The Professor Hits 500:Warren Johnson Milestone Races
GM Performance Parts GTO pilot Warren Johnson will add another entry inthe NHRA record books this weekend, as he will enter his 500th NHRA ProStock national event, becoming the first professional competitor toaccomplish this feat. The following is a compilation of some of the morememorable performances from his first 499 races:
September 1971 - Indianapolis, IN -- Race #1 - Fridley, MN racerWarren Johnson, enters his first NHRA Pro Stock National event. (timeslipshown at left) Driving a 1971 Chevrolet Camaro, Johnson posted a9.595-second elapsed time and a top speed of 139.31 mph in qualifying28th for the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, IN. WJ fell to Don Grotheerin the first round.
June 1975 - Columbus, Ohio -- Race #2 -- WJ scores his firstNHRA Pro Stock elimination round wins on hole shots, advancing to thesemifinals of the 11th annual Springnationals at National Trail Raceway.After posting a 9.139-second elapsed time to qualify 13th,Johnson's big block Camaro (right) opened by upsetting No. 5qualifier Scott Shafiroff on a 9.18 to 9.11-second holeshot. WJ usedanother holeshot to eliminate highly favored No. 1 qualifier Wayne Gappin the legendary Gapp & Roush Ford Maverick in the second round (9.13sec., 149.50 mph to Gapp's losing 9.10 sec., 149.25 mph run) beforefalling to eventual race winner Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins in thesemi-finals.
March 1976 - Gainesville, FL -- Race #8 -- Warren advances tohis first NHRA Pro Stock final round at the 7th annual Gatornationals.After qualifying fourth at Gainesville Raceway with a 8.80-second elapsedtime, WJ defeated Paul Blevins, Richie Zul and Dave Kammers before beingedged by No. 1 qualifier Larry Lombardo (driving Grumpy Jenkinsfactory-backed Monza), who reset the National Elapsed Time Record at 8.71seconds in the final, edging WJ's 8.76-second pass.
June 1978 - Columbus, Ohio -- Race #27 -- WJ claims his firstNHRA Pro Stock No. 1 qualifying position at National Trail Raceway,logging an 8.636-second elapsed time (which was also Low Elapsed time ofthe event) with a top speed of 157.34 mph. Although Warren defeatedFrank Iaconio in the first round, during an unusual re-run in the secondround due to a Christmas Tree malfunction, Johnson's Camarosuffered a mechanical failure, allowing eventual winner Richie Zul to goon for the win.
July 1982 - Englishtown, NJ -- Race #42 - The Professor posts hisfirst NHRA Pro Stock national event win at the Summernationals inEnglishtown, NJ. Driving a 1980 Olds Starfire, WJ, who was now living inNorcross, GA qualified fourth with a 7.912-second elapsed time and 175.09mph top speed. During final eliminations, he defeated Sam Gianino, DonCampanello and Joe Lepone in the earlier round before outrunning No. 1qualifier Lee Shepherd in the final (.456 r.t, 7.903-sec., 174.41 mph -.467, 7.914-sec., 173.74 mph). Other winners that weekend included MarkOswald in Top Fuel and Don "The Snake" Prudhomme in FunnyCar. (Winner's Circle photo at left, including NHRA founder WallyParks second from left)
October 1982 -- Fremont, CA- Race #45 -- Warren posts thefirst 180 mph run in Pro Stock history with his 181.08 mph speed inqualifying for the Golden Gate Nationals. Johnson capped thisperformance by going on to defeat Lee Shepherd in the final for the thirdwin of his career.
September 1984 -- Indianapolis, IN -- Race #67 -- Startingfrom the second position, Warren defeats Don Coonce, Ronnie Manchester,Gordie Rivera and arch rival Bob Glidden to record his first U.S.Nationals win. In addition, WJ's 7.634-second clocking in thefirst round gave the Hurst/Olds Cutlass (right) low elapsed time for theweekend.
August 1986 -- Indianapolis, IN -- Race #91 -- WJ recordsthe first 190 mph run in Pro Stock history in qualifying for the U.S.Nationals. In second session on Friday afternoon, Johnson's GMGoodwrench Performance Parts Olds Firenza rocketed through the traps at190.07 mph to reset the national record.
