Warren Report: Gatornationals Edition

For Release: March 13, 2002
Contact: Rick Voegelin
rickvoegelin@compuserve.com
831-761-2201


THE WARREN REPORT: Warren Johnson GM Performance Parts News & Notes for
the Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, Fla., March 15-17, 2002


NOBODY DOES IT BETTER THAN W.J. AT GATORNATIONALS

    With nine victories and eight No. 1 qualifying positions in the last
18 editions of the Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals, Warren Johnson relishes
the prospect of this weekend's NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event
at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway.

    Why does W.J. love the Gators? Let us count the reasons:

    1. "Good air," says the Professor. "The track is relatively close to
sea level and the weather conditions at this time of year are favorable for
Pro Stock engines."

    2. "Good track," Warren explains. "When the air lets you make
big horsepower, then you need a surface that can handle it. Gainesville
Raceway is one of the better facilities on the circuit so we should be able
to apply the power we've got.

    3. "Close to home," Johnson concludes. "We don't have to drive 24
hours from Atlanta. I've spent many, many days testing at Gainesville
Raceway, so I know how to set up a car for that particular track."

    Warren spent the three weeks since his runner-up finish at the
CSK Nationals in Phoenix doing what he does best: working. A marathon
three-day test at Atlanta Dragway with his GM Performance Parts Pontiac
yielded positive results, and even brought a smile to the Professor's stern
face.

    "The car ran 6.81 at 202 mph," he reported, "so it appears that we
are making steady progress in figuring how to make this race car do what
it's supposed to do.

    "The Gainesville track will be different from the surface we tested on
in Atlanta because NHRA uses a different traction spray at national
events," observed the analytical racer. "Last year we learned what we have
to do to compensate for the different characteristics of the two
compounds."

    Johnson also worked on a nose job for his screaming yellow Grand Am. A
new Ram Air front end has been submitted to NHRA officials for approval.
Johnson is optimistic that he'll have the new bodywork in place for the
next event in Las Vegas on April 5-7.

    "The object of the exercise is to improve the car's aerodynamic
balance," Johnson revealed. "We want to reduce the downforce on the front
end, which will in turn increase the downforce on the rear. We can then use
a shallower rear spoiler angle to decrease drag, producing an overall
improvement in performance. That's the theory, anyway!"

    Obviously the Professor is figuring all of the angles as he continues
his defense of his Pro Stock championship.

WARREN JOHNSON'S GATORNATIONALS RECORD

Year      Qual.  Result
1976        4    Runner-up (to Lombardo)
1977        7    Second Round
1978        7    Semifinal
1983        3    First Round
1984        4    Winner (over Iaconio)
1985        2    Winner (over Glidden)
1986        9    First Round
1987        Did not qualify
1988        1    Semifinal
1989        5    Second Round
1990        2    Second Round
1991        2    Winner (over Alderman)
1992        3    Winner (over Eckman)
1993        1    Winner (over Morgan)
1994        1    Winner (over Alderman)
1995        1    Second Round
1996        1    First Round
1997        1    Semifinal
1998        5    Winner (over Yates)
1999        1    Winner (over K. Johnson)
2000        1    Winner (over T. Coughlin)
2001       15    Second Round

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  E-mail from: Rick Voegelin, 13-Mar-2002