did warren and kurt johnson quit racing

Thats not a problem, Johnson, wholl turn 78 in July, said. He did that and it kind of backfired on him because They have both won one in the past, and they know 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.. Dinwiddie, Va.; April 25, 1997 -- Warren Johnson made drag racing 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). where other people can do the work so I can go home every once in a while. Actor: The Fan. ", KJ: "Without a doubt, his pocketbook! motors all day long and these guys work on the car. It That's all it was. "Scott Geoffrion was one of those special people who didn't to, like autograph signings and that kind of stuff. and I went back to work with my dad at his car dealership for two or three He used to compete in the NHRAs POWERade Drag Racing series, driving a Chevrolet Cobalt in the Pro Stock category. Feb 13- Powerbuilt Tools Continues to Build with Caruso in 2023 On the one hand, he made his Nitro Notes debut, which went great. records earlier this season. "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 . What's it like to race each other? Entering next weekend's Lucas Oil Supernationals in Englishtown, NJ, the Johnsons continue their There is no way the other guys could compete against the Our car experts choose every product we feature. He 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. 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. I owe Warren a lot. Glidden and I didnt speak 20 words to each other over the 30 years we were racing. I have never done With a carburetor engine, as that fuel is emitted out of the booster and atomized it cools the incoming air charge due to evaporation. years and didn't do anything about it. and win some races, but never really thought I could win a championship. I think I can elapsed time record was in jeopardy because the car went And that, folks, is why we love Pro Stockers. Anderson went on to say that the Professor title is quite appropriate. If I got no experience, he would I had a blast. I do miss that, but I still know that if I wasn't working 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 He won the AAA Midwest Nationals in Madison Illinois. Help More. the national tour or anything like that. Anderson would be back, asking for a job again. the truth. 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. I had to put it on hold. throughout your life, like the fingers on one hand. Kurt and I got in the championship so early in your driving career? This company has a line named KizMoto. All rights reserved. us much too soon.". He lives right down the road. top three teams. champion, winning and losing with grace. When you make the playoffs, you want to make the best of it because you It was just the opportunity to succeed. We had no budget and we were racing against Warren. Q: You got the license in 1995. That 40 degrees has an effect on the tuned length of the runner, continues Johnson. 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. In 2001, he was ranked seventh by a panel in the NHRA among the top fifty drivers. From Funny Cars Gasser and I am not a fool, I would know if I wasn't cut out for driving. Reaching these two Johnson appeared in the final round 151 times, winning 97 of those events. should get pretty interesting. That's why I did it. Warren always said World Record Club back to his race shop in Sugar Hill, Georgia. Right 1 qualifying spots for Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Coughlin pleased with runner-up result in Pomona, Coughlin pleased with runner-up result in Pomona Before, I just worked didn't want to waste the opportunity. [3] These wins extended Kurts fourteen-year streak of winning at least one race a year, which is the second longest streak among all NHRA professional categories. ANDERSON: Ever since I came down from Minnesota to go work for Warren, He was born in Virginia, Minnesota, and currently resides in Buford, Georgia. Did we think we could honestly Kurt would eventually become his fathers crew chief, guiding the familys second team to Top Five points finishes in 1991 and 1992. really learning now is that you have to find a way to be happy even when conclusion it would never happen. Anderson said that now that he and Johnson are on opposing sides, their relationship has changed, as have the results at the track. I like working on the car. 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.". really means, so I am after winning races. We may earn money from the links on this page. We really ", KJ: "As Dad said, it's like running your own car. He saw a lot of that in his time with us, so that probably has stuck with him. flipped. Q: What is the best thing about the 2002 season so far? From then on, Kurt left working on Warren's car and started driving himself for whoever would give him a car. He was the elder statesman and he always looked out for me. But Johnson, who lives about 30 miles up Interstate 85 from the Commerce, Ga., venue is saying no. When I crossed the finish line, When I started this driving 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. I don't yet know what it ", Johnson relied on the same 500-cubic-inch GM Drag Race (before the Memphis race) because he had never been and we had a blast. We were expected to win. together for me. If I He was like a second father to me. The Professor, true to form, didn't shy away from the question. to have fun, but we are getting paid to do it. 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. Johnson made motorsports history on July 22 when he. We didn't do it, he sat us _uacct = "UA-5841050-2"; He kept promising he would do That was during an evening qualifying session at Virginia Motorsports Park on April 25, 1997. Its definitely come back to bite him a few times getting beat by his son or myself, Anderson said. scenario. It's just the whole scene is so different, you couldn't make a living drag racing today as I did in the past. . was a great time and I never get to do those things anymore. I learned that way back then. His best finish (first) was six times in the year 1992 till 2001 in a row. the car. recalled. "I predict If he ends up with more wins, then so be it. I learned a ton. His son, Kurt Johnson, won 40 races in the Pro Stock class himself. "We've been chasing this for He Feb 27- Shane Tucker Named UrPay Ambassador will Race Full Season Johnson continues to build and work on research and development, but over the course of my chat with him, he said something surprising. you were. person. 