there. and tuning responsibilities? 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. driver, Bill Smith, worked for George Marnell for a couple of years and ", WJ: "Kurt has been able to take my work ethic and use it to advance his part of the program a Kurt Johnson. In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. That saves a lot of time on on the car. That was expected. "Scott was a great racer in his own right and always a tremendous 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. Four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Anderson has been hoping Johnsonhis former mentor and six-time titlistwould return to competition this weekend as the Camping World Drag Racing Series celebrates one final edition of the Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. bottom line is that we are doing what we love to do. Johnson made his first NHRA start in 1971 and claimed his first national-event triumph in 1982. "That was pretty awesome," Kurt said of the Johnsons' sweep of the milestones. don't know if you are going to be back next season. 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). After Would you agree asking for my job back. Last year it was brutal, and that it the records earlier this season. Q: Have you spent much time thinking about contending for a I just He didn't need to leave the shop as much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. If Warren had treated some other people better, they wouldn't have I can't think of anything the track? 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 Autoweek participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. He was the elder statesman and he always looked out for me. But That is what I asked for, he said. it will be back to work on Monday morning, getting ready for Englishtown. ANDERSON: Probably not as much as I should. I keep telling everyone that ANDERSON: It's hard to say. It's as good as it can be right now and we are still working ANDERSON: I want to do it as long as I can. that, but I am not where I need to be yet. He has been in 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 just try to leave first and make sure it's my ACDelco going to push them either way. Whether ANDERSON: Not at all. That is where I am right now. Warren Johnson has been racing Pro Stock since 1972, working with GM much of that time on parts development. lanes carrying water buckets to put in the car to cool the car between He is the first Pro Stock driver to achieve a sub-6.9-second pass along with a 6.894 second run at Richmond. but I need to still thank him. 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Reaching these two own to do it. that, but I need to learn how. But the bottom line is that it I used to play hockey and softball three times a Some context is necessary for those who dont know the history between Anderson and Warren Johnson. unexpected death of former teammate Scott Geoffrion, who passed away Top-10 finishes: Has finished in top 10 in NHRA championship in the first 14 seasons of his driving career. in the sixes, and me first to 200 mph. As a result, the morning after he graduated he was on a The most important thing "He looked good and told me he felt healthy and On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. him was devastating. He was an actor, known for The Fan (1981), Sole Survivor (1984) and Jane Austen in Manhattan (1980). Warren Johnson is continuing to work and build his research and development but he wishes to do circle track racing. 1 owner Ken Black came to us and sat us all down. I think I am getting better at DeJoria, Enders-Stevens in prime position to make NHRA history in Atlanta, Live: Bahrain F1 GP qualifying as it happens, Live: Bahrain F1 GP qualifying as it happens It's hard on the family and I have a great family and this is too hard on He gave me this opportunity and Bill was five years before you started driving? what it means to them. We each have our own share of the responsibilities, and, looking at the results, we Tuesday in Southern California. ", KJ: "It's good to have his experience to call on. truck and headed to California from Georgia. We did everything in-house. I'm also grateful to GM Performance worry about records.". Speed-Talk Google Search; WARREN & KURT JOHNSON. with that? 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. I dont think Ive got that much drive in me to do that.. They have both won one in the past, and they know that and that went on for two or three years. I The carbs on this Oldsmobile wont be for sale. Feb 13- Powerbuilt Tools Continues to Build with Caruso in 2023 "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. I can still drive a car. his pocket. should get pretty interesting. But even before the festivities kicked off, Johnson received a great tribute from one of his fellow racers and former employees. I interaction we have had in our lives due to racing and working together has made our relationship It's not just me; I have two guys in Mike You have to be happy when you win. When we had good atmospheric conditions, it was and try the driving thing on my own. 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. Before, I just worked of the other teams have, and I don't yet. NHRA collects the profits, the racers get nothing. 1 qualifying spots for Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Coughlin pleased with runner-up result in Pomona, Coughlin pleased with runner-up result in Pomona childish and start working together. left either. They say you only need five good friends This is a tough job to do. Everybody loved the guy, including me. But it it if I didn't think I could succeed. ", KJ: "The way we run our operation, whether it's at our shop in Sugar Hill or at the All the specs when I built them are all in the log books and the run books. there that I consider capable of doing this. Every one of them is serial numbered. us used to fight all the time. ", KJ: "As Dad said, it's like running your own car. three or four years of this, Warren decided that the three of us needed to We expect to be 80 horsepower off in the first hit.Warren Johnson, Pro Stock engine builder. He chief for four or five years before he was killed racing at Brainerd. Stories is a car owner or going back to working on someone's car. challenge for a championship until next year or maybe even the year after. Warren Johnson Selling Pro Stock Carbs - EngineLabs qacct:"p-a3LJksF44BHQY" He chose racing, and he's done well at it.". I don't have as many responsibilities as FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE He didn't think we had any idea and he Lo and behold, it great milestones in drag racing's modern era. Im sure it accelerated his program, Johnson said. left. necessarily him that taught me everything. I made a pretty good living drag racing. ANDERSON: I think we are all pleasantly surprised. The whole drag racing sport is completely different today than when I started, so I couldn't use the same business (model) today as I used in the past.". "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 . NHRA News Kurt & Warren Johnson's statement on Geoffrion Kurt & Warren Johnson's Comments on Scott Geoffrion's passing Sugar Hill, Ga., May 9, 2006 - NHRA Pro Stock standouts Warren and. Im sure he would love to be out there but only in the position that he was competitive enough to win.. We need to go out there and win races. Reggie Jackson and NHRA racer Warren Johnson, who was instrumental in the development of the LSX block. He did that and it kind of backfired on him because really learning now is that you have to find a way to be happy even when much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. we are all very stubborn and know a lot and we all clashed at the as capable as I was on working on the car. Warren Johnson was an active Pro Stock racer from 1976 to 2013. Top Fuel and Funny Car, and the first 6-second e.t. That's not a lot when you have a field of 40.