Warren Report: Pomona Edition

For Release: Feb. 3, 2002
Contact: Rick Voegelin
rickvoegelin@compuserve.com
831-761-2201


THE WARREN REPORT: Warren Johnson GM Performance Parts News & Notes for
the K&N Filters Winternationals, Pomona, Calif., Feb. 7-10, 2002


JOHNSON BRINGS NEW LOOK, NEW IMAGE AND SAME OLD WINNING ATTITUDE TO
NHRA WINTERNATIONALS

    Warren Johnson has a brand-new look for the start of the 2002
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The most successful Pro Stock driver in
NHRA history hasn't gone in for tattoos and pierced body parts, but he has
changed his colors for his 27th season on the circuit. Gone are the subdued
tones of previous years; in their place is a screaming yellow,
star-spangled paint scheme that celebrates the return to GM Performance
Parts as his primary sponsor. Even W.J.'s understated black driver's suit
has given way to an eye-popping yellow outfit.

    W.J. has an outlook that is as bright as the colors on his Pro
Stock Pontiac. Following a successful four-day test in Bradenton, Fla.,
last week, he is optimistic that the new season will bring a seventh NHRA
Pro Stock championship and add to his tally of 87 career victories.

    "It was one of the best test sessions we've ever had," said the
usually reserved racer. "We tried to do things differently -- and we got
positive results.

    "I put 24 runs on my new Haas car, and Kurt ran nearly as many with
his new Ness and Bickel cars," Johnson reported. "Between us, we had cars
from three different chassis builders. We took the results from the first
three days of testing, evaluated all of the positives and negatives, and
put together the two best combinations. One ran 6.85 and the other ran
6.86. I was extremely pleased because we were testing under typical race
conditions, with the thermometer at 88 degrees, high humidity and a low
barometer."

    Johnson relishes the prospect of racing Bob Glidden, his long-time
rival, at the season-opening race. Glidden will return to the circuit
behind the wheel of Steve Schmidt's Grand Am.

    "It's good for Bob and it's good for the sport to have him back,"
said Johnson, who surpassed Glidden's 85 career victories last July. "He
still has thousands of avid fans."

    Glidden is one of only 11 drivers who have a winning record
against Johnson. The pair raced 74 times before Glidden's retirement in
1997, with Glidden taking 43 victories to W.J.'s 31. The final-round record
favors Glidden over Johnson, 12-6.

    "A Glidden vs. Johnson final round would be monumental," Warren
declared, "and it's not out of the realm of possibility. It would certainly
show that experience and knowledge are more important than a lavish
budget."

    Johnson has the knowledge and experience to win at Pomona Raceway. He
has competed there 41 times in his long-running career, scoring eight
victories in 14 final-round appearances. He has won the Winternationals
four times, notching his most recent victory in 1995 when he defeated Steve
Schmidt in the final round.

    "I have a good feeling about the Winternationals and the 2002
season," Warren confided. "I don't know how much progress our rivals have
made, but Kurt found some solid gains in the dyno room over the winter.
Everything we have done to our existing inventory of engines has been
beneficial, so we're going to take a quantum leap and build a whole new
series of engines. I am 100 percent certain that these changes will yield
more power before the Gatornationals."

    Can this be the stern Professor of Pro Stock speaking, the man who
has made the pursuit of perfection an art form? Indeed it is.

    "We feel pretty good," Johnson reiterated. "All we have left to do is
wash the race car, load up the trailer and head west."

    The arrival of an upbeat and optimistic Warren Johnson may prove to
be depressing news for his competition.


WARREN JOHNSON'S POMONA RACEWAY RECORD

Four NHRA Finals Victories:
1988 (over Morrison 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.)

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.)

11 No. 1 Qualifiers:
Winternationals: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999
NHRA Finals: 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998

# # #


  E-mail from: Rick Voegelin, 03-Feb-2002