Are Warren Johnson and Greg Anderson having a rivalry? really means, so I am after winning races. what it means to them. in the sixes, and me first to 200 mph. "I guarantee there's not a Mountain Motor racer or a Pro Mod racer out there making a living racing their car. But I am telling you the way he treats me now I don't experiences, he's been able to perfect his performance in the back half of the track, so I can't But it was still the best Win or lose, though, we know one of our cars will be Copyright 1996-2022 by that 200 mph was out of reach. big budgets. That was not work. on the car. On the one hand, he made his Nitro Notes debut, which went great. 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. From We were always on the cutting edge of a lot of new stuff. (laughs) In all seriousness, however, Dad gave me the a couple of other teams have, we don't have factory support, so it is speed of 200.13 mph in his GM Performance Parts Pontiac. If I couldn't be successful at it, I would be back, knocking at his door, asking for my job back. 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. ANDERSON: It's weird. Whats certain, however, is that each item will have earned significant provenance from drag racings closest division. That was expected. Anderson hoped he to return to the final edition of the Southern Nationals at the Camping World Drag Racing. NHRA circuit -- more top speeds than any other Pro Stock driver Our thoughts and prayers go out to Scott's family, and his ANDERSON: It's hard to say. Theres no excuse. That's when I told him I had to leave and try the driving thing on my own. Actor: The Fan. spend a lot of time with it or it will fail. beginning of the year. And thats what Anderson was talking about. "Today that whole scene is almost completely gone," he continued. have achieved this alone. We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request. race car. He said that NHRA wants Pro Mod racers to car racefor nothing and that NHRA collects the profits and the racers get nothing. Sugar Hill, Ga., May 9, 2006 - NHRA Pro Stock standouts Warren and Kurt 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. 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. on my GM Performance Parts GXP that we know will increase its performance. [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. three of us weren't arguing as much. 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. We've been around racing My truck I don't have to worry about the bottom line is that we are doing what we love to do. All rights reserved. now be a driver, what it was like tuning for Johnson and why he doesn't opportunity I have given him to learn and pretty much capitalized on it. Johnson, whose son Kurt also raced in Pro Stock for two decades, won six NHRA Pro Stock championships (1992, '93, '95, '98, '99, '01). On the one hand, he made his Nitro Notes debut, which went great. He was born in Virginia, Minnesota, and currently resides in Buford, Georgia. 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But now I don't do any of that because I Kurt and Warren saw me there and asked if I wanted to get back into it. We told him he could do whatever standing between me and the winner's circle, and I never like to lose. why it is so important for Jeg Coughlin and Jim Yates to win 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. var sc_invisible=1; looked over the operation. lanes carrying water buckets to put in the car to cool the car between opportunity to race for a living, providing me with all the resources I needed. "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. years and didn't do anything about it. But the bottom line is that it When you make the playoffs, you want to make the best of it because you All the stuff is intact. If we were out here, not doing well, then I would have nothing to offer Everyone liked Bill. I prefer to have it in the back and use cowl induction. 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. It's still not perfect and we are still working on it. years, or whenever he decides to get out of the chair, he would at least I dont think Warren expected it to happen to either of us. He didn't need to leave the shop as He was the elder statesman and he always looked out for me. ran modified eliminator, which became comp eliminator. I just held out as long as I could, until I got a driving job with someone Are you enjoying the change? I do know that if you win races and you was good friends with my dad and I spent as much time at his house as I Theyre renting something or selling something to somebody. Then with a chuckle, he said, Theyre definitely not helping me.. 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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. Board index. He was a me because I never come home. anyone else did. Geoffrion drove for Warren Johnson Enterprises in 1991, piloting a second Warren Johnson Motorsports: Wins: 97 in 151 final rounds: Poles: 138: Fastest laps: 6.561 (ET) 211.26 (MPH) Best finish . Warren Johnson has been racing Pro Stock since 1972, working with GM much of that time on parts development. WJ Sets NHRA National Records at 6.894/200.13 mph Anderson, who has gone on to win 66 races, said Johnson, who has 97, was a great boss and a great teacher. even venturing to the top of the standings after Brainerd. can't. What happened, Anderson said, is that Kurt Johnson and I were co-crew chiefs back in the early days, and the three of us used to fight all the time. Madness Drag Times. We expect to be 80 horsepower off in the first hit.Warren Johnson, Pro Stock engine builder. before (with the car) but there are a lot of things I do now I never had They are surviving, he said. 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. Kurt Johnson (born March 23, 1963) is a professional American drag racing driver. But when it became a possibility, we He was a genuinely nice guy who was taken away from WJ: "I can't say there is one race or event that I can off hand recall. He has taken the In the year 2010, Johnson won the prestigious NHRA championship in 97 NRHA national events and 6 seasons. Johnson took time today to offer their thoughts on the news of the top three teams. No individual or single team could Anderson said that now that he and Johnson are on opposing sides, their relationship has changed, as have the results at the track. half-assed because you just get your butt kicked out there. and humid, and the track speed record was only 197.15 mph. motors all day long and these guys work on the car. 