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NHRA: Warren Johnson places third in NHRA Championship

14 November 2000

THE WARREN REPORT: Warren Johnson GM Goodwrench Service Plus Race Results
from the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals

QUICK RESULTS:
Qualified: 13th
Finished: Semi-Finals
Points: 3rd

JOHNSON ENDS SEASON WITH SEMI-FINAL FINISH AT NHRA FINALS

POMONA, Calif., Nov. 12, 2000 - Warren Johnson ended his reign as Pro
Stock champion today with a semi-final finish in the Automobile Club of
Southern California NHRA Finals, the season finale of the 23-race NHRA
Winston Drag Racing Series. Johnson lost to Jeg Coughlin Jr. by 1/100th of
a second and finished third in the championship behind Coughlin and his son
Kurt.

    "We made a pretty darn good run in the right lane considering how
many guys didn't get down that side," said Johnson after losing to a close
decision to Coughlin, 6.875 to 6.896. "The lane was obviously a little
suspect. We made some changes to compensate and my car went right down it -
and it ran 200 mph, too. I feel pretty good about what my crew did to get
the car down that lane."

    Warren qualified his GM Goodwrench Service Plus Pontiac in the 13th
spot after rain showers on Saturday abbreviated the schedule to three
qualifying sessions. The spread between the first and 16th Pro Stock
qualifiers was a scant .038 seconds.
 
    "Considering where we started on the elimination ladder, we didn't want
to get too aggressive today," W.J. explained. "Kurt and I have made a lot
of changes in our cars in preparation for next year. We didn't want to go
back to our old setups for Pomona Raceway because we're trying to garner
more knowledge for next year."

    Johnson finished third in the final standings after winning
back-to-back championships. "The season wasn't what we wanted it to be, but
that's why they call it racing," he observed. "There is only going to be
one winner at every race and there is only going to be one champion in a
season.

    "I'm not happy about losing the championship, but I'm happy about
the progress we made in the second half of this year," Warren concluded.
"We're looking forward to next year with our new cars."

    The 2001 season will kick off in 12 weeks with the
AutoZone Winternationals at Pomona Raceway on February 1-4.

WARREN JOHNSON RACE RESULTS:
Qualifying: Warren Johnson qualified No. 13 at 6.914/200.38.
Eliminations:
First Round: Warren Johnson (6.894/199.79) defeated Jim Yates
(7.242/154.26)
Second Round: Warren Johnson (6.881/199.61) defeated Brad Jeter
(6.924/199.20)
Semi-Final: Jeg Coughlin Jr. (6.875/198.96) defeated Warren
Johnson (6.896/200.05)

Final Round: Kurt Johnson (6.854/200.59) defeated Jeg Coughlin
Jr. (6.887/199.55)
Low ET: Kurt Johnson, 6.854 seconds (track record)
Top Speed: Mark Pawuk, 200.62 mph

POINTS RACE:
(After 23 of 23 events)
Driver                Wins    Points
1. Jeg Coughlin Jr.    10     2,054
2. Kurt Johnson         6     1,604
3. Warren Johnson       2     1,481
4. Ron Krisher          2     1,392
5. Mark Pawuk           1     1,214

NEXT RACE:
AutoZone Winternationals, Feb. 1-4, 2001, Pomona, Calif.