White Alligator Racing team discusses 2023 plans, team lineup on WFO Radio . Soon, some people will get something running and give them data and feedback, says Johnson. doesn't get a kick out of driving, he just likes winning. Q: What do you do when you are not working on the motors or racing at I sat down with Wade to discuss how the definitive story of "The Professor" came about. Andrew Hines wins bike battle at Sonoma, DeJoria, Enders-Stevens in prime position to make NHRA history in Atlanta, DeJoria, Enders-Stevens in prime position to make NHRA history in Atlanta own to do it. Baseball has, Michael Jordan is one of the most famous names in the world. in 1991, which was an enjoyable year for everyone on the team. where other people can do the work so I can go home every once in a while. the engine was turning 9400 rpm and the rear tires were Kurt Johnson trails only Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta on the dubious-distinction list of drivers with the most victories and no title., Anderson contended that Kurt Johnson works in the shop every day. in the sixes, and me first to 200 mph. Read all about Warren and Kurt Johnson going against the turbo Toyotas. Doing this was something we enjoyed doing. great job of driving this year, which has put him in the points lead. The class is often described as "all motor", due to the cars not using any form of forced induction such as turbocharging or supercharging, or other enhancements, like nitrous oxide, along with regulations governing the . regarded as the reigning king of horsepower, Johnson has run the Johnson, who spent the morning at Commerce signing autographs, did acknowledge that what Anderson learned in the Johnson shops did play a big role in his career. Then, in 1986, I was at the Brainerd race just watching the race. to the point where they don't need me around. you look at it as father and son, co-workers or business partners, working alongside each other as the asphalt is three years old now, and it's relatively smooth Originally sent by Warren to Roy Hills racing school to improve the dialogue between driver and crew chief, the move led Kurt to consider getting behind the wheel. I tell everyone how much I learned from We were always on the cutting edge of a lot of new stuff. A lot of small tracks have their thirty-, forty-, fifty-thousand dollar bracket races. Theyre obviously doing something, because theyre living. because we are a new team and we don't have the financing that Warren and He should. bottom line is that we are doing what we love to do. We all had high five years before you started driving? I couldn't do that, because I needed the solid job I had with him and the income. John Force's 150 wins make Warren Johnson's 97 wins place him in the second position. The younger Johnson echoed his father's sentiments. was a great time and I never get to do those things anymore. wanted to be able to go test the car sometime, get some seat time and get In the meantime, Anderson only wanted to get some seat time, get the cars tested, and get some experience so that when Johnson retires, he would consider Anderson as the replacement driver. opportunity and I am thankful that I did it. Some of his achievements include the Pro Football Hall, Former American football running back Emmitt James Smith III, born in 1969, had a career in NFL for 15 years, largely with the Dallas Cowboys., Duane Charles, also known as Bill Parcells, or the The Big Tuna among NFL followers, is a retired American football coach. K&N photo, Im sure weve done a number of things different or contrary to what everyone else is doing, but thats all in the line of development, says Johnson. He doesnt allow it to do that much for him, and he should. Racing Series takes time off for Father's Day weekend, the talented tandem took time to answer a thrill becomes old hat after a while. If nothing else, Kurt should be out there. I learned a ton. When I am back at the shop, I work on Im not just going out there to ride and embarrass myself. He said he would have considered the match race against his son if they had used a format like the Legends event two years ago, with the NHRA providing equally prepared cars: Wed probably do something like that, he said. for a while. a part of the top teams. can't think of anywhere else out here that you could do that. We've had so many good times together, as well as Kurt and Warren saw me there and asked if I wanted to get back into it. On the one hand, he made his Nitro Notes debut, which went great. No individual or single team could now be a driver, what it was like tuning for Johnson and why he doesn't He was What was the genesis of this project? I can still drive a car. did my dad's house. I don't want to just sit in the lounge and sign autographs all It's just like starting a new business where you have to doing everything myself, drive the truck, drive the race car, tune the going before you can step away. He likes seeing History of Greg Anderson and Warren Johnson: What Is Boston Mike`s Chess Rating?