September 1991 -- Reading, PA -- Race #178 -- WJ blasts toa 7.180-second elapsed time in qualifying to capture the No. 1 qualifyingposition at the Keystone Nationals. This marks the first time inJohnson's career that he held the NHRA National Elapsed TimeRecord. Johnson took advantage of his ACDelco Olds Cutlass'performance to power through the field, defeating Mark Pawuk in the finalfor the 24th national event win of his Pro Stock career.
October 1992 -- Dallas, TX -- Race #198 -- Warren Johnsonqualified his ACDelco Olds Cutlass in the No. 1 position at the ChiefAuto Parts Nationals in Dallas, TX to clinch his first NHRA Pro StockChampionship. Coming into the event, WJ simply needed to qualify at theTexas Motorplex in order to secure the title, and did so in fine fashion,posting a track-record 7.109-second elapsed time to pace what was thenthe quickest field in Pro Stock history, with Jim Yates anchoring thefield with a 7.216-second time.
April 1993 - Atlanta, GA -- Race #204 -- WJ faces his son Kurtfor the first time in competition, squaring off against thesecond-generation racer in the final round of the Southern Nationals atAtlanta Dragway. In the first father-son final round in NHRA history,(left) WJ edged KJ 7.179, 193.05 to 7.226, 193.00.
September 1995 -- Indianapolis, IN -- Race #250 -- Warrenmakes his 250th NHRA Pro Stock race a memorable one, capturing the No. 1qualifying position and defeating Jerry Eckman, Pete Williams, KurtJohnson and Lewis Worden enroute to his fourth consecutive U.S. Nationalswin and his fifth overall win at "The Big Go."
April 1997 -- Richmond, VA -- Race #279 -- The Professorlogs another entry in the NHRA record books by recording the first 200mph run in Pro Stock history (left) and the first sub 6.9-second run atthe Pennzoil Nationals. During the Friday night qualifying session atVirginia Motorsports Park, WJ's GM Performance Parts Firebirdposted a 6.894-second elapsed time along with a 200.13 mph top speed,good enough for both ends of the national record. Warren also went on todefeat his son Kurt in the final for the 59th win of his career.
October 1998 -- Memphis, TN -- Race #314 -- WJ records a6.881-second elapsed time to capture the 100th No. 1 qualifying positionof his career. In typical fashion, WJ edged KJ in the final for his 72ndwin.
September 1999 -- Indianapolis, IN -- Race #333 -- In whathe describes as his favorite win, Warren, driving a GM Goodwrench ServicePlus Pontiac Firebird, carrying a special Superman paint scheme (left)captures the No. 1 qualifying position with a 6.920 second e.t. at theU.S. Nationals and defeats Kurt Johnson, Jim Yates, Jeg Coughlin and GregAnderson to score his sixth U.S. Nationals win and 78th of his career.Making the accomplishment even more impressive is that WJ had flow backto Georgia with a damaged cylinder head following the Saturday morningqualifying session, returning in time for Sunday's action aftereffecting repairs on the damaged piece.
October 1999 -- Pomona, CA -- Race #339 -- With a speed of201.07 mph, Warren sets Top Speed of the Event at the season-ending AutoClub of Southern California Finals, thus becoming the first driver inNHRA history to record the top speed at every event in a season.
July 2001 -- Denver, CO -- Race #376 -- Warren scores the86th Pro Stock national event win of his career at the Mile-HighNationals to pass Bob Glidden and become the most prolific driver in ProStock history. After qualifying third at Bandimere Speedway, WJ defeatedMark Pawuk, V. Gaines, Mike Edwards and his son Kurt Johnson (left) on aholeshot to score the momentous victory.
March 2005 -- Houston, TX -- Race #459 -- The Professoradds an unusual distinction to his lengthy racing resume, qualifying inthe No. 1 position and defeating Richie Stevens, Greg Stanfield, DavidConnolly and Jason Line to record the 93rd win of his NHRA Pro Stockcareer, thus becoming the oldest professional winner in NHRA history,displacing former Top Fuel driver Eddie Hill.
February 2006 - Phoenix, AZ -- Race #480 -- WJ advances to the149th final round of his career, defeating Greg Anderson in the final toscore his 96th national event win. This extends WJ's streak ofreaching a final round at least once a season to an impressive 25 years.
-credit: j2r
