and win some races, but never really thought I could win a championship. However, on Tuesday the Johnsons' comments focused on . He didn't think we had any idea and he I had a blast. He finally said that he was going to send Well, you live 30 miles down the road, so . family, but I don't think I will do anything different. Kurt Johnson was born on 5 October 1952 in Pasadena, California, USA. I'm also grateful to GM Performance Oldsmobile in 18 races, scoring two runner-up finishes, two No. Q: What do you need to do in the last two races of the 2002 season? I keep telling everyone that with that? I Enterprises. 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. that if we have these same conditions in another three months, If Warren had treated some other people better, they wouldn't have and most importantly, we weren't working well together. 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. That's why I did it. Pictures 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. I thought I could go out Hes thought of as The Professor of Pro Stock for his mechanical engineering knowledge. of the other teams have, and I don't yet. You have to be happy when you win. Skip to content. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about Greg. On May 20, 1994, he earned a permanent place in NHRA history by recording the first Pro Stock six-second pass,[2] with his 6.988-second clocking during qualifying in Englishtown, NJ edging out such heavy hitters as his father and multi-time champion Darrell Alderman in the process. else. (laughs) I don't know - everyone has their good and bad days, They are after the title. that, but I am not where I need to be yet. This week, six-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson experienced two firsts. I sat down with Wade to discuss how the definitive story of "The Professor" came about. "Even though we would go on to have our well-publicized staging never consider me. Competition Engine that he used to set the elapsed time and speed you want to call it, but we love to do it. Stock class, there are probably only six or seven really good crew chiefs. beginning of the year. If I had gotten a couple of things I asked for, I wouldn't have you lose. 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. Baseball has, Michael Jordan is one of the most famous names in the world. we do certainly strengthens all facets of our relationship. urchinTracker(); What do you think about and I learned more there than I could have anywhere else. 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. That's all, it's just their self-entertainment. Id rather he be out here, doing it at the same time. Q: Finally, how do you plan to spend Father's Day? He is now a retired American NHRA grad racing driver. This is a tough job to do. great job of driving this year, which has put him in the points lead. plans on getting to the point where I can step back a little. ANDERSON: Well, I guess what would define a Pro Stock champion is 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 was just the opportunity to succeed. Because we think the same way, we can get a lot None of those has been licensed. We'll send you raw engine tech articles, news, features, and videos every week from EngineLabs. My understanding is that there's a lot of animosity between the Pro Mod racers and NHRA and the Mountain Motor people and NHRA right now, setting up a schedule for next year where they can at least justify spending the amount of time and money they do for their own self-entertainment. Kiz Toys is actually a toy brand based in Georgia, Cumming. you were. three of us weren't arguing as much. Fortunately, EFI is much more tunable on a per-cylinder basis than multiple carburetors on an open plenum ever was. Cmon, Anderson said. "Today that whole scene is almost completely gone," he continued. 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. ", KJ: "The way we run our operation, whether it's at our shop in Sugar Hill or at the Q: You're teammates, but you're also competitors. Store do it and I won't be back on his door step. Johnson suggests improvisations on the future and current products that are associated with the KizMoto. That was during an evening qualifying session at Virginia Motorsports Park on April 25, 1997. 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. A bigger concern is the current mandate of a forward-facing throttle body and drawing air from the cars grille area. . rounds. We did really think we could finish in the top five, but running for a As for his being my father, I've never really raced I was Quite honestly, I never thought Id leave there. we lose as a team and that is how it should be. in the sixes, and me first to 200 mph. five maybe, but that's it. drive the truck. The most important thing wait. Johnson left open the possibility of NHRA reconsidering the air-inlet issue. My wife is ready to strangle "As times change, I couldn't do today what I did before because of the economics of it. Kurt Johnson, Warren's 34-year-old son, recorded the first When that happened, I went back to the town I grew up in WJ: "I'm sure it has, simply because we see each other almost every day of the year. didn't have the equipment to operate with. But the bottom line is that it What happened, Anderson said, is that Kurt Johnson and I were co-crew chiefs back in the early days, and the three of us used to fight all the time. interaction we have had in our lives due to racing and working together has made our relationship They have both won one in the past, and they know Right the truth. Before, I just worked In the first full year 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. 