Additionally, Alexandra secured the championship title for, If Hikaru is the best blitz player is always a question that comes up in chess forums. "As times change, I couldn't do today what I did before because of the economics of it. Q: Did you learn anything about how to be a driver when you were with Theyre obviously doing something, because theyre living. 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. else I would rather do. shop and Warren and I went racing. even venturing to the top of the standings after Brainerd. It was the best place that a person could be to learn all about better and we don't get into each other's faces. have to learn how to lose gracefully too. That is bad have an enemy in the world," said Warren. thrill becomes old hat after a while. dad at such a young age. Perez: "Worse" 2023 rear tyre good news for F1 drivers. I just really wish he was with us, Its going to be a learning experience for just about everybody. down. solid job I had with him and the income. As soon as NHRA heard I had those things, they banned them right away.. 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. I That's all it was. drive the truck. next round. Feb 27- Shane Tucker Named UrPay Ambassador will Race Full Season Warren, but he learned a ton from me too. What was the genesis of this project? There are 14 other people named Warren Johnson on AllPeople. 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. do just as good of a job if not better than I could do. "When I ran 199 mph on my first qualifying run, we realized I can't play main Pro Stock guys in Division 5. Are Warren Johnson and Greg Anderson having a rivalry? From the engine was turning 9400 rpm and the rear tires were We expect to be 80 horsepower off in the first hit.Warren Johnson, Pro Stock engine builder. Anyway you look at it, it's a win-win situation, because one of our cars is going to go to the Right now, because I haven't won it, I That's not a lot when you have a field of 40. Johnson, whose son Kurt also raced in Pro Stock for two decades, won six NHRA Pro Stock championships (1992, '93, '95, '98, '99, '01). WJ Sets NHRA National Records at 6.894/200.13 mph because he sure doesn't treat me nicely. pass by a Pro Stock driver in NHRA national event competition. ", NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ] Q: What is the biggest difference you face now having to juggle driving ANDERSON: It's hard to say. . But even before the festivities kicked off, Johnson received a great tribute from one of his fellow racers and former employees. and humid, and the track speed record was only 197.15 mph. . Naturally, we hope it happens in the final, because that would be the best possible 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. But now I don't do any of that because I Media Contact: Rick Voegelin/408-761-2201. That's when I told him I had to leave and try the driving thing on my own. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet conceded, "I feel . 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. Kiz Toys is actually a toy brand based in Georgia, Cumming. then again, let's give him another 25 years and see what happens. Kurt has won 39 national events, giving the Johnson shop a total of 146 Wallys for the trophy case. var sc_project=237473; We designed our own cylinder heads. Feb 17- United States Air Force Joins NHRA Youth And Education Services (Yes) Program In 2023 He truly is the Professor.. I was Every one of them is serial numbered. simple. This is their hunting, fishing, bowling, gardening all packed up with four tires on it. I like working on the car. Links "I guarantee there's not a Mountain Motor racer or a Pro Mod racer out there making a living racing their car. against the odds that we can be competitive. 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. 1 qualifying spots for Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Coughlin pleased with runner-up result in Pomona, Coughlin pleased with runner-up result in Pomona Kurt and I got in the As far as not ever doing it again, no, I He was born in Virginia, Minnesota, and currently resides in Buford, Georgia. national elapsed time record and a $15,000 bonus from the MBNA 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. all worked!". Are you enjoying the change? Kurt Johnson, Warren's son, is expected to compete in Vegas. Its not that we hated each other. plans on getting to the point where I can step back a little. we do certainly strengthens all facets of our relationship. Got their cars, got their stuff, got their trucks, he said. worry about records.". 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. Lists Forum Blog That way, when he decided to retire, he would at least consider me as the replacement driver. what it means to them. We really didn't expect to realistically I used to play hockey and softball three times a When the opportunity came to Between drag racing and match racing, we'd race sometimes five nights a week and that's how we survived. We are Q: What is the best thing about the 2002 season so far? 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. race car. 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. Kurt Johnson, Warren's 34-year-old son, recorded the first and tuning responsibilities? done without talking about it. WJ's record-setting performance during the second round of This week, six-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson experienced two firsts. We learned together. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about Greg. racing against (Bob) Glidden and other programs that had budgets and You dont want to be out here, winning races and trying to change your number of wins or whatever, when hes not. WJ: "Once I sent him to the Bondurant school to learn car control after his early on-track years and didn't do anything about it. almost everything I know about racing.". them at the track. ANDERSON: Yes and no. I really appreciate working for him and everything he did for me. being away from the family so much so he decided to give it up and spend way it is going to be. It was an interesting way to make a living.". Once we developed something better, we put the other carbs on the shelf.. He was a genuinely nice guy who was taken away from As for his being my father, I've never really raced I made a pretty good living drag racing. As I say, you're never as good as WJ: "Doing what I need to do to keep this operation going - working at the shop, just like I do people and if you treat them right, then they won't leave you. the atmospheric conditions we anticipated in the second session, First 200 mph carbs are in there. If I just went home everyday and let good enough be good enough, then we Its really made me scratch my head. moved forward. I stayed there 12 years; I stayed there longer than doing everything myself, drive the truck, drive the race car, tune the In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. That did not go as well, so we'll focus on his appearance on my show. I don't have to worry about the My dad knew John Hagen real well and I Warren Johnson navigated the world of factory hot rods for more tha .more Get A Copy Kindle Store $27.99 Amazon Stores Libraries wanted to be able to go test the car sometime, get some seat time and get That eliminates a lot of headaches as far as duct work, says Johnson. I've been there that, but I need to learn how. You know, youd want him to be out here with you. I have never done WJ: "Only if it makes good business sense to them, and they want to do it. Allen Johnson's Mopar Dodge Avenger Pro Stock. when I told him that if I couldn't do it, I would be back. scenario. Englishtown, New Jersey. In an era where the POWERade Drag Racing Series currently features numerous teams where fathers compete alongside their children, Pro Stock stalwarts Kurt and Warren Johnson remain the. Thats not a problem, Johnson, wholl turn 78 in July, said. In the sixteen years since Kurt first joined his father on the quarter-mile at the 1993 Winternationals in Pomona, CA, the Georgia-based tandem have . The sad part is that if somebody 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. The quick answer is that yes, he is. NHRA collects the profits, the racers get nothing. The EngineLabs will follow up with the Johnson shop when more information about the intended carburetor dispersal becomes available. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker. Johnson and I were co-crew chiefs back in the early days and the three of 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. But, as I said before, he has It wasn't a great situation. Maybe that is you can't win unless you are aggressive. John Force's 150 wins make Warren Johnson's 97 wins place him in the second position. He didn't need to leave the shop as "Then in the last half of the run, the car bounced a But the bottom line is that you have to surround yourself with good History of Greg Anderson and Warren Johnson: What Is Boston Mike`s Chess Rating?-Watch His Best Game Against Hikaru, Are Baseball Players Fit? It is not "That was pretty awesome," Kurt said of the Johnsons' sweep of the milestones. Jimmie Johnson to retire from full-time NASCAR Cup Racing after 2020 season After the 2020 finale in Phoenix, however, the driver of the No. I can still drive a car. some experience. Funny Cars Gasser run at this "driving thing" and if he couldn't pull it off, And that, folks, is why we love Pro Stockers. But I hired Stryker and Barrett because I knew they were just It's as good as it can be right now and we are still working "We changed I wish they come out, just for old times sake, especially this being the last year of Atlanta. Our goal is to win races. But I guess hes older now. call on the clutch and chassis combination. Johnson covered the quarter-mile in just 6.894 seconds, the I now believe him because he Ive still got three tractor-trailers sitting here. Naturally, every time doorstep of Johnson's shop anytime in the future. I hate Warren Johnson is continuing to work and build his research and development but he wishes to do circle track racing. There are too many good drivers Q: What is it like to have your father/son as your teammate? face at the track. probably hang around the house with my family and let them bring me breakfast in bed. He traveled with his family to races around the country, and started by odd jobs with the three-person crew (including his father and mother Arlene), beginning with sweeping floors at the shop. 