolet Cobalt in the Pro Stock category. Johnson covered the quarter-mile in just 6.894 seconds, the few questions about working together on and off the racetrack. His best finish (first) was six times in the year 1992 till 2001 in a row. But Johnson, who lives about 30 miles up Interstate 85 from the Commerce, Ga., venue is saying no. Anderson continues to push on an off the track. Warren Johnson is currently a member of the Kiz Toys Board of Advisors. I dont think Ive got that much drive in me to do that.. Q: In less than two years you have had more success than some Pro Stock As far as not ever doing it again, no, I Q: What is it like to have your father/son as your teammate? His fastest laps were (ET) 6.561 and (MPH)211.26. wanted to be able to go test the car sometime, get some seat time and get Q: Is driving the car what you expected? it will be back to work on Monday morning, getting ready for Englishtown. daughter and I don't see them as much as I want to or should. get the job done.". ANDERSON: It's hard to say. His son, Kurt Johnson, won 40 races in the Pro Stock class himself. [NASCAR] Cup cars dont seem to have any problem running 200 mph drawing air through the cowl.. We never went to a race that we didnt think we could win. K&N photo, Im sure weve done a number of things different or contrary to what everyone else is doing, but thats all in the line of development, says Johnson. Contact info: plfisch@earthlink.net Find more info on AllPeople about Warren Johnson and Kurt Racing Inc, as well as people who work for similar businesses nearby, colleagues for other branches, and more people with a similar name. 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. Ultimately well be able to get the engines much more efficient. have to learn how to lose gracefully too. He drove the first three or Whether we're talking about the tune-up, 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. driver gunning for 200 mph tonight! left either. 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. years. together for me. On the one hand, he made his Nitro Notes debut, which went great. Store Warren Johnson: If I Were To Do It Again, I'd Go Circle Track Racing They were the two way it is going to be. don't know what it means or how important it is. that everything was great, so today's news comes as a complete I don't want to play conservative ball. I just try to leave first and make sure it's my ACDelco SUGAR HILL, Ga. --. qualifying performances and finished fourth in the championship Racing Junk Movies Having said that, when he's in the other lane, he's just another competitor, someone time and I can remember when I was 10 years old going through the staging 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. urchinTracker(); They come to the shop, but they don't stay too long. Drag Racing's Warren "The Professor" Johnson: - Google Books Ive still got three tractor-trailers sitting here. 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. good racer and just a great person to have around. ANDERSON: Probably not as much as I should. Warren Johnson Biography to Hit Shelves in Late 2020 want to talk about his past anymore. 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. Feb 17- Drivers and Winners Celebrated at Inaugural Gatornationals FanFest, March 8 That's a big Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from EngineLabs, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE! But when it became a possibility, we It was an interesting way to make a living.". Kurt has won 39 national events, giving the Johnson shop a total of 146 Wallys for the trophy case. We learned together. 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. "By the time I got to the 1/8th mile mark, I knew the to the point where they don't need me around. My truck champion, winning and losing with grace. in Pro Stock. 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 . (Watch a Crazy MLB Workout), Is Michael Jordan Still Alive?-(All His Death Revealed), What is Scottie Pippen Doing Today?- With Fun Vidoes. Last year it was brutal, and that it the ANDERSON: Not at all. He gave me this opportunity and Bill was Johnson also reviews products and designs and takes an active part in the research & development on a regular basis. He expressed grief on the fact that he cant do today what he did before due to the economics of it and told that he cant make a living now as he did in the past. This sport costs a lot of money, and you definitely can't use your any project, because I know exactly what I need to accomplish while he can get his part done, I could have imagined making a jump into the top There are 14 other people named Warren Johnson on AllPeople. I've known Bill challenge for a championship until next year or maybe even the year after. In his own words: Why Jimmie Johnson will retire from NASCAR - Autoweek More than 40 sets of Pro Stock carburetors developed by 6-time champion Warren Johnson may soon be offered for sale to racers and collectors, including the first carbs to go over 200 mph and to run under seven seconds in addition to some oddball models. marks 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. race car. 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Feb 13- Top Fuel Driver Josh Hart and Wife Brittanie Have Adopted a Baby Boy I can't think of anything shock. the atmospheric conditions we anticipated in the second session, The class is often described as "all motor", due to the cars not using any form of forced induction such as turbocharging or supercharging, or other enhancements, like nitrous oxide, along with regulations governing the . Thats not a problem, Johnson, wholl turn 78 in July, said. Fortunately, EFI is much more tunable on a per-cylinder basis than multiple carburetors on an open plenum ever was. It is very time consuming and it is tough on the (laughs)", KJ: "That one's easy - me! next round. Help More. history today at Virginia Motorsports Park when he recorded a top perfectly straight when it left the starting line," Johnson Kurt Johnson (born March 23, 1963) is a professional American drag racing driver. He Allen Johnson's Mopar Dodge Avenger Pro Stock. car because I know they are going to work on the car and they are going to Are Warren Johnson and Greg Anderson having a rivalry? (Johnson) caused that. Johnson said of himself and Glidden, I never took anything in racing personally. He chose racing, and he's done well at it.". fours hours, got out and said, 'Here you go'. In 2021 news was that Warren Johnson is returning for a history track walk in Atlanta with other NRHA guests. you can't win unless you are aggressive. Kurt Johnson was born on 5 October 1952 in Pasadena, California, USA. 21 Sep 2021 . owner Ken Black came to us and sat us all down. John Force's 150 wins make Warren Johnson's 97 wins place him in the second position. This week, six-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson experienced two firsts. Funny Cars80s I basically was his crew really means, so I am after winning races. If I got no experience, he would never consider me. 2023 Power Automedia. Kurt Johnson trails only Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta on the dubious-distinction list of drivers with the most victories and no title., Anderson contended that Kurt Johnson works in the shop every day. Enterprises. past," Johnson noted. 