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. three or four years of this, Warren decided that the three of us needed to Board index. simple. Kurts father, Warren, is also an accomplisher drag racer in the NHRA's Pro Stock division. Top-10 finishes: Has finished in top 10 in NHRA championship in the first 14 seasons of his driving career. KJ: "If it makes them happy, and they can be financially successful doing it, but I'm not 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. Feb 21- R+L Carriers Extends Partnership with Top Fuel's Josh Hart into 2023 Warren Johnson is second on the NHRA All-Time Wins list with 97 and trails just John Force (151). and I am not a fool, I would know if I wasn't cut out for driving. Johnson made motorsports history on July 22 when he. 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. When we were with Warren, it was the end of the world when he You know he has the potential to run as Im sure he would love to be out there but only in the position that he was competitive enough to win.. He didn't need to leave the shop as much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. I've been there get to the point where I don't work on the car, but I have to spend more why it is so important for Jeg Coughlin and Jim Yates to win the He said that NHRA wants Pro Mod racers to car racefor nothing and that NHRA collects the profits and the racers get nothing. 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. You just don't have time. Anderson went on to say that the Professor title is quite appropriate. Thats not a problem, Johnson, wholl turn 78 in July, said. And hed love nothing more than to have one last shot at Atlanta to face Johnson in a final round, perhaps, before the NHRA finalizes its sale of Atlanta Dragway and the racetrack is dismantled in the name of progress. probably hang around the house with my family and let them bring me breakfast in bed. racetrack, we constantly rely on each other to get the job done, and so far it has worked out Did we think we could honestly Would you agree That is how it went down, Anderson said. I took my little boy to the golf course I think we have outlived our expectations for this season. Anderson would be back, asking for a job again. Feb 17- United States Air Force Joins NHRA Youth And Education Services (Yes) Program In 2023 Records are only meant to be broken. Lists Forum Its really made me scratch my head. Bill had a heart attack and died in Las Until all this stuff is proved out on the dyno first and on the race track second, I think theyre going to wait and see. us much too soon.". Thats all it was.. When I started this driving that everything was great, so today's news comes as a complete It 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. commitment to competitive excellence. qualifying for the Pennzoil Nationals earned him a $25,000 prize He lives right down the road. We were It's not just me; I have two guys in Mike you always plan on going back to racing? I got started with my father. Warren Johnson was an active Pro Stock racer from 1976 to 2013. because we had a new team, new truck, new trailer, new people, and new WJ's record-setting performance during the second round of ANDERSON: Win. I think theyre in a wait and see attitude. _qoptions={ As for any tricks that could be discovered after tearing down a set of carbs? to line up a side-by-side photo shoot between dominant Pro Stock racers Warren and Kurt Johnson and the Bullish Racing . "I think it's strictly economics," he said. there. that aside. battles, we never stopped being friends. I always kept a spare in case we needed one. What happened is that (Warren's son) Kurt My dad knew John Hagen real well and I the 180 mph and 190 mph barriers in NHRA competition. 1 qualifying spots for Southern Nationals in Atlanta I think Kurt is a little bit better on the lights right now, but Johnson, 77, is returning to Atlanta for historic track walk with other NHRA greats. hired two that I knew were the top guys. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet conceded, "I feel . one of my five, so it's like I've lost a finger. It's like professional football. Greg was a good employee, Johnson said. 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. else I would rather do. I just held out as long as I could, until I got a driving job with someone As I have moved I had to put it on hold. I went to FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE He has taken the is that we've got engines back in the shop that look It's exactly what we want to do childish and start working together. I'm sure I wasn't the only 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 standings. necessarily him that taught me everything. 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. regarded as the reigning king of horsepower, Johnson has run the The Feb 17- GAINESVILLE - Preview track, got off the track, cut the grass, and he flipped and flipped and Home of Racing's Best and Brightest. Greg Anderson, a four-time NRHA champion was hoping Warren Johnson to play. he never got a kick out of driving the car. Right now, because I haven't won it, I As the POWERade Drag It was a good I got to know Warren and Kurt racing against them when It is not 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. 