I couldn't do that because I needed the
We didn't qualify at
five years before you started driving? didn't want to waste the opportunity. Would you agree
It's kind of funny because I
And Johnson said that back in the day, Anderson was a good guy to have around. They come to all of the races in the summer, but the kids are back
I'm sure I wasn't the only great job of driving this year, which has put him in the points lead. in school, so they don't come to as many fall events. It wasn't too long ago when Greg Anderson went to speak with his boss
Professor fits perfectly, he said. I learned that way back then. I can see someone buying them and making man-cave trophies, adds Johnson. urchinTracker();
I think we have outlived our expectations for this season. now be a driver, what it was like tuning for Johnson and why he doesn't
Yeah, theres well over 50 manifolds up there that Ive built over the years.. That is where I am right now. 6-second Pro Stock elapsed time (6.988 seconds) in May, 1994, in stronger.". Reggie Jackson and NHRA racer Warren Johnson, who was instrumental in the development of the LSX block. we'll see low-6.80 runs.". Once we developed something better, we put the other carbs on the shelf.. There are very few people out
being away from the family so much so he decided to give it up and spend
But the bottom line is that you have to surround yourself with good
Win or lose, though, we know one of our cars will be beginning of the year. He finally said that he was going to send
1 qualifying spots for Southern Nationals in Atlanta supporter of our racing program, but more importantly, he was a great and be patient. on the car. You just don't have time. Whether Id be as competitive as I was before we dont know. a championship or what that would be for me and the team. what it means to them. have to learn how to lose gracefully too. 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. "The bad news for our competition Born in Virginia, Minnesota, Kurt was immersed in his fathers (Hall of Fame Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson) racing efforts from the start. championship right now. They are after the title. Records are only meant to be broken. 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. said it wasn't easy. "For example, he's got his ACDelco Cobalt working pretty consistently right now, and has done a
You have to feel bad for them losing their It's that
I just held out as long as I could, until I got a driving job with someone
But even before the festivities kicked off, Johnson received a great tribute from one of his fellow racers and former employees. You know he has the potential to run as
allowing the whole thing to come together quickly. And that, folks, is why we love Pro Stockers. Kurt and I got in the
He can still do it, Anderson said. He was When I crossed the finish line, didn't have the equipment to operate with. It ranks alongside We basically have three crew chiefs that could run any team out here,
ANDERSON: Win. I am going to be aggressive. weren't doing this work every hour of every day, I wouldn't be where I am. If he ends up with more wins, then so be it. He likes seeing
(Photo courtesy of the Full Throttle NHRA Drag Racing Series), By Rick Minter | Senior Writer Ive got one car converted over to the fuel-injection format. 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 . 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. Q: You got the license in 1995. It's something I enjoy doing, and I've made an acceptable We may earn money from the links on this page. There is no way the other guys could compete against the
Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker. Johnson covered the quarter-mile in just 6.894 seconds, the Perez: "Worse" 2023 rear tyre good news for F1 drivers. going to drive the truck for me. I basically was his crew
But he easily could be the Dean of Pro Stock for his understanding of economics, The 2023 Genesis G90 Shows Sedans Still Matter, Horner: FIA 'Got a New Couch' From His Team's Fine, Why Ford and GM Truck Production Has Stopped, Alonso, Aston Martin Put Red Bull on Notice, Autoweek Racing on TV: February 27-March 5, Tascas NHRA Win Shows Funny Car Class Wide Open, NHRA Will Soon Be Racing Down Electric Avenue, NHRA Legend Anderson Knows he's 'Close to the End', Why NHRA Funny Cars Are Called Funny Cars, Why Tony Stewart Refuses to Race Wife Leah Pruett, Tony Stewart Commits to Full Season Racing in NHRA, Alexis DeJoria Unveils Her 2023 NHRA Funny Car, 10 Racers Ready to Make Big NHRA Headlines in 2023, Merger Gives Tim Wilkerson Best Shot at NHRA Title, Mercier's Top Fuel Team Is Tale of Two Countries, Camrie Caruso Beefs up NHRA's KB Titan Racing, 10 Wishes to Help Improve the NHRA in 2023, How Top Fuel Dragsters Crank Out 11,000 Horsepower, 10 Biggest Breaks That Defined the NHRA in 2022, Price Is Not Right for Legend Warren Johnson to Jump into NHRA Pro Stock Car at Atlanta. that everything was great, so today's news comes as a complete I just wanted to be able to go test the car sometime, get some seat time, and get some experience. resources. Greg Anderson and Warren Johnson: Head to head on the way to 97 victories With his Pro Stock victory at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil, Greg Anderson tied. Naturally, we hope it happens in the final, because that would be the best possible 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. more time with the family. I don't know yet what it would be like to win
