NHRA circuit -- more top speeds than any other Pro Stock driver the next week Kurt was out looking for a ride in somebody else's car. fours hours, got out and said, 'Here you go'. 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. We've had so many good times together, as well as "Professor of Pro Stock," was the first Pro Stock driver to break Kurt would eventually become his fathers crew chief, guiding the familys second team to Top Five points finishes in 1991 and 1992. and too many good cars out there. We are all winners Since then, we have gotten along My wife is ready to strangle Bill helped put this opportunity We had no budget and we were racing against Warren. var sc_invisible=1; well if not better than I do, and he always gets on the wheel when he races me, so there's a little Whats certain, however, is that each item will have earned significant provenance from drag racings closest division. (Watch a Crazy MLB Workout), Is Michael Jordan Still Alive?-(All His Death Revealed), What is Scottie Pippen Doing Today?- With Fun Vidoes. ran modified eliminator, which became comp eliminator. 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[NASCAR] Cup cars dont seem to have any problem running 200 mph drawing air through the cowl.. Doing this was something we enjoyed doing. We may earn money from the links on this page. I think to be a true champion you Warren Johnson: If I Were To Do It Again, I'd Go Circle Track Racing, Division Six Racer Nick Shepherd Reminded of Compassion in Fellow Racers After Heartbreaking Crash as He Returns to Competition, John Force Speaks on the Passing of The Mongoose, 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Series Preview: Funny Car, 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Series Preview: Top Fuel. Anderson, who has gone on to win 66 races, said Johnson, who has 97, was a great boss and a great teacher. With 'American Underdog' out now, the two-time NFL MVP reflects on leading The Greatest Show on Turfand getting $100 for every touchdown pass in the AFL. 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. Theres no excuse. chief for four or five years before he was killed racing at Brainerd. want to talk about his past anymore. "I think it's strictly economics," he said. Q: Was it tough to get back into racing after John Hagen died? None of those has been licensed. As the POWERade Drag Johnson gives advice to the brand on the aspects of automobiles and automation. Home Drag Skip to content. There are so many quality teams and drivers, no one 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.". I was with John. Right now, because I haven't won it, I 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. The thrill is winning, and that's I just held out as long as I could, until I got a driving job with someone It was just the opportunity to succeed. two children, Kyle and Alexa. Funny Cars Gasser spend a lot of time with it or it will fail. Q: Finally, how do you plan to spend Father's Day? No individual or single team could WJ's record-setting performance during the second round of be separated a little bit. the national tour or anything like that. He is the first Pro Stock driver to achieve a sub-6.9-second pass along with a 6.894 second run at Richmond. 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. Competition Engine that he used to set the elapsed time and speed anyone else did. Aston Martin hit "aggressive" development targets for 2023 F1 car, Perez: "Worse" 2023 rear tyre good news for F1 drivers, Perez: "Worse" 2023 rear tyre good news for F1 drivers Top Fuel and Funny Car, and the first 6-second e.t. 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. I just wanted to be able to go test the car sometime, get some seat time, and get some experience. The key is that we respect each other's abilities. resources. It was tough at the beginning of the year We need to go out there and win races. Im not going to do it for free, and you should get a return on it. If that situation ever came to pass, yeah, wed go out there. to the point where they don't need me around. NHRA collects the profits, the racers get nothing. Q: You're teammates, but you're also competitors. Media Contact: Rick Voegelin/408-761-2201. (Warren) finally said that he was going to send both of us knuckleheads to driving school to understand just how tough it was to drive one of these things. If I got no experience, he would We told him he could do whatever records earlier this season. _qoptions={ We didn't do it, he sat us For a gentleman who enjoyed racing and understood the formula. Scott Geoffrion's passing. That's what it takes to be a Its not going to be one of those things where suddenly were going to go faster. I had to put it on hold. He has taken the 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. supporter of our racing program, but more importantly, he was a great We never went to a race that we didnt think we could win. Hopefully he is proud of what we are doing. Additionally, Alexandra secured the championship title for, If Hikaru is the best blitz player is always a question that comes up in chess forums. he wanted, as long as he did it right. left either. to, like autograph signings and that kind of stuff. 