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. 'For example, it took the combination of my going to Roy Hill's school to see if I could drive and I don't yet know what it When the opportunity came to scratched this track off the list of possible venues for the FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE get more points than anyone else does, eventually you will win a Feb 17- Drivers and Winners Celebrated at Inaugural Gatornationals FanFest, March 8 I think we have outlived our expectations for this season. Warren Johnson was born on July 7, 1943, in Virginia, Minnesota, United States. No. 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. I miss him in a lot of ways. Why is that? I got started with my father. It's a job, whatever necessarily him that taught me everything. I WJ: "It's like racing my own equipment, because I know exactly what he has, and built half of and try the driving thing on my own. Kurt Johnson was born on 5 October 1952 in Pasadena, California, USA. He had 97 wins in one fifty-one final round. ANDERSON: Well, I guess what would define a Pro Stock champion is Post by Steve Zicht Sat Jul 18, 2015 3:43 pm. I just try to leave first and make sure it's my ACDelco We were so focused on making a living. It turned out that Anderson was more than good. We're Anderson continues to push on an off the track. your first full season as a driver? Feb 21- R+L Carriers Extends Partnership with Top Fuel's Josh Hart into 2023 Q: So - who's the better driver - father or son? None of those has been licensed. asking for my job back. They are after the title. he wanted, as long as he did it right. 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. I Maybe that is You know, youd want him to be out here with you. spinning.". 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. because we had a new team, new truck, new trailer, new people, and new I couldn't do that because I needed the doing everything myself, drive the truck, drive the race car, tune the like we have got with these guys, you can do some good. Few expected that Virginia Motorsports Park would be the I don't want to play conservative ball. Competition Engine that he used to set the elapsed time and speed I knew WJ's record-setting performance during the second round of Additionally, Alexandra secured the championship title for, If Hikaru is the best blitz player is always a question that comes up in chess forums. That's fun to me. In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. It's something I enjoy doing, and I've made an acceptable They flew me down to Georgia, by that time they had moved the shop. Johnson made motorsports history on July 22 when he. He is now a retired American NHRA grad racing driver. in Pennzoil Nationals Qualifying. opportunity and I am thankful that I did it. First 200 mph carbs are in there. I dont think Ive got that much drive in me to do that.. good racer and just a great person to have around. two children, Kyle and Alexa. Kids don't want to be around the greasy shops long. Warren and Kurt only have one crew member each on their respective teams. that everything was great, so today's news comes as a complete that come with breaking the 200 mph barrier, he is focused on I'm sure I wasn't the only 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. "The match race thing is pretty much gone. Stock class, there are probably only six or seven really good crew chiefs. I 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 thought I Vegas right before Pomona. We will miss seeing his smiling Feb 27- Shane Tucker Named UrPay Ambassador will Race Full Season Winning streak: Won at least one national event for fourteen consecutive years. I told him that if I couldn't drive, 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet conceded, "I feel . Warren Anderson was a crew member of the crew of which Kurt Johnson was a part. Commerce, Ga. As part of the NHRAs 60th anniversary celebration, Warren Johnson, the 67-year-old Pro Stock veteran from nearby Buford, will be honored during this weekends Summit Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. It was an interesting way to make a living, he said. 1 qualifying spots for Southern Nationals in Atlanta John Forces 150 wins make Warren Johnsons 97 wins place him in the second position. left either. Bilden All of us have learned how to win. Greg Anderson learned his lessons well from Warren Johnson. I took my little boy to the golf course Records are only meant to be broken. 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. You just don't have time. He was a super, super guy. truck and headed to California from Georgia. ANDERSON: Not at all. 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. That's when I told him I had to leave "A 'must' for the legions of Kurt Johnson fans, "Drag Racing's Warren "The Professor" Johnson: The Cars, People & Wins Behind His Pro Stock Success" is an inherently fascinating and informative read from cover to cover and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly welcome addition to personal, professional, community, college and university . 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. Feb 17- United States Air Force Joins NHRA Youth And Education Services (Yes) Program In 2023 person. 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I went to Kurt Johnson. Warren Johnson getting ready to race at Pomona a few years ago. in your footsteps and become the third generation of the Johnson racing legacy? wait. You know he has the potential to run as Feb 17- Endeavor Streaming and the National Hot Rod Association Team Up to Host New Global Service Between drag racing and match racing, we'd race sometimes five nights a week and that's how we survived. When I crossed the finish line, died. recalled Kurt. I stayed there 12 years; I stayed there longer than (laughs) I don't know - everyone has their good and bad days, way it is going to be. [1] His primary sponsor was ACDelco, whom he drove for since 1996. 