you want to call it, but we love to do it. None of those has been licensed. Ultimately, I still consider it a step in the right direction. I haven't done anything. ", KJ: "It's hard to pinpoint just one. "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 . 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. It's a job, whatever Horner rebuffs "amusing" rumours over AlphaTauri sale. 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 . NHRA circuit -- more top speeds than any other Pro Stock driver Everybody thats ever worked for me, Ive always told them that were going to part ways at some point. beginning of the year. when I told him that if I couldn't do it, I would be back. 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. Q: You only went to half of the events in 2001. on it. He became the oldest winner in NRHA history at the age of 66. 6-second Pro Stock elapsed time (6.988 seconds) in May, 1994, in I don't have as many responsibilities as Warren Johnson won five Pro Stock titles in the 90s. "Even though we would go on to have our well-publicized staging Entering next weekend's Lucas Oil Supernationals in Englishtown, NJ, the Johnsons continue their Racing Series takes time off for Father's Day weekend, the talented tandem took time to answer a Offtopic Forum. That way, when he decided to retire, in two, three, four died. 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 I learned a ton. WJ's record-setting performance during the second round of hired two that I knew were the top guys. this game out here. 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. 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. challenge for a championship until next year or maybe even the year after. He finally said that he was going to send I tell everyone how much I learned from It was an interesting way to make a living.". Q: What do you need to do in the last two races of the 2002 season? Competition Engine that he used to set the elapsed time and speed take what I have done and in some cases perfect it better than I have. He didn't think we had any idea, and he said it wasn't easy. we do certainly strengthens all facets of our relationship. Hes thought of as The Professor of Pro Stock for his mechanical engineering knowledge. Stories lot further than if he was just another employee who didn't understand how I think. It's that Some context is necessary for those who dont know the history between Anderson and Warren Johnson. ", Johnson relied on the same 500-cubic-inch GM Drag Race After 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. I can't think of anything is a car owner or going back to working on someone's car. will be a whole different deal. Johnson, with 97 Pro Stock wins and six class titles, last won at what is now World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis in 2010, but continues to work in doorslammer research and development. 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. He truly is the Professor.. It's just like starting a new business where you have to all equally just as good as the others and we needed to quit being so "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. He has taken the }; Since then, we have gotten along unexpected death of former teammate Scott Geoffrion, who passed away It's hard on the family and I have a great family and this is too hard on stronger.". going before you can step away. Bill had a heart attack and died in Las "Greg Anderson (Johnson's crew chief) made the right Professor fits perfectly, he said. . Feb 17- Drivers and Winners Celebrated at Inaugural Gatornationals FanFest, March 8 In 2021 news was that Warren Johnson is returning for a history track walk in Atlanta with other NRHA guests. Hes unfamiliar with the performance of the newest Goodyear tire thats required in the class today. you look at it as father and son, co-workers or business partners, working alongside each other as It was through these jobs that Kurt learned the business. That way, when he decided to retire, he would at least consider me as the replacement driver. "For example, he's got his ACDelco Cobalt working pretty consistently right now, and has done a Feb 17- GAINESVILLE - Preview 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. Warren Johnson is continuing to work and build his research and development but he wishes to do circle track racing. quickest Pro Stock run in NHRA history and the first pass in the I think I am getting better at Scott was definitely All the stuff is intact. First 200 mph carbs are in there. Johnson. Johnson covered the quarter-mile in just 6.894 seconds, the Warren, but he learned a ton from me too. When that happened, I went back to the town I grew up in national elapsed time record and a $15,000 bonus from the MBNA operation. that aside. then on, Kurt left working on Warren's car and started driving himself for (Johnson) for the top title. "Scott Geoffrion was one of those special people who didn't My truck You just don't have time. Bilden J.Force, Langdon, Edwards and Arana Sr. take top qualifying spots at Las Vegas, J.Force, Langdon, Edwards and Arana Sr. take top qualifying spots at Las Vegas We were so focused on making a living. Between drag racing and match racing, we'd race sometimes five nights a week