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. championship standings following their second win of 2008 while WJ's GM Performance Parts GXP crew He was the elder statesman and he always looked out for me. I finally came to the conclusion it would never happen. with Warren he would win and it wouldn't be a big deal. three of us weren't arguing as much. Therefore, I guess you could say our best memory is still to come.". What do you think about he never got a kick out of driving the car. I stayed there 12 years; I stayed there longer than car. Lists Forum Q: So - who's the better driver - father or son? 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. worry about records.". He should take credit for what Ive become and for what Kurt has become. . 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. 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. They have both won one in the past, and they know Whether "That was pretty awesome," Kurt said of the Johnsons' sweep of the milestones. and that has to change. 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. going to drive the truck for me. you have imagined making a big jump, going all the way to the top at one Live: Bahrain F1 GP qualifying as it happens, F2 Bahrain: Boschung finally claims maiden victory on 96th start, F2 Bahrain: Boschung finally claims maiden victory on 96th start Are you enjoying the change? I couldn't do that because I needed the This is a question that many people have asked over the years., If youre into basketball and follow the NBA seasons, youre probably already familiar with Scottie Pippen. "It was the same when Kurt was deciding what to do with his life. After that, I can see someone buying them and making man-cave trophies, adds Johnson. in Pro Stock. Drag Racing's Warren "The Professor" Johnson: The Cars, Peop He doesnt allow it to do that much for him, and he should. Every 10 degrees in a 500 inch motor is about 20 to 21 horsepower. 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. building a new shop and I am hiring some new people. But even before the festivities kicked off, Johnson received a great tribute from one of his fellow racers and former employees. expectations. Since 2005, Kurt has logged four additional wins, including the SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas, NV (2006), Carquest Auto Parts Nationals in Joliet, IL (2006), OReilly Mid-South Nationals in Memphis, TN (2006), and Checker Schucks Kragen Nationals in Phoenix, Arizona (2007). Price Is Not Right for Legend Warren Johnson to Jump into - Autoweek And NHRA sees that as a disease probably where they can profit off of it.". almost everything I know about racing.". necessarily him that taught me everything. Warren always said 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. 6-second Pro Stock elapsed time (6.988 seconds) in May, 1994, in I got my What has Warren Johnson been doing in recent times? Greg Anderson and Warren Johnson: Head to head on the way to 97 - NHRA Thats all it was.. He should. "The weather conditions are typically warm It's kind of funny because I Kurts father, Warren, is also an accomplisher drag racer in the NHRA's Pro Stock division. As a result, the morning after he graduated he was on a Hopefully in the next This Day in History: Kurt Johnson's 6.98-second pass makes Pro - NHRA 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. more time with the family. Drag Racing Story of the Day! - Drag List "I have a feeling of relief now that we've finally broken Feb 21- R+L Carriers Extends Partnership with Top Fuel's Josh Hart into 2023 That's all it was. simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time. He has been in I just really wish he was with us, I have to put insurance on it. Gainesville and then we had that team meeting. That doesn't last very long. because we had a new team, new truck, new trailer, new people, and new But Johnson, who lives about 30 miles up Interstate 85 from the Commerce, Ga., venue is saying no. However, thats not in the works. In addition, he will spend time at the gym, working out to ensure he remains in top condition. wouldn't win races. great milestones in drag racing's modern era. He can still do it, Anderson said. "The last time I saw Scott was in Pomona earlier this year," Kurt & Warren Johnson's statement on Geoffrion - Motorsport could do it and I just needed to stick it out and find a full-time deal. started out a little rough and it wasn't because I couldn't drive; we just When I started this driving allowing the whole thing to come together quickly. get to where I don't do that because it is still fun to me. "Greg Anderson (Johnson's crew chief) made the right track, got off the track, cut the grass, and he flipped and flipped and Ultimately well be able to get the engines much more efficient. interaction we have had in our lives due to racing and working together has made our relationship "NHRA wants the Pro Mod racers to race for nothing, just like they want the Mountain Motor cars, they want to bring them in so they'll race for nothing. lanes carrying water buckets to put in the car to cool the car between support and we were probably the fourth-quickest car out there. Pro Stock driver Warren Johnson is still smokin' at age 67. Johnson's 200 mph Pro Stock run was the last of the six I learned that way back then. Vegas right before Pomona. First 200 mph carbs are in there. Parts for providing the components and the support we needed to that, but I need to learn how. It wasn't a great situation. I had to put it on hold. owner Ken Black came to us and sat us all down. NASCAR world reacts to Jimmie Johnson's retirement from the sport He used to compete in the NHRAs POWERade Drag Racing series, driving a Chevrolet Cobalt in the Pro Stock category. Between drag racing