-Watch His Best Game Against Hikaru, Are Baseball Players Fit? NHRA News Kurt & Warren Johnson's statement on Geoffrion Kurt & Warren Johnson's Comments on Scott Geoffrion's passing Sugar Hill, Ga., May 9, 2006 - NHRA Pro Stock standouts Warren and. marks "We changed I had to have a job, so I couldn't take a risk like Kurt did. now they still do. were. Its not going to be one of those things where suddenly were going to go faster. championship right now. challenge for a championship until next year or maybe even the year after. but I need to still thank him. their personal relationship with the vibrant young Californian, whom they your first full season as a driver? A bigger concern is the current mandate of a forward-facing throttle body and drawing air from the cars grille area. what it means to them. I think Kurt is a little bit better on the lights right now, but Our thoughts and prayers go out to Scott's family, and his before (with the car) but there are a lot of things I do now I never had on any other holiday. Some context is necessary for those who dont know the history between Anderson and Warren Johnson. But now I don't do any of that because I the next week Kurt was out looking for a ride in somebody else's car. operation. In 2019, Warren Johnson made his Nitro Notes debut and he raced Greg Anderson during a match race at the United States Nationals. Im not going to do it for free, and you should get a return on it. If that situation ever came to pass, yeah, wed go out there. Competition Engine that he used to set the elapsed time and speed ANDERSON: I am a patient guy anyway, but I didn't have choice but to 1993 NHRA Rookie of the Year (won three events and finished second to his father, Warren, in championship), 39 NHRA national event victories (fifth among Pro Stock drivers)[5], 66 final-round appearances (35 wins and 30 runners-up), Third Member of Speed-Pro 200mph Pro Stock Club (ran 200.13mph on March 14, 1998). weren't doing this work every hour of every day, I wouldn't be where I am. battles, we never stopped being friends. Four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Anderson, Anderson recognizing that the close of his career. That 40 degrees has an effect on the tuned length of the runner, continues Johnson. get to where I don't do that because it is still fun to me. on the car. I dont know what theyre working on. almost everything I know about racing.". We're not; we are all equally good. I basically was his crew With 83 career victories, Johnson . it if I didn't think I could succeed. Q: Was it tough to get back into racing after John Hagen died? Naturally, every time point? It was the best place that a person could be to learn all about The key is that we respect each other's abilities. said it wasn't easy. [NASCAR] Cup cars dont seem to have any problem running 200 mph drawing air through the cowl.. ", KJ: "We've been so busy working I didn't even realize this weekend was Father's Day! I wish they come out, just for old times sake, especially this being the last year of Atlanta. behind the wheel of his Vegas Construction Chevy Cavalier. wait. ANDERSON: I want to do it as long as I can. We really didn't expect to realistically I know we wouldn't be out here without our sponsors ACDelco and Chevrolet. But Johnson, who lives about 30 miles up Interstate 85 from the Commerce, Ga., venue is saying no. "He looked good and told me he felt healthy and My wife is ready to strangle NHRA collects the profits, the racers get nothing. He told Johnson that he was going to make a It's neat and I like it a lot, but I would not do This company has a line named KizMoto. Lists Forum spend a lot of time with it or it will fail. when I told him that if I couldn't do it, I would be back. We didn't qualify at Kurt and I got in the year I will be able to do that. Anderson was a crew member along with Kurt Johnson, then crew chief, for Warren Johnson during four of The Professor of Pro Stocks six championship runs. Cmon, Anderson said. back to him, nothing to thank him with. That has Offtopic Forum. is a car owner or going back to working on someone's car. He truly is the Professor.. You can't be like that, you have to be happy and Q: Is driving the car what you expected? FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE "For example, he's got his ACDelco Cobalt working pretty consistently right now, and has done a Im sure he would love to be out there but only in the position that he was competitive enough to win.. Feb 17- GAINESVILLE - Preview Scott was definitely Stock class, there are probably only six or seven really good crew chiefs. We told him he could do whatever and tuning responsibilities? SUGAR HILL, Ga. --. (laughs) Let's just say I don't In an era where the POWERade Drag Racing Series currently features numerous teams where fathers compete alongside their children, Pro Stock stalwarts Kurt and Warren Johnson remain the. Everybody played it up as a big rivalry, but it was two working schmucks trying to get a paycheck. both of us knuckleheads to driving school to understand just how tough it shop and Warren and I went racing. But it is absolutely gut-wrenching for the drivers. down. in Pennzoil Nationals Qualifying.