P
PureDeathRacing
Guest
Without much debate, the Johnsons -- patriarch Warren, son Kurt and Warren's wife, Arlene -- constitute the Royal Family of NHRA's Pro Stock class.
While the Coughlins, specifically champion Jeg, his father Jeg Sr., and brother Troy, are the family-in-waiting, the Johnsons remain the longest running racing household in the category.
Warren's six titles, Kurt's streak of a national event win in each season but one (1994) since he turned professional in 1993, their steady dominance of the elapsed time and top speed records and their impressive total of wins (111) all provide unquestionable evidence of their continuing leadership.
But when measured against this statistical yardstick, their 2002 season could be described as anything but a runaway success.
Warren finished the '02 campaign fourth in the points. Kurt was sixth, and barely prevented his first winless season in eight years by closing the schedule with a victory in Pomona, Calif.
Both drivers won but a single race last year and perhaps more surprisingly, tallied just one top qualifying spot each. That number is especially surprising in the case of the elder Johnson, whose 126 poles are the all-time record in not only Pro Stock but in all professional categories.
So, the question remains: Can Warren and Kurt bounce back in 2003 and regain the performance highground that was once such a major element of their success? I think so!
"Things have changed dramatically in this class," said Kurt, who is the team's primary engine builder. "Pro Stock has always been a very competitive class but not nearly as much as it is now.
"Qualifying is as tough as race day with 40 teams out there and the field separated from 1 through 16 by a couple of hundredths of a second. Make a bad run, miss your setup, get even a little distracted, and you might be all through for the weekend."
Warren agrees, and often mentions the "checkbook diplomacy" that now influences the Pro Stock power structure.
"We got caught working out some technical issues early in the season and by the time we got on track, we couldn't catch up," he said.
"When you have the financial resources that a lot of these teams have to put together an engine program that can make sufficient power and can go out and acquire the technology it takes to be competitive, it definitely keeps anyone from running away with the championship. But we think we have a program for next year that will correct a lot of the problems that we struggled with last year."
With the stakes getting ever higher in 2003 -- including new body styles, new teams and new alignments -- the Johnsons know that as the standard bearers for GM's Pro Stock racing efforts, a lot will be expected of them. Now it remains to be seen if the sport's most successful father-son duo can rekindle some of that old magic.
While the Coughlins, specifically champion Jeg, his father Jeg Sr., and brother Troy, are the family-in-waiting, the Johnsons remain the longest running racing household in the category.
Warren's six titles, Kurt's streak of a national event win in each season but one (1994) since he turned professional in 1993, their steady dominance of the elapsed time and top speed records and their impressive total of wins (111) all provide unquestionable evidence of their continuing leadership.
But when measured against this statistical yardstick, their 2002 season could be described as anything but a runaway success.
Warren finished the '02 campaign fourth in the points. Kurt was sixth, and barely prevented his first winless season in eight years by closing the schedule with a victory in Pomona, Calif.
Both drivers won but a single race last year and perhaps more surprisingly, tallied just one top qualifying spot each. That number is especially surprising in the case of the elder Johnson, whose 126 poles are the all-time record in not only Pro Stock but in all professional categories.
So, the question remains: Can Warren and Kurt bounce back in 2003 and regain the performance highground that was once such a major element of their success? I think so!
"Things have changed dramatically in this class," said Kurt, who is the team's primary engine builder. "Pro Stock has always been a very competitive class but not nearly as much as it is now.
"Qualifying is as tough as race day with 40 teams out there and the field separated from 1 through 16 by a couple of hundredths of a second. Make a bad run, miss your setup, get even a little distracted, and you might be all through for the weekend."
Warren agrees, and often mentions the "checkbook diplomacy" that now influences the Pro Stock power structure.
"We got caught working out some technical issues early in the season and by the time we got on track, we couldn't catch up," he said.
"When you have the financial resources that a lot of these teams have to put together an engine program that can make sufficient power and can go out and acquire the technology it takes to be competitive, it definitely keeps anyone from running away with the championship. But we think we have a program for next year that will correct a lot of the problems that we struggled with last year."
With the stakes getting ever higher in 2003 -- including new body styles, new teams and new alignments -- the Johnsons know that as the standard bearers for GM's Pro Stock racing efforts, a lot will be expected of them. Now it remains to be seen if the sport's most successful father-son duo can rekindle some of that old magic.