In Warren's Words:

"I raced some very good drivers that weekend, but compared to the all-star line-up I had faced in my first Columbus final, I had a somewhat easier road to hoe. The Calais I raced that year was my first small car, following the Cutlasses, the "Flying Boxcars, which were built with a miter saw and a square.

"The Calais was smaller, albeit not that aerodynamic because of the notchback rear window. However, it presented a smaller frontal area, which made it a competitive package. I came up with the mini shifter levers because the standard size wouldn't work with the new Funny Car roll cages we were using. We also used the pneumatic push button system because it allowed me to do something to the Lenco transmissions that the competition didn't pick up on for several years."

Notes of the time:

*  This was the 12th NHRA national event win of WJ's career (in 17 final round appearances), third of 1985, and came in his 72nd career start.

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*  Ironically, Warren won in the first two rounds despite fighting a miss in his engine, which forced him to change batteries, fuel regulators and ignition as part of his between-rounds maintenance.

*  WJ's Calais was equipped with a new set of Hurst "mini-lever" shifter levers, replacing the air-shifter buttons normally seen on cars of the time, as the introduction of the Funny Car-style roll cages to the Pro Stock category (another WJ innovation) prevented them from using the normal sized levers.

*  WJ defeated then-rookie Bruce Allen in the final, who was in one of his early Pro Stock races with the Reher-Morrison team, replacing the legendary Lee Shepherd, who was unfortunately killed in a testing accident earlier in the season.

*  Bob Glidden was the No. 1 qualifier with a 7.568-second elapsed time, with Jerry Eckman capturing the sixteenth and final qualifying position with a 7.790-second clocking.

*  Two other current Pro Stock competitors who attempted to make the field were Rickie Smith and Mark Pawuk.

*  The Pro Stock field was made up of Old Calais, Pontiac Trans Ams and Firebirds, Chevrolet Camaros and Ford Thunderbirds.

*  Winners in other categories that weekend included Bill Mullins, who defeated Gary Beck in the Top Fuel final, and Kenny Bernstein, who edged current Texas Motorplex owner Billy Meyer in the Funny Car final.

WJ's MOST RECENT COLUMBUS WIN - 2001

Race Car:  2001 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Pontiac Grand Am
Performance:  WJ qualified fourth, 6.959 seconds, 199.52 mph
Defeated Kurt Johnson, Brad Jeter, Jeg Coughlin and Mark Osborne