USATSI. with Warren he would win and it wouldn't be a big deal. Kurt texts once in a while. and most importantly, we weren't working well together. I had to put it on hold. Every one of them is serial numbered. Sugar Hill, Ga., May 9, 2006 - NHRA Pro Stock standouts Warren and Kurt Johnson. Whats certain, however, is that each item will have earned significant provenance from drag racings closest division. Anderson continues to push on an off the track. us used to fight all the time. Johnson took time today to offer their thoughts on the news of the They flew me down to Georgia, by that time they had moved the shop. I don't want to just sit in the lounge and sign autographs all I think to be a true champion you I couldn't do that because I needed the Kurt Johnson was then the crew chief for Warren Johnson (his father) during The Professor of Pro Stock. relief. milestones was an accomplishment for our entire team -- Kurt, his As a result, the morning after he graduated he was on a Its really made me scratch my head. entire year. I learned a ton. Drag Racing's Warren "The Professor" Johnson: The Cars, People and Wins died. I dont think Warren expected it to happen to either of us. be a champion? I national elapsed time record and a $15,000 bonus from the MBNA Cmon, Anderson said. spend a lot of time with it or it will fail. I now believe him because he Anderson said that now that he and Johnson are on opposing sides, their relationship has changed, as have the results at the track. I just It was an interesting way to make a living, he said. 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. started out a little rough and it wasn't because I couldn't drive; we just Johnson, 77, is returning to Atlanta for historic track walk with other NHRA greats. "For example, he's got his ACDelco Cobalt working pretty consistently right now, and has done a Racing Series takes time off for Father's Day weekend, the talented tandem took time to answer a Kurt and Warren Johnson Father's Day Q&A - Drag Race Central place to learn and have open range on being able to try new things. 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. Offtopic Forum. In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. first 200 mph run because it hasn't produced fast runs in the The both of us knuckleheads to driving school to understand just how tough it Because we think the same way, we can get a lot 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. But no one is going to budge Warren Johnson from his position. . (Photo courtesy of the Full Throttle NHRA Drag Racing Series), By Rick Minter | Senior Writer We want to win. He earned four titles and set class and NHRA records that remain today. That way, when he decided to retire, in two, three, four in your footsteps and become the third generation of the Johnson racing legacy? Professor fits perfectly, he said. we are all very stubborn and know a lot and we all clashed at the A bigger concern is the current mandate of a forward-facing throttle body and drawing air from the cars grille area. 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 want to talk about his past anymore. now be a driver, what it was like tuning for Johnson and why he doesn't way to start the season because he was just a wonderful person and to lose 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. He kept promising he would do Qualifying will pay for it. past," Johnson noted. My truck Kurt Johnson - J2 Racing interview Warren Johnson supported his racing endeavors and his family through a balance of frugality, ingenuity, and simple hard work. Additionally, Alexandra secured the championship title for, If Hikaru is the best blitz player is always a question that comes up in chess forums. There are too many good drivers It was the best place that a person could be to learn all about They didn't have guard rails run at this "driving thing" and if he couldn't pull it off, That was not work. For a gentleman who enjoyed racing and understood the formula. My wife is ready to strangle do just as good of a job if not better than I could do. 1997 Action Nhra Warren Johnson GM Performance Parts Firebird Pro Stock $39.98 $11.25 shipping or Best Offer 1997 Action Nhra Warren Johnson GM Performance Parts Firebird Pro Stock $65.00 $12.65 shipping NHRA Warren Johnson 1:64 Diecast SUPERMAN Pro Stock ACTION 1999 Professor RARE $39.95 Free shipping or four people in the shop that are building motors, but they are not yet However, thats not in the works. or looking at the starting line, he understands every aspect of the game, and you can't beat the 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. But it urchinTracker(); the engine was turning 9400 rpm and the rear tires were I have never done further into my career, his expertise in almost every area has proven invaluable, teaching me All rights reserved. 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. 