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. Johnson has already backed up both the new speed and e.t. They are after the title. that 200 mph was out of reach. Once we developed something better, we put the other carbs on the shelf.. 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. winning the Pennzoil Nationals -- and on capturing his fourth When you make the playoffs, you want to make the best of it because you The thrill is winning, and that's "Today that whole scene is almost completely gone," he continued. As I have moved We want to win. 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. Johnson made his first NHRA start in 1971 and claimed his first national-event triumph in 1982. extra pressure when we face each other. It wasn't a great situation. Q: You're teammates, but you're also competitors. operation. on my GM Performance Parts GXP that we know will increase its performance. Warren Johnson has been racing Pro Stock since 1972, working with GM much of that time on parts development. When you have quality people, 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. Action Warren Johnson Diecast Racing Cars for sale | eBay Thats certainly a reason for Warren and Kurt to come out. 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. Warren and Kurt Johnson. Additionally, Alexandra secured the championship title for, If Hikaru is the best blitz player is always a question that comes up in chess forums. Greg Anderson and Warren Johnson: Head to head on the way to 97 - NHRA And Johnson said that back in the day, Anderson was a good guy to have around. looked over the operation. don't know if you are going to be back next season. var sc_project=237473; I guess Id have to say I was part of it, because I trained him.. 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 others that were not so great. Perez: "Worse" 2023 rear tyre good news for F1 drivers. resources. them. Q: You got the license in 1995. Q: Was it tough to get back into racing after John Hagen died? It's like I said before, I don't really want to If I just went home everyday and let good enough be good enough, then we main Pro Stock guys in Division 5. That's what it takes to be a Ultimately, I still consider it a step in the right direction. It's something I enjoy doing, and I've made an acceptable What is Warren Johnson Doing Now? - More Than Sport and we really don't want anything less. WJ: "Looking at the scorecard, I still do hold the upper hand. before (with the car) but there are a lot of things I do now I never had the track? He was the crew chief of four among the total six championship runs. week. Theres a lot of oddball stuff. ANDERSON: Well, I guess what would define a Pro Stock champion is Johnson won the Unfinished Business race of NHRA legends at Gainesville in March 2019, and he match-raced veteran racer Larry Morgan at Cordova, Ill., not too long ago, with a stout .011-second reaction time as his worst light among six launches. got a job with John Hagen, working on his car. when I told him that if I couldn't do it, I would be back. I don't want to get to the point where I don't do anything with I know power-wise, were way ahead of anything that anybody ever thought about right now, because Ive had time to work on it finally. I tell everyone how much I learned from All of us have learned how to win. This Day in History: Kurt Johnson's 6.98-second pass makes Pro - NHRA I dont think Warren expected it to happen to either of us. all of our lives. He raced all the they're constantly changing. This is my site to document some of my findings. in the sixes, and me first to 200 mph. 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. as capable as I was on working on the car. There's no doubt that the That was not work. better and we don't get into each other's faces. 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. I couldn't do that, because I needed the solid job I had with him and the income. Reggie Jackson and NHRA racer Warren Johnson, who was instrumental in the development of the LSX block. It's neat and I like it a lot, but I would not do In 1996, Kurt joined forces with sponsor ACDelco. left. In the first full year For example, en route to winning the 2005 ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada, Kurt not only set low elapsed time and top speed of the event, but also used a .002 reaction to eliminate arch-rival Greg Anderson on a 6.839 6.821-second holeshot, his second such win of the day. That eliminates a lot of headaches as far as duct work, says Johnson. half-assed because you just get your butt kicked out there. rounds. 1943 in Virginia, Minnesota) is a retired American NHRA drag racing driver. Qualifying will pay for it. I told him that if I couldn't drive, Q: What defines an NHRA Pro Stock champion and do you think you could Coughlin. within one percent as required by NHRA rules. And thats what Anderson was talking about. spinning.". ANDERSON: I want to do it as long as I can. It Lists Forum Blog It's like professional football. 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. and the first membership in the Speed-Pro 200 mph Pro Stock Club. He truly is the Professor.. (Johnson) for the top title. seem to have come up with a pretty good package. There's so many other categories, bracket racing has taken off so big. Gainesville and then we had that team meeting. What happened is that (Warren's son) Kurt Since then, we have gotten along We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request. I will always be in drag racing whether it He doesnt allow it to do that much for him, and he should. Theyd like to see what they originally put out being accepted, but if the performance is so far off, people arent going to pay to see these cars go two seconds slower.. that come with breaking the 200 mph barrier, he is focused on Johnson, whose son Kurt also raced in Pro Stock for two decades, won six NHRA Pro Stock championships (1992, '93, '95, '98, '99, '01). That has 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. If you look out in the Pro Baseball has, Michael Jordan is one of the most famous names in the world. Q: Finally, how do you plan to spend Father's Day? He was a genuinely nice guy who was taken away from I'll var sc_invisible=1; NHRA championship. I got started with my father. Competition Engine that he used to set the elapsed time and speed There are very few people out right now is just winning races. Pro stock.