Drag Racing Online- Nitrous News

Warren Wins Fifth Championship
Record-Setting Weekend

(October 24, 1999) DALLAS - Warren Johnson wrapped up his fifth career NHRA Winston ProStock championship today with a dominant performance in Dallas at the O'Reilly Fall Nationals. W.J. did it all at the Texas Motorplex: He qualified No. 1 for the 15th time this season, set the national elapsed time and top speed records, and scored his seventh win of the season with a final-round victory over Jim Yates.

"It's been tougher and tougher all year long. I'm happy for our team and happy for our sponsors, and most of all for the fans - I appreciate them all," said Johnson as he accepted the $125,000 championship bonus from Winston.

Warren was relentless in Dallas, recording the quickest and fastest run
in Pro Stock history with a 6.822-second elapsed time at 202.33 mph - marks
that established the national records. Johnson's GM Goodwrench Service Plus
Pontiac topped 200 mph seven times this weekend, including three 201 mph
runs and one 202 mph pass in eliminations. Johnson tallied his third
straight victory at the Texas supertrack and posted his 79th career win.

Mvc-016s.jpg (39085 bytes)

W.J. defeated Mike Edwards, Allen Johnson, and Troy Coughlin to advance to his 122nd career final round. "I had Edwards first round, and he's the consummate holeshot artist," W.J. recalled. "Once I got by that round I felt we had a good chance of winning.

"My car was awesome on the final run," Warren reported. "I stuck it in second gear and it just hiked up the front end and marched right to the finish line."

"The whole team worked so hard all year long," Johnson declared. "We
wore out our dyno; it runs seven days a week back at the shop. The
dedication of my guys is the reason we're successful.

"I'll enjoy the championship for about half an hour - and then I have
to get back to work!" Johnson joked. He'll test this week in Texas in
preparation for the Matco Tools SuperNationals, the series' penultimate
race next weekend in Houston.

WARREN JOHNSON RACE RESULTS:
Qualifying: Warren Johnson qualified No. 1 at 6.822/202.33
Eliminations:
First Round: Warren Johnson (6.860/201.16) defeated Mike Edwards (6.899/199.20)
Second Round: Warren Johnson (6.854/201.47) defeated Allen Johnson (6.913/198.54)
Semi-Final Round: Warren Johnson (6.858/202.11) defeated Troy Coughlin (6.870/200.71)
Final Round: Warren Johnson (6.842/201.74) defeated Jim Yates (6.892/199.24)

Low ET: Warren Johnson, 6.822 seconds (national record)
Top Speed: Warren Johnson, 202.33 mph (national record)

POINTS RACE:
(After 20 of 22 events)
Driver Wins Points
1. Warren Johnson 7 1,650
2. Kurt Johnson 3 1,367
3. Jeg Coughlin, Jr. 4 1,273
4. Jim Yates 2 1,181
5. Richie Stevens 1 1,036

NEXT RACE:
Matco Tools SuperNationals, October 28-31, Houston, Texas
TV: ESPN2, Oct. 31, 8:00-9:00 p.m. Eastern

Kurt Runs Career-Best Speed in Dallas,
Falls in First Round

(October 23, 1999) DALLAS - Kurt Johnson recorded the fastest run of his Pro Stock career in the final qualifying session for the O'Reilly Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas. Kurt's ACDelco Camaro tripped the timers at 202.02 mph, bettering his previous personal best speed of 201.94 mph. Johnson's 6.844-second elapsed time nailed down the No. 4 spot in the 16-car Pro Stock field.

"Every point counts now," Kurt declared. "We went into the
final qualifying session tenth and we came out fourth. I think we have a
car we can dance with now."

Kurt's optimism turned to disappointment when he lost in the first
round of eliminations to Troy Coughlin. Johnson's car made a hard move
toward the centerline, forcing the ACDelco driver to shut off.

"We adjusted the clutch one-quarter turn and moved four pounds of
ballast after qualifying," said Kurt. "With those minor changes, the car
practically went out of control. Why? What happened? We don't know.

"We tested in Atlanta and Memphis and made 12 runs without a hint of
tire shake - then we come here and lose in the first round with
unbelievable tire shake. The tires were distorted as soon as I left the
starting line, the clutch was locked up, and that was it."

The race for second place in the Pro Stock championship remained tight
as Kurt's closest rival, Jeg Coughlin, Jr., also lost in the first round.
Johnson leads Coughlin by 94 points (five rounds) with two races and eight
rounds to go.

