Warren Report: Bristol/Atlanta Edition
COMING ATTRACTIONS: BRISTOL AND BARBECUE
Warren Johnson will return to his racing roots when the NHRA tour goes
to Bristol Dragway for the Mac Tools Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals. While
this weekend's race will be only the second NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series event contested on the Tennessee quarter-mile in the modern era,
Johnson has raced in Thunder Valley for decades.
W.J. frequented the facility when he was a regular on the IHRA
"Mountain Motor" circuit in the late '70s. He won five times in IHRA
competition at Bristol Dragway, including three straight Spring Nationals
victories in 1979-81. Although no trace of the original track remains, the
unique topography and climate of Thunder Valley are very familiar to "The
Professor."
"The track is like Las Vegas with humidity," Johnson quipped. "It's
an altitude track, with 2300 feet of elevation. We also have to contend
with the water in the air.
"This year's race will be another voyage into the unknown," he
observed. "The track has been recently resurfaced, so we'll be starting
from scratch on our clutch and chassis setup. It's just another challenge."
One week later, Johnson will be on familiar turf at the Summit
Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac. The event is
contested at Atlanta Dragway, just a few miles from W.J.'s top-secret
headquarters in Sugar Hill, Ga. Johnson has competed in all 21 previous
editions of the Southern Nationals, posting four wins, seven final-round
appearances, and nine No. 1 qualifying spots. Despite his knowledge of the
Atlanta quarter-mile, Warren discounts the notion of a home field advantage
at the Southern Nationals.
"Atlanta is as fast as any track in the country when we test there,"
he reported. "We ran 6.81 there a few weeks ago. But the track is
entirely different when it's prepared for an NHRA national event. The
traction compound that is used on a weekly basis isn't the same as the
compound that's applied for a national event. Consequently there are few
similarities in how we set up the car. We know where the bumps are, but we
have no idea how well the tires will stick. As long as the track remains
consistent, we can deal with it."
Although he has yet to visit the winner's circle in the first five
races of the 2002 season, Johnson's steady performance has kept him in
contention for a sixth championship. He is second in the POWERade
standings, just 11 points behind leader Jim Yates.
"This car is coming around, slowly but steadily," W.J. noted.
"We qualified third in Houston, so we're closing the performance gap. My
GM Performance Parts Pontiac was one of the quickest cars in the
qualifying sessions held during the heat of the day, so I believe we are
headed in the right direction."
Johnson has been a resident of Georgia since 1981 when he relocated
his family and his racing operation from frigid Fridley, Minn., to
suburban Atlanta. Although he has yet to adopt a southern accent, he has
readily adapted to southern ways. With an influx of friends and supporters
arriving for the Southern Nationals, Johnson is frequently asked for
his recommendations on local dining spots.
"The best barbecue spots are places you don't want to venture after
dark," he laughed.
Given that alternative, W.J. will be quite content with Arlene
Johnson's home cooking during the Southern Nationals.
WARREN JOHNSON'S BRISTOL DRAGWAY RECORD
Year Qual. Result
2001 2 First Round
WARREN JOHNSON'S ATLANTA DRAGWAY RECORD
Year Qual. Result
1981 7 First Round
1982 4 Second Round
1983 4 Second Round
1984 1 Second Round
1985 1 Second Round
1986 1 Winner (over Glidden)
1987 5 Second Round
1988 2 Winner (over Christian)
1989 2 Second Round
1990 3 Runner-up (to Morgan)
1991 4 Runner-up (to Glidden)
1992 4 Second Round
1993 1 Winner (over K. Johnson)
1994 1 Runner-up (to Geoffrion)
1995 1 Semifinal
1996 2 First Round
1997 1 Semifinal
1998 2 First Round
1999 1 Winner (over Stevens)
2000 1 First Round
2001 5 First Round