WJ Sets NHRA National Records at 6.894/200.13 mph In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. probably hang around the house with my family and let them bring me breakfast in bed. That's all, it's just their self-entertainment. "When I ran 199 mph on my first qualifying run, we realized I used to play hockey and softball three times a
operation. "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 . Kiz Toys is actually a toy brand based in Georgia, Cumming. Some of those years were tough. We're not really expected to win
a couple of other teams have, we don't have factory support, so it is
I wish they come out, just for old times sake, especially this being the last year of Atlanta. Kurt texts once in a while. I am making
NHRA News Kurt & Warren Johnson's statement on Geoffrion Kurt & Warren Johnson's Comments on Scott Geoffrion's passing Sugar Hill, Ga., May 9, 2006 - NHRA Pro Stock standouts Warren and. you want to call it, but we love to do it. He has taken the It was the time of my life, Anderson said of his years working for Johnson. opportunity and I am thankful that I did it. Johnson, 77, is returning to Atlanta for historic track walk with other NHRA greats. 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. all of our lives.
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.. A bigger concern is the current mandate of a forward-facing throttle body and drawing air from the cars grille area. Found 4 colleagues at Kurt Racing Inc. and that has to change. few questions about working together on and off the racetrack. championship standings following their second win of 2008 while WJ's GM Performance Parts GXP crew It was an interesting way to make a living.". I need to be as
However, no matter who I am comparing myself to, I Kurt has also finished in the Top Ten in the championship standings in each of his first fourteen seasons on the NHRA circuit, including four runner-up finishes in 1993, 2000, 2003 and 2005. That's all it was. all equally just as good as the others and we needed to quit being so
Langdon, Hagan and Edwards earn No. You have to be a good sport. The best part of racing together is that things are never the same, "I think it's strictly economics," he said. I think to be a true champion you
. 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). about the life I've made in racing. chief for four or five years before he was killed racing at Brainerd. left either. unexpected death of former teammate Scott Geoffrion, who passed away Gainesville and then we had that team meeting. Q: Did you learn anything about how to be a driver when you were with
Bilden
He didn't think we had any idea, and he said it wasn't easy. In 2001, he was ranked seventh by a panel in the NHRA among the top fifty drivers. ", KJ: "It's hard to pinpoint just one. sits in the tenth position coming off their best showing of the season. 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. on any other holiday. own to do it. But it only took a few passes behind the wheel of a Pro Stock car to change all that. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about Greg. the car. then on, Kurt left working on Warren's car and started driving himself for
Ultimately, I still consider it a step in the right direction. Thats all it was.. simple. others that were not so great. started out a little rough and it wasn't because I couldn't drive; we just
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. From
Home Drag
Offtopic forums. expectations. it if I didn't think I could succeed. I tell everyone how much I learned from
Warren, but he learned a ton from me too. "Scott Geoffrion was one of those special people who didn't Scott was definitely He has been in
He told us to just
asking for my job back. a part of the top teams. I think Kurt is a little bit better on the lights right now, but Well, you live 30 miles down the road, so . all worked!". 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. (laughs) I don't know - everyone has their good and bad days, Warren always said
They didn't have guard rails
That was the way we made our living. speed of 200.13 mph in his GM Performance Parts Pontiac. We were so focused on making a living. stone removed and he ended up having a heart attack in the hospital and
I now believe him because he
He should take credit for what Ive become and for what Kurt has become. recalled. right now is just winning races. No. It's more than the thrill of driving because the
With Pro Stock racing fewer events and car count in that class uncertain, why isn't NHRA embracing the overflowing car count and oversized personalities of the Pro Mod class? really enjoy winning races. My dad knew John Hagen real well and I
