NHRA WJ Seattle Pre Race: Seattle Racer Marks First Year at "Warren Johnson University"

Contact:

     Jon G. Knapp

     TMG Sports Marketing

     (704) 662-3121

     jgknapp@tmgsports.net

 

Seattle Racer Marks First Year at "Warren Johnson University"

 Career move carries Auburn native to WJ's GM Performance Parts GTO crew


 

Sugar Hill, Ga., July 19, 2006 - One year ago, Adam Drzayich was a young
man living a typical life.  Born and raised in the Seattle suburb of
Auburn, he had the usual interests of a 23 year-old, including anything
automotive, sports, music, movies, and girls.  He also had a life-long
passion for the sport of drag racing.  In addition to assisting with his
father Nick's competitive efforts, the personable young Washingtonian
satisfied his quarter-mile cravings by getting behind the wheel,
starting in a Junior Dragster at the tender age of 14.  

 

After a bracket racing stint in the family's 1979 Cadillac DeVille, he
advanced to the Super Comp division, where he won the Division 7
championship and was the Jeg's All-Star representative in 2004.  Through
it all, it seemed that racing would simply remain one of his leisure
activities.  However, following last year's race at Pacific Raceways,
Drzayich decided to take his racing involvement to an entirely new
level.  

 

Leaving the comforts of home behind, he joined Warren Johnson's GM
Performance Parts Pontiac GTO Pro Stock crew at the next stop on the
POWERade Drag Racing circuit in Brainerd, MN, finalizing the transition
by moving to Sugar Hill, Georgia a few weeks later.  This weekend, as
the straight line set prepares to return to the Pacific Northwest for
the Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals, Drzayich will celebrate his
first anniversary as a key member of one of the sport's high-profile
teams.  It is a move that he is thrilled to have made.

 

"I got involved in drag racing when my father Nick did, and it all
spiraled downward from there," joked Drzayich.  "In all seriousness,
I've always wanted to know what else was involved in racing, but never
had the opportunity to find out until a year ago when Warren and Pat
Barrett (former crew member and close Johnson family friend) brought me
on board.

 

"To be honest, I had almost given up on the whole deal.  I had a job
working at the auto auction, and was set to do that until Pat asked me
if I wanted to work for them, and without hesitation I said yes.
Fortunately, my family understood what I was doing and where I was
going, and have been very supportive of my efforts.

 

"It's been an interesting first year, and this GM Performance Parts GTO
team has had our share of highs, including the win in Phoenix and the
test sessions that went so well during the winter, as well as a few
lows, such as this period we're battling through right now, but overall,
I have no regrets, and don't see myself leaving any time soon."

 

Naturally, one of the first questions that comes to mind when speaking
to the most recent addition to "The Professor's" crew is what it's like
to work for the irascible six-time NHRA Pro Stock champion.  Although
acknowledging that the expectations are high, he enjoys the atmosphere,
as well as the wealth of knowledge he has already gained through the
experience.

 

"You couldn't ask for a better guy to work for," said Drzayich.  "He's
reasonable, patient and will teach you anything you want to know.  If
you screw something up once, he'll stand there and laugh at you and tell
you let's try it again, but he doesn't get upset.  He expects a lot, but
it's a given when you work for someone with his credentials in this
sport.

 

"If it was up to me, I'd be here another ten years.  I'm sure that
somewhere down the road, I would like to get back to driving, but I
would also like to be a crew chief.  But before that can happen, I have
a lot to learn, which is why I am here."

 

As Drzayich comes back to his hometown for this weekend's race, he looks
forward to seeing family and friends, but in true Warren Johnson
fashion, knows his work must come first.

 

"It's going to be a different experience racing in Seattle this year,"
stated Drzayich.   "I'm sure a lot of people are going to want to talk,
but we all understand that this is my job now, and that my performance
affects everyone else on the team. We'll definitely have fun, and it
will be nice to see everyone again, but winning this race is our top
priority."

 

Finally, what does Drzayich's boss, the all-time winningest driver in
Pro Stock history, and a four-time Pacific Raceways winner, think of his
latest pupil?

 

"It's been a year since Adam joined us, and we haven't managed to wear
him out yet," kidded Johnson.  "Overall, he's done a pretty good job for
us, working hard and absorbing as much as he can.  He has a great
attitude and gets along with everyone in the organization, which is the
biggest part since we spend so much time working together.  

 

"He's even survived his rookie initiation when he blew the motor in the
burnout car, so I guess you can say he's a card-carrying member of the
team, and we're happy to have him.   Hopefully, we can figure out what
has been plaguing our GM Performance Parts GTO as of late so we can once
again challenge for the win and make Adam's homecoming a very successful
one." 

 

Quick Notes on Warren Johnson & the GM Performance Parts GTO team
entering

The 19th annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals:

 

WJ Has Scored in Seattle:  This will be Warren's 23rd career NHRA
national event at Pacific Raceways.  In his previous 22 starts, he has
four wins in six final round appearances, and a 38-18 elimination round
record for a .679 win percentage.  

 

WJ's Kent Qualifying Stats:  In 22 Seattle starts, WJ has six No. 1
qualifying performances, 19 starts in the top half of the field and a
3.64 average starting position.

 

One Year Ago:  Warren qualified eighth with a 6.695-second elapsed time
with a top speed of 206.07 mph, but was upset in the first round.

 

Career Best Elapsed Time: 6.679 seconds, Gainesville, FL, 3/20/05

 

Career best top speed:  207.88 mph, Englishtown, NJ, 6/16/06

 

Event Schedule:

Friday, July 21:                  Two qualifying sessions at 3:30 & 6:00
p.m.

Saturday, July 22:              Two qualifying sessions at 11:30 a.m. &
2:30 P.M.

            Sunday, July 23:                 Pre-race ceremonies
starting at 10:00 a.m.

                                                     First Round of
Eliminations at 11:00 a.m.

Television Coverage:

            Qualifying:

                        Saturday, July 22:    8:00 - 10:00 p.m.

            Eliminations:

                        Sunday, July 22:      8:00 - 11:00 p.m

            NHRA2Day:

                        Sunday, July 23:      11:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon

 

 (All times Eastern.  Please check your local listings for exact
broadcast times in your area.)  # # #