JOHNSON HOPES TO HARVEST CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS IN AUTUMN
RACES
THE WARREN REPORT: Warren Johnson GM Performance Parts News & Notes for
the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Reading, Pa., Sept. 13-15
Shorter days and cooler weather signal the end of summer and the beginning
of championship season in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Fall's
imminent arrival bodes well for Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson as he begins
a three-week road trip at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove
Raceway in Reading, Pa. While autumn brings dazzling colors, W.J. is more
concerned with blinding speed as he continues his quest for a seventh NHRA
title.
The aptly named Maple Grove Raceway has all the elements that suit
W.J.'s style of racing. The trees that surround the facility produce plenty
of oxygen for Johnson's powerful GM engines, and the refurbished track
surface offers optimum traction. Warren relishes the prospect of racing in
Reading.
"Last year's race at Maple Grove produced exceptional performances, and if
the weather cooperates we expect to see good numbers again this year,"
said Johnson. "The Friday night qualifying session will probably produce
the best conditions of the weekend and determine the field. We've run well
under similar conditions before, but it's crucial that we set up the car
correctly."
Johnson has a winning formula for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. He
has competed 17 times in NHRA national event competition at Maple Grove
Raceway, posting three victories in eight final-round appearances. In a
remarkable six-year stretch from 1991 to 1996, he appeared in every final.
W.J. won in 1991 and 1995 over Mark Pawuk, and he defeated Jerry Eckman in
1992. Twice he lost to his son, Kurt, in the final round at Reading (1993
and 2000). Johnson has been the No. 1 qualifier seven times at the Lucas
Oil NHRA Nationals, most recently in 1999. He has qualified in the top four
spots 16 times in 17 races.
"We've been homing in on the correct setup," Johnson reported. "At the
U.S. Nationals, we ran the second quickest time in the first round, but the
car's performance was negated by a driver error. Kurt and I have finally
reached the point that we have predictable, consistent race cars."
Although Johnson is still focused on the 2002 title, he also is laying
the foundation for next year's campaign. The pace of research and
development is accelerating at W.J.'s top-secret shop in Sugar Hill, Ga.
"We're doing development work on cylinder heads and manifolds," he
revealed, "and we're working on a camshaft design that we believe will
significantly raise the engine's rpm range.
"We haven't had an opportunity to do serious R&D for several years, so
I'm excited to be back working on engines," Johnson added. "With the time
we devoted to developing the Grand Am and Cavalier bodies and working on
our chassis program, our engine projects have been on the back burner. We
don't have an army of people to do that work for us, but because Kurt and I
have our hands on every part, we can see trends and tendencies that
ultimately help us to develop better engines."
Following the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, the NHRA tour will head to
Memphis, Tenn., and Chicago. With three races in three weeks, there will be
little time for either R&R or R&D.
"This schedule certainly builds up frequent flyer miles," said the
pragmatic Professor.
WARREN JOHNSON'S MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY PARK RECORD
Year Qual. Result
1985 2 Runner-up (to Allen)
1986 2 First Round
1987 4 First Round
1988 3 Semifinal
1989 1 First Round
1990 2 Semifinal
1991 1 Winner (over Pawuk)
1992 2 Winner (over Eckman)
1993 1 Runner-up (to Kurt Johnson)
1994 2 Runner-up (to Alderman)
1995 1 Winner (over Pawuk)
1996 1 Runner-up (to Yates)
1997 2 Semifinal
1998 1 Semifinal
1999 1 Semifinal
2000 3 Runner-up (to Kurt Johnson)
2001 8 First Round