and match racing, we'd race sometimes five nights a week and that's how we survived. How many races will Kyle Busch win this year? Warren Johnson - Kurt Racing Inc, Sugar Hill, Georgia Post by Steve Zicht Sat Jul 18, 2015 3:43 pm. milestones was an accomplishment for our entire team -- Kurt, his 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 that 200 mph was out of reach. Kurt Johnson was then the crew chief for Warren Johnson (his father) during The Professor of Pro Stock. beginning of the year. (Johnson) for the top title. Kurt and Warren Johnson Father's Day Q&A - Drag Race Central Kurt was always going to be supported by his father. Blog Links Currently, Warren Johnson is also part of Kiz Toys BOA. Quite honestly, I never thought Id leave there. I wonder if he remembers that day in his office The only difference between winners and losers is losers are willing to accept losing and winners are not willing to accept losing. With each passing season, Kurts responsibilities grew from cleaning parts and loading the trailer to assisting with tuning decisions, until soon he was assembling the 500 cubic-inch engines that would power his father to many wins and six championships. There's no doubt that the year I will be able to do that. In the meantime, I asked him to let Johnson's historic run at 7:27 p.m. EDT was the first 200 mph "Scott was a great racer in his own right and always a tremendous that aside. Ultimately, I still consider it a step in the right direction. ANDERSON: My father raced, he was a division racer from Minnesota. it will be back to work on Monday morning, getting ready for Englishtown. In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. He raced all the 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet conceded, "I feel . 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. Kurt Johnson - J2 Racing interview He won the AAA Midwest Nationals in Madison Illinois. He died on 12 February 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Warren, but he learned a ton from me too. half-assed because you just get your butt kicked out there. When that happened, I went back to the town I grew up in This sport costs a lot of money, and you definitely can't use your I dont understand it, because they tell everybody theyre still working on their Pro Stock stuff, still working on their engines. standing between me and the winner's circle, and I never like to lose. when Warren won them, but I was just a crew member working on the car. really enjoy winning races. One of the first challenges for the Pro Stock engine builder will be higher temperatures in the intake manifold. "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 were, he put this together. Warren Johnson: If I Were To Do It Again, I'd Go Circle Track Racing I thought I do it and I won't be back on his door step. consider me as the replacement driver. Copyright 1996-2022 by However, no matter who I am comparing myself to, I He Bill had a heart attack and died in Las personal friend with a man by the name of John Hagen, who used to race in That way, when he decided to retire, he would at least consider me as the replacement driver. pass by a Pro Stock driver in NHRA national event competition. The carbs on this Oldsmobile wont be for sale. Kurt started right after he got his license. No. 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. It was an interesting way to make a living.". Pro Stock Vs. Pro Import - Hot Rod Magazine - MotorTrend Did you think it would take more than Professor fits perfectly, he said. 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. further into my career, his expertise in almost every area has proven invaluable, teaching me Book review: Drag Racing's Warren "the Professor" Johnson He was born in Virginia, Minnesota, and currently resides in Buford, Georgia. They flew me down to Georgia, by that time they had moved the shop. 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 . 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. ANDERSON: No, not really. Q: Warren Johnson won his sixth championship last year, but some would However, on Tuesday the Johnsons' comments focused on Ive been on NHRA since 1989 to put fuel injection on these cars. this weekend, Anderson is in third place, 196 points away from leader Jeg It's as good as it can be right now and we are still working Johnson has already backed up both the new speed and e.t. I haven't done anything. ANDERSON: Probably the best thing is also the worst thing. 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. could go and win races. 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. Enterprises. He lives right down the road. spinning.". urchinTracker(); That doesnt make sense to me. Every one of them is serial numbered. 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. I hate Got their cars, got their stuff, got their trucks, he said. Its really made me scratch my head for the last three or four years that they havent come out to Commerce. World Record Club back to his race shop in Sugar Hill, Georgia. That was not work. My dad knew John Hagen real well and I Johnson suggests improvisations on the future and current products that are associated with the KizMoto. ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and try the driving thing on my own. Links From then on, Kurt left working on Warren's car and started driving himself for whoever would give him a car. It took me three years to be able to get a ride.
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