Warren Wins at Route 66

For Immediate Release
Contact: Rick Voegelin/831-761-2201
rickvoegelin@compuserve.com


THE WARREN REPORT: Warren Johnson GM Goodwrench Service Plus Race Report
from the NHRA Nationals

QUICK RESULTS
Qualified: 4th
Finished: Winner
Points: 1st

Warren Routs the Competition at Route 66 Raceway

JOLIET, Ill., Sept. 30, 2001 - Warren Johnson took a giant step toward
his sixth Winston championship with a victory today in the inaugural
NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. Johnson's GM Goodwrench Service Plus
Pontiac was the dominant machine on race day, running the quickest elapsed
time in the second, third, and final rounds of competition.

    W.J. notched his second victory at Route 66 Raceway, his sixth of
the season and the 87th of his career. Johnson's win, combined with a
second-round loss by No. 2-ranked Jim Yates, propelled Warren to a
seven-round lead in the championship standings with 16 rounds of racing to
go.

    "It doesn't get any better than this!" Johnson exclaimed. "We started
the weekend with a setup that was much too conservative, while Kurt went
for the throat and hit the right tune-up. We basically plugged his setup
into my race car, and you saw what happened. I owe this win to the ACDelco
crew as well as to my GM Goodwrench team."

    Near-perfect track and weather conditions produced
career-best performances virtually across the board. With a 6.844-second
bump spot, the 16-car Pro Stock field was the quickest in NHRA history.
Johnson ran 6.81 in the first round to defeat V. Gaines, 6.81 over Brad
Jeter in the second round, and 6.83 over Mike Edwards in the semifinal. He
defeated perennial rival Darrell Alderman in the money run, 6.83 to 6.85,
and extended his final round record in 2001 to a perfect 6-0. W.J. topped
201 mph in all four rounds of racing.

    "We don't test under these conditions very often, and we don't race
under them except once or twice a year," Johnson explained. "We were happy
with the way it turned out."

    Johnson will have little time to savor his victory as the race for
the NHRA championship resumes next weekend in Reading, Pa., at the Pep
Boys Nationals on Oct. 5-7.

WARREN JOHNSON RACE RESULTS
Qualifying: Warren Johnson qualified No. 4 at 6.808/201.82
Eliminations:
First Round: Warren Johnson (6.818/201.88) defeated V. Gaines
(6.866/200.50)
Second Round: Johnson (6.814/201.82) defeated Brad Jeter (6.853/201.22)
Semifinal: Johnson (6.837/201.52) defeated Mike Edwards (6.885/200.53)
Final Round: Johnson (6.832/201.70) defeated Darrell Alderman
(6.852/201.97)

Low ET: Kurt Johnson, 6.801 seconds (national record)
Top Speed: Kurt Johnson, 202.70 mph (national record)

POINTS RACE
(After 20 of 24 events)
Driver             Wins    Points
1. Warren Johnson    6      1387
2. Jim Yates         1      1252
3. Mike Edwards      1      1137
4. Bruce Allen       1      1070
5. Jeg Coughlin Jr.  3      1065
6. Kurt Johnson      1      1060
   Mark Osborne      1      1060

NEXT RACE
Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, Oct. 5-7, Reading, Pa.
TV: ESPN2, Oct. 7, 8-10 p.m.

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  E-mail from: Rick Voegelin, 01-Oct-2001