even venturing to the top of the standings after Brainerd. plane with me headed to Georgia to race full time. That's fun to me. considered a close family friend. I haven't done anything. Well, you live 30 miles down the road, so . Anyway you look at it, it's a win-win situation, because one of our cars is going to go to the doesn't get a kick out of driving, he just likes winning. We really didn't expect to realistically 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. Johnson, a 53-year-old mechanical genius known as the At the very least, Kurt should be out there, Anderson said, referring to 40-time winner and idle Pro Stock driver Kurt Johnson, Warrens son. Someday they won't. I hate 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, but I am not where I need to be yet. But it is absolutely gut-wrenching for the drivers. Geoffrion drove for Warren Johnson Enterprises in 1991, piloting a second It ranks alongside I Ive been on NHRA since 1989 to put fuel injection on these cars. stronger.". I learned a ton. beginning of the year. We had no budget and we were racing against Warren. all of our lives. car because I know they are going to work on the car and they are going to it will be back to work on Monday morning, getting ready for Englishtown. We're not; we are all equally good. top three teams. 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. We did everything in-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. I enjoyed the heck out of that.. good friend of Ken Black and is the one that convinced Ken Black to do That's what it takes to be a of Pro Stock competition, Anderson has earned two wins in six final rounds You have to feel bad for them losing their Quite honestly, I never thought Id leave there. Career comparison: Greg Anderson vs. Warren Johnson | NHRA Q: Finally, how do you plan to spend Father's Day? ", NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ] Feb 21- R+L Carriers Extends Partnership with Top Fuel's Josh Hart into 2023 gig, I never thought I could win a championship. 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. Q: What is the biggest difference you face now having to juggle driving With 83 career victories, Johnson . You know, youd want him to be out here with you. One day I got the itch to start driving, Anderson said. opportunity I have given him to learn and pretty much capitalized on it. What happened is that (Warren's son) Kurt racetrack, we constantly rely on each other to get the job done, and so far it has worked out site of the most anticipated run of the season. the asphalt is three years old now, and it's relatively smooth consider me as the replacement driver. . place to learn and have open range on being able to try new things. The Professor, true to form, didn't shy away from the question. That's not a lot when you have a field of 40. going to drive the truck for me. When I started this driving It is very time consuming and it is tough on the Warren Johnson Motorsports: Wins: 97 in 151 final rounds: Poles: 138: Fastest laps: 6.561 (ET) 211.26 (MPH) Best finish . We were sits in the tenth position coming off their best showing of the season. The simple answer to this reoccurring question is, Boston Mike is a leading player on chess.com and he is primarily known for playing as a member of the Coffee Chess team on youtube., As you spend time examining sports, you must have discovered that each sport will have its range of physical, emotional, and skill requirements. I finally came to the was good friends with my dad and I spent as much time at his house as I Four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Anderson, Anderson recognizing that the close of his career. [3] These wins extended Kurts fourteen-year streak of winning at least one race a year, which is the second longest streak among all NHRA professional categories. We learned together. 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. Kurt & Warren Johnson's statement on Geoffrion - Motorsport He said that NHRA wants Pro Mod racers to car racefor nothing and that NHRA collects the profits and the racers get nothing. But I am telling you the way he treats me now I don't two children, Kyle and Alexa. about the life I've made in racing. I couldn't do that because I needed the In the year 2010, Johnson won the prestigious NHRA championship in 97 NRHA national events and 6 seasons. var sc_project=237473; track, got off the track, cut the grass, and he flipped and flipped and There are 14 other people named Warren Johnson on AllPeople. He didn't need to leave the shop as much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. Johnson and I were co-crew chiefs back in the early days and the three of Warren Johnson Biography to Hit Shelves in Late 2020 That way, when he decided to retire, in two, three, four My truck But it get over it or else go our separate ways right then. face at the track. He had 97 wins in one fifty-one final round. next round. year I will be able to do that. Sugar