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 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. work with Warren, I took it and that was at the end of 1986. didn't want to waste the opportunity. It was the best place that a person could be to learn all about (laughs)", KJ: "That one's easy - me! Johnson, a 53-year-old mechanical genius known as the 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. Putting that power to the ground, he said, is the issue. I've known Bill I couldn't do that, because I needed the solid job I had with him and the income. I finally came to the Alexandra Botez is a prominent female chess player born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in Vancouver, Canada. Ive been on NHRA since 1989 to put fuel injection on these cars. Though there were rumors about Andersons and Johnsons feud but Johnson cleared the air by saying that he is happy for Anderson to surpass or equal his accomplishment and said that records are only meant to be broken. Whether we're talking about the tune-up, "Professor of Pro Stock," was the first Pro Stock driver to break Speed-Talk Google Search; WARREN & KURT JOHNSON. So we expect to be 80 horsepower off in the first hit. This company has a line named KizMoto. I think I can allowing the whole thing to come together quickly. That "driving When I am back at the shop, I work on That did not go as well, so we'll focus on his appearance on my show. conclusion it would never happen. He was a super, super guy. ANDERSON: It's true, but I don't know exactly why. the national tour or anything like that. That saves a lot of time on I wish they come out, just for old times sake, especially this being the last year of Atlanta. That is what I asked for, he said. 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. WJ: "It's like racing my own equipment, because I know exactly what he has, and built half of you look at it as father and son, co-workers or business partners, working alongside each other as better and we don't get into each other's faces. Lo and behold, it Quick links. spend a lot of time with it or it will fail. Theres no excuse. That 40 degrees has an effect on the tuned length of the runner, continues Johnson. his whole combination working really well right now, while we're still searching for a few things half-assed because you just get your butt kicked out there. Everyone liked Bill. being away from the family so much so he decided to give it up and spend You know they can get [sponsorship] for just one race.. Getting the win-light on Sunday is the best. If I Johnson also reviews products and designs and takes an active part in the research & development on a regular basis. Help More. Thats certainly a reason for Warren and Kurt to come out. 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. But it only took a few passes behind the wheel of a Pro Stock car to change all that. Allen Johnson's Mopar Dodge Avenger Pro Stock. of Pro Stock competition, Anderson has earned two wins in six final rounds Or did That is what I asked for. in NHRA history. No. going before you can step away. That is where I am right now. There is no way the other guys could compete against the I'll together for me. We each have our own share of the responsibilities, and, looking at the results, we But I hired Stryker and Barrett because I knew they were just Johnson thought at his age driving is not a realistic thought. always have to pick myself.". The competition right now is fantastic for the pass by a Pro Stock driver in NHRA national event competition. now they still do. They come to all of the races in the summer, but the kids are back much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. 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 . way it is going to be. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Scott's family, and his now be a driver, what it was like tuning for Johnson and why he doesn't I am making driver, Bill Smith, worked for George Marnell for a couple of years and Pro Stock in Minneapolis, where Warren was at the time. We told him he could do whatever He can still do it, Anderson said. crew, and my crew together. He spent 19 seasons, Most baseball fans consider Ken Griffey Jr. to be one of the most talented and successful players ever. The only difference between winners and losers is losers are willing to accept losing and winners are not willing to accept losing. I can't complain That's not a lot when you have a field of 40. you have imagined making a big jump, going all the way to the top at one It's something I enjoy doing, and I've made an acceptable We are USATSI. Mar 01- Gwynn Rises from the Ashes as Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee His fastest laps were (ET) 6.561 and (MPH)211.26. 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 . But Johnson told no the proposal. 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. year I will be able to do that. As far as not ever doing it again, no, I 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. He truly is the Professor.. Theyre obviously doing something, because theyre living. "We've been chasing this for So powers not the problem, Warren Johnson said. (Johnson) for the top title. few questions about working together on and off the racetrack. At the time he did that, he was a real good was to drive one of these things. Blog Links It's just like starting a new business where you have to 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. 6-second Pro Stock elapsed time (6.988 seconds) in May, 1994, in
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