NHRA Warren Johnson Pre Race: WJ is Ready to Wrap Up
Richmond
Contact:
Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
(704) 662-3121
jgknapp@tmgsports.net
WJ is Ready to Wrap Up Richmond
GM Performance Parts GTO crew returns to Virginia for rain-delayed
race
Sugar Hill, Ga., October 12, 2006 - For the second time in the last
three races, the POWERade Drag Racing Series will return to a racetrack
to complete a previously scheduled national event. Just two weeks after
completing the rain-delayed race in Reading, PA, the straight-line set
heads back to Richmond, VA this weekend for the Torco Racing Fuel
Nationals, which were postponed one week ago due to the nor'easter that
blanketed the East Coast.
However, scheduling means little to Warren Johnson and the GM
Performance Parts GTO Racing team. Although they naturally would have
preferred to complete the race at Virginia Motorsports Park during their
first visit, the three-member crew will take a pragmatic approach as
they return to the Old Dominion State.
"The rain delay is more of an inconvenience than anything else," stated
Johnson. "The biggest impact, besides the additional cost for traveling
to and from our shop, is the loss of five days' preparation time for the
last two races of the season.
"With no suitable tracks in our immediate area, there really wasn't
enough time to test anything new, so we'll rely on the information we
were going to use week ago. However, it's the same for everyone else in
the pit area, so the GM Performance Parts GTO team will make the best of
it, doing whatever we can to come out on top.
"Looking at the forecast, we will have to be on top of our game, as
atmospheric conditions will be at a premium. Given the fact that the
track at Virginia Motorsports Park is relatively smooth, records are
certain to fall. Since we never really test under these conditions, we
will have to rely on our past experience and come up with a combination
that will work for the first qualifying session. The biggest unknown
will be how the racing surface will react, which will naturally depend
on how the NHRA prepares it. To be honest, I'm not really concerned
with how cool it gets, as long as it stays dry!
"In any case, our attitude is the same whether it's 60 degrees and dry
or 100 and humid. We're there to win, and that's where our focus will
be. Let Mother Nature take care of the weather and the NHRA take care
of the track - we'll make sure our GM Performance Parts GTO is ready."
Quick Notes on Warren Johnson & the GM Performance Parts GTO team
entering
The Inaugural Torco Racing Fuels Nationals:
The Professor Leads the Class in Richmond: This will be Warren's
seventh career NHRA national event at Virginia Motorsports Park. In his
previous six starts, he has four wins (which is the most by a Pro Stock
driver) in four final round appearances (including the first four races
from 1995-1998), and a 16-2 elimination round record for a spectacular
.889 win percentage.
WJ is a Strong Starter in Dinwiddie: In six Virginia Motorsports Park
starts, WJ has four No. 1 qualifying performances and six starts in the
top two positions for a stellar 1.33 average starting position.
Track Record Holder: Warren holds the top speed record at Virginia
Motorsports Park at 202.24 mph, which he set in April of 1999.
Career Best Elapsed Time: 6.644 seconds, Sonoma, CA, 7/29/06
Career best top speed: 207.88 mph, Englishtown, NJ, 6/16/06
Event Schedule:
Friday, October 13: Two qualifying sessions at 2:30 &
5:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 14: Two qualifying sessions at 12:00 noon
& 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 15: Pre-race ceremonies
starting at 10:00 a.m.
First
Round of Eliminations at 11:00 a.m.
Television Coverage:
Eliminations:
Sunday, October 15: 7:00 - 9:30
p.m.
NHRA2Day:
Sunday, October 15: 12:30 - 1:00
p.m.
(All times Eastern. Please check your local listings for exact
broadcast times in your area.)
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