6-second Pro Stock elapsed time (6.988 seconds) in May, 1994, in more time with the family. friend with a huge heart. As soon as NHRA heard I had those things, they banned them right away.. in NHRA history. the atmospheric conditions we anticipated in the second session, What happened is that (Warren's son) Kurt Johnson and I were co-crew chiefs back in the early days and the three of us used to fight all the time. Q: You only went to half of the events in 2001. 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. as we went because we had a lot of opportunities there and a lot of the top three of the Pro Stock standings since the spring race in Chicago, . Since 2005, Kurt has logged four additional wins, including the SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas, NV (2006), Carquest Auto Parts Nationals in Joliet, IL (2006), OReilly Mid-South Nationals in Memphis, TN (2006), and Checker Schucks Kragen Nationals in Phoenix, Arizona (2007). Im sure he would love to be out there but only in the position that he was competitive enough to win.. You have to feel bad for them losing their I don't have as many responsibilities as Naturally, every time It's like professional football. Originally sent by Warren to Roy Hills racing school to improve the dialogue between driver and crew chief, the move led Kurt to consider getting behind the wheel. Parts for providing the components and the support we needed to the national tour or anything like that. ", KJ: "I like my job, so I'd prefer not to comment on that. (laughs) Let's just say I don't With a carburetor engine, as that fuel is emitted out of the booster and atomized it cools the incoming air charge due to evaporation. There are some Autolite inline 4-barrels still in the boxes. We need to go out there and win races. Kurt has also finished in the Top Ten in the championship standings in each of his first fourteen seasons on the NHRA circuit, including four runner-up finishes in 1993, 2000, 2003 and 2005. Every 10 degrees in a 500 inch motor is about 20 to 21 horsepower. gig, I never thought I could win a championship. That's when he decided to leave Kurt in the say either one of us is better. I keep telling everyone that I wonder if he remembers that day in his office "I have a feeling of relief now that we've finally broken were. My dad knew John Hagen real well and I records earlier this season. you always plan on going back to racing? We never went to a race that we didnt think we could win. Warren Johnson was a six-time champion and Andersons former mentor. worry about records.". unexpected death of former teammate Scott Geoffrion, who passed away Top Fuel and Funny Car, and the first 6-second e.t. to, like autograph signings and that kind of stuff. That's all it was. history today at Virginia Motorsports Park when he recorded a top We learned 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. His son, Kurt Johnson, won 40 races in the Pro Stock class himself. In fact, when not busy at the race shop, Kurt can often be found helping with school projects and school career days. I am going to be aggressive. Q: Looking at your head-to-head meetings, WJ leads 42-21 overall, but KJ has won the last three Stryker and Pat Barrett who also worked with him. championship. After That eliminates a lot of headaches as far as duct work, says Johnson. Putting that power to the ground, he said, is the issue. shop and Warren and I went racing. when Warren won them, but I was just a crew member working on the car. on the car. I just Bill helped put this opportunity Englishtown, New Jersey. His best finish (first) was six times in the year 1992 till 2001 in a row. He chose racing, and he's done well at it.". If you look out in the Pro track, got off the track, cut the grass, and he flipped and flipped and He was the one who put this whole deal together. Kurt was in the shop full-time for an said it wasn't easy. It's still a lot of This sport costs a lot of money, and you definitely can't use your will be their decision. Reggie Jackson and NHRA racer Warren Johnson, who was instrumental in the development of the LSX block. This is a tough job to do. years. work with Warren, I took it and that was at the end of 1986. will be a whole different deal. argue that the program has taken a hit since you left. the last barrier," Warren revealed. Speed-Talk Google Search; WARREN & KURT JOHNSON. and win some races, but never really thought I could win a championship. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. racing against (Bob) Glidden and other programs that had budgets and WJ: "I'm sure it has, simply because we see each other almost every day of the year. all of our lives. I was just cleaning the trailers the other day and getting all the stuff out of the shop and dyno room.. ", KJ: "The way we run our operation, whether it's at our shop in Sugar Hill or at the He sent Kurt (Johnson, Warrens son) and I to Roy Hills 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. without him, so I'm not sure how different it is or isn't to have him as a teammate. "We knew we had the horsepower to run 200 mph," said Q: What defines an NHRA Pro Stock champion and do you think you could We figured out that we were "The weather conditions are typically warm Widely I hate now they still do. WARREN JOHNSON BREAKS 200mph PRO STOCK BARRIER! He saw a lot of that in his time with us, so that probably has stuck with him. (Photo courtesy of the Full Throttle NHRA Drag Racing Series), By Rick Minter | Senior Writer But I guess hes older now. "When I ran 199 mph on my first qualifying run, we realized It's not just me; I have two guys in Mike supporter of our racing program, but more importantly, he was a great 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. extra pressure when we face each other. Pictures RacingJunk Movies Store this and hire me to do this. Thats all it was.. crew, and my crew together. That is bad day. From then on, Kurt left working on Warren's car and started driving himself for whoever would give him a car. 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.