NHRA Pre Race: Warren Johnson looks to Accelerate the Learning Curve in Texas

Contact: Jon G. Knapp
									TMG Sports Marketing 
									Phone: (704) 662-3121
									jgknapp@tmgsports.net
	
									
Warren Johnson looks to Accelerate the Learning Curve in Texas 
As familiarity with their current GM Performance Parts Grand Am increases, so do the team's expectations

SUGAR HILL, GA., October 7, 2003 -  This weekend's O'Reilly Fall Nationals in Ennis, TX will mark the thirteenth national event at which Warren Johnson will compete with his current GM Performance Parts Grand Am.  In the previous twelve races, Johnson has compiled a record that virtually anyone in the Pro Stock pit area would gladly accept, with a No. 1 qualifying performance and track record in St. Louis and two national event wins, including the most recent stop on the NHRA POWERade circuit in Reading, PA. 

However, "The Professor" tends to grade himself a little tougher than most, and both he and his crew continue their relentless pursuit of improvement as they arrive in the Lone Star State.

"This GM Performance Parts Grand Am is significantly different in a lot of areas, so we've had a bit of a learning curve," detailed Johnson.  "We got off to an extremely good start with it, both in our initial test session in St. Louis, and its first race in Topeka.  We got a little overenthusiastic with it in Joliet and unfortunately missed the show, but came back with some pretty strong performances since then.  

"The car has never been in question, it's more our ability to adapt to its idiosyncrasies. In the last few races we're really starting to realize its potential.  It's up to us to keep moving forward, including this weekend in Dallas."

This weekend's event should provide Johnson with an accurate measure of how his new car is performing.  Throughout his career, Johnson has excelled at the Texas Motorplex, with five wins in eleven final round appearances, as well as 11 No.1 qualifying performances.  This extensive record of success should prove invaluable as he sets his race car up for arguably the most unique racing surface in drag racing.

"Overall, the Texas Motorplex has proven to be a pretty decent facility, with a personality all its own" stated Johnson.  "Although they're able to clean and groom the surface fairly quickly after an oil down, the unique all-concrete surface produces a groove that is extremely narrow in both lanes.  If you're able to stay in it from one end to the other, it is extremely fast regardless of track temperature.  But, if you are as little as a foot out of where you need to be, you can get yourself in real trouble.  

"Certain things come into play more in Dallas than anywhere else.  As far as I'm concerned, the driver is normally just a required amount of ballast and not a source of information, but this weekend, you'll get to see why there is a steering wheel in the race car.  Just as the crew chief has to make sure the car is set up to go straight, the driver has to keep the car in the groove.  

"I feel comfortable racing there.  I've had an ill-handling car get out of the groove to the point where I knew if I pulled the parachute it would shoot me across the track, so I let it kiss the wall, gathered it up and still ran a 7.05, which was second quickest for that session.  You just have to be aware that you can get yourself in trouble, and a lot of people just don't do that.  

"We have extensive data on this track, so we should have good baseline to tune from on Friday.  Coming off our win in Reading, I'd say we're cautiously optimistic of adding to our history of success in Dallas."

Facts on Warren Johnson and the GM Performance Parts Racing Team entering 
the O'Reilly Fall Nationals:

	*	WJ is a Big Dog in the Big D: This will be Warren's 21st NHRA Pro Stock national event appearance in Dallas, where he has five wins in eleven final round appearances, with a 42-14 elimination round record for a winning percentage of .750.  

	*	Warren's Qualifying Stats in Dallas: In his 20 previous races in Dallas, WJ has 11 No. 1 qualifying efforts, with only two starts outside the top three, and has qualified no lower than eighth .  Warren's average starting spot in Ennis is 2.15.

	*	One year ago: WJ qualified third with an elapsed time of 6.855 seconds and a top speed of 201.79 mph, but was upset in the first round.

	*	Winning Streak: Warren Johnson has now won at least two races in 18 of the past 22 years.  In addition, his current streak of winning at least one race a year for 22 consecutive years is the longest in NHRA history.

	*	POWERade Points standings: After the twentieth of 23 events, WJ stands fourth in the 2003 POWERade points standings with 1,267 points, 118 behind third place Jeg Coughlin Jr.
 
	*	No. 1 in National event wins: WJ's 92 national event victories are the most ever in the history of the Pro Stock division and place him second on the all-time NHRA win list.  His most recent win came this past weekend at the Lucas Oil Nationals in Reading, PA.

	*	Career best elapsed time:  6.715 seconds, Englishtown 2003

	*	Career best top speed:  205.69 mph, Englishtown 2003

	 
Event schedule:
		Qualifying: 	Friday, October 10:		Two sessions at 2:30 & 6:00 p.m.
					Saturday, October 11: 	            Two sessions at 11:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.
	Eliminations:	Sunday, October 12:		Pre-race ceremonies  - 10:00 a.m.
					First round of eliminations  - 11:00 a.m.
TV Schedule:
Qualifying:			Saturday, October 11:	5:00 - 6:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Final Eliminations Coverage:	Sunday, October 12: 	5:00 - 6:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
	NHRA2Day:			Sunday, October 12:   12:30 - 1:00 p.m. (ESPN2)


(Note: All TV times are Eastern and subject to change.  Please check your local listings for updated air times.)


# # #