NHRA Warren Johnson Columbus Saturday Update: WJ Powers to the No. 1 Position in Columbus

 

Event:  41st Annual Pontiac Performance Nationals 

Day/Date: Saturday, May 21, 2005

Location:  National Trail Raceway, Hebron, Ohio

 

Warren Johnson combined performance with research and development to
capture the No. 1 starting position for Sunday's final eliminations of
the Pontiac Performance Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.  This is the 134th
No. 1 position of Johnson's stellar career, fourth of the 2005 season
and ninth at National Trail Raceway.

 

After posting the quickest elapsed time during Friday's opening
sessions, the GM Performance Parts Pontiac driver came back on his first
attempt on Saturday to take advantage of the improved conditions,
resetting both ends of the Columbus track record with his 6.723-second,
205.10 mph pass.  This allowed "The Professor" to edge his son Kurt, who
had stepped up with a 6.724-second run of his own, for the top spot by
one thousandth of a second.

 

With the afternoon's warmer temperatures virtually guaranteeing him the
top starting spot, W.J. took advantage of his final run to test a new
combination under national event conditions.  As a result, he bettered
his own top speed mark with his 205.13 mph blast.

 

"We were rooting and digging out there this weekend," said Johnson.  "We
came to Columbus with the idea of running this fourth DRCE III, which we
had just completed earlier in the week.   Since we felt the conditions
on Friday would not be the best, we opted to use the new motor.  To be
honest, we were somewhat surprised to run low e.t. in the evening
session.

 

"We then came back this morning, put our normal race motor in and
proceeded to reclaim the No. 1 spot.  On our last attempt, we went back
to the original motor with new carburetors, and ran top speed of the
meet so far.    It seems to have a lot of potential, but still needs to
be ironed out, so we'll plug our proven combination back in for tomorrow
and see what this GM Performance Parts Pontiac can do."

 

This also marked the 33rd time in their careers that Johnson and his son
Kurt qualified in the top two positions, having last accomplished this
feat at the 2003 Houston race.

 

"From a team aspect, it's very gratifying to be qualified in the top two
spots," stated Johnson.  "Basically, it shows that Kurt and I are
getting the most out of our particular cars, which is a testament to the
hard work by both our teams here at the track, as well as the guys back
at our shop in Sugar Hill.  Today's result is due to their diligence and
dedication." 

 

Notes on Warren Johnson and the GM Performance Parts Pontiac Racing Team
following their No. 1 qualifying performance at the Pontiac Performance
Nationals:

 

*      This is the 134th No. 1 qualifying position of WJ's career, the
most among all NHRA professional drivers.

 

*      This is Warren's ninth No. 1 qualifying performance at National
Trail Raceway in 30 starts. 

 

*      WJ scored the first "pole position" of his career here in
Columbus in 1978.

 

*      This is WJ's fourth No. 1 qualifier of 2005, making 20 times in
23 years that he has at least two No. 1 qualifying performances.

 

*      This is also the fourth No. 1 qualifying performance for the DRCE
III engine, which only Warren and Kurt use in Pro Stock competition.

 

*      Warren will now be looking to score his 47th win from the No. 1
position (out of 94 career victories.  WJ most recently accomplished
this feat earlier this year in Houston, TX.