Warren Wins NHRA Championship

24 October 1999


THE WARREN REPORT: O'REILLY FALL NATIONALS

Warren Wins Fifth Championship on Record-Setting Weekend

DALLAS - Warren Johnson wrapped up his fifth career NHRA Winston Pro
Stock championship today with a dominant performance in Dallas at the
O'Reilly Fall Nationals. W.J. did it all at the Texas Motorplex: He
qualified No. 1 for the 15th time this season, set the national elapsed
time and top speed records, and scored his seventh win of the season with a
final-round victory over Jim Yates.

    "It's been tougher and tougher all year long. I'm happy for our team
and happy for our sponsors, and most of all for the fans - I appreciate
them all," said Johnson as he accepted the $125,000 championship bonus from
Winston.

    Warren was relentless in Dallas, recording the quickest and fastest run
in Pro Stock history with a 6.822-second elapsed time at 202.33 mph - marks
that established the national records. Johnson's GM Goodwrench Service Plus
Pontiac topped 200 mph seven times this weekend, including three 201 mph
runs and one 202 mph pass in eliminations. Johnson tallied his third
straight victory at the Texas supertrack and posted his 79th career win.

    W.J. defeated Mike Edwards, Allen Johnson, and Troy Coughlin to advance
to his 122nd career final round. "I had Edwards first round, and he's
the consummate holeshot artist," W.J. recalled. "Once I got by that round I
felt we had a good chance of winning.

    "My car was awesome on the final run," Warren reported. "I stuck it
in second gear and it just hiked up the front end and marched right to the
finish line.

    "The whole team worked so hard all year long," Johnson declared. "We
wore out our dyno; it runs seven days a week back at the shop. The
dedication of my guys is the reason we're successful.

    "I'll enjoy the championship for about half an hour - and then I have
to get back to work!" Johnson joked. He'll test this week in Texas in
preparation for the Matco Tools SuperNationals, the series' penultimate
race next weekend in Houston.

WARREN JOHNSON RACE RESULTS:
Qualifying: Warren Johnson qualified No. 1 at 6.822/202.33
Eliminations:
First Round: Warren Johnson (6.860/201.16) defeated Mike
Edwards (6.899/199.20)
Second Round: Warren Johnson (6.854/201.47) defeated Allen
Johnson (6.913/198.54)
Semi-Final Round: Warren Johnson (6.858/202.11) defeated Troy
Coughlin (6.870/200.71)
Final Round: Warren Johnson (6.842/201.74) defeated Jim Yates
(6.892/199.24)

Low ET: Warren Johnson, 6.822 seconds (national record)
Top Speed: Warren Johnson, 202.33 mph (national record)

POINTS RACE:
(After 20 of 22 events)
Driver                Wins    Points
1. Warren Johnson      7      1,650
2. Kurt Johnson        3      1,367
3. Jeg Coughlin, Jr.   4      1,273
4. Jim Yates           2      1,181
5. Richie Stevens      1      1,036

NEXT RACE:
Matco Tools SuperNationals, October 28-31, Houston, Texas
TV: ESPN2, Oct. 31, 8:00-9:00 p.m. Eastern