WJ's Wrap Sheet - Brainerd International Raceway
Edition
(Note: The following is sent as a supplement to the Warren Johnson
Brainerd Pre Race release sent earlier today, and serves to provide a
look back on WJ's career at Brainerd International Raceway. We do have
pictures of WJ's 1982 & 1984 cars, as well as the 1996 Brainerd winner's
circle photo available upon request in JPEG format. We thank you for
your interest and support of Warren Johnson and the NHRA POWERade Drag
Racing Series.)
Contact:
Jon Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing, Inc.
Ph: (704) 662-3121
jgknapp@tmgsports.net
WJ's Wrap Sheet -
Brainerd International Raceway Edition
1. WJ's First Brainerd Race - 1982
Race Car: 1981 Olds Starfire
Performance: WJ Qualified Third, 7.890 seconds, 174.75 mph
Defeated John Lingenfelter
Lost to Frank Iaconio
In Warren's Words:
"I remember we were running a big-block Chevy engine in that Olds
Starfire, which by today's standards was not a very sophisticated
powerplant. The NHRA had just started to implement the 500 cubic-inch
engine program, and I didn't get as comfortable with the format as I
would like to be until the next year with the Oldsmobile engine.
"Ironically, the track was pretty similar to what you see today, with
the exception of some extra paving in the pits and the office building
that was put up a couple years ago. The fuel cars were pitted along the
road course, and we were in the dirt. Other than that, it was about the
same."
Notes of the time:
* This was the 43rd NHRA Pro Stock national event of WJ's career,
and seventh of the 1982 season.
* This was the first year that Brainerd International Raceway
hosted an NHRA national event
* This was also the first NHRA national event to have a major
sponsor, and was known as the Quaker State NorthStar Nationals.
* Bob Glidden was the No. 1 qualifier with a 7.870-second elapsed
time, while Brian Stewart anchored the eight-car Pro Stock field with a
8.044-second time.
* John Lingenfelter red-light in his first round match-up against
WJ, who then left the starting line early in the second round against
Frank Iaconio.
* The field consisted of six Chevrolet Camaros, WJ's Oldsmobile
Starfire and Bob Glidden's Ford EXP.
* In the Pro Stock final, Lee Shepherd in the Reher-Morrison Camaro
defeated Iaconio for his sixth win of the season, locking up the Pro
Stock championship.
* Winners in the other professional categories that weekend
included Shirley Muldowney over Gary Beck in Top Fuel and Frank Hawley
eliminating Al Segrini in the Funny Car final.
2. WJ's First Brainerd Win - 1984
Race Car: 1984 Hurst/Olds Oldsmobile Cutlass
Performance: WJ Qualified Third, 7.761 seconds, 181.08 mph
Defeated Jerry Eckman, Don Coonce, Bob Glidden
and Lee Shepherd
In Warren's Words:
"For some reason, I had an unusually good track record against Lee
(Shepherd). I can't say I tried any harder against him, because I put
forth the same effort every time. I just was fortunate to win as many
finals against him as I did.
"I had actually tried to work qualifying in my favor in order to meet
him in the earlier rounds but it didn't work out. It was an unusual
tactic I had used to win a championship in the IHRA, so I thought I'd
give it a shot in the NHRA."
Notes of the time:
* This win was the eighth of Warren's Pro Stock career, and came in
his 12th final round.
* This was the second time that WJ had won consecutive races in his
career, having won in Fremont and Irvine in 1982.
* W.J. defeated Pro Stock stalwart Lee Shepherd in the final, who
he was chasing for the Winston Pro Stock championship.
* Of Warren's eight national event wins to that point in his
career, six had come from his defeating Shepherd in the final.
* This was Johnson's fourth win in 1984, as he would finish with
five national event wins and a runner-up finish in that year's Winston
championship standings.
* Bob Glidden was the No.1 qualifier with a 7.709-second elapsed
time, while Mark Yuill was the 16th qualifier with an 7.977-second e.t.
* WJ had employed some unusual strategy in the preliminary
qualifying sessions, slowing down in order to set-up an early encounter
with Shepherd in order to maximize his potential points gain.
* Warren's 181.08 mph speed in qualifying ended up as Top Speed of
the Meet.
* The field consisted of WJ's Olds Cutlass, Chevy Camaros, Pontiac
Trans Ams, a Mercury Capri (driven by current Pro Mod team owner Roy
Hill) and a Ford Thunderbird.
* In other professional categories that weekend, the Top Fuel final
saw Joe Amato defeat Gary Ormsby, while Mark Oswald defeated Frank
Hawley to win in Funny Car.
3. WJ's Most Recent Brainerd Win - 1996
Race Car: 1996 GM Performance Parts Pontiac Firebird
Performance: WJ Qualified Second, 7.265 seconds, 190.67 mph
Defeated Bruce Allen, Jerry Eckman, Jim Yates
and Steve Schmidt
In Warren's Words:
"I had a little bit of a learning curve with the Firebird. At the time,
I had a Don Ness-built chassis, which had the stock 101-inch wheelbase,
as compared to the Cutlasses 107-inch wheelbase. The first time I drove
it was in testing at Gainesville, and it felt like a really fast go-kart
due to the difference in wheelbase. In addition, the aero balance was
completely unlike the Cutlass. It took a little time to adapt to it,
but after a while it proved to be pretty successful, as exemplified by
this win in Brainerd."
Notes of the time:
* This win was the 59th win of WJ's career.
* This was Warren's fourth win in five final round appearances at
BIR.
* This was also the 95th national event final round of WJ's career.
* This was also WJ's fifth win in 1996.
* This was Warren's first year in a Pontiac Firebird after
switching from his Oldsmobile Cutlass.
* WJ scored an important win in the semifinals over Jim Yates as he
tried to close the gap in the Winston championship standings. WJ left
on Yates by five hundredths and ran a 7.130-second elapsed time to
trailer Yates' 7.133-second effort.
* Tom Martino was the surprise No. 1 qualifier with a 7.097-second
elapsed time, but fouled out against Bob Glidden in the second round.
* Larry Morgan was the 16th and final qualifier with a 7.149-second
e.t.
* The Pro Stock line-up included Oldsmobile Cutlasses, Pontiac
Firebirds and a single Ford Probe.
* Other winners that weekend included Kenny Bernstein who defeated
Eddie Hill in the Top Fuel final, and John Force, who defeated Tony
Pedregon in a battle of teammates in the Funny Car final.
4. WJ's Brainerd International Raceway in a Nutshell -
"Brainerd is a rather interesting racetrack, because everyone has to
adapt to the conditions which change from year to year. Overall, it's
provided some pretty interesting racing over the years, and we're
fortunate to have gotten our share of wins there.
"However, you can't talk about Brainerd without mentioning the fans.
I'm not sure where it fits on the NHRA's list in terms of attendance,
but it has to rank near the top. Every year, they come in droves from
miles away, including a very large contingent from Canada, and have a
great time all weekend. Of course, no trip to Brainerd is complete
without a tour of the campgrounds - that is an experience of it own.
All in all, I'd say the fans make this race an event."
WJ's Brainerd International Raceway Box Score -
Races
Starts
Wins
Finals
#1
Avg. Qual.
W
L
Pct.
23
22
4
5
4
4.91
41
18
.695
WJ's Brainerd Did You Know? -
* WJ's four Brainerd International Raceway wins are tied with Bruce
Allen for the most among active Pro Stock drivers.
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