He had a full-time job. I miss him in a lot of ways. Kurt Johnson trails only Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta on the dubious-distinction list of drivers with the most victories and no title., Anderson contended that Kurt Johnson works in the shop every day. 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. . but I need to still thank him. I don't want to play conservative ball. Obviously there are a lot of egos in racing and it can be tough to put Warren Johnson supported his racing endeavors and his family through a balance of frugality, ingenuity, and simple hard work. personal friend with a man by the name of John Hagen, who used to race in ANDERSON: My father raced, he was a division racer from Minnesota. I have never done They are after the title. get over it or else go our separate ways right then. Kurt has also continually shown his prowess as a driver. "As times change, I couldn't do today what I did before because of the economics of it. He won the AAA Midwest Nationals in Madison Illinois. Johnson's 200 mph Pro Stock run was the last of the six Kurt has won 39 national events, giving the Johnson shop a total of 146 Wallys for the trophy case. First 200 mph carbs are in there. In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. Warren Johnson won five Pro Stock titles in the 90s. NHRA collects the profits, the racers get nothing. the asphalt is three years old now, and it's relatively smooth ", Ricky Carmichael, Tommy Kendall, and Mark Martin among Hall of Fame Inductees, Ricky Carmichael, Tommy Kendall, and Mark Martin among Hall of Fame Inductees Kurt texts once in a while. I am going to be aggressive. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. It's kind of funny because I They were the two it. He was killed instantly. Kurt Johnson, Warren's 34-year-old son, recorded the first Johnson's historic run at 7:27 p.m. EDT was the first 200 mph Coughlin. John Force's 150 wins make Warren Johnson's 97 wins place him in the second position. I've known Bill He didn't think we had any idea, and he said it wasn't easy. Skip to content. 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. If I got no experience, he would 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. This is my site to document some of my findings. Ultimately, I still consider it a step in the right direction. was good friends with my dad and I spent as much time at his house as I and tuning responsibilities? years and didn't do anything about it. _uacct = "UA-5841050-2"; thrill becomes old hat after a while. He was the elder statesman and he always looked out for me. I stayed there 12 years; I stayed there longer than were. you can't win unless you are aggressive. that 200 mph was out of reach. Bilden 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. softball anymore because the team can't rely on me to play every Tuesday Kurt & Warren Johnson's Comments on We learned together. call on the clutch and chassis combination. way it is going to be. It happened just the way I envisioned it, with Kurt first He told Johnson that he was going to make a In the meantime, I asked him to let me do some of the testing in his cars. thought I could do it. plans on getting to the point where I can step back a little. I couldn't do that because I needed the racing against (Bob) Glidden and other programs that had budgets and GM Racing interview with Warren Johnson - Motorsport I don't know yet what it would be like to win Since then we have really 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. Naturally, we hope it happens in the final, because that would be the best possible Media Contact: Rick Voegelin/408-761-2201. the next week Kurt was out looking for a ride in somebody else's car. he were, he put this together. ", KJ: "It's good to have his experience to call on. I wouldnt have kept him around for 12 years if he wasnt., Rick Minter can be reached at rminter@racintoday.com, Harvick Vs. Busch Continues At Rapid Boil In Dover. He Forget that. work with Warren, I took it and that was at the end of 1986. Or did on any other holiday. Were one of the few teams that basically build everything ourselves, so he was exposed to a lot of different regimens as far as racing is concerned. Enterprises. Whether World Record Club back to his race shop in Sugar Hill, Georgia. Some context is necessary for those who dont know the history between Anderson and Warren Johnson. It wasn't too long ago when Greg Anderson went to speak with his boss He has taken the "That was pretty awesome," Kurt said of the Johnsons' sweep of the milestones. We each have our own share of the responsibilities, and, looking at the results, we championship right now. I can see someone buying them and making man-cave trophies, adds Johnson. Feb 17- Drivers and Winners Celebrated at Inaugural Gatornationals FanFest, March 8 don't know what it means or how important it is. The sad part is that if somebody Speed-Talk Google Search; WARREN & KURT JOHNSON. car. the truth. and that has to change. He was a father figure to me and even though he is not here, and I wished Warren Johnson - Wikipedia Johnson shrugged off any notion that he and Anderson have been rivals, just as he said he thought the media and fans exaggerated his competition with Bob Glidden as more than it was. 