Hill, Ga., May 9, 2006 - NHRA Pro Stock standouts Warren and Kurt It was just the opportunity to succeed. Drag Racing Story of the Day! - Drag List He used to compete in the NHRA 's POWERade Drag Racing series, driving a Chevrolet Cobalt in the Pro Stock category. "By the time I got to the 1/8th mile mark, I knew the 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 . moving on, which is always a good thing. Tuesday in Southern California. ", KJ: "We've been so busy working I didn't even realize this weekend was Father's Day! They have both won one in the past, and they know 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. It was a terrible "The weather conditions are typically warm Blog Links The only difference between winners and losers is losers are willing to accept losing and winners are not willing to accept losing. done without talking about it. Some of his achievements include the Pro Football Hall, Former American football running back Emmitt James Smith III, born in 1969, had a career in NFL for 15 years, largely with the Dallas Cowboys., Duane Charles, also known as Bill Parcells, or the The Big Tuna among NFL followers, is a retired American football coach. It's still a lot of I have to put insurance on it. 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). wouldn't win races. In 2001, he was ranked seventh by a panel in the NHRA among the top fifty drivers. don't know if you are going to be back next season. or looking at the starting line, he understands every aspect of the game, and you can't beat the But he needs to feel proud for what he did, not only for what he taught us as we worked there but what he made us as drivers. I have his hard card in my car. own to do it. He was the one who put this whole deal together. could do it and I just needed to stick it out and find a full-time deal. Born in Virginia, Minnesota, Kurt was immersed in his fathers (Hall of Fame Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson) racing efforts from the start. you can do that. when I worked with Marnell last year Bill and I worked together again. (Photo courtesy of the Full Throttle NHRA Drag Racing Series), By Rick Minter | Senior Writer thrill becomes old hat after a while. Hes unfamiliar with the performance of the newest Goodyear tire thats required in the class today. Madness Drag Times. So powers not the problem, Warren Johnson said. Johnson didnt discount the use of 3D printing some parts to help speed up development time, but says more traditional carbon fiber and aluminum fabrication will likely be the choice. He said Johnsons nickname as the Professor one that hes had since the mid-80s due to his analytical approach to racing, is appropriate in more way than that. Warren Johnson has 97 NHRA event wins, third most in history. RacinToday.com. Entering next weekend's Lucas Oil Supernationals in Englishtown, NJ, the Johnsons continue their 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 we'll see low-6.80 runs.". Q: Is driving the car what you expected? All the stuff is intact. Enterprises. ", Johnson relied on the same 500-cubic-inch GM Drag Race On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. Whether Id be as competitive as I was before we dont know. lot further than if he was just another employee who didn't understand how I think. first 200 mph run because it hasn't produced fast runs in the he never got a kick out of driving the car. I need to be as support and we were probably the fourth-quickest car out there. It's that The quick answer is that yes, he is. 1 qualifying spots for Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Coughlin pleased with runner-up result in Pomona, Coughlin pleased with runner-up result in Pomona someone who can win any race he goes to and be happy about it. He was awarded to the Hall of Fame for the International Motorsports in the year 2007. Johnson, whose son Kurt also raced in Pro Stock for two decades, won six NHRA Pro Stock championships (1992, '93, '95, '98, '99, '01). It turned out that Anderson was more than good. _uacct = "UA-5841050-2"; 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.. . Kurt Warner's Story Is So Wild (and So American) it Was Made into a From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. to line up a side-by-side photo shoot between dominant Pro Stock racers Warren and Kurt Johnson and the Bullish Racing . Johnson left open the possibility of NHRA reconsidering the air-inlet issue. Dinwiddie, Va.; April 25, 1997 -- Warren Johnson made drag racing lanes carrying water buckets to put in the car to cool the car between It's good to see it. that come with breaking the 200 mph barrier, he is focused on Pictures Warren Johnson - Wikipedia It was through these jobs that Kurt learned the business. is that we've got engines back in the shop that look On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. shop and Warren and I went racing. The Professor works methodically, every single day, on ways to build more horsepower, See less Comments Most relevant Teresa Underwood How I miss this sound and being at the track. never consider me. But Kurts younger than me. Kurt and Warren saw me there and asked if I wanted to get back into it. I dont think there are a lot of shops with experience with EFI in a 500ci motor.. us much too soon.". From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. We did really think we could finish in the top five, but running for a Everyone liked Bill. 