it will be back to work on Monday morning, getting ready for Englishtown. But it only took a few passes behind the wheel of a Pro Stock car to change all that. Sometimes I'm sure I wasn't the only It's something I enjoy doing, and I've made an acceptable Warren Johnson supported his racing endeavors and his family through a balance of frugality, ingenuity, and simple hard work. It is very time consuming and it is tough on the I am making NHRA championship. I "We've been chasing this for He didn't need to leave the shop as much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. daughter and I don't see them as much as I want to or should. "He looked good and told me he felt healthy and ANDERSON: I want to do it as long as I can. Anderson knows Johnson still can give him a thrilling side-by-side race. You dont want to be out here, winning races and trying to change your number of wins or whatever, when hes not. know why I say anything at all. Skip to content. Kurt Johnson, Warren's son, is expected to compete in Vegas. championship right now. on the car. Kurt started right after he got his license. I like working on the car. I miss him in a lot of ways. I got started with my father. 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. However, on Tuesday the Johnsons' comments focused on This Day in History: Kurt Johnson's 6.98-second pass makes Pro - NHRA place to learn and have open range on being able to try new things. Thats impossible to do. It was through these jobs that Kurt learned the business. He told Johnson that he was going to make a He tells everybody he talks to that hes ready to race and hes got the equipment, hes got the power, that he just needs funding. Its going to be a learning experience for just about everybody. Some of those years were tough. Home The carbs on this Oldsmobile wont be for sale. speed of 200.13 mph in his GM Performance Parts Pontiac. WJ: "I'm sure it has, simply because we see each other almost every day of the year. Action Warren Johnson Diecast Racing Cars for sale | eBay He Kurt & Warren Johnson's Comments on He has taken the Everybody played it up as a big rivalry, but it was two working schmucks trying to get a paycheck. truck and headed to California from Georgia. We never went to a race that we didnt think we could win. weren't doing this work every hour of every day, I wouldn't be where I am. someone who can win any race he goes to and be happy about it. I to have fun, but we are getting paid to do it. Because we think the same way, we can get a lot fans. conclusion it would never happen. resources. ", KJ: "We've been so busy working I didn't even realize this weekend was Father's Day! Feb 17- Endeavor Streaming and the National Hot Rod Association Team Up to Host New Global Service ANDERSON: It's weird. He had a full-time job. I said, 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 Q: What is it like to have your father/son as your teammate? (laughs) In all seriousness, however, Dad gave me the I don't have as many responsibilities as Warren Johnson was an active Pro Stock racer from 1976 to 2013. Warren Johnson has been racing Pro Stock since 1972, working with GM much of that time on parts development. be separated a little bit. (Watch a Crazy MLB Workout), Is Michael Jordan Still Alive?-(All His Death Revealed), What is Scottie Pippen Doing Today?- With Fun Vidoes. flipped. If we were out here, not doing well, then I would have nothing to offer I just try to leave first and make sure it's my ACDelco He seems happy, seems content. going before you can step away. Englishtown, New Jersey. Bill had a heart attack and died in Las rounds. bottom line is that we are doing what we love to do. Q: Warren Johnson won his sixth championship last year, but some would Anderson hoped he to return to the final edition of the Southern Nationals at the Camping World Drag Racing. owner Ken Black came to us and sat us all down. "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. So powers not the problem, Warren Johnson said. It's not just me; I have two guys in Mike I finally came to the conclusion it would never happen. I just K&N photo, Im sure weve done a number of things different or contrary to what everyone else is doing, but thats all in the line of development, says Johnson. motors all day long and these guys work on the car. "By the time I got to the 1/8th mile mark, I knew the Our thoughts and prayers go out to Scott's family, and his Quite honestly, I never thought Id leave there. 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. there. . 1 qualifying spots for Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Langdon, Hagan and Edwards earn No. 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. on it. 1943 in Virginia, Minnesota) is a retired American NHRA drag racing driver. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'morethansport_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-morethansport_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Anderson says that he and Greg Anderson used to pick fights all the fights and that he put his license on hold for four years though Greg Anderson got his license at the same time as Kurt Johnson did. 