WJ’S FIRST NHRA ATLANTA DRAGWAY WIN – 1986

Race Car: 1986 GM Goodwrench Performance Parts Oldsmobile Firenza
Performance: WJ Qualified No. 1, 7.533 seconds, 184.80 mph
Defeated Don Beverly, Don Coonce, Bruce Allen and Bob Glidden

In Warren’s Words:

“Much like this year, there were a lot of competitive racers in Pro Stock back then, so to win was a real accomplishment. At the same time, it was a win at our home track, and our first with GM Performance Parts, both of which made it that much sweeter.
“Of course, I had a single in the final, because Bob (Glidden) had decided to do barrel rolls and cartwheels over the top of the guardrails in the semis reminiscent of Allen Johnson’s deal in Gainesville a few years ago. That’s when we had the steel guardrails, so he was very lucky to get out unhurt.

“We started videotaping our runs in 1986, because we wanted to verify what the computer was telling us. We had also installed the first Pro Stock computer data acquisition system in 1986, and there was a difference of opinion over what the computer was telling us versus what I felt versus what people were seeing on the outside.

“This occasionally produced three different opinions, and the videotape allowed us to come to some sort of conclusion. It was just a means to verify what was going on out on the racetrack.”

Notes of the time:

* This was the 13th win of Warren’s career, which came in his 19th final round appearance (and first in Atlanta).

* WJ’s No. 1 qualifying effort was the 11th of his career, and third straight at Atlanta Dragway.

* Warren’s 7.533-second, 184.80 mph pass in qualifying earned him low elapsed time and top speed of the race in Pro Stock.

* Although the record books show WJ defeating Glidden, he actually had a single run in the final, as Bob had crashed and heavily damaged his Thunderbird after defeating Butch Leal in the semi-finals, preventing him from returning for the championship round.

* This was the first year that General Motors Service and Parts Operations (GM SPO) began their sponsorship of WJ, who carried the GM Goodwrench Performance Parts colors and logos on his Firenza, and this was their first win together.

* WJ was one of the first to install a computer in his race transporter, which he did in 1986, allowing him to enter the data following each run, along with current weather and track conditions. In addition, his wife Arlene started taping every run with a video camera, a practice that is common among all teams today.

* The only other current Pro Stock racer to compete in this race was Bruce Allen, who qualified third and lost to WJ in the semis. Mark Pawuk had attempted to qualify, but did not make the 16-car field.

* The Pro Stock field was comprised of Oldsmobile Firenzas and a Calais, Chevrolet Camaros, Pontiac Firebirds and Ford Thunderbirds.

* Pro Stock was the only professional category to be completed on Sunday, as rain delayed the final rounds in both Funny Car and Top Fuel until Monday. When racing resumed, former NFL quarterback Dan Pastorini defeated veteran Gene Snow for the Top Fuel crown, and current Ron Capps crew chief Ed “The Ace” McCulloch in Funny Car, who defeated Jim Head in the final.

* A notable entry in the Funny Car field was John Force behind the wheel of his Castrol GTX Chevy Cavalier Funny Car.