NHRA Warren Johnson Pre Race: The Professor Works to Put the Puzzle Together in Pomona

Contact:

     Jon G. Knapp

     TMG Sports Marketing

     (704) 662-3121

     jgknapp@tmgsports.net

* *

*The Professor Works to Put the Puzzle Together in Pomona*

*GM Performance Parts crew tests in anticipation of NHRA season-opener*

* *

*Sugar Hill**, Ga.**, February 6, 2007 – *An NHRA Pro Stock race car is a
complex machine offering an almost infinite number of tuning variations.  From
the carburetion and timing on its 1,400-horsepower V-8 to the many clutch,
gearing and suspension options available, with a few simple changes, today's
"factory hot rods" can go from being a 6.6-second, 210-mph guided missile to
a tire-shaking, out-of-control monster unable to successfully navigate the
quarter-mile under power.  As if this challenge were not enough, today's
tightly packed fields further reduce the room for error to mere
ten-thousandths of a second.



This weekend the highly competitive nature of the Pro Stock class will be
evident as the POWERade Drag Racing Series kicks off its 2007 campaign with
the 47th annual Carquest Auto Parts Winternationals in Pomona, CA.  For the
28th time in his illustrious career, Warren Johnson and the GM Performance
Parts Pontiac GTO Racing team will be among those vying for the win on
Sunday.  However, following an off-season that saw several changes made to
both his crew and race car, "The Professor" knows that one of the keys to
his success lies in his team's ability to come together under race
conditions.



"With the addition of a couple new crew members, and the inclusion of some
new components on our GM Performance Parts GTO, we certainly have our share
of questions coming into Pomona," admitted Johnson.  "Fortunately, over the
years Terry (new crew chief Adams) and I have been pretty good at coming up
with the right answers.  I believe we made substantial progress during our
test session in Las Vegas, but we really won't know until the first
qualifying session on Thursday.  The pieces are there – it's just up to us
to put them in the right places."



One factor working in the six-time champion's favor is the location of this
event. In his previous 27 Winternationals appearances at the Auto Club
Raceway at Pomona, Johnson has an unparalleled record of success with five
wins, 11 final rounds and an impressive 59-21 elimination round
record.  Acknowledging
that prior performance has little effect on an upcoming race, he is quick to
point out that the most important by-product is the logbook of extensive
tuning notes compiled during that time.



"We've been fortunate to do well at the Winternationals over the years,
which speaks volumes about the effectiveness of our racing program," said
Johnson.  "More than anything else, however, that success has allowed us to
compile substantial documentation on the performance characteristics of the
Pomona racing surface.  Naturally, you have to factor in how it has been
affected by the weather and such, and we have to adapt the information to
the specific race package we are using, but that recipe book's importance
cannot be underestimated.



"This race will certainly be a challenge.  It will be the GM Performance
Parts GTO crew's first test under fire, so to speak, with the stands full of
fans and sponsors, and you always want to start the season off on a good
note.  The potential is certainly there and everyone has the right attitude
going in, so we should be in good shape. Time will tell."



*Warren Johnson & the GM Performance Parts GTO  Racing team *

*By the Numbers - Carquest Auto Parts Winternationals edition:*

* *

*1 – *Number of first round losses by WJ at the Winternationals in 26 career
starts.



*5 – *a)* *No. 1 qualifying performances by WJ at the Winternationals, most
recently in 1999 – and-

      b) WJ Winternationals wins



*6.638 –* WJ's career best elapsed time (in seconds) recorded in October
2006 in Richmond, VA



*11 – *WJ Winternationals final round appearances, most recently in 2005



*27 – *Career WJ Winternationals appearances entering the 2007 season (out
of a total of 51 Auto Club Raceway at Pomona races)



*59 – *WJ Winternationals elimination round wins, versus 21 losses for an
impressive .738 win percentage.



*207.88 -* WJ's career best top speed (in mph) recorded in June 2006 in
Englishtown, NJ



*2003 –* Year of WJ's most recent Winternationals win to date, when he
qualified second and defeated Troy Coughlin, Kurt Johnson, Darrell Alderman
and Allen Johnson.



*Personal Appearance:*

WJ & the GM Performance Parts GTO Racing team will be greeting the fans and
signing autographs at *Mark Christopher Chevrolet*,  *2131 Convention Center
Way*, *Ontario**, CA* from *5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7*. For
further information, please call (909) 390-2900.



*Event Schedule:*

*            *Thursday & Friday, February 8-9:  Single qualifying session at
2:00 p.m.

            Saturday, February 10:  Two qualifying sessions at 12 noon &
3:00 p.m.

            Sunday, February 11:     Pre-race ceremonies starting at 10:00
a.m.

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



*Television Coverage:*

*            *Qualifying:

*                        *Saturday, February 10:  10:00 p.m. -12:00 midnight

            Eliminations:

                        Sunday, February 11:     8:00 – 11:00 p.m.

            NHRA RaceDay:

                        Sunday, February 11:       11:00  - 11:30 a.m.





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