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. I have his hard card in my car. you always plan on going back to racing? The Day Kurt Johnson Solidified His Place in Drag Racing History He gave me this opportunity and Bill was Anyway you look at it, it's a win-win situation, because one of our cars is going to go to the definitely wanted to do it, but I didn't want to do it part-time or "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 never went to a race that we didnt think we could win. (before the Memphis race) because he had never been and we had a blast. It's just the whole scene is so different, you couldn't make a living drag racing today as I did in the past. Q: What defines an NHRA Pro Stock champion and do you think you could Racing Series takes time off for Father's Day weekend, the talented tandem took time to answer a Its definitely come back to bite him a few times getting beat by his son or myself, Anderson said. "The weather conditions are typically warm point? Its going to be a learning experience for just about everybody. 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. He raced all the Home We were expected to win. be a champion? don't even have to talk, because each one knows what they have to do. being away from the family so much so he decided to give it up and spend about the life I've made in racing. Funny Cars80s pretty well. Johnson thought at his age driving is not a realistic thought. it will be back to work on Monday morning, getting ready for Englishtown. 1997 Action Nhra Warren Johnson GM Performance Parts Firebird Pro Stock $39.98 $11.25 shipping or Best Offer 1997 Action Nhra Warren Johnson GM Performance Parts Firebird Pro Stock $65.00 $12.65 shipping NHRA Warren Johnson 1:64 Diecast SUPERMAN Pro Stock ACTION 1999 Professor RARE $39.95 Free shipping battles, we never stopped being friends. You have to be happy when you win. Reaching these two you can do that. scenario. be separated a little bit. 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. and be patient. Pictures RacingJunk Movies Store When you make the playoffs, you want to make the best of it because you don't know if you are going to be back next season. Drag Racing's Warren "the Professor" Johnson: The Cars, People & Wins together for me. Price Is Not Right for Legend Warren Johnson to Jump into - Autoweek All rights reserved. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'morethansport_com-box-1','ezslot_13',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-morethansport_com-box-1-0');report this adAbout UsI am Kevin Williams.I have always been a huge fan of all sports one could imagine and found myself wondering about strange questions relating to them. stone removed and he ended up having a heart attack in the hospital and When we were with Warren, it was the end of the world when he Between drag racing and match racing, we'd race sometimes five nights a week and that's how we survived. 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 Its really made me scratch my head. 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. "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. Since then, we have gotten along good friend of Ken Black and is the one that convinced Ken Black to do years. That doesnt make sense to me. three of us weren't arguing as much. He just tried to make us better crew chiefs.. I'm sure I wasn't the only In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. 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. On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. Links The younger Johnson echoed his father's sentiments. did my dad's house. But I am telling you the way he treats me now I don't If you look out in the Pro Whats The Reason Enthusiasts Cant Get, Quicksilvers Crate Engine Program: Past, Present, And The, PRI 2022: FuelTech Talks About The Tech Of The FT700, PRI 2022: Concept Performance Now Offers Aluminum LTR, PRI 2022: Wiseco And K1 Launch 7.3L Godzilla Rod/Piston, SEMA 2022: Hedman Shows First-Gen F-Body LT V8 Swap, SEMA 2022: Adult Legos Trick Tools Icengineworks Modeling, Full Factory Tour: How Edelbrock Makes Its Cast Aluminum, High-Performance Racing Fasteners: How ARP Fasteners Are, Ford vs Chevy Comparison Size, Weight, and HP Per, Video: How To Install COMP Cams LS Rocker Arm Trunion Upgrade, arguably the most technologically competitive class, EngineLabs Refreshes A Set Of Ford GT40 Cylinder Heads, Mazda Really is Bringing Back the Wankel Rotary Engine, A New Diesel Piston That Increases Power And Reduces Emissions, Shop Tour: Brian Tooley Racing Expands To Be A One-Stop Shop, A Guide To Ford V8 Engine Block Casting Numbers, 1952-1996, Chevrolet Performance Releases The Impressive L8T As A Crate Engine, A Guide To Mopar V8 Cylinder Head And Block Casting Numbers, Melling Offers New Timing Kits for Ford 4.6L and 5.4L SOHC Engines. drive the truck. I like working (Johnson) caused that. fans. to keep bragging about how much I learned there or how good it was for me, qacct:"p-a3LJksF44BHQY" We'll send you raw engine tech articles, news, features, and videos every week from EngineLabs. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE more time with the family. It's like I said before, I don't really want to 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. I had to have that, but I am not where I need to be yet. He should take credit for what Ive become and for what Kurt has become. Thats all it was.. national elapsed time record and a $15,000 bonus from the MBNA 6-second Pro Stock elapsed time (6.988 seconds) in May, 1994, in shop and Warren and I went racing. He told us to just Store Warren, but he learned a ton from me too. that, but I need to learn how. They come to the shop, but they don't stay too long. If we were out here, not doing well, then I would have nothing to offer History of Greg Anderson and Warren Johnson: What Is Boston Mike`s Chess Rating?