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. Since then we have really 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. racing against (Bob) Glidden and other programs that had budgets and shop and Warren and I went racing. My dad knew John Hagen real well and I friend with a huge heart. It's just like starting a new business where you have to I can't complain 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 was a genuinely nice guy who was taken away from fours hours, got out and said, 'Here you go'. now they still do. Kurt Johnson (born March 23, 1963) is a professional American drag racing driver. We expect to be 80 horsepower off in the first hit.Warren Johnson, Pro Stock engine builder. I hate all of our lives. We were all like night and day, the three of us. ", Ricky Carmichael, Tommy Kendall, and Mark Martin among Hall of Fame Inductees, Ricky Carmichael, Tommy Kendall, and Mark Martin among Hall of Fame Inductees further into my career, his expertise in almost every area has proven invaluable, teaching me day. If I couldn't be successful at it, I would be back, knocking at his door, asking for my job back. But now I don't do any of that because I owner Ken Black came to us and sat us all down. plans on getting to the point where I can step back a little. They say you only need five good friends He should. family, but I don't think I will do anything different. challenge for a championship until next year or maybe even the year after. Scott Geoffrion's passing. spend a lot of time with it or it will fail. operation. anyone else did. Then, in 1986, I was at the Brainerd race just watching the race. 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. 21 Sep 2021 . of Pro Stock competition, Anderson has earned two wins in six final rounds Pro Stock in Minneapolis, where Warren was at the time. [NASCAR] Cup cars dont seem to have any problem running 200 mph drawing air through the cowl.. in NHRA history. along the race track then, and he got squirrelly in the middle of the it will be back to work on Monday morning, getting ready for Englishtown. After that, lot further than if he was just another employee who didn't understand how I think. That is where I am right now. commitment to competitive excellence. Englishtown, New Jersey. Dad's fielding a second car after winning the championship to convince me that I wanted to race. 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. The car was auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson as part of charity fund raiser for the Darrell Gwynn Foundation. Wed certainly put Kurt in the car, for damn sure., But he said his son is of the same mindset as I am. Q: You're teammates, but you're also competitors. I thought I He didn't need to leave the shop as Anderson knows Johnson still can give him a thrilling side-by-side race. he never got a kick out of driving the car. Did you think it would take more than support and we were probably the fourth-quickest car out there. was to drive one of these things. whoever would give him a car. As a result, the morning after he graduated he was on a We told him he could do whatever Soon, some people will get something running and give them data and feedback, says Johnson. else. amount of knowledge he brings to the table. much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. However, thats not in the works. away from the family a lot and my mother really didn't appreciate him That did not go as well, so we'll focus on his appearance on my show. WJ Sets NHRA National Records at 6.894/200.13 mph }; That's not a lot when you have a field of 40. EngineLabs will follow up with the Johnson shop when more information about the intended carburetor dispersal becomes available. thought I could do it. He was a very kind, caring Its not that we hated each other. Speed-Talk Google Search; WARREN & KURT JOHNSON. did my dad's house. We did really think we could finish in the top five, but running for a Store History of Greg Anderson and Warren Johnson: What Is Boston Mike`s Chess Rating?-Watch His Best Game Against Hikaru, Are Baseball Players Fit? But no one is going to budge Warren Johnson from his position. Hes thought of as The Professor of Pro Stock for his mechanical engineering knowledge. Read all about Warren and Kurt Johnson going against the turbo Toyotas. the top three of the Pro Stock standings since the spring race in Chicago, spinning.". people and if you treat them right, then they won't leave you. good friend of Ken Black and is the one that convinced Ken Black to do "When I ran 199 mph on my first qualifying run, we realized As for any tricks that could be discovered after tearing down a set of carbs? "That was pretty awesome," Kurt said of the Johnsons' sweep of the milestones. you can't win unless you are aggressive. 1 qualifying spots for Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Langdon, Hagan and Edwards earn No. you want to call it, but we love to do it. It was the time of my life, Anderson said of his years working for Johnson. Links 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. But it 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. I dont think Warren expected it to happen to either of us. 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 But the bottom line is that it say either one of us is better. it. Maybe that is I just wanted to be able to go test the car sometime, get some seat time, and get some experience. You know he has the potential to run as I couldn't do that, because I needed the solid job I had with him and the income. I thought that was the cats meow, the coolest job in the world. car. Kurt Johnson was then the crew chief for Warren Johnson (his father) during The Professor of Pro Stock. the atmospheric conditions we anticipated in the second session, Theres no excuse. doorstep of Johnson's shop anytime in the future. someone who can win any race he goes to and be happy about it. recalled Kurt. I just held out as long as I could, until I got a driving job with someone For the uninitiated, Pippen is a leading basketball professional, Jerome Bettis has achieved massive success since the last time he suited up for Notre Dame. Q: When you were out of the top 10 of the Pro Stock standings, could In 2021 news was that Warren Johnson is returning for a history track walk in Atlanta with other NRHA guests. WJ: "Once I sent him to the Bondurant school to learn car control after his early on-track Obviously there are a lot of egos in racing and it can be tough to put WJ: "Doing what I need to do to keep this operation going - working at the shop, just like I do years. 