Warren Report: Pomona Edition

For Release: July 2, 2001
Contact: Rick Voegelin
rickvoegelin@compuserve.com
831-761-2201


THE WARREN REPORT: Warren Johnson GM Goodwrench Service Plus News & Notes
for the Pep Boys NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals, Pomona, Calif., July 5-7,
2001


THE PROFESSOR AIMS TO PAD POINTS LEAD IN POMONA

    Back-to-back victories in Columbus, Ohio, and Madison, Ill.,
vaulted Warren Johnson from third to first in the Winston Pro Stock
standings. Now "The Professor of Pro Stock" is aiming to increase his
76-point lead in the championship race with a third straight victory when
NHRA celebrates its 50th anniversary in the birthplace of hot rodding.


    Johnson will become the sport's winningest Pro Stock driver if he
scores his 86th career victory on Saturday night, July 7, at the Pep Boys
NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals -- a celebration that will coincide with
his 58th birthday. W.J. has other priorities, however.

    "Winning the championship is my primary objective because you can take
the championship check to the bank," he explained. "Beyond that, I think
that 100 wins has a nice ring to it. I've always liked round numbers."

    One hundred victories are not impossible if Johnson continues his
hot streak. He is undefeated since he debuted his new Jerry Haas-built
GM Goodwrench Service Plus Grand Am in Columbus on June 15. It's a car that
has proven to be well suited to the heat and humidity of summer.

    "The Haas car is a totally different animal than the chassis we
started with this season," explained the Professor. "It takes a different
clutch setup, different transmission ratios and a different rearend gear.
We basically threw away our notebook and started over again. So far the car
is making us look smart."

    While Johnson has driven Pro Stocks at Pomona Raceway for a quarter of
a century, the midsummer night's race at the venerable facility will be a
new experience.

    "The conditions will probably be similar to what we encounter at the
NHRA Finals in autumn," Warren predicted. "The Pro Stock qualifying
sessions will be later in the day, but they will still take place in
daylight. It will be dark for the late rounds of eliminations, but we've
seen that before at the Winternationals and Finals.

    "Actually every track on the circuit is 'new' this year because of
the track preparation procedures that have been adopted," Johnson noted.
"Both the formulation and the application of the traction compound have
been changed. As a result, we've made some significant adjustments to get
down the racetracks."

    The 50th Anniversary Nationals will kick off the expanded
four-race, five-week "Western Swing" through California, Colorado and
Washington. Johnson is well prepared to have his rig on the road
continuously until August.

    "We've built up a good inventory of parts and pieces that should see
us through this stretch," he said. "I'm not one to spend money shipping
engines back and forth to Georgia."

    With an arsenal of powerful GM motors and the momentum of
back-to-back victories, Warren Johnson is primed and ready to win the West.

WARREN JOHNSON'S POMONA RACEWAY HIGHLIGHTS

Four Winternationals Victories:
1987 (over Leal)
1993 (over Geoffrion)
1994 (over Alderman)
1997 (over Kurt Johnson)

Four Winternationals Runners-up:
1985 (to Glidden)
1986 (to Iaconio)
1991 (to Alderman)
2000 (to Jeg Coughlin Jr.)

Four NHRA Finals Victories:
1988 (over Morris Johnson Jr.)
1992 (over Eckman)
1993 (over Kurt Johnson)
1995 (over Schmidt)

Two NHRA Finals Runners-up:
1989 (to Glidden)
1999 (to Jeg Coughlin Jr.)

11 No. 1 Qualifiers:
Winternationals: 1993-96, 1999
NHRA Finals: 1988, 1993-96, 1998