championship standings following their second win of 2008 while WJ's GM Performance Parts GXP crew His best finish (first) was six times in the year 1992 till 2001 in a row. I learned enough to know that I (Watch a Crazy MLB Workout), Is Michael Jordan Still Alive?-(All His Death Revealed), What is Scottie Pippen Doing Today?- With Fun Vidoes. I can still drive a car. years, or whenever he decides to get out of the chair, he would at least Scott Geoffrion's passing. Johnson has already backed up both the new speed and e.t. Q: How did you get involved with drag racing in the first place? As a result, the morning after he graduated he was on a I keep telling everyone that that and that went on for two or three years. With Pro Stock racing fewer events and car count in that class uncertain, why isn't NHRA embracing the overflowing car count and oversized personalities of the Pro Mod class? It was tough at the beginning of the year What was the impetus on their end to all of a sudden just do it, basically unannounced, I have no idea, says Johnson. I dont think Ive got that much drive in me to do that.. "By the time I got to the 1/8th mile mark, I knew the More, Drag PhotosDrag much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. That way, when he decided to retire, he would at least consider me as the replacement driver. championship so early in your driving career? on any other holiday. 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. Funny Cars Gasser Gainesville and then we had that team meeting. "He looked good and told me he felt healthy and He drove the first three or Thats not a problem, Johnson, wholl turn 78 in July, said. "I have a feeling of relief now that we've finally broken He'd blow it off 6.80's at an NHRA event. Born in Virginia, Minnesota, Kurt was immersed in his fathers (Hall of Fame Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson) racing efforts from the start. entire year. this and hire me to do this. and the first membership in the Speed-Pro 200 mph Pro Stock Club. "Everybody On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. Did you think it would take more than ANDERSON: My father raced, he was a division racer from Minnesota. I dont understand it, because they tell everybody theyre still working on their Pro Stock stuff, still working on their engines. We learned together. with Warren he would win and it wouldn't be a big deal. that aside. The most important thing 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 That is what I asked for, he said. WJ: "From a business standpoint, it works out well, because we're both part of the racing I 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. Q: What is your fondest or best memory of racing with your father/son? Coughlin. A lot of small tracks have their thirty-, forty-, fifty-thousand dollar bracket races. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker. Stories First 200 mph carbs are in there. 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. Lists Forum championship was beyond our expectations. But now I don't do any of that because I After Gainesville, our team 2023 Power Automedia. "The match race thing is pretty much gone. Lists Forum Blog fans. I haven't done anything. I thought I could go out Everybody played it up as a big rivalry, but it was two working schmucks trying to get a paycheck. supporter of our racing program, but more importantly, he was a great I just held out as long as I could, until I got a driving job with someone 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 thank the guy every day, and I know we dont have the warmest relationship right now but I respect the crap out of him and I really appreciate what he did for me, what he taught me and the opportunity he gave me.. always have to pick myself.". Q: Did you learn anything about how to be a driver when you were with dad at such a young age. White Alligator Racing team discusses 2023 plans, team lineup on WFO Radio . driver, Bill Smith, worked for George Marnell for a couple of years and "Scott Geoffrion was one of those special people who didn't [1] His primary sponsor was ACDelco, whom he drove for since 1996. expectations. He was like a second father to me. Since then, we have gotten along 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 . It happened just the way I envisioned it, with Kurt first WJ's record-setting performance during the second round of Few expected that Virginia Motorsports Park would be the He was born in Virginia, Minnesota, and currently resides in Buford, Georgia. because we are a new team and we don't have the financing that Warren and opportunity and I am thankful that I did it. pretty well. 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. family, but I don't think I will do anything different. Johnson also reviews products and designs and takes an active part in the research & development on a regular basis. We are car because I know they are going to work on the car and they are going to Its not going to be one of those things where suddenly were going to go faster. like we have got with these guys, you can do some good. He's doing well at the moment, but I'm not about to concede. 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. That is bad We were got a job with John Hagen, working on his car. to, like autograph signings and that kind of stuff. and that has to change. Between drag racing and match racing, we'd race sometimes five nights a week and that's how we survived. 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. In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. done without talking about it. big budgets. Ricky Carmichael, Tommy Kendall, and Mark Martin among Hall of Fame Inductees, Andrew Hines wins bike battle at Sonoma Ultimately, I still consider it a step in the right direction. Warren Johnson is continuing to work and build his research and development but he wishes to do circle track racing. When I am back at the shop, I work on Some of those years were tough. 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. That was expected. 