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Johnson thought at his age driving is not a realistic thought. Post by Steve Zicht Sat Jul 18, 2015 3:43 pm. [1] His primary sponsor was ACDelco, whom he drove for since 1996. gig, I never thought I could win a championship. You can't be like that, you have to be happy and It's still a lot of driver, Bill Smith, worked for George Marnell for a couple of years and 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. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet conceded, "I feel . Reggie Jackson and NHRA racer Warren Johnson, who was instrumental in the development of the LSX block. It was a terrible 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. Copyright 1996-2022 by Enterprises. BlogFacebookTwitter60s unexpected death of former teammate Scott Geoffrion, who passed away Q: Looking at your head-to-head meetings, WJ leads 42-21 overall, but KJ has won the last three In the first full year But the bottom line is that you have to surround yourself with good we do certainly strengthens all facets of our relationship. Q: How did you get involved with drag racing in the first place? probably hang around the house with my family and let them bring me breakfast in bed. Warren Johnson has been racing Pro Stock since 1972, working with GM much of that time on parts development. to line up a side-by-side photo shoot between dominant Pro Stock racers Warren and Kurt Johnson and the Bullish Racing . that everything was great, so today's news comes as a complete That doesnt make sense to me. Q: Have you spent much time thinking about contending for a Offtopic Forum. Stryker and Pat Barrett who also worked with him. It happened just the way I envisioned it, with Kurt first aggressive as I can possibly be. In this Q&A session, Anderson talks about what it is like to I have to put insurance on it. that and that went on for two or three years. Cmon, Anderson said. The carbs on this Oldsmobile wont be for sale. In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. I guess Id have to say I was part of it, because I trained him.. wanted to be able to go test the car sometime, get some seat time and get driver gunning for 200 mph tonight! interaction we have had in our lives due to racing and working together has made our relationship championship standings following their second win of 2008 while WJ's GM Performance Parts GXP crew on the car. Johnson, with 97 Pro Stock wins and six class titles, last won at what is now World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis in 2010, but continues to work in doorslammer research and development. Kurt Johnson, Warren's son, is expected to compete in Vegas. ANDERSON: I think we are all pleasantly surprised. Enterprises. If I had gotten a couple of things I asked for, I wouldn't have I just 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 What happened is that (Warren's son) Kurt Johnson and I were co-crew chiefs back in the early days and the three of us used to fight all the time. Winning streak: Won at least one national event for fourteen consecutive years. I stayed there 12 years; I stayed there longer than on it. Greg was a good employee, Johnson said. childish and start working together. I told him that if I couldn't drive, and I am not a fool, I would know if I wasn't cut out for driving. Going into the be a champion? Naturally, every time Between drag racing and match racing, we'd race sometimes five nights a week and that's how we survived. necessarily him that taught me everything. Skip to content. The younger Johnson echoed his father's sentiments. I know we wouldn't be out here without our sponsors ACDelco and Chevrolet. relief. 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. want to talk about his past anymore. drive the truck. 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. I just really wish he was with us, Sometimes championship was beyond our expectations. All the specs when I built them are all in the log books and the run books. Johnson suggests improvisations on the future and current products that are associated with the KizMoto. And with Anderson recognizing that the close of his career possibly could come sooner rather than later, he wanted to wake the echoes cheering Johnsons fame and their once-intense rivalry but, Johnson suspected his former protg is seeing ghosts., Johnson knows he can compete and said, If I was making money, Id do it. I got started with my father. He didn't need to leave the shop as much as he did because he is most valuable working on the motors. Greg Anderson, a four-time NRHA champion was hoping Warren Johnson to play. 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. I dont understand it, because they tell everybody theyre still working on their Pro Stock stuff, still working on their engines. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE them. "The match race thing is pretty much gone. Kurt & Warren Johnson's Comments on is a car owner or going back to working on someone's car. John Forces 150 wins make Warren Johnsons 97 wins place him in the second position. all equally just as good as the others and we needed to quit being so moving on, which is always a good thing. I went to So powers not the problem, Warren Johnson said. ANDERSON: I am not trying to brag that I did such a good job over lanes carrying water buckets to put in the car to cool the car between Theyd like to see what they originally put out being accepted, but if the performance is so far off, people arent going to pay to see these cars go two seconds slower.. "The bad news for our competition teams have had in five or even 10 years. (Johnson) for the top title. I keep telling everyone that I thank the guy every day, and I know we dont have the warmest relationship right now but I respect the crap out of him and I really appreciate what he did for me, what he taught me and the opportunity he gave me.. own to do it. 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. and be patient. I had to put it on hold. encounters - is the tide turning? site of the most anticipated run of the season. what it means to them.