"We were hoping to leave here with a bigger lead, but we didn't gain
any ground - and neither did he," Kurt commented. "With two races left, we
have to get to work and make sure this car goes down the race track."

The championship chase will resume next weekend in Houston at the
Matco Tools SuperNationals, the 21st of 22 races in the 1999 NHRA Winston
Drag Racing Series.

KURT JOHNSON RACE RESULTS:
Qualifying: Kurt Johnson qualified No. 4 at 6.844/202.02 mph.
Eliminations:
First Round: Troy Coughlin (6.891/199.73) defeated Kurt Johnson
(9.041/107.11)

Final Round: Warren Johnson (6.842/201.74) defeated Jim Yates
(6.892/199.24)
Low ET: Warren Johnson, 6.822 seconds (national record)
Top Speed: Warren Johnson, 202.33 mph (national record)

POINTS RACE:
(After 20 of 22 events)
Driver Wins Points
1. Warren Johnson 7 1,650
2. Kurt Johnson 3 1,367
3. Jeg Coughlin, Jr. 4 1,273
4. Jim Yates 2 1,181
5. Richie Stevens 1 1,036

NEXT RACE:
Matco Tools SuperNationals, October 28-31, Houston, Texas
TV: ESPN2, Oct. 31, 8:00-9:00 p.m. Eastern - check local listings.

KURT JOHNSON RUNS CAREER-BEST SPEED AT 202.02 MPH, QUALIFIES NO. 4 FOR O'REILLY FALL NATIONALS

SATURDAY, October 23, 8:00 p.m. -KURT JOHNSON recorded the fastest run of his Pro Stock career today in the final qualifying session for the O'Reilly Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas. Kurt's ACDelco Camaro tripped the timers at 202.02 mph, bettering his previous personal best speed of 201.94 mph, a mark he set at the Pennzoil Nationals in Richmond, Va., on May 1, 1999. Johnson's 6.844-second elapsed time nailed down the No. 4 spot in the 16-car Pro Stock field.

"Every point counts now," Kurt declared. "We went into the final qualifying session tenth after having to run in the right lane this morning after it was oiled down. We came out fourth. I think we have a car we can dance with now.

"I had some kind of electrical problem in fourth and fifth gears," Kurt revealed. "I shifted into fourth and it popped, and popped again when I shifted to fifth. We're going through the basic electrical system, looking at the wiring, ignition box, and switches.

"We were slow in the first 60 feet. There were a couple of 1.02's out there and we ran 1.04. We have the car so safe that it tends to spin the tires and keep them round. That makes the car more consistent, but it's not quite as fast as the setup we used before. We can move some ballast to the back and adjust the clutch to get the 60-foot times back where we want them to be. There's definitely another couple of hundredths left in the car."

WARREN JOHNSON SETS NATIONAL RECORDS,
QUALIFIES NO. 1 FOR 15th TIME IN 1999

SATURDAY, October 23, 8:00 p.m.- WARREN JOHNSON took the top spot in Pro Stock for the 11th time at the Texas Motorplex, the 15th time this season, and the 117th time in his career today with the quickest and fastest runs in Pro Stock history. Johnson put his GM Goodwrench Service Plus Pontiac on the Pro Stock "pole" for the fourth straight race at the Motorplex with a record-setting 6.822-second elapsed time. His 202.15 mph speed backed up the 202.33 he ran in the first session to establish the national speed record.

Johnson was a reluctant record setter, earning 20 bonus points for setting the e.t. mark that he would have preferred to defer until next season.

"We really didn't want the record going into that session," Warren reported. "Then I saw how fast the cars were going in the left-hand lane, which appears to be a little quicker because it's smoother down track. As the session got later and it started cooling off, I knew there were cars that could possibly hit the record. We decided to load it up and let it rip!

"I really shouldn't need the bonus points to win the championship,
but setting it to 6.82 makes it harder to set the record next year for the
points. It gives me about a $3000 thrill if I qualify No. 1; so far this
year I've won $45,000 from Holley for qualifying No. 1. That all helps -
these things run on money, not gasoline.

"Setting the record means that everybody on the crew has done
their homework. I drive them nuts a lot of times when we're testing on the
dyno. We pull the heads off, put them on the CNC mill, put 'em back on two
hours later. We about wear out the head studs on these motors. They realize
that there's a method to my madness, but at the same time I'm sure it gets
frustrating. When we're at the shop, the dyno runs 7 days a week.

