NHRA

Topeka: Warren Johnson preview

WJ Looks to Finish What He Starts in Topeka GM Performance Parts GXP crew aims to turn horsepower into round wins at O'Reilly Summer Nationals Sugar Hill, Ga., May 28, 2008 -- Over the last forty years Warren Johnson has built a Hall of Fame ...

Published: May 29, 2008, 12:08 AM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

WJ Looks to Finish What He Starts in Topeka
GM Performance Parts GXP crew aims to turn horsepower into round wins at O'Reilly Summer Nationals

Sugar Hill, Ga., May 28, 2008 -- Over the last forty years Warren Johnson has built a Hall of Fame career by getting the most from every aspect of his racing program. From spending countless hours massaging engine blocks and cylinder heads to create the horsepower for which his rides are so well known to designing new components to use that power more efficiently, The Professor has worked tirelessly to maximize the productivity of whatever resources he has at his disposal.

Therefore, one can see how the six-time champion views his efforts in the early part of the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing season as unfinished business. In the first eight races, Johnson's GM Performance Parts Pontiac GXP has consistently been among the best in the closely fought Pro Stock category, setting top speed five times and earning two No. 1 qualifying positions. However, they have to translate this performance into a trip to the winner's circle, an oversight the entire team is working towards correcting at this weekend's O'Reilly Summer NHRA Nationals in Topeka, KS.

"We had a team meeting at the shop after the last race in Bristol to discuss our season to date," said Johnson. "Although we agreed that we had collectively accomplished the first part of our objective in raising our GM Performance Parts GXP's performance level to where it needs to be, we also acknowledged that we had yet to seize the opportunities put before us.

"If we're guilty of anything, however, it would have to be tunnel vision, because we have been so focused on developing horsