NHRA Warren Johnson Pre Race: Effective Racing Has WJ On Top
Heading into Seattle
GM Performance Parts Crew Sees Adaptability as Key to Success at Pacific
Raceways
Sugar Hill, Ga., July 19, 2005 - Six-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Warren
Johnson is known as "The Professor of Pro Stock" for his meticulous and
studious approach to racing. For example, between the team's shop in
Sugar Hill, GA, and the GM Performance Parts Racing Team transporter
which transports their sleek Pontiac to races around the country,
Johnson has detailed records of virtually every pass he has made down
the quarter-mile, whether in testing, qualifying or final eliminations.
This valuable tuning information allows him to cross-reference set-ups
for almost any situation at any of the 20 tracks on the POWERade Drag
Racing Series.
The 2005 season provides a perfect example of just how effective
Johnson's tactics can be. Entering this weekend's Carquest Auto Parts
Nationals in Seattle, WA, he has three wins in five final rounds, five
No. 1 qualifying performances and a 28-10 elimination round record. In
addition, in the first 13 races, he has posted the low elapsed time of
the race four times and set the top speed of the event on five
occasions, all of which have helped him earn 1,030 championship points,
more than any other competitor in the series' four professional
categories. However, he is quick to point out that his accomplishments
can be attributed to the dedicated efforts of the entire team.
"Our success is the result of a combination of several things," said
Johnson. "First of all, we started the year with a new GM Performance
Parts Pontiac, and fresh tubing seems to help everyone, at least
initially. In addition, we as a team are working more effectively
together, and the guys back at the shop are getting everything done on
time.
"Basically, it's more of a cohesive team effort than we have had in a
while. You throw in a few other items that have progressed nicely, and
you end up with the results we have seen so far. We haven't won all the
races, but apparently we've gone more rounds than anyone else and scored
the most points, which is all that matters."
This weekend, the team will look to tame the racing surface at Pacific
Raceways, located on the outskirts of Seattle. The primary challenge
facing the crews will be converting their race car from the
high-altitude set-up used in Denver last weekend to one that will
maximize the oxygen-rich environment found at the Kent quarter-mile. It
is an assignment that the Johnson team has handled well in the past,
with four wins in six final round appearances.
"Over the years, we have not only adapted well to the change in
environments, but the rough racing surface at Seattle played to our
strong suit," stated Johnson. "Having cut my racing teeth on some very
questionable tracks in the Midwest, I developed the ability to get down
racetracks other people wouldn't even run on. Of course, that was taken
out of the equation a year ago when they resurfaced the track.
"With a full year to cure, I believe the surface will be even better
than it was a year ago. In fact, I have talked to some racers who
compete there on a weekly basis, and they say it is as smooth as glass.
If I don't have to worry about fighting to keep my car between the guard
rails as we did in the past, we can just concentrate on making it go
faster.
"I believe we will still have an edge based on our ability to
effectively adapt to whatever is thrown at us, and given that our GM
Performance Parts Pontiac has shown itself to be an extremely fast race
car, we should be in good shape this weekend. For example, in Denver we
ran a set-up that we hadn't even used in testing, and as we kept
tweaking, it just kept getting better. We got our West Coast Swing off
to the best start possible, using a fast and consistent car to win
Denver, and we're looking to continue that trend in Seattle."
Notes on Warren Johnson and the GM Performance Parts Pontiac Racing team
entering the
Carquest Auto Parts Nationals:
* WJ is stout in Seattle: This will be Warren's 22nd NHRA
appearance at Pacific Raceways, where he has four wins (in 1989, 1991,
1995 & 1998) in six final round appearances, which is the most among
active Pro Stock drivers. In addition, WJ was the No. 1 qualifier six
times, has an 3.43 average starting position (with only three starts
outside the top half of the field) and has an elimination round record
of 38-17 in his previous twenty-one Washington starts.
* No. 1 in National event wins: WJ's 95 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 at last
weekend's Mile-High Nationals in Denver, CO.
* Warren hoping to go back-to-back: WJ will be looking to score
consecutive wins for the 19th time in his career (including winning
three in a row five times and four in a row once), having last done so
in 2001, when he won the Columbus, Ohio and Madison, IL races.
* One year ago: Warren was the fourteenth qualifier with an
elapsed time of 6.814 seconds and a top speed of 202.70 mph, but fell in
the first round.
* Career Best Elapsed Time: 6.679 seconds, Gainesville, FL,
3/20/05
* Career best top speed: 207.50 mph, Englishtown, NJ, 6/19/05
Event Schedule:
Friday, July 22 - Two qualifying
sessions at 3:30 & 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 23 - Two qualifying
sessions at 10:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 24 - Pre-race ceremonies
begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by
the first
round of eliminations at 12:00 noon.
Television Schedule:
Qualifying: Saturday, July 23 -
8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
(Repeat) Sunday, July 24 -
3:00 - 5:00 a.m.
Eliminations: Sunday, July 24 -
9:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
(Repeat) Monday, July 25 -
3:00 - 4:30 a.m.
NHRA2Day: Sunday, July 24 -
11:30 a.m. - 12 noon.
(Please consult your local listings for exact times, as the schedule is
subject to change.)
