NHRA: Warren Report: Seattle/Sonoma Edition
27 July 1999
Warren Johnson GM Goodwrench Service Plus News & Notes for the
Northwest Nationals and Autolite Nationals
NEXT RACES:
Prolong Super Lubricants Northwest Nationals, July 30-August 1, Seattle,
Wash.
TV: ESPN2, Aug. 1, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT - check local listings
Autolite Nationals, August 6-8, Sonoma, Calif.
TV: ESPN2, Aug. 8, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT - check local listings
VIVA LAS VEGAS!
Warren Johnson isn't a gambling man, but he'll be ready to roll the dice
when the NHRA drag racing tour goes to Nevada next year for its inaugural
event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on April 7-9. Johnson attended the
announcement of the new race by LVMS executive vice president and general
manager Chris Powell in Las Vegas on July 20.
"I've maintained for years that drag racing is really part of
the entertainment industry, so there's no better place to hold an event
than a world center of entertainment like Las Vegas," said Johnson.
"I am also encouraged that Speedway Motorsports is increasing
its involvement in drag racing by constructing a drag strip at Las Vegas
Motor Speedway," W.J. added. "Bruton Smith and his staff certainly
understand how to organize and market successful oval track events. If they
can transfer that expertise and promotional flair to drag racing, it will
open up new opportunities for our sport."
The new facility's proposed innovations include luxury suites
located above the grandstands and a four-lane racing surface. "From the
standpoint of televising a drag race, four lanes make sense because you
need nonstop action for good TV," Warren observed.
Although Warren welcomes the addition of Las Vegas to the schedule,
he doesn't foresee spending much time at the gaming tables next April. "I
only like games of chance when the odds are heavily in my favor!" W.J.
joked.
FUELING THE DEBATE
The second half of the season began amid considerable controversy at the
Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. Usually the lack of
oxygen at the high-altitude track near Denver is the leading topic of
conversation, but this year the talk in the Pro Stock pits was about
gasoline. The issue of what constitutes legal fuel sparked a spirited, and
occasionally acrimonious, debate.
Gasoline is defined by the NHRA rulebook as "a mixture of
hydrocarbons only." But according to some observers, the brews used by
several teams at the Mile-High Nationals were more akin to "rocket fuel"
than pump gas.
"It's the responsibility of the NHRA Technical Department to analyze
the fuel and determine whether it meets the letter and the spirit of the
rules," said Johnson. "We know there are products out there that have the
potential to increase power, and there may be significant health issues
with some of these chemicals. I just hope that we have a level playing
field at the next event."
HATFIELDS AND McCOYS REVISITED
The simmering rivalry between the front-running families of Pro Stock -
the Johnsons and the Coughlins - heated up in Denver. The Coughlin
brothers, Troy and Jeg, Jr., ousted Warren and Kurt Johnson respectively in
the semi-final round. Troy beat W.J. on a holeshot with a perfect
.400-second reaction time, while Jeg beat Kurt with a better reaction time
and a quicker e.t.
"I thought our car was capable of running 7.26 on a perfect pass
at Bandimere," Warren reported. "We qualified No. 1 with a respectable
7.28, ran 7.30 on race day, and had the top speed at 189 mph. I think we
ran as well as we could with what we had to work with."
Johnson left "The Mountain" still on top in the Pro Stock standings
with a 181-point lead (nine rounds) over Kurt and a 289-point advantage
(nearly 15 rounds) over Jeg Coughlin, Jr.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE
Following in the footsteps of the Lewis and Clark expedition, the NHRA
tour heads from St. Louis to Seattle (with a brief detour through Denver)
for the Prolong Super Lubricants Northwest Nationals on July 30-August 1.
While Seattle is renowned for its salmon and espresso stands on
every street corner, Seattle International Raceway is famous among drag
racing fans for fast times. With a panoramic view of Mt. Rainier, a pit
area with more trees than a national forest, and a concrete starting pad
with more teeth than a grizzly bear, SIR combines the ambience of a rural
retreat with the energy of a championship event.
The race track in the woods is also a perfect complement for
W.J.'s horsepower. Warren defeated his son Kurt in last year's event to
claim his fourth career victory at SIR.
Seattle was the site of two milestone wins for W.J. He scored his
25th national event victory at SIR in 1991, defeating Darrell Alderman in
the final. In 1995, he notched his 50th national event title with a
final-round victory over arch-rival Bob Glidden. The pair raced on Tuesday
morning following a two-day rain delay.
"If the gasoline issue is resolved, we should be in excellent shape
at Seattle," Warren predicted. "We'll know by Saturday afternoon exactly
where we stand. We'll see who has the biggest gun - and who brought a knife
to a gunfight."
BACK IN BLACK
Johnson is maintaining his customary relentless pace during the
four-week western road trip. W.J. and his GM Goodwrench Service Plus crew
spent the week after the Mile-High Nationals readying last season's
championship-winning Firebird for its comeback in Superman livery at the
U.S. Nationals. The Nationals will also mark the return of Warren's "bad in
black" paint scheme for the remainder of the season.
W.J. planned to baptize the reskinned and repainted 'Bird in a match
race with Richie Stevens before the Northwest Nationals. He will also
participate in the annual Pro Stock Invitational in Woodburn, Oregon,
immediately following the showdown in Seattle.
WARREN JOHNSON NORTHWEST NATIONALS RESULTS
Year Qualified Result
1975 5 First Round
1976 4 Runner-up (to Booth)
1977 3 Semi-final
1978 7 Second Round
1988 2 Runner-up (to Glidden)
1989 10 Winner (over Allen)
1990 1 Semi-final
1991 1 Winner (over Alderman)
1992 2 Second Round
1993 1 Semi-final
1994 3 Second Round
1995 1 Winner (over Glidden)
1996 5 First Round
1997 6 Semi-final
1998 1 Winner (over K. Johnson)
WARREN JOHNSON AUTOLITE NATIONALS RESULTS
Year Qualified Result
1988 4 First Round
1989 12 Runner-up (to Glidden)
1990 1 Second Round
1991 4 Semi-final
1992 1 Winner (over Smith)
1993 7 First Round
1994 3 Semi-final
1995 2 Runner-up (to Yates)
1996 4 Winner (over Edwards)
1997 4 Semi-final
1998 1 Winner (over Gaines)
LAST RACE:
Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals, Denver, July 16-18
Qualifying:
Warren Johnson qualified No. 1 at 7.285/189.50
Eliminations:
Round 1: Warren Johnson defeated Ray Franks
Round 2: Warren Johnson defeated V. Gaines
Semi-Final: Troy Coughlin defeated Warren Johnson
Final Round: Jeg Coughlin, Jr. defeated Troy Coughlin
Low ET: Jeg Coughlin, Jr., 7.267 seconds (track record)
Top Speed: Warren Johnson, 189.50 mph (track record)
POINTS RACE:
(After 12 of 22 events)
Driver Wins Points
1. Warren Johnson 5 988
2. Kurt Johnson 2 807
3. Jeg Coughlin 2 699
4. Jim Yates 1 698
5. Richie Stevens 1
Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.