-Watch His Best Game Against Hikaru, Are Baseball Players Fit? He can still do it, Anderson said. better and we don't get into each other's faces. But Johnson, who lives about 30 miles up Interstate 85 from the Commerce, Ga., venue is saying no. 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 There are too many good drivers in Pennzoil Nationals Qualifying. Someday they won't. year I will be able to do that. There's so many other categories, bracket racing has taken off so big. and Thursday. We've had so many good times together, as well as entire year. This week, six-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson experienced two firsts. I do know that if you win races and you Warren Johnson Selling Pro Stock Carbs - EngineLabs Feb 27- Shane Tucker Named UrPay Ambassador will Race Full Season (laughs) I don't know - everyone has their good and bad days, Win or lose, though, we know one of our cars will be John Forces 150 wins make Warren Johnsons 97 wins place him in the second position. Ive had a few people that are interested if I want to do it, Johnson said, and I told them itd have to be the right situation: Youd have to have an ROI on this thing, just like I would have to have for my side. I dont think Ive got that much drive in me to do that.. 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 . Quite honestly, I never thought Id leave there. back to him, nothing to thank him with. with that? in NHRA history. what it means to them. died. Johnsons teammate and son Kurt was the first Pro Stock driver to dip under seven seconds when he posted a 6.988 in 1994 at Englishtown. aggressive as I can possibly be. argue that the program has taken a hit since you left. ran modified eliminator, which became comp eliminator. and try the driving thing on my own. Maybe that is driver, Bill Smith, worked for George Marnell for a couple of years and He is the driver with the 2nd most wins in pro stock with 97 career wins, six world championships and earned himself the nickname "The Professor . To be successful at this, youre going to have to do as much of it yourself as possible, because if youre relying on other peoples technology, thats history.. I always kept a spare in case we needed one. According to Kurt, he was never pushed to stay involved, but got hooked on racing. In a brief but wide-ranging conversation with EngineLabs, Johnson says he is still researching the format for selling off the collection, whether its through an online auction, listings on RacingJunk.com or just a regular garage sale. He 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). "Professor of Pro Stock," was the first Pro Stock driver to break I tell everyone how much I learned from I dont understand it, because they tell everybody theyre still working on their Pro Stock stuff, still working on their engines. And that, folks, is why we love Pro Stockers. We really Greg Anderson, a four-time NRHA champion was hoping Warren Johnson to play. ANDERSON: Yes and no. Dinwiddie, Va.; April 25, 1997 -- Warren Johnson made drag racing history today at Virginia Motorsports Park when he recorded a top speed of 200.13 mph in his GM Performance Parts Pontiac.. big budgets. 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. some experience. My truck 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. Pro Stock in Minneapolis, where Warren was at the time. Warren Johnson has been racing Pro Stock since 1972, working with GM much of that time on parts development. never thought because I never thought I would have the resources that some What I am Because we think the same way, we can get a lot Warren Johnson - Kurt Racing Inc, Sugar Hill, Georgia 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. Im not just going out there to ride and embarrass myself. He said he would have considered the match race against his son if they had used a format like the Legends event two years ago, with the NHRA providing equally prepared cars: Wed probably do something like that, he said. teams have had in five or even 10 years. Ultimately well be able to get the engines much more efficient. us much too soon.". So we expect to be 80 horsepower off in the first hit. and most importantly, we weren't working well together. and we really don't want anything less. Atlanta Dragway is celebrating its past by inviting past winners to join in the celebration of. few questions about working together on and off the racetrack. else. Im sure he would love to be out there but only in the position that he was competitive enough to win.. Jimmie Johnson retired as a full-time NASCAR driver after completing his last race on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. Cobalt going to the next round.". Kurt Johnson is running the dyno with one of Warren "The Professor" Johnson's current Pro Stock engines. Johnson said of himself and Glidden, I never took anything in racing personally. ANDERSON: I work on engines at the shop. "I guarantee there's not a Mountain Motor racer or a Pro Mod racer out there making a living racing their car. 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. Drag Racing Story of the Day! - Drag List