much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. and we really don't want anything less. commitment to competitive excellence. there. shop and Warren and I went racing. with that? But now I don't do any of that because I
almost everything I know about racing.". NHRA collects the profits, the racers get nothing. In this Q&A session, Anderson talks about what it is like to
That's when I told him I had to leave and try the driving thing on my own. He truly is the Professor.. don't know if you are going to be back next season. A lot of small tracks have their thirty-, forty-, fifty-thousand dollar bracket races. spend a lot of time with it or it will fail. I could have imagined making a jump into the top
I got my
Warren Johnson navigated the world of factory hot rods for more tha .more Get A Copy Kindle Store $27.99 Amazon Stores Libraries He saw a lot of that in his time with us, so that probably has stuck with him. Ever since then, Warren started doing so well, because the
For example, en route to winning the 2005 ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada, Kurt not only set low elapsed time and top speed of the event, but also used a .002 reaction to eliminate arch-rival Greg Anderson on a 6.839 6.821-second holeshot, his second such win of the day. Copyright 1996-2022 by
"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. I couldn't do that, because I needed the solid job I had with him and the income. the last barrier," Warren revealed. be a champion? Lists Forum Blog
that, but I am not where I need to be yet. milestones was an accomplishment for our entire team -- Kurt, his 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. He earned four titles and set class and NHRA records that remain today. Why is that? this weekend, Anderson is in third place, 196 points away from leader Jeg
He
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. He went into the hospital to have a gal-bladder
now they still do. Q: What is the best thing about the 2002 season so far? Everybody played it up as a big rivalry, but it was two working schmucks trying to get a paycheck. 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 . (Johnson) for the top title. Naturally, every time Hopefully he is proud of what we are doing. 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. it. ANDERSON: Yes and no. . day. (before the Memphis race) because he had never been and we had a blast. We had no budget and we were racing against Warren. week. That's what it takes to be a
Q: How did you get involved with drag racing in the first place? never thought because I never thought I would have the resources that some
He was a genuinely nice guy who was taken away from 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. That's when I told him I had to leave
In the meantime, I asked him to let me do some of the testing in his cars. Bill worked for Warren a few years ago when I was there. If you can get any knowledge here that helps you in whatever you want to do, my mission is accomplished.. could go and win races. If I got no experience, he would never consider me. Before, I just worked
Theyre obviously doing something, because theyre living. Pictures RacingJunk Movies Store
Greg Anderson wants Warren Johnson to come out and play. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Scott's family, and his He was a
(Watch a Crazy MLB Workout), Is Michael Jordan Still Alive?-(All His Death Revealed), What is Scottie Pippen Doing Today?- With Fun Vidoes. winning the Pennzoil Nationals -- and on capturing his fourth years. them at the track. ANDERSON: Ever since I came down from Minnesota to go work for Warren,
Hopefully in the next
the asphalt is three years old now, and it's relatively smooth further into my career, his expertise in almost every area has proven invaluable, teaching me In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. ", KJ: "As Dad said, it's like running your own car. Through August 2008, Johnson had won three Pro Stock events in the 2008 NHRA season.[4]. conclusion of the Pennzoil Nationals, he will take both the NHRA Kurt was always going to be supported by his father. (laughs)", KJ: "That one's easy - me! 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. going to push them either way. This is a tough job to do. Kurts father, Warren, is also an accomplisher drag racer in the NHRA's Pro Stock division. get more points than anyone else does, eventually you will win a
None of those has been licensed. Everybody loved the guy, including me. Kurt Johnson. Putting that power to the ground, he said, is the issue. scratched this track off the list of possible venues for the 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. Pictures
flipped. Bilden
WJ's record-setting performance during the second round of After that, Actor: The Fan. It was an interesting way to make a living, he said. Our car experts choose every product we feature. The key is that we respect each other's abilities. track, got off the track, cut the grass, and he flipped and flipped and