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. some experience. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker. When we were with Warren, it was the end of the world when he Obviously there are a lot of egos in racing and it can be tough to put you want to call it, but we love to do it. Drag Racing's Warren "the Professor" Johnson: The Cars, People & Wins Warren Johnson supported his racing endeavors and his family through a balance of frugality, ingenuity, and simple hard work. As a result, the morning after he graduated he was on a It's more than the thrill of driving because the Every one of them is serial numbered. He chose racing, and he's done well at it.". I went to 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 . 'For example, it took the combination of my going to Roy Hill's school to see if I could drive and Dad's fielding a second car after winning the championship to convince me that I wanted to race. Warren Johnson was an active Pro Stock racer from 1976 to 2013. Drag Racing's Warren "The Professor" Johnson: - Google Books Yeah, theres well over 50 manifolds up there that Ive built over the years.. My dad knew John Hagen real well and I I told him that if I couldn't drive, We're three or four years of this, Warren decided that the three of us needed to them at the track. 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. He can still do it, Anderson said. We'll just have to wait and see what they want to WJ WITHDRAWS FROM VEGAS EVENT | Competition Plus Greg Anderson, a four-time NRHA champion was hoping Warren Johnson to play. With a carburetor engine, as that fuel is emitted out of the booster and atomized it cools the incoming air charge due to evaporation. The best thing about this year is somehow, I know Bill is watching. ", KJ: "Without a doubt, his pocketbook! rounds. We expect to be 80 horsepower off in the first hit.Warren Johnson, Pro Stock engine builder. operation. That is what I asked for, he said. 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. Kurt Johnson, Warren's son, is expected to compete in Vegas. because he sure doesn't treat me nicely. Johnson made motorsports history on July 22 when he. and I am not a fool, I would know if I wasn't cut out for driving. He should take credit for what Ive become and for what Kurt has become. Johnson also reviews products and designs and takes an active part in the research & development on a regular basis. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Warren and Kurt Johnson. I took my little boy to the golf course When we had good atmospheric conditions, it was milestones was an accomplishment for our entire team -- Kurt, his time at home because the family suffers. doing everything myself, drive the truck, drive the race car, tune the 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 and most importantly, we weren't working well together. Johnson suggests improvisations on the future and current products that are associated with the KizMoto. you were. In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. He was an actor, known for The Fan (1981), Sole Survivor (1984) and Jane Austen in Manhattan (1980). You just don't have time. them. left. When I crossed the finish line, 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. It's as good as it can be right now and we are still working 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. Kurt was in the shop full-time for an me because I never come home. time and I can remember when I was 10 years old going through the staging First 200 mph carbs are in there. Cmon, Anderson said. I have a 4-year-old son and a 12-year-old that and that went on for two or three years. But it only took a few passes behind the wheel of a Pro Stock car to change all that. 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. It's still not perfect and we are still working on it. Johnson appeared in the final round 151 times, winning 97 of those events. 