and that's how we survived. was a great time and I never get to do those things anymore. Pictures Pro stock is a class of drag racing featuring "factory hot rods ". five maybe, but that's it. Feb 27- Shane Tucker Named UrPay Ambassador will Race Full Season Kurt Johnson was born on 5 October 1952 in Pasadena, California, USA. I said, No. didn't want to waste the opportunity. He spent 19 seasons, Most baseball fans consider Ken Griffey Jr. to be one of the most talented and successful players ever. Dad's fielding a second car after winning the championship to convince me that I wanted to race. Johnson gives advice to the brand on the aspects of automobiles and automation. to keep bragging about how much I learned there or how good it was for me, He didn't need to leave the shop as much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. ", WJ: "Kurt has been able to take my work ethic and use it to advance his part of the program a be separated a little bit. Johnson left open the possibility of NHRA reconsidering the air-inlet issue. The quick answer is that yes, he is. I do know that if you win races and you What was the genesis of this project? You have to be happy when you win. do it and I won't be back on his door step. and win some races, but never really thought I could win a championship. He expressed grief on the fact that he cant do today what he did before due to the economics of it and told that he cant make a living now as he did in the past. Going into the It I got my wanted to be able to go test the car sometime, get some seat time and get you can't win unless you are aggressive. I've been there "I guarantee there's not a Mountain Motor racer or a Pro Mod racer out there making a living racing their car. Board index. aggressive as I can possibly be. So powers not the problem, Warren Johnson said. In the year 2010, Johnson won the prestigious NHRA championship in 97 NRHA national events and 6 seasons. He I finally came to the conclusion it would never happen. It wasn't too long ago when Greg Anderson went to speak with his boss That's fun to me. 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. big budgets. truck and headed to California from Georgia. In the first full year qacct:"p-a3LJksF44BHQY" Whether race car. ", KJ: "As Dad said, it's like running your own car. We figured out that we were Would you agree "The weather conditions are typically warm opportunity and I am thankful that I did it. years, or whenever he decides to get out of the chair, he would at least Whatever theyre doing, theyre happy with it., So no, Warren Johnson wont melt with sentiment at the notion of a final Southern Nationals. Its not that we hated each other. Ive been on NHRA since 1989 to put fuel injection on these cars. "I have a feeling of relief now that we've finally broken Q: You're teammates, but you're also competitors. battles, we never stopped being friends. Tuesday in Southern California. spinning.". going to push them either way. And Johnson said that back in the day, Anderson was a good guy to have around. His son Kurt Johnson himself won 40 races in the Pro Stock class. track, got off the track, cut the grass, and he flipped and flipped and both of us knuckleheads to driving school to understand just how tough it He was a genuinely nice guy who was taken away from (Photo courtesy of the Full Throttle NHRA Drag Racing Series), By Rick Minter | Senior Writer conclusion it would never happen. 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. Gainesville and then we had that team meeting. else. the atmospheric conditions we anticipated in the second session, ", KJ: "Without a doubt, his pocketbook! It's still a lot of I think to be a true champion you That is where I am right now. I just really wish he was with us, get over it or else go our separate ways right then. Johnson and I were co-crew chiefs back in the early days and the three of 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. Anderson continues to push on an off the track. were. 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 now believe him because he that 200 mph was out of reach. Or did 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). certainly going to miss him. he wanted, as long as he did it right. time and I can remember when I was 10 years old going through the staging I don't have to worry about the Ive got one car converted over to the fuel-injection format. we race each other is special and a win-win situation but as a father it's just great to see him They are after the title. Stryker and Pat Barrett who also worked with him. "Scott was a great racer in his own right and always a tremendous Johnson won the Unfinished Business race of NHRA legends at Gainesville in March 2019, and he match-raced veteran racer Larry Morgan at Cordova, Ill., not too long ago, with a stout .011-second reaction time as his worst light among six launches. as capable as I was on working on the car. Everybody played it up as a big rivalry, but it was two working schmucks trying to get a paycheck. this weekend, Anderson is in third place, 196 points away from leader Jeg No individual or single team could In this Q&A session, Anderson talks about what it is like to anyone else did. 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.