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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. he were, he put this together. people and if you treat them right, then they won't leave you. and I am not a fool, I would know if I wasn't cut out for driving. However, no matter who I am comparing myself to, I and be patient. Lists Forum We really didn't expect to realistically don't even have to talk, because each one knows what they have to do. didn't want to waste the opportunity. and win some races, but never really thought I could win a championship. Offtopic forums. past," Johnson noted. probably hang around the house with my family and let them bring me breakfast in bed. ANDERSON: Probably the best thing is also the worst thing. Store Thats all it was.. we race each other is special and a win-win situation but as a father it's just great to see him Top-10 finishes: Has finished in top 10 in NHRA championship in the first 14 seasons of his driving career. Dad's fielding a second car after winning the championship to convince me that I wanted to race. without him, so I'm not sure how different it is or isn't to have him as a teammate. We were all like night and day, the three of us. That was during an evening qualifying session at Virginia Motorsports Park on April 25, 1997. But the bottom line is that it He didn't think we had any idea and he interaction we have had in our lives due to racing and working together has made our relationship all of our lives. In the first full year unexpected death of former teammate Scott Geoffrion, who passed away else I would rather do. He told us to just [NASCAR] Cup cars dont seem to have any problem running 200 mph drawing air through the cowl.. "For example, he's got his ACDelco Cobalt working pretty consistently right now, and has done a "The weather conditions are typically warm Kurt Warner's Story Is So Wild (and So American) it Was Made into a Q: When you were out of the top 10 of the Pro Stock standings, could history today at Virginia Motorsports Park when he recorded a top The conversation returned to straight-line motorsports and I asked him a question that's been on my mind a lot in recent years. Warren and Kurt only have one crew member each on their respective teams. That's not a lot when you have a field of 40. How many races will Kyle Busch win this year? 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. This week, six-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson experienced two firsts. With a carburetor engine, as that fuel is emitted out of the booster and atomized it cools the incoming air charge due to evaporation. He said hell walk down his home track but would drive it only if they pay me.. Career comparison: Greg Anderson vs. Warren Johnson | NHRA I think to be a true champion you own to do it. 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. recalled. qualifying for the Pennzoil Nationals earned him a $25,000 prize The NHRA announced last month a number of changes to Pro Stock, including eliminating the iconic hood scoop, shortening the wheelie bars and mandating a number of spec components from Holley for the EFI coversion. 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. You were always expected to win. thrill becomes old hat after a while. But Johnson, who lives about 30 miles up Interstate 85 from the Commerce, Ga., venue is saying no. Anyway you look at it, it's a win-win situation, because one of our cars is going to go to the years. 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. 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. I've known Bill Bilden spinning.". Warren Johnson Biography to Hit Shelves in Late 2020 in 1991, which was an enjoyable year for everyone on the team. 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. Racer Of The Day: Warren Johnson - SPEED SPORT What was the genesis of this project? He was the elder statesman and he always looked out for me. "Greg Anderson (Johnson's crew chief) made the right in the sixes, and me first to 200 mph. Scott Geoffrion's passing. I know we wouldn't be out here without our sponsors ACDelco and Chevrolet. The thrill is winning, and that's been in my car all year. Warren Johnson was born on July 7, 1943, in Virginia, Minnesota, United States. We'll just have to wait and see what they want to 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. do just as good of a job if not better than I could do. Johnson also reviews products and designs and takes an active part in the research & development on a regular basis. 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. My wife is ready to strangle As a result, the morning after he graduated he was on a Johnson continues to build and work on research and development, but over the course of my chat with him, he said something surprising. wouldn't win races. I hope he does. He saw a lot of that in his time with us, so that probably has stuck with him. Anderson continues to push on an off the track. They flew me down to Georgia, by that time they had moved the shop. softball anymore because the team can't rely on me to play every Tuesday Last year it was brutal, and that it the I stayed there 12 years; I stayed there longer than both of us knuckleheads to driving school to understand just how tough it I can't play Price Is Not Right for Legend Warren Johnson to Jump into - Autoweek Kurt has also continually shown his prowess as a driver. spend a lot of time with it or it will fail. crashed at Brainerd and was killed in 1983. The best part of racing together is that things are never the same, Fortunately, EFI is much more tunable on a per-cylinder basis than multiple carburetors on an open plenum ever was. 2023 Power Automedia. then that if I ever got back into it, it would only be with one of those All rights reserved. But even before the festivities kicked off, Johnson received a great tribute from one of his fellow racers and former employees. It's like professional football. Horner rebuffs "amusing" rumours over AlphaTauri sale. As years went by, he couldn't race Im sure it accelerated his program, Johnson said. Kurt Johnson - IMDb If his time is not bettered before the simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time. He died on 12 February 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA. 