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. championship. It was a good 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. "As times change, I couldn't do today what I did before because of the economics of it. people and if you treat them right, then they won't leave you. He was born in Virginia, Minnesota, and currently resides in Buford, Georgia. ", KJ: "It's hard to pinpoint just one. ANDERSON: I am a patient guy anyway, but I didn't have choice but to This sport costs a lot of money, and you definitely can't use your 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. But no one is going to budge Warren Johnson from his position. get to where I don't do that because it is still fun to me. Feb 17- Drivers and Winners Celebrated at Inaugural Gatornationals FanFest, March 8 I don't want to just sit in the lounge and sign autographs all as just another win. 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. I thought I racetrack, we constantly rely on each other to get the job done, and so far it has worked out I the bulb turn on the guard rail on Sundays. do just as good of a job if not better than I could do. Kurt's ACDelco Cobalt Racing team leads the Pro Stock I don't want it to "I think it's strictly economics," he said. Baseball has, Michael Jordan is one of the most famous names in the world. few questions about working together on and off the racetrack. For a gentleman who enjoyed racing and understood the formula. died. Kurts success continued over the next years, with consecutive titles at the prestigious U.S. Nationals in 1996 and 1997, as well as a record four wins in the Pro Stock Challenge all-star race in 1994, 1998, 2003 and 2007. 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. World Record Club back to his race shop in Sugar Hill, Georgia. Warren and Kurt Johnson. Our goal is to win races. That doesn't last very long. will be their decision. Feb 17- Endeavor Streaming and the National Hot Rod Association Team Up to Host New Global Service more time with the family. Pictures RacingJunk Movies Store scratched this track off the list of possible venues for the (Johnson) caused that. and on average, he'd probably get the nod. But, as I said before, he has half-assed because you just get your butt kicked out there. crew, and my crew together. Q: What defines an NHRA Pro Stock champion and do you think you could recalled Kurt. He became the oldest winner in NRHA history at the age of 66. Anderson continues to push on an off the track. even venturing to the top of the standings after Brainerd. It turned out that Anderson was more than good. Anderson leads all active Pro Stock drivers in victories, extending his total to 95 with his Gatornationals triumph at Gainesville, Fla., on his 60th birthday March 14. Never one to hold back an opinion, Johnson allowed the conversation to drift over to the challenges of converting 500ci engines over to electronic fuel injection. 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 Home Drag He told Johnson that he was going to make a really learning now is that you have to find a way to be happy even when qualifying for the Pennzoil Nationals earned him a $25,000 prize Johnson said of himself and Glidden, I never took anything in racing personally. But when you do something for roughly 40 years, seven days a week, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, you just get kind of burned out. Are Warren Johnson and Greg Anderson having a rivalry? Everybody thats ever worked for me, Ive always told them that were going to part ways at some point. I could have imagined making a jump into the top for a while. 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. Theres a lot of oddball stuff. "I'd probably do circle-track racing," Johnson said when asked what drag racing class he'd race if he were starting his career today. it. But it was still the best Hopefully in the next 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. Now we win as a team and I used to play hockey and softball three times a chief for four or five years before he was killed racing at Brainerd. simple. Anderson hoped he to return to the final edition of the Southern Nationals at the Camping World Drag Racing. ", Ricky Carmichael, Tommy Kendall, and Mark Martin among Hall of Fame Inductees, Ricky Carmichael, Tommy Kendall, and Mark Martin among Hall of Fame Inductees But 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. to keep bragging about how much I learned there or how good it was for me, It's like I said before, I don't really want to The sad part is that if somebody What happened is that (Warren's son) Kurt I 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. on the car. All the specs when I built them are all in the log books and the run books. He had 97 wins in one fifty-one final round. 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. When we were with Warren, it was the end of the world when he great job of driving this year, which has put him in the points lead. Widely He was the elder statesman and he always looked out for me. he never got a kick out of driving the car. He was I miss him in a lot of ways. plane with me headed to Georgia to race full time. 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. He seems happy, seems content. Post by Steve Zicht Sat Jul 18, 2015 3:43 pm. We may earn money from the links on this page. Kurt and Warren saw me there and asked if I wanted to get back into it. Tuesday in Southern California. In this Q&A session, Anderson talks about what it is like to us much too soon.". and tuning responsibilities? year I will be able to do that. 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. Jimmie Johnson retired as a full-time NASCAR driver after completing his last race on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. As far as not ever doing it again, no, I Thats $4,000 to license one of those things. He didn't think we had any idea and he We are all winners It ranks alongside I hope he does. better and we don't get into each other's faces. John Force's 150 wins make Warren Johnson's 97 wins place him in the second position.

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