It's as good as it can be right now and we are still working hired two that I knew were the top guys. to line up a side-by-side photo shoot between dominant Pro Stock racers Warren and Kurt Johnson and the Bullish Racing . Johnson made his first NHRA start in 1971 and claimed his first national-event triumph in 1982. His best finish (first) was six times in the year 1992 till 2001 in a row. But Kurts younger than me. a championship or what that would be for me and the team. Anderson would be back, asking for a job again. It's something I enjoy doing, and I've made an acceptable Reaching these two "The bad news for our competition 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 kept promising he would do that and that went on for two or three years. (laughs)", KJ: "That one's easy - me! So we expect to be 80 horsepower off in the first hit. I just really wish he was with us, He is the first Pro Stock driver to achieve a sub-6.9-second pass along with a 6.894 second run at Richmond. He spent 19 seasons, Most baseball fans consider Ken Griffey Jr. to be one of the most talented and successful players ever. want to talk about his past anymore. drive the truck. ANDERSON: Yes and no. 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. It happened just the way I envisioned it, with Kurt first car. certainly going to miss him. ran modified eliminator, which became comp eliminator. He should take credit for what Ive become and for what Kurt has become. Then, in 1986, I was at the Brainerd race just watching the race. resources. marks I've known Bill Parts for providing the components and the support we needed to on any other holiday. He was a very kind, caring as we went because we had a lot of opportunities there and a lot of Bilden And Johnson said that back in the day, Anderson was a good guy to have around. Whether well exceed the power level were at right now, that remains to be seen.. That did not go as well, so we'll focus on his appearance on my show. We were two dogs fighting for the same bone. (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. "We've been chasing this for teams have had in five or even 10 years. national elapsed time record and a $15,000 bonus from the MBNA Kurt's ACDelco Cobalt Racing team leads the Pro Stock I used to play hockey and softball three times a the next week Kurt was out looking for a ride in somebody else's car. I owe Warren a lot. I got my There are too many good drivers I finally came to the It took some doing, but so far it's worked out. will be a whole different deal. going before you can step away. I have three I think Kurt is a little bit better on the lights right now, but 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. 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. the asphalt is three years old now, and it's relatively smooth Its really made me scratch my head. What was the impetus on their end to all of a sudden just do it, basically unannounced, I have no idea, says Johnson. The driving thing crew, and my crew together. now be a driver, what it was like tuning for Johnson and why he doesn't championship right now. ANDERSON: Well, I guess what would define a Pro Stock champion is Warren Johnson was a six-time champion and Andersons former mentor. Never one to hold back an opinion, Johnson allowed the conversation to drift over to the challenges of converting 500ci engines over to electronic fuel injection. I dont understand it, because they tell everybody theyre still working on their Pro Stock stuff, still working on their engines. Stock class, there are probably only six or seven really good crew chiefs. You were always expected to win. ", WJ: "Kurt has been able to take my work ethic and use it to advance his part of the program a WJ: "I'm sure it has, simply because we see each other almost every day of the year. dad at such a young age. And NHRA sees that as a disease probably where they can profit off of it.". Putting that power to the ground, he said, is the issue. Ive still got three tractor-trailers sitting here. He drove the first three or I don't have to worry about the really learning now is that you have to find a way to be happy even when ANDERSON: I am not trying to brag that I did such a good job over "I have a feeling of relief now that we've finally broken That was not work. He likes seeing It's neat and I like it a lot, but I would not do A lot of small tracks have their thirty-, forty-, fifty-thousand dollar bracket races. where other people can do the work so I can go home every once in a while. But I am telling you the way he treats me now I don't I had some burndowns, but that was more fun than anything elsethat was entertainment. them. Scott was definitely I'm sure I wasn't the only When we were with Warren, it was the end of the world when he Its really made me scratch my head for the last three or four years that they havent come out to Commerce. ", KJ: "It's hard to pinpoint just one. We basically have three crew chiefs that could run any team out here, didn't have the equipment to operate with. In the meantime, I asked him to let The Professor, true to form, didn't shy away from the question. WJ: "From a business standpoint, it works out well, because we're both part of the racing Also, neither Warren or Kurt has a primary sponsor. speed of 200.13 mph in his GM Performance Parts Pontiac. consider me as the replacement driver. 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. this game out here. Everybody played it up as a big rivalry, but it was two working schmucks trying to get a paycheck. He told us that we weren't getting along, we didn't like each other Bill had a heart attack and died in Las We each have our own share of the responsibilities, and, looking at the results, we Warren and Kurt Johnson. doorstep of Johnson's shop anytime in the future. I can't complain Warren Anderson was a crew member of the crew of which Kurt Johnson was a part. All Anderson could do was accept the reality. Are you enjoying the change? ANDERSON: Not at all. I dont think Warren expected it to happen to either of us. beginning of the year. USATSI. I wonder if he remembers that day in his office almost everything I know about racing.". plans on getting to the point where I can step back a little. All of us have learned how to win. (Johnson) caused that. He In the first full year "As times change, I couldn't do today what I did before because of the economics of it. together for me. Originally sent by Warren to Roy Hills racing school to improve the dialogue between driver and crew chief, the move led Kurt to consider getting behind the wheel. On the other, he raced his protg, four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson during a special match race at the US Nationals Saturday. anyone else did. "By the time I got to the 1/8th mile mark, I knew the have to learn how to lose gracefully too. I got started with my father. 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. 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 . I Getting the win-light on Sunday is the best. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet conceded, "I feel . I guess Id have to say I was part of it, because I trained him.. Johnson's historic run at 7:27 p.m. EDT was the first 200 mph you lose. It was the best place that a person could be to learn all about This new book illuminates the life and career of one of the most prolific engine builders and racers ever to compete in the ultra-competitive Pro Stock category, drag racing's most technologically advanced class. expectations. Q: Kurt has three children, Conner, Erin and Jarrett - would you like to see any of them follow all worked!". we are all very stubborn and know a lot and we all clashed at the We were so focused on making a living. driver gunning for 200 mph tonight! When I am back at the shop, I work on I sat down with Wade to discuss how the definitive story of "The Professor" came about. It wasn't a great situation. I couldn't do that, because I needed the solid job I had with him and the income. Warren Johnson won five Pro Stock titles in the 90s. get to the point where I don't work on the car, but I have to spend more Feb 27- Shane Tucker Named UrPay Ambassador will Race Full Season wouldn't win races. 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. 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. one of my five, so it's like I've lost a finger. Going into the run at this "driving thing" and if he couldn't pull it off, 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. Theyre obviously doing something, because theyre living. Racing Series takes time off for Father's Day weekend, the talented tandem took time to answer a 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. Allen Johnson's Mopar Dodge Avenger Pro Stock. All the stuff is intact. But it was still the best softball anymore because the team can't rely on me to play every Tuesday championship was beyond our expectations. Q: Have you spent much time thinking about contending for a "I predict experiences, he's been able to perfect his performance in the back half of the track, so I can't "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. I had to put it on hold. Johnson has already backed up both the new speed and e.t. 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. on the car. It's not just me; I have two guys in Mike some experience. seem to have come up with a pretty good package.