Warren Report: Chicago Edition

For Release: May 30, 2002
Contact: Rick Voegelin
TMG Sports Marketing
rickvoegelin@compuserve.com
831-761-2201


THE WARREN REPORT: Warren Johnson GM Performance Parts News & Notes for
the Chicagoland Dodge Dealers NHRA Nationals, Joliet, Ill., May 31-June 2

WARREN RETURNS TO WINDY CITY IN SEARCH OF VICTORY

When Warren Johnson competed at Route 66 Raceway last October, his
final-round victory over Darrell Alderman played a pivotal role in his
drive for a sixth NHRA Pro Stock championship. W.J. returns to the
Chicagoland track in need of a repeat performance to energize his pursuit
of a seventh career title.

After consecutive first-round losses in Englishtown and Topeka, W.J. ceded
the points lead to Jim Yates by 40 markers. But Warren insists it is much
too early to watch the race-by-race tally.

"At this stage in the season, I'm not concerned about points," said
Johnson, driver of the GM Performance Parts Pontiac. "I'm concerned about
keeping our program on track. Obviously we would be in much better shape if
we had gone past the first round at the last two races, but that didn't
happen. In terms of on-track performance, however, we're in excellent
shape."

A malfunctioning shock absorber was the cause of W.J.'s early exit
at Heartland Park Topeka last weekend.

"The right rear shock broke, the left tire was planted and the car made
an immediate right turn," he reported. "It turned right before the tires
made one revolution. When we tested at Heartland Park Topeka the next day,
I put on a different set of shock absorbers and the car went straight down
the racetrack. Days like last Sunday definitely put the drag in drag
racing."

Johnson anticipates much different conditions at Route 66 than
the unseasonably cold weather that blanketed the track last year -- and
has already made contingency plans for a difficult racing surface.

"If it as warm as the weather forecasters predict, it's going to be tough
to get down that track," he noted. "The best way to cope will be to drive
like you're pulling a load of logs and just lug the car to the finish line.

"If you have too much wheel speed, you can get yourself in trouble,"
he warned.

Johnson is one of only three Pro Stock drivers who have qualified for all
nine races contested this season. Simply making the show on Sunday requires
an all-out effort.

"The qualifying sessions have become as intense as eliminations,"
W.J. explained. "In Topeka, the spread between the No. 1 and the No. 16
qualifiers was .025 seconds. We basically had one session on Friday night
to get a handle on the setup. If you didn't hit the sweet spot on Saturday
morning, you were done for the weekend."

Johnson's qualifying streak now stands at 297 consecutive national
events. He'll attempt to extend that string at Route 66 Raceway -- and to
reclaim the top spot in the championship chase.

WARREN JOHNSON'S ROUTE 66 RACEWAY RECORD
Year        Qual.  Result
1998          1    Runner-up (to Thomas)
1999          2    Winner (over T. Coughlin)
2000         12    First Round
2001 Spring  12    Semifinal
2001 Fall     4    Winner (over Alderman)

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  E-mail from: Rick Voegelin, 30-May-2002