Words by Jon G. Knapp
Photos courtesy Warren Johnson Racing
5/27/05

WJ's FIRST TOPEKA RACE - 1989

Race Car: 1989 ACDelco Oldsmobile Cutlass
Performance: WJ qualified No. 1, 7.331 seconds, 188.16 mph
Defeated Bob Glidden
Lost to Darrell Alderman.

In Warren's Words:

"This race was memorable because of two strange things that happened to me during the weekend. First, while changing engines on Saturday night, I slipped and a head gasket bit

ADVERTISEMENT

me. That required a trip to the hospital for five stitches on my left thumb that I had to race with on Sunday.

"To top that, I lost a race due to a piece of straw. When the NHRA first went there in 1989, the facility was still under construction, and they covered the raw dirt with straw to hold the dust down. As a result, with the incessant wind we have there, there were tiny pieces of straw flying everywhere.

"I was racing Alderman in the second round and seemed to have him covered when the car suddenly and inexplicably nosed over in third gear. When I pulled the hood scoop off afterward, there was straw stuck in the air bleeds. It was undoubtedly one of the most unusual ways to lose a race that I have ever experienced."

Notes of the time:

*  This was the 21st No. 1 qualifying performance of WJ's career, and second in 1989.

*  This marked the second time in Warren's career that he had qualified No. 1 in his first appearance at a particular racetrack. The only other time prior to this race was at the 1982 Finals in Irvine, CA.

*  This inaugural visit by the NHRA to HPT was known as the ACDelco Nationals.