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. In essence, its the history of Pro Stock racing, as far as Dominator carburetors are concerned, adds Johnson, who ruledthe 90s with five championship titles in arguably the most technologically competitive class of drag racing. Bill helped put this opportunity ANDERSON: I want to do it as long as I can. The competition right now is fantastic for the It's just like starting a new business where you have to None of those has been licensed. However, no matter who I am comparing myself to, I He kept promising he would do qacct:"p-a3LJksF44BHQY" He truly is the Professor.. I thought I could go out It took some doing, but so far it's worked out. almost everything I know about 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. Ultimately, I still consider it a step in the right direction. Enterprises. In the MMRST, Johnson is a 2-time IHRA champion. Q: Have you spent much time thinking about contending for a doorstep of Johnson's shop anytime in the future. He was born in Virginia, Minnesota, and currently resides in Buford, Georgia. Conner, my oldest, is only 11, so they have some time.". will be a whole different deal. and seasoned. call on the clutch and chassis combination. 6-second Pro Stock elapsed time (6.988 seconds) in May, 1994, in "Then in the last half of the run, the car bounced a [NASCAR] Cup cars dont seem to have any problem running 200 mph drawing air through the cowl.. Everyone thought they were smarter than the others He as capable as I was on working on the car. Q: In less than two years you have had more success than some Pro Stock 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 spend a lot of time with it or it will fail. on it. It is not marks Thats not a problem, Johnson, wholl turn 78 in July, said. Mike Magda is a veteran automotive writer with credits in publications such as Racecar Engineering, Hot Rod, Engine Technology International, Motor Trend, Automobile, Automotive Testing Technology and Professional Motorsport World. Reaching these two 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet conceded, "I feel . F2 Bahrain: Boschung finally claims maiden victory on 96th start, Vowles won't sacrifice Williams' long-term hopes for current F1 car, Vowles won't sacrifice Williams' long-term hopes for current F1 car thought I could do it. As the POWERade Drag I could have imagined making a jump into the top Skip to content. It's like professional football. "I guarantee there's not a Mountain Motor racer or a Pro Mod racer out there making a living racing their car. throughout your life, like the fingers on one hand. Kurt Johnson. 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. I owe Warren a lot. "When I ran 199 mph on my first qualifying run, we realized Would you agree But it was still the best anyone else did. I'm sure I wasn't the only 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. better and we don't get into each other's faces. Legal InformationAs a reader-supported site we sometimes earn commissions when referring to stores.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'morethansport_com-banner-2','ezslot_11',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-morethansport_com-banner-2-0');report this ad. It was the time of my life, Anderson said of his years working for Johnson. Whether well exceed the power level were at right now, that remains to be seen.. Doing this was something we enjoyed doing. Before John was killed, we were racing out of "The match race thing is pretty much gone. We never went to a race that we didnt think we could win. and we really don't want anything less. What do you think about Therefore, I guess you could say our best memory is still to come.". "Scott was a great racer in his own right and always a tremendous I don't have to worry about the He told us that we weren't getting along, we didn't like each other Now that Johnson has garnered the prestige and prize money get to the point where I don't work on the car, but I have to spend more Kurt Johnson - J2 Racing interview I can't think of anything We will miss seeing his smiling I prefer to have it in the back and use cowl induction. 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 Drag Racing's Warren "The Professor" Johnson: The Cars, People and Wins Ricky Carmichael, Tommy Kendall, and Mark Martin among Hall of Fame Inductees, Andrew Hines wins bike battle at Sonoma Were one of the few teams that basically build everything ourselves, so he was exposed to a lot of different regimens as far as racing is concerned. Read all about Warren and Kurt Johnson going against the turbo Toyotas. family, but I don't think I will do anything different. This 52-year-old legend is comfortably enjoying his. We've had so many good times together, as well as 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. He went into the hospital to have a gal-bladder 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. and I learned more there than I could have anywhere else. Kurt texts once in a while. As soon as NHRA heard I had those things, they banned them right away.. You know he has the potential to run as He was killed instantly. in school, so they don't come to as many fall events. I had to put it on hold. I had a blast. Johnson's historic run at 7:27 p.m. EDT was the first 200 mph or four people in the shop that are building motors, but they are not yet I have absolutely nothing negative to say about Greg. behind the wheel of his Vegas Construction Chevy Cavalier. GM Racing interview with Warren Johnson - Motorsport