"Our 1/8th mile e.t. and speed were the best we've ever run. I
predicted at the beginning of the year that the record would be 6.82 at
202-plus, so I guess we're pretty much on course. If the car hadn't hit the
bumps in the left lane, the record would be over 203 mph. It unloaded the
tires just a little, but still went right down the track."

WARREN JOHNSON SETS TRACK RECORDS WITH FASTEST PRO STOCK PASS IN NHRA HISTORY

SATURDAY, October 23, 1:00 p.m. - WARREN JOHNSON set the Texas Motorplex track elapsed time and speed records today in the first qualifying session for the O'Reilly FallNationals. Johnson ran the fastest speed in Pro Stock history at 202.33 mph, erasing the 201.34 mph track record he set at last year's Fall Nationals and bettering the national mark of 202.24 mph he established in Richmond, Va., on April 30. To establish a new national speed record, Johnson's GM Goodwrench Service Plus Pontiac must run at least 200.13 mph
this weekend to back up today's 202.34 mph run within one percent as required by NHRA rules.

Johnson's 6.843-second elapsed time in today's first session also set
the Texas Motorplex e.t. record and tied the second quickest Pro Stock run
in NHRA history. Warren previously ran a 6.843-second e.t. in Richmond,
Va., on April 30. Warren's son Kurt holds the national e.t. record at 6.840
seconds, a mark he set on May 1, 1999 at Virginia Motorsports Park.

"We knew going in that the weather conditions would be better
this morning, probably in the vicinity of 1,000 feet lower relative
altitude than yesterday," Warren reported. "That's worth three or four
hundredths by itself. We didn't want to get real aggressive at the starting
line because we saw a number of cars shake yesterday. Down track we were
able to compensate for that with gear ratio. We ran the best speed at the
1/8th mile we've ever run, 160.94 mph.

"We left a little on the table. You make the adjustments you
deem necessary based on the atmospheric conditions and your best guess at
the track. Sometimes you hit it spot on, sometimes you're a little off. It
left the starting line pretty decently. (Crew chief Mike) Stryker said it
paddled the tires just a little in low gear and got out of the groove to
the right, but not too badly.

"I don't think it will be a problem to run 200.13 mph to back up the
speed record. We've got a run tonight and tomorrow to work on that. The
speed record doesn't pay any bonus or any championship points, so it's just
an intellectual accomplishment.

"I really don't want to set the elapsed time national record here.
Based on a realistic look at the points race, if we just maintain we'll be
all right for the championship. I'd rather save those points for next year
if it's possible.

"Tomorrow could conceivably be even faster than today if the
temperature continues to cool. All we want to do is make four successful
runs on Sunday. If we're fortunate enough to win the race, that would all
but lock up the championship."

KURT AND WARREN JOHNSON TOP 200 MPH,
QUALIFY THIRD AND FOURTH ON FRIDAY

FRIDAY, October 22, 7:00 p.m.- KURT JOHNSON put his ACDelco Camaro in the No. 3 spot in Pro Stock at 6.908/200.49 mph after the first two qualifying sessions at the O'Reilly Fall Nationals. WARREN JOHNSON, winner of the last two races at the Texas Motorplex, qualified his GM Goodwrench Service Plus Pontiac in the No. 4 spot at 6.913/200.13 mph after Friday's two sessions. The Johnsons were the only Pro Stock drivers to post 200 mph speeds today; Warren ran his 62nd career 200 mph run, and Kurt made his 18th career 200 mph pass. Warren tested a new race engine today, putting two laps on the unproven motor.

WARREN'S WORDS: "We'll take this motor back to the shop, beat on it a
little, and turn it into a real race engine - it already ran well enough to
put us among the top four qualifiers. We made some changes for the second
session based on what we saw on the first run and improved the 60-foot time
from 1.07 to 1.04 seconds. We'll see how we did on the incremental times,
but I suspect they'll be closer to the top than we were on the first run.

"We'll stick in one of our proven engines for tomorrow. Both sessions
on Saturday will probably see better air and track conditions than we had
today. According to the forecast, it will be cooler tomorrow so I expect
times to improve."

KURT QUOTES: "I think we have a player. If we can smooth it out, I think
we can pick it up two hundredths - maybe three on a perfect run. A 6.90
should keep me in the field, so tomorrow we'll work on fine tuning the car.

"On the second run, the car felt like it wanted to shake just a little
in low gear so I shifted to second early, and that might have cost us a
hundredth of a second or two. We still had too much clutch, but the second
run was a huge improvement over our first pass today. I changed a disc, put
in the same setup that we tested earlier this week at Atlanta Dragway, and
changed the gear ratio."