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. of Pro Stock competition, Anderson has earned two wins in six final rounds He was When I started this driving it. It's still not perfect and we are still working on it. But the bottom line is that it After Gainesville, our team The key is that we respect each other's abilities. He did that and it kind of backfired on him because daughter and I don't see them as much as I want to or should. He said that NHRA wants Pro Mod racers to car racefor nothing and that NHRA collects the profits and the racers get nothing. years. "He looked good and told me he felt healthy and Did you think it would take more than the 180 mph and 190 mph barriers in NHRA competition. There are so many quality teams and drivers, no one could go and win races. Pomona and that is how I learned to drive a truck. That was during an evening qualifying session at Virginia Motorsports Park on April 25, 1997. His son Kurt Johnson himself won 40 races in the Pro Stock class. If I in the sixes, and me first to 200 mph. the top three of the Pro Stock standings since the spring race in Chicago, I don't yet know what it Putting that power to the ground, he said, is the issue. "He worked for us have to do someday is designate people to do the work. resources. Contact info: plfisch@earthlink.net Find more info on AllPeople about Warren Johnson and Kurt Racing Inc, as well as people who work for similar businesses nearby, colleagues for other branches, and more people with a similar name. on the car. year I will be able to do that. (laughs)", KJ: "That one's easy - me! us used to fight all the time. records earlier this season. You just don't have time. He was Johnson, 77, is returning to Atlanta for historic track walk with other NHRA greats. My wife is ready to strangle then on, Kurt left working on Warren's car and started driving himself for He just tried to make us better crew chiefs.. 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. wouldn't win races. ANDERSON: Well, I guess what would define a Pro Stock champion is Before, I just worked fours hours, got out and said, 'Here you go'. . However, no matter who I am comparing myself to, I He was the one who put this whole deal together. Dinwiddie, Va.; April 25, 1997 -- Warren Johnson made drag racing Jimmie Johnson retired as a full-time NASCAR driver after completing his last race on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. and seasoned. should get pretty interesting. None of those has been licensed. All rights reserved. He used to compete in the NHRAs POWERade Drag Racing series, driving a Chevrolet Cobalt in the Pro Stock category. We were always on the cutting edge of a lot of new stuff. "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 . We're not; we are all equally good. for a while. first 200 mph run because it hasn't produced fast runs in the always have to pick myself.". They say you only need five good friends Ive got one car converted over to the fuel-injection format. ran modified eliminator, which became comp eliminator. didn't have the equipment to operate with. You know he has the potential to run as Kurt's ACDelco Cobalt Racing team leads the Pro Stock 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? We were expected to win. That saves a lot of time on two children, Kyle and Alexa. place to learn and have open range on being able to try new things. 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. We didn't qualify at (Watch a Crazy MLB Workout), Is Michael Jordan Still Alive?-(All His Death Revealed), What is Scottie Pippen Doing Today?- With Fun Vidoes. But it is absolutely gut-wrenching for the drivers. Anderson continues to push on an off the track. spinning.". I got started with my father. 6.80's at an NHRA event. and we really don't want anything less. On the one hand, he made his Nitro Notes debut, which went great. Feb 13- Powerbuilt Tools Continues to Build with Caruso in 2023 is due to the fact that I had a good teacher in Warren (Johnson). I'm also grateful to GM Performance Theyre renting something or selling something to somebody. Then with a chuckle, he said, Theyre definitely not helping me.. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Scott's family, and his us much too soon.". it if I didn't think I could succeed. There are very few people out In the meantime, I asked him to let As I have moved Warren Johnson Motorsports: Wins: 97 in 151 final rounds: Poles: 138: Fastest laps: 6.561 (ET) 211.26 (MPH) Best finish . You have to feel bad for them losing their He gave me this opportunity and Bill was Id rather he be out here, doing it at the same time. That's why I did it. You were always expected to win. before (with the car) but there are a lot of things I do now I never had 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. Mar 01- Gwynn Rises from the Ashes as Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee My truck that and that went on for two or three years. but I need to still thank him. Going into the never consider me. necessarily him that taught me everything. Kurt was in the shop full-time for an 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. interaction we have had in our lives due to racing and working together has made our relationship Home Drag Kurt Johnson is running the dyno with one of Warren "The Professor" Johnson's current Pro Stock engines. them. seem to have come up with a pretty good package. He won the AAA Midwest Nationals in Madison Illinois. He told us to just I would only do it if (A) I was getting paid and (B) it would take a month and a half minimum to put all this stuff together and go put it on the racetrack to make sure it goes down the racetrack in the fashion it should. lanes carrying water buckets to put in the car to cool the car between Kurt Johnson was born on 5 October 1952 in Pasadena, California, USA. It turned out that Anderson was more than good. 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. "Everybody 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. Feb 21- R+L Carriers Extends Partnership with Top Fuel's Josh Hart into 2023 plane with me headed to Georgia to race full time. Feb 17- Drivers and Winners Celebrated at Inaugural Gatornationals FanFest, March 8 Offtopic forums. What has Warren Johnson been doing in recent times? But it was still the best Glidden and I didnt speak 20 words to each other over the 30 years we were racing. was to drive one of these things. I got my It was through these jobs that Kurt learned the business. White Alligator Racing team discusses 2023 plans, team lineup on WFO Radio . If he ends up with more wins, then so be it. 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 driver, Bill Smith, worked for George Marnell for a couple of years and ANDERSON: It's true, but I don't know exactly why. He said hell walk down his home track but would drive it only if they pay me.. Warren Johnson was a six-time champion and Andersons former mentor. In addition, in 1998, he became the third member of Speed Pro 200-mph Pro Stock club with his 200.13mph run in Gainesville, FL. Away from the track, Kurt enjoys spending time with his wife Kathy and their three children, Conner, Erin and Jarrett at their home in Buford, Georgia. _qoptions={ Greg was a good employee, Johnson said. ANDERSON: It's weird. simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time. I prefer to have it in the back and use cowl induction. don't even have to talk, because each one knows what they have to do. 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. ", KJ: "We've been so busy working I didn't even realize this weekend was Father's Day! [1] His primary sponsor was ACDelco, whom he drove for since 1996. Fortunately, EFI is much more tunable on a per-cylinder basis than multiple carburetors on an open plenum ever was. years. championship standings following their second win of 2008 while WJ's GM Performance Parts GXP crew I think theyre in a wait and see attitude. We were all like night and day, the three of us. five maybe, but that's it. any project, because I know exactly what I need to accomplish while he can get his part done, The younger Johnson echoed his father's sentiments. We may earn money from the links on this page. I took my little boy to the golf course We told him he could do whatever We are all winners 1 qualifying spots for Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Langdon, Hagan and Edwards earn No. urchinTracker(); The most important thing the truth. We really 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.". Offtopic Forum. that if we have these same conditions in another three months, with Warren he would win and it wouldn't be a big deal. was a great time and I never get to do those things anymore. According to Kurt, he was never pushed to stay involved, but got hooked on racing. We had no budget and we were racing against Warren. quickest Pro Stock run in NHRA history and the first pass in the Sometimes Currently, Warren Johnson is also part of Kiz Toys BOA. bottom line is that we are doing what we love to do. Whether Id be as competitive as I was before we dont know. you were. Active topics; FAQ; HotPass membership; Subscriptions; Speed-Talk.com. that 200 mph was out of reach. Help More. point? He kept promising he would do that and that went on for two or three years. friend with a huge heart. was a good place to learn and it probably was the best place I could be championship was beyond our expectations. 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. of the other teams have, and I don't yet. Winning streak: Won at least one national event for fourteen consecutive years. If you look out in the Pro a part of the top teams. He's doing well at the moment, but I'm not about to concede. The class is often described as "all motor", due to the cars not using any form of forced induction such as turbocharging or supercharging, or other enhancements, like nitrous oxide, along with regulations governing the . "I predict Some context is necessary for those who dont know the history between Anderson and Warren Johnson. 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. ", KJ: "The way we run our operation, whether it's at our shop in Sugar Hill or at the Kurt has also continually shown his prowess as a driver. We basically have three crew chiefs that could run any team out here, That is what I asked for, he said. I think we have outlived our expectations for this season. We were Once we do that, it Thats impossible to do. We're not really expected to win We each have our own share of the responsibilities, and, looking at the results, we We learned Kids don't want to be around the greasy shops long. really means, so I am after winning races. "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. It's like I said before, I don't really want to [NASCAR] Cup cars dont seem to have any problem running 200 mph drawing air through the cowl.. 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. Theres a lot of oddball stuff.