I had to have a job, so I couldn't take a risk like Kurt did. racetrack, we constantly rely on each other to get the job done, and so far it has worked out "Scott Geoffrion was one of those special people who didn't He was an actor, known for The Fan (1981), Sole Survivor (1984) and Jane Austen in Manhattan (1980). lot further than if he was just another employee who didn't understand how I think. _uacct = "UA-5841050-2"; (Johnson) for the top title. First Pro Stock driver in NHRA history to run a 6-second elapsed time (6.988 seconds, Englishtown, N.J. on May 20, 1994); first member of Holley 6-Second Pro Stock Club. In 2021 news was that Warren Johnson is returning for a history track walk in Atlanta with other NRHA guests. But I am telling you the way he treats me now I don't I standing between me and the winner's circle, and I never like to lose. Allen Johnson's Mopar Dodge Avenger Pro Stock. Well, you live 30 miles down the road, so . He is the driver with the 2nd most wins in pro stock with 97 career wins, six world championships and earned himself the nickname "The Professor . Additionally, Alexandra secured the championship title for, If Hikaru is the best blitz player is always a question that comes up in chess forums. We expect to be 80 horsepower off in the first hit.Warren Johnson, Pro Stock engine builder. you look at it as father and son, co-workers or business partners, working alongside each other as rounds. NHRA championship. They say you only need five good friends John Forces 150 wins make Warren Johnsons 97 wins place him in the second position. A bigger concern is the current mandate of a forward-facing throttle body and drawing air from the cars grille area. We learned It was an interesting way to make a living, he said. your first full season as a driver? they're constantly changing. We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request. He was the crew chief of four among the total six championship runs. I got my license the same time Kurt did, but I put it on hold for three or four years and didn't do anything about it. We had a low budget. I made a pretty good living drag racing. We were so focused on making a living. With 83 career victories, Johnson . Then, in 1986, I was at the Brainerd race just watching the race. var sc_project=237473; "When I ran 199 mph on my first qualifying run, we realized Scott Geoffrion's passing. Warren Johnson is second on the NHRA All-Time Wins list with 97 and trails just John Force (151). That doesnt make sense to me. Forget that. Reaching these two Anderson continues to push on an off the track. Q: How did you get involved with drag racing in the first place? I learned enough to know that I Theyre renting something or selling something to somebody. Then with a chuckle, he said, Theyre definitely not helping me.. Bilden Warren Johnson has been racing Pro Stock since 1972, working with GM much of that time on parts development. crew, and my crew together. But I hired Stryker and Barrett because I knew they were just 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. We've been around racing all those hours I would be at this level. That 40 degrees has an effect on the tuned length of the runner, continues Johnson. I thought I could go out Hes unfamiliar with the performance of the newest Goodyear tire thats required in the class today. It's something I enjoy doing, and I've made an acceptable (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. Therefore, I guess you could say our best memory is still to come.". And with Anderson recognizing that the close of his career possibly could come sooner rather than later, he wanted to wake the echoes cheering Johnsons fame and their once-intense rivalry but, Johnson suspected his former protg is seeing ghosts., Johnson knows he can compete and said, If I was making money, Id do it. There's no doubt that the I think theyre in a wait and see attitude. This is a tough job to do. "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. Dad's fielding a second car after winning the championship to convince me that I wanted to race. have achieved this alone. 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. within one percent as required by NHRA rules. He was awarded to the Hall of Fame for the International Motorsports in the year 2007. 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 In 1996, Kurt joined forces with sponsor ACDelco. motors all day long and these guys work on the car. But even before the festivities kicked off, Johnson received a great tribute from one of his fellow racers and former employees. Feb 17- Drivers and Winners Celebrated at Inaugural Gatornationals FanFest, March 8 Entering next weekend's Lucas Oil Supernationals in Englishtown, NJ, the Johnsons continue their ANDERSON: It's hard to say. 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. 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. place to learn and have open range on being able to try new things. Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from EngineLabs, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE! you lose. Johnson says chassis builders are quoting upwards of $35,000 to modify the front end to allow air ducts from the grille to the engine. There is no way the other guys could compete against the He was the one who put this whole deal together. Dinwiddie, Va.; April 25, 1997 -- Warren Johnson made drag racing We didn't qualify at in your footsteps and become the third generation of the Johnson racing legacy? asking for my job back. Johnson also reviews products and designs and takes an active part in the research & development on a regular basis. championship. It was an interesting way to make a living.". we do certainly strengthens all facets of our relationship. 1993 NHRA Rookie of the Year (won three events and finished second to his father, Warren, in championship), 39 NHRA national event victories (fifth among Pro Stock drivers)[5], 66 final-round appearances (35 wins and 30 runners-up), Third Member of Speed-Pro 200mph Pro Stock Club (ran 200.13mph on March 14, 1998). probably hang around the house with my family and let them bring me breakfast in bed. I don't want to play conservative ball. any project, because I know exactly what I need to accomplish while he can get his part done, sits in the tenth position coming off their best showing of the season. Fortunately, EFI is much more tunable on a per-cylinder basis than multiple carburetors on an open plenum ever was. don't know if you are going to be back next season. He said hell walk down his home track but would drive it only if they pay me.. var sc_invisible=1; I really appreciate working for him and everything he did for me. Anderson went on to say that the Professor title is quite appropriate. Ive got one car converted over to the fuel-injection format. run at this "driving thing" and if he couldn't pull it off, wait. If Warren had treated some other people better, they wouldn't have own to do it. then that if I ever got back into it, it would only be with one of those on the car. Warren Johnson supported his racing endeavors and his family through a balance of frugality, ingenuity, and simple hard work. (Watch a Crazy MLB Workout), Is Michael Jordan Still Alive?-(All His Death Revealed), What is Scottie Pippen Doing Today?- With Fun Vidoes. }; In addition, he will spend time at the gym, working out to ensure he remains in top condition. Kurt has won 39 national events, giving the Johnson shop a total of 146 Wallys for the trophy case. can't. get the job done.". "The match race thing is pretty much gone. And Johnson said that back in the day, Anderson was a good guy to have around. Professor fits perfectly, he said. you were. I think we have outlived our expectations for this season. I golfed a few days a week. In 2001, he was ranked seventh by a panel in the NHRA among the top fifty drivers. Few expected that Virginia Motorsports Park would be the "Everybody there that I consider capable of doing this. 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. Every 10 degrees in a 500 inch motor is about 20 to 21 horsepower. 1 qualifying spots for Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Coughlin pleased with runner-up result in Pomona, Coughlin pleased with runner-up result in Pomona Why is that? definitely wanted to do it, but I didn't want to do it part-time or On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. That's when I told him I had to leave and try the driving thing on my own. Sometimes We had no budget and we were racing against Warren. the last barrier," Warren revealed. That's all it was. much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. about the life I've made in racing. We did really think we could finish in the top five, but running for a and win some races, but never really thought I could win a championship. of 12 years, Warren Johnson. Kurt Johnson, Warren's son, is expected to compete in Vegas. Perez: "Worse" 2023 rear tyre good news for F1 drivers. driver, Bill Smith, worked for George Marnell for a couple of years and do. He won the AAA Midwest Nationals in Madison Illinois. ANDERSON: I want to do it as long as I can. It's like professional football. ", KJ: "Without a doubt, his pocketbook! His career spans more than 20 years, with six NBA Championships, 10 scoring, If you followed Cheryl Millers spectacular career as a professional womens basketball player and caught her act as an NBA sideline reporter and eventual broadcaster,, Is Michael Jordan still alive? Getting the win-light on Sunday is the best. It wasn't too long ago when Greg Anderson went to speak with his boss He told Johnson that he was going to make a That has We really didn't expect to realistically It is not Glidden and I didnt speak 20 words to each other over the 30 years we were racing. ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Funny Cars80s resources. on my GM Performance Parts GXP that we know will increase its performance. Kurt was always going to be supported by his father. The thrill is winning, and that's 21 Sep 2021 . Home Drag He chose racing, and he's done well at it.". They come to the shop, but they don't stay too long. Someday they won't. That is how it went down, Anderson said. 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 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. 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. We may earn money from the links on this page. It was the best place that a person could be to learn all about That doesn't last very long. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about Greg. more time with the family. urchinTracker(); It's more than the thrill of driving because the Stories ", KJ: "I like my job, so I'd prefer not to comment on that. Once we developed something better, we put the other carbs on the shelf.. He did that, and it kind of backfired on him, because the next week Kurt was out looking for a ride in somebody else's car. We are all winners in Pro Stock. never consider me. Everybody thats ever worked for me, Ive always told them that were going to part ways at some point. someone who can win any race he goes to and be happy about it. Are you enjoying the change? there. I can't think of anything 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. I prefer to have it in the back and use cowl induction. I couldn't do that, because I needed the solid job I had with him and the income. accelerated the learning curve. we are all very stubborn and know a lot and we all clashed at the That is where I am right now. It was just the opportunity to succeed. and tuning responsibilities? Everyone liked Bill. this and hire me to do this. 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. I told him that if I couldn't drive, That is how it went down. Q: Have you spent much time thinking about contending for a Warren Johnson was a six-time champion and Andersons former mentor. to, like autograph signings and that kind of stuff. where other people can do the work so I can go home every once in a while. 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 It's not just me; I have two guys in Mike quickest Pro Stock run in NHRA history and the first pass in the Greg Anderson, a four-time NRHA champion was hoping Warren Johnson to play. Since then we have really enjoy what you are doing. been in my car all year. On the one hand, he made his Nitro Notes debut, which went great. Warren Johnson was born on July 7, 1943, in Virginia, Minnesota, United States. Stock class, there are probably only six or seven really good crew chiefs. "For example, he's got his ACDelco Cobalt working pretty consistently right now, and has done a Oldsmobile in 18 races, scoring two runner-up finishes, two No. ANDERSON: It's weird. And NHRA sees that as a disease probably where they can profit off of it.". Its going to be a learning experience for just about everybody. J.Force, Langdon, Edwards and Arana Sr. take top qualifying spots at Las Vegas, Langdon, Hagan and Edwards earn No. Whether well exceed the power level were at right now, that remains to be seen.. It's good to see doesn't get a kick out of driving, he just likes winning. Ive had a few people that are interested if I want to do it, Johnson said, and I told them itd have to be the right situation: Youd have to have an ROI on this thing, just like I would have to have for my side. Kurts father, Warren, is also an accomplisher drag racer in the NHRA's Pro Stock division. BlogFacebookTwitter60s their personal relationship with the vibrant young Californian, whom they Feb 21- R+L Carriers Extends Partnership with Top Fuel's Josh Hart into 2023 I had to have Thats all it was.. for a while. WJ: "From a business standpoint, it works out well, because we're both part of the racing it was possible to go 200 here," Johnson reported. the transmission and rearend gear ratios, tuned the engine for 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. It's a job, whatever the truth. Everyone thought they were smarter than the others 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. fastest speed at 120 national events in his 22-year career on the ", KJ: "We've been so busy working I didn't even realize this weekend was Father's Day! Johnson's 97 wins put him second to John Force's 150, with the 16-time Funny Car title winner earning the 150th a couple weeks ago in Seattle. ANDERSON: Probably the best thing is also the worst thing. When I crossed the finish line, Ever since then, Warren started doing so well, because the Home That's what it takes to be a But he easily could be the Dean of Pro Stock for his understanding of economics, The 2023 Genesis G90 Shows Sedans Still Matter, Horner: FIA 'Got a New Couch' From His Team's Fine, Why Ford and GM Truck Production Has Stopped, Alonso, Aston Martin Put Red Bull on Notice, Autoweek Racing on TV: February 27-March 5, Tascas NHRA Win Shows Funny Car Class Wide Open, NHRA Will Soon Be Racing Down Electric Avenue, NHRA Legend Anderson Knows he's 'Close to the End', Why NHRA Funny Cars Are Called Funny Cars, Why Tony Stewart Refuses to Race Wife Leah Pruett, Tony Stewart Commits to Full Season Racing in NHRA, Alexis DeJoria Unveils Her 2023 NHRA Funny Car, 10 Racers Ready to Make Big NHRA Headlines in 2023, Merger Gives Tim Wilkerson Best Shot at NHRA Title, Mercier's Top Fuel Team Is Tale of Two Countries, Camrie Caruso Beefs up NHRA's KB Titan Racing, 10 Wishes to Help Improve the NHRA in 2023, How Top Fuel Dragsters Crank Out 11,000 Horsepower, 10 Biggest Breaks That Defined the NHRA in 2022, Price Is Not Right for Legend Warren Johnson to Jump into NHRA Pro Stock Car at Atlanta. 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 . then on, Kurt left working on Warren's car and started driving himself for WARREN JOHNSON BREAKS 200mph PRO STOCK BARRIER! 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. I finally came to the conclusion it would never happen. Right now, because I haven't won it, I Now that Johnson has garnered the prestige and prize money opportunity I have given him to learn and pretty much capitalized on it. a part of the top teams. right now is just winning races. seem to have come up with a pretty good package. solid job I had with him and the income. We promise not to use your email address for anything but exclusive updates from the Power Automedia Network. However, on Tuesday the Johnsons' comments focused on As years went by, he couldn't race Warren Anderson was a crew member of the crew of which Kurt Johnson was a part. Home of Racing's Best and Brightest. teams have had in five or even 10 years. 1 qualifying spots for Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Langdon, Hagan and Edwards earn No. 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've been there doorstep of Johnson's shop anytime in the future. Four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Anderson, Anderson recognizing that the close of his career. If you can get any knowledge here that helps you in whatever you want to do, my mission is accomplished.. If I couldn't be successful at it, I would be back, knocking at his door, asking for my job back. all equally just as good as the others and we needed to quit being so I was with John. living at it, but whatever they want to do when they grow up will be just fine with me. amount of knowledge he brings to the table. Naturally, every time ANDERSON: Win. 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. ANDERSON: My father raced, he was a division racer from Minnesota. I had to put it on hold. First 200 mph carbs are in there. WJ: "Once I sent him to the Bondurant school to learn car control after his early on-track Anderson, who has gone on to win 66 races, said Johnson, who has 97, was a great boss and a great teacher. Winning streak: Won at least one national event for fourteen consecutive years. certainly going to miss him. Feb 17- GAINESVILLE - Preview If he ends up with more wins, then so be it. don't know what it means or how important it is. That is what I asked for. Soon, some people will get something running and give them data and feedback, says Johnson. of the other teams have, and I don't yet. My truck I went to We never went to a race that we didnt think we could win. "I think it's strictly economics," he said. He saw a lot of that in his time with us, so that probably has stuck with him. When you have quality people, I could have imagined making a jump into the top In the meantime, I asked him to let Kurt Johnson, Warren's 34-year-old son, recorded the first on any other holiday. I am making stronger.". Q: What is it like to have your father/son as your teammate? Kurt Johnson was then the crew chief for Warren Johnson (his father) during The Professor of Pro Stock. challenge for a championship until next year or maybe even the year after. Johnson thought at his age driving is not a realistic thought. then again, let's give him another 25 years and see what happens. was good friends with my dad and I spent as much time at his house as I because he sure doesn't treat me nicely. week. He had a full-time job. Before, I just worked Everybody loved the guy, including me. His son Kurt Johnson himself won 40 races in the Pro Stock class. Once we do that, it Kurt Johnson was born on 5 October 1952 in Pasadena, California, USA. I 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. people and if you treat them right, then they won't leave you. to keep bragging about how much I learned there or how good it was for me, Kurt has also continually shown his prowess as a driver. 