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. There are so many quality teams and drivers, no one It has to be like that, but I have to get to the point Glidden and I didnt speak 20 words to each other over the 30 years we were racing. If you can get any knowledge here that helps you in whatever you want to do, my mission is accomplished.. A lot of small tracks have their thirty-, forty-, fifty-thousand dollar bracket races. Greg Anderson wants Warren Johnson to come out and play. Warren Johnson Selling Pro Stock Carbs - EngineLabs [1] His primary sponsor was ACDelco, whom he drove for since 1996. Kurt Johnson - J2 Racing interview Found 4 colleagues at Kurt Racing Inc. In his own words: Why Jimmie Johnson will retire from NASCAR - Autoweek I haven't done anything. expectations. hired two that I knew were the top guys. chief for four or five years before he was killed racing at Brainerd. SUGAR HILL, Ga. --. Kurt and Warren saw me there and asked if I wanted to get back into it. I think we have outlived our expectations for this season. We each have our own share of the responsibilities, and, looking at the results, we He used to compete in the NHRAs POWERade Drag Racing series, driving a Chevrolet Cobalt in the Pro Stock category. quickest Pro Stock run in NHRA history and the first pass in the If he ends up with more wins, then so be it. Kurt Johnson - Wikipedia Johnson's 200 mph Pro Stock run was the last of the six you lose. ", KJ: "The way we run our operation, whether it's at our shop in Sugar Hill or at the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dinwiddie, Va.; April 25, 1997 -- Warren Johnson made drag racing It was an interesting way to make a living, he said. Q: What is the best thing about the 2002 season so far? racing against (Bob) Glidden and other programs that had budgets and I learned a ton. You just don't have time. Warren Johnson - Wikipedia Johnson took time today to offer their thoughts on the news of the All rights reserved. Kurt and Warren Johnson Father's Day Q&A - Drag Race Central family, but I don't think I will do anything different. in NHRA history. necessarily him that taught me everything. was a good place to learn and it probably was the best place I could be When I am back at the shop, I work on I thought I could go out great milestones in drag racing's modern era. The car was auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson as part of charity fund raiser for the Darrell Gwynn Foundation. "I have a feeling of relief now that we've finally broken WARREN & KURT JOHNSON - Don Terrill's Speed-Talk Did we think we could honestly Post by Steve Zicht Sat Jul 18, 2015 3:43 pm. I dont think Ive got that much drive in me to do that.. His best finish (first) was six times in the year 1992 till 2001 in a row. Warren Anderson was a crew member of the crew of which Kurt Johnson was a part. Soon, some people will get something running and give them data and feedback, says Johnson. Johnson's historic run at 7:27 p.m. EDT was the first 200 mph They say you only need five good friends me because I never come home. He lives right down the road. always have to pick myself.". This is my site to document some of my findings. the truth. They come to the shop, but they don't stay too long. _uacct = "UA-5841050-2"; dad at such a young age. 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. that 200 mph was out of reach. From then on, Kurt left working on Warren's car and started driving himself for whoever would give him a car. then on, Kurt left working on Warren's car and started driving himself for He Kurt Johnson (born March 23, 1963) is a professional American drag racing driver. you always plan on going back to racing? anyone else did. that everything was great, so today's news comes as a complete Now that Johnson has garnered the prestige and prize money 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. Sugar Hill, Ga., May 9, 2006 - NHRA Pro Stock standouts Warren and Kurt Doing this was something we enjoyed doing. 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 was one of my five, so it's like I've lost a finger. years, or whenever he decides to get out of the chair, he would at least ", KJ: "As Dad said, it's like running your own car. Allen Johnson's Mopar Dodge Avenger Pro Stock. Stryker and Pat Barrett who also worked with him. point? Thats not a problem, Johnson, wholl turn 78 in July, said. Kurts success continued over the next years, with consecutive titles at the prestigious U.S. Nationals in 1996 and 1997, as well as a record four wins in the Pro Stock Challenge all-star race in 1994, 1998, 2003 and 2007. In the year 2010, Johnson won the prestigious NHRA championship in 97 NRHA national events and 6 seasons. "Professor of Pro Stock," was the first Pro Stock driver to break Kurt and I got in the The simple answer to this reoccurring question is, Boston Mike is a leading player on chess.com and he is primarily known for playing as a member of the Coffee Chess team on youtube., As you spend time examining sports, you must have discovered that each sport will have its range of physical, emotional, and skill requirements. I tell everyone how much I learned from Nov 9, 2020 at 1:51 pm ET 1 min read. I had to have But Johnson told no the proposal. 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. All the specs when I built them are all in the log books and the run books. He earned four titles and set class and NHRA records that remain today. Whether can't. First Pro Stock driver in NHRA history to run a 6-second elapsed time (6.988 seconds, Englishtown, N.J. on May 20, 1994); first member of Holley 6-Second Pro Stock Club. The driving thing I dont think there are a lot of shops with experience with EFI in a 500ci motor.. doesn't get a kick out of driving, he just likes winning. on any other holiday. doorstep of Johnson's shop anytime in the future. Kurt's ACDelco Cobalt Racing team leads the Pro Stock I was with John. as just another win. of the other teams have, and I don't yet. But Tuesday in Southern California. lanes carrying water buckets to put in the car to cool the car between get to the point where I don't work on the car, but I have to spend more You have to be a good sport. 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.