</pre>NEXT RACE:NHRA U.S. NationalsIndianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis, September 1-4TV: TNN, Sept. 4, 4-6 p.m. (ET)
BACK HOME AGAIN
When Warren and Kurt Johnson raced at the U.S. Nationals for the first time, they pitchedtheir tent in a corn field across the street from the track. Now the Johnsons are campingout regularly in the Indianapolis Raceway Park winner's circle.
The Johnsons have scored seven victories in the last eight editions of drag racing'sbiggest race. The first family of Pro Stock has been represented in every final round atIndianapolis Raceway Park since 1992. Is it any wonder that the Johnsons are lookingforward to spending another Labor Day in Indianapolis?
W.J. kicked off the Johnson clan's U.S. Nationals hot streak with four consecutivevictories in 1992-95, and Kurt added back-to-back wins in 1996-97. Warren missed extendingthe string to seven straight by 11 hundredths of a second when he lost to Mike Edwards inthe final round in 1998. Last year W.J. came roaring back in special Superman livery,defeating his former crew chief Greg Anderson in the final round.
"Why have I been successful at Indy?" Warren asked rhetorically. "I was born and raisedin the Midwest, and I learned how to race in the same conditions that we usually encounterin Indy. Maybe it's luck, maybe it's preparation, or maybe it's some small kernel ofknowledge that accounts for our success in Indy.
INDY INSIGHTS
"Indianapolis Raceway Park is one tricky race track," Johnson declared. "There is not adiscernible difference between the lanes except at certain times of day - and you have tolearn which lane is better at any given hour.
"Because of its altitude and its age, Indy is not a race track that is going to yieldgreat performances," he continued. "There has never been a 200 mph run in Pro Stock and Ihold the track elapsed time record at 6.920 seconds. It's tough to race under thoseconditions, so my experience may give me a slight advantage over the competition.
"The U.S. Nationals is unique among national events because it is the only race withfive qualifying sessions," Warren pointed out. "Historically the first session on Fridaynight sets the field. If you don't make a good run in that session, it can be verydifficult to get in the show in the daytime sessions on Saturday and Sunday. The idealstrategy is to secure a qualifying spot on Friday and then use the remaining fourqualifying runs to get ready for race day.
"At one time, the U.S. Nationals paid bonus points, but now a win at Indy is worth thesame as a victory anywhere else. We have a considerable deficit to overcome in thechampionship race, so all we can do is attack Indy the same way that has brought us successin the past. I've been fortunate to win there six times. We'll go back to Indy with thesame game plan that has worked for us before."
INDY BY THE NUMBERS
Warren has dominated the performance statistics at Indy for decades. He has qualified inthe No. 1 spot eight times, including the last two years. He's run the Low E.T. seventimes, and posted the Top Speed 11 times. W.J. was the fastest Pro Stock driver at everyU.S. Nationals in the '90s except 1997; Kurt ran the fastest speed that year, giving theJohnsons a sweep of Top Speeds throughout the decade. Warren holds the track elapsed timerecord at 6.920 seconds and the top speed mark at 199.82 mph.
THE WAY IT WAS: U.S. NATIONALS NOSTALGIA
This year's edition of the U.S. Nationals will mark the 25th time that Warren has competedin drag racing's most prestigious event. W.J. is not one to dwell on the past, but theProfessor does harbor fond memories of three of very special Indy victories.
Johnson notched his first U.S. Nationals title in 1984 when he defeated Bob Glidden inthe final round, 7.638 to 7.659. Glidden had won Indy five times and was making his eighthstraight final-round appearance at his home track when he faced W.J. and his huge "flyingboxcar" Hurst/Oldsmobile.
"Winning at the track that Glidden had dominated for so many years was really amilestone for our team," Johnson recalled.
Johnson's confrontation with teammate-turned-rival Scott Geoffrion in the final roundof the 1993 U.S. Nationals is regarded as one of Pro Stock's greatest races. W.J.'s marginof victory was 1/1000th of a second. "It was so close at the finish line that I had no ideawho won," Warren noted.
Johnson turned in a superhuman performance last year to win his sixth career U.S.Nationals title. Racing with his car and uniform decked out in special Superman colors,Johnson flew back to his shop in Georgia between qualifying sessions to repair a damagedcylinder head. He qualified No. 1, set the track speed and elapsed time records, anddefeated his former crew chief Greg Anderson in the final round.
"My most memorable Indy victory was the one last year with the Superman logo on thecar," Johnson said. "That was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To capitalize on that witha victory is a race I'll never forget."
SEEING STARS
Johnson is a finalist in the Pro Stock Driver category for the 2001 Car Craft All-Star DragRacing Team. The winners will be announced at an awards banquet at the Westin Hotel inIndianapolis on September 2. Membership on the elite team is determined by votes cast bythe readers of Car Craft and a distinguished panel of selectors.
Johnson has previously won the prestigious Pro Stock Driver award six times (1992-93,1995-96, 1998-99). The editors of Car Craft named him "Person of the Year" in 1993.<pre>LAST RACE:
Colonel's Truck Accessories NHRA Nationals, August 20, Brainerd, Minn.Qualified: No. 15 at 7.004/197.62 mphFinished: Lost to Kurt Johnson in first round.
POINTS RACE:(After 15 of 23 events)Driver Wins Points1. Jeg Coughlin Jr. 6 1,2902. Kurt Johnson 3 1,0103. Ron Krisher 2 1,0074. Warren Johnson 1 9275. Troy Coughlin 0 805
-Rick Voegelin-