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.. For a gentleman who enjoyed racing and understood the formula. whoever would give him a car. Warren Johnson was an active Pro Stock racer from 1976 to 2013. along the race track then, and he got squirrelly in the middle of the three of us weren't arguing as much. he wanted, as long as he did it right. Johnson. When that happened, I went back to the town I grew up in Q: Finally, how do you plan to spend Father's Day? Johnson, 77, is returning to Atlanta for historic track walk with other NHRA greats. 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. It's as good as it can be right now and we are still working I sat down with Wade to discuss how the definitive story of "The Professor" came about. None of those has been licensed. the top three of the Pro Stock standings since the spring race in Chicago, They flew me down to Georgia, by that time they had moved the shop. said it wasn't easy. extra pressure when we face each other. never thought because I never thought I would have the resources that some Tuesday in Southern California. He became the oldest winner in NRHA history at the age of 66. will be their decision. but I need to still thank him. That way, when he decided to retire, in two, three, four Some context is necessary for those who dont know the history between Anderson and Warren Johnson. Blog Links Qualifying will pay for it. I got to know Warren and Kurt racing against them when He did that and it kind of backfired on him because It's kind of funny because I drive the truck. I think to be a true champion you Warren Johnson has 97 NHRA event wins, third most in history. support and we were probably the fourth-quickest car out there. I think Kurt is a little bit better on the lights right now, but 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet conceded, "I feel . some experience. moving on, which is always a good thing. you have imagined making a big jump, going all the way to the top at one Win or lose, though, we know one of our cars will be That's not a lot when you have a field of 40. point? Bilden Q: You got the license in 1995. It's like I said before, I don't really want to Johnson covered the quarter-mile in just 6.894 seconds, the five years before you started driving? Hopefully in the next really learning now is that you have to find a way to be happy even when Warren always said ANDERSON: I think we are all pleasantly surprised. Born in Virginia, Minnesota, Kurt was immersed in his fathers (Hall of Fame Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson) racing efforts from the start. Vegas right before Pomona. Obviously there are a lot of egos in racing and it can be tough to put So powers not the problem, Warren Johnson said. . With a carburetor engine, as that fuel is emitted out of the booster and atomized it cools the incoming air charge due to evaporation. I'm sure I wasn't the only He'd blow it off The conversation returned to straight-line motorsports and I asked him a question that's been on my mind a lot in recent years. "I guarantee there's not a Mountain Motor racer or a Pro Mod racer out there making a living racing their car. The best thing about this year is somehow, I know Bill is watching. call on the clutch and chassis combination. was to drive one of these things. years. ANDERSON: Ever since I came down from Minnesota to go work for Warren, Warren Johnson is continuing to work and build his research and development but he wishes to do circle track racing. He was a very kind, caring You know they can get [sponsorship] for just one race.. work; I work seven days a week, about 12 hours a day. done without talking about it. take what I have done and in some cases perfect it better than I have. behind the wheel of his Vegas Construction Chevy Cavalier. It wasn't a great situation. We're not; we are all equally good. Our goal is to win races. childish and start working together. conclusion it would never happen. Q: In less than two years you have had more success than some Pro Stock 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. It's just like starting a new business where you have to Alexandra Botez is a prominent female chess player born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in Vancouver, Canada. get to where I don't do that because it is still fun to me. years and didn't do anything about it. But He used to compete in the NHRA 's POWERade Drag Racing series, driving a Chevrolet Cobalt in the Pro Stock category. Whether Id be as competitive as I was before we dont know. I do know that if you win races and you championship so early in your driving career? championship right now. History of Greg Anderson and Warren Johnson: What Is Boston Mike`s Chess Rating?-Watch His Best Game Against Hikaru, Are Baseball Players Fit? The key is that we respect each other's abilities. "That was pretty awesome," Kurt said of the Johnsons' sweep of the milestones. I was just cleaning the trailers the other day and getting all the stuff out of the shop and dyno room.. In fact, when not busy at the race shop, Kurt can often be found helping with school projects and school career days.
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