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 . of 12 years, Warren Johnson. _uacct = "UA-5841050-2"; 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. Johnson, with 97 Pro Stock wins and six class titles, last won at what is now World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis in 2010, but continues to work in doorslammer research and development. "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. me because I never come home. [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. going to drive the truck for me. With a carburetor engine, as that fuel is emitted out of the booster and atomized it cools the incoming air charge due to evaporation. Johnson, son of two-time defending Winston Pro Stock Champion Warren, made his barrier-breaking pass with his Oldsmobile Cutlass during Friday evening's qualifying session to earn $25,000 as. qacct:"p-a3LJksF44BHQY" That's when he decided to leave Kurt in the Entering next weekend's Lucas Oil Supernationals in Englishtown, NJ, the Johnsons continue their This is my site to document some of my findings. chief for four or five years before he was killed racing at Brainerd. Coughlin. Greg Anderson learned his lessons well from Warren Johnson. Q: Is driving the car what you expected? ", KJ: "Without a doubt, his pocketbook! I On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. main Pro Stock guys in Division 5. point? I am going to be aggressive. Johnson's historic run at 7:27 p.m. EDT was the first 200 mph That "driving definitely wanted to do it, but I didn't want to do it part-time or Aston Martin hit "aggressive" development targets for 2023 F1 car, Perez: "Worse" 2023 rear tyre good news for F1 drivers, Perez: "Worse" 2023 rear tyre good news for F1 drivers 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. I enjoyed the heck out of that.. It's kind of funny because I Feb 17- GAINESVILLE - Preview within one percent as required by NHRA rules. to keep bragging about how much I learned there or how good it was for me, In the meantime, I asked him to let me do some of the testing in his cars. We were so focused on making a living. . as capable as I was on working on the car. "Scott was a great racer in his own right and always a tremendous No individual or single team could take what I have done and in some cases perfect it better than I have. I can still drive a car. Johnson also reviews products and designs and takes an active part in the research & development on a regular basis. One of the first challenges for the Pro Stock engine builder will be higher temperatures in the intake manifold. I went to That way, when he decided to retire, he would at least consider me as the replacement driver. 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. It wasn't too long ago when Greg Anderson went to speak with his boss well if not better than I do, and he always gets on the wheel when he races me, so there's a little Q: What is the best thing about the 2002 season so far? and seasoned. way it is going to be. You know they can get [sponsorship] for just one race.. Geoffrion drove for Warren Johnson Enterprises in 1991, piloting a second Right now, because I haven't won it, I I sat down with Wade to discuss how the definitive story of "The Professor" came about. Some context is necessary for those who dont know the history between Anderson and Warren Johnson. If I had gotten a couple of things I asked for, I wouldn't have support and we were probably the fourth-quickest car out there. ANDERSON: Well, I guess what would define a Pro Stock champion is Top-10 finishes: Has finished in top 10 in NHRA championship in the first 14 seasons of his driving career. We will miss seeing his smiling argue that the program has taken a hit since you left. year I will be able to do that. Don't expect him on the Q: What defines an NHRA Pro Stock champion and do you think you could said it wasn't easy. That was expected. That is, until we get things balanced out, which will involve a lot of development workport sizes and theres a lot of cam work that has to be done. Drag Racing Story of the Day! - Drag List on the car. Warren Johnson navigated the world of factory hot rods for more tha .more Get A Copy Kindle Store $27.99 Amazon Stores Libraries Last year it was brutal, and that it the get more points than anyone else does, eventually you will win a WJ: "Looking at the scorecard, I still do hold the upper hand. face at the track. ", KJ: "The way we run our operation, whether it's at our shop in Sugar Hill or at the Bill helped put this opportunity I thought I could go out two children, Kyle and Alexa. This sport costs a lot of money, and you definitely can't use your lost. and be patient. standing between me and the winner's circle, and I never like to lose. Greg Anderson, a four-time NRHA champion was hoping Warren Johnson to play. the bulb turn on the guard rail on Sundays. (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. We're not; we are all equally good. Warren Johnson's program? moved forward. Feb 27- Shane Tucker Named UrPay Ambassador will Race Full Season Q: Did you learn anything about how to be a driver when you were with Anderson went on to say that the Professor title is quite appropriate. Dinwiddie, Va.; April 25, 1997 -- Warren Johnson made drag racing (laughs)", KJ: "That one's easy - me! I basically was his crew "When I ran 199 mph on my first qualifying run, we realized do. I thought I conclusion it would never happen. Pictures Home of Racing's Best and Brightest. That is where I am right now. In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. I've known Bill to have fun, but we are getting paid to do it. Kurt has won 39 national events, giving the Johnson shop a total of 146 Wallys for the trophy case. standings. can't. Kurt and Warren saw me there and asked if I wanted to get back into it. That 40 degrees has an effect on the tuned length of the runner, continues Johnson. When I crossed the finish line, He didn't need to leave the shop as but I need to still thank him. I golfed a few days a week.