NHRA Warren Johnson Pre Race: Race No. 500 to be Business as Usual for The Professor

Contact:

     Jon G. Knapp

     TMG Sports Marketing

     (704) 662-3121

     jgknapp@tmgsports.net

 

Race No. 500 to be Business as Usual for The Professor

GM Performance Parts GTO crew looks for breakthrough win at The Strip

 

Sugar Hill, Ga., October 23, 2006 - Warren Johnson is known for his
workmanlike approach to the sport of drag racing.  Throughout his
35-year NHRA career, he has readily acknowledged that he prefers
spending time on developing new technologies to discussing his
innumerable accomplishments.  

 

Therefore, it is not surprising that, as the POWERade Drag Racing Series
makes its way back to the Nevada desert for this weekend's ACDelco Las
Vegas Nationals, "The Professor" was unaware that he would be reaching
yet another significant milestone.  In fact, as the GM Performance Parts
GTO pilot becomes the first professional competitor to enter 500 races,
his focus is on adding to another impressive total - his 96 career NHRA
national event wins.

 

"Quite frankly, I didn't realize this would be my 500th race until
someone brought it to my attention earlier in the week," stated Johnson.
"Without trying to downplay anything we've accomplished, I let others
keep tabs of those numbers, preferring instead to concentrate on the job
ahead.  I see every race as another opportunity, and have been fortunate
enough to win my share, which explains why I've been able to stay at
this as long as I have.  

 

"One thing that remains unchanged over all these years is my outlook.  I
enter every race believing my name is on the winner's check.  But to
continue being successful, we know we have to keep working.  That is why
the entire GM Performance Parts GTO crew puts in long hours at our shop
in Sugar Hill.  We know our competition isn't resting, so neither are
we."

 

In order for Johnson to consider this landmark race a success, he must
do something he has yet to accomplish in his career - win at The Strip
at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, site of this weekend's race.  Bruton
Smith's state-of-the-art speedplant is the only stop on the POWERade
tour missing from the six-time champion's trophy case, and although he
cannot pinpoint the cause, he is equally determined to erase this single
blemish from his racing resume.

 

"Our situation in Las Vegas is reminiscent of the drought I had in
Phoenix, or Dale Earnhardt's struggles in Daytona," said Johnson.  "For
the longest time, it seemed as if I would never win in Arizona, but we
finally broke through and now have three wins at Firebird Raceway,
including earlier this year.  We've been to a couple finals, and I'd
like to put my finger on why we haven't won in Vegas, but it just hasn't
worked out that way.  Just like anything else, we'll just keep working
'til we get it done.

 

"Obviously, as a Bruton Smith-owned facility, the track is far and above
others on the circuit.  Any issues with the racing surface are
immediately addressed, and they are in constant vigilance of maintaining
it.  For example, Nevada is the world's biggest sandbox, which
complicates matters if there is any wind.  Nevertheless, they built the
track at a lower grade to minimize the problems, and it's worked out
pretty well.

 

"Everyone on the GM Performance Parts crew is highly motivated after our
little hiccup in Richmond.  There are no problems with our GTO.  We were
a little too aggressive, which, combined with our relative inexperience
with this new chassis, prevented us from properly adapting to the race
track.  It was a hard lesson, but we'll take what we learned there and
put it to good use in Las Vegas.  Who knows, we may even hit the
jackpot!"

 

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

the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals:

 

Las Vegas is the Missing Link in The Professor's Chain:  This will be
Warren's 13th career race at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  In
his previous ten starts, he has two final round appearances in 2000 &
2002, making it the only stop on the POWERade Drag Racing tour where he
has yet to win.  Overall, WJ has a 10-10 elimination round record on The
Strip for a .500 win percentage

 

Warren's Qualifying Stats on The Strip:  In ten Las Vegas starts, WJ has
one No. 1 qualifying performance, and a 5.5 average starting position,
with eight starts in the top half of the field.  

 

One Year Ago:  Warren was the No. 10 qualifier with a 6.859-second
elapsed time with a top speed of 201.43 mph, but fell in the first
round.

 

Career Best Elapsed Time: 6.638 seconds, Richmond, VA, 10/13/06

 

Career best top speed:  207.50 mph, Englishtown, NJ, 6/19/06

 

Event Schedule:

Friday, October 27:         Two qualifying sessions at 2:30 & 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 28:      Two qualifying sessions at 11:00 a.m. 3:30
p.m.

 

            Sunday, October 29:         Pre-race ceremonies starting at
10:30 a.m.

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

Television Coverage:

            Qualifying:

                        Saturday, October 28:    10:30 p.m. - 12:00
midnight

            Eliminations:

                        Sunday, October 29:      8:00 - 11:00 p.m.

            NHRA2Day:

                        Sunday, October 29:      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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