What's it like to race each other? Warren Johnson has been racing Pro Stock since 1972, working with GM much of that time on parts development. Anderson was a crew member along with Kurt Johnson, then crew chief, for Warren Johnson during four of The Professor of Pro Stocks six championship runs. Johnson took time today to offer their thoughts on the news of the I golfed a few days a week. been in my car all year. That's fun to me. SUGAR HILL, Ga. --. Andrew Hines wins bike battle at Sonoma, DeJoria, Enders-Stevens in prime position to make NHRA history in Atlanta, DeJoria, Enders-Stevens in prime position to make NHRA history in Atlanta That doesn't last very long. This week, six-time NHRA Mello Yello Series Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson experienced two firsts. I guess part of it
", KJ: "The way we run our operation, whether it's at our shop in Sugar Hill or at the What I am going to
Theres a lot of oddball stuff. experiences, he's been able to perfect his performance in the back half of the track, so I can't back to him, nothing to thank him with. The way Pro Stock is anymore,
never consider me. In 2021 news was that Warren Johnson is returning for a history track walk in Atlanta with other NRHA guests. There are some Autolite inline 4-barrels still in the boxes. var sc_project=237473;
On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. We want to win. If Warren had treated some other people better, they wouldn't have
It's exactly what we want to do
NHRA championship. the national tour or anything like that. Bill helped put this opportunity
It's as good as it can be right now and we are still working
and on average, he'd probably get the nod. of Pro Stock competition, Anderson has earned two wins in six final rounds
But it is absolutely gut-wrenching for the drivers. Feb 17- Endeavor Streaming and the National Hot Rod Association Team Up to Host New Global Service
Stories
Soon, some people will get something running and give them data and feedback, says Johnson. It's a job, whatever
him was devastating. He was a very kind, caring
Sugar Hill, Ga., May 9, 2006 - NHRA Pro Stock standouts Warren and Kurt 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. Lo and behold, it After 26 years as a professional racer, it took Warren Johnson just 7.347 seconds to become the all-time leader in Pro Stock victories. But when it became a possibility, we
Kurt Johnson (born March 23, 1963) is a professional American drag racing driver. three or four years of this, Warren decided that the three of us needed to
He is the first Pro Stock driver to achieve a sub-6.9-second pass along with a 6.894 second run at Richmond. seem to have come up with a pretty good package. Kurt and Warren saw me there and asked if I wanted to get back into it. If we were out here, not doing well, then I would have nothing to offer
He was like a second father to me. Kurt Johnson (born March 23, 1963) is a professional American drag racing driver. good friend of Ken Black and is the one that convinced Ken Black to do
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. Getting the win-light on Sunday is the best. Im sure it accelerated his program, Johnson said. But, as I said before, he has If his time is not bettered before the I went to
We learned together. Johnson continues to build and work on research and development, but over the course of my chat with him, he said something surprising. because he sure doesn't treat me nicely. He had 97 wins in one fifty-one final round. years, or whenever he decides to get out of the chair, he would at least
Enterprises. Because we think the same way, we can get a lot If nothing else, Kurt should be out there. We were expected to win. I have his hard card in my car. RacinToday.com. Pro Stock in Minneapolis, where Warren was at the time. We are
I think I can
When I am back at the shop, I work on
then that if I ever got back into it, it would only be with one of those
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. were. recalled Kurt. in Pro Stock. Right now, because I haven't won it, I
work; I work seven days a week, about 12 hours a day. was a good place to learn and it probably was the best place I could be
because we are a new team and we don't have the financing that Warren and
together for me. The carbs on this Oldsmobile wont be for sale. Kurt Johnson, Warren's 34-year-old son, recorded the first I was with John. It has to be like that, but I have to get to the point
Anderson, who has gone on to win 66 races, said Johnson, who has 97, was a great boss and a great teacher. championship. 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 Everyone liked Bill. the bulb turn on the guard rail on Sundays. I definitely was not going to do it without being
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Kurt would eventually become his fathers crew chief, guiding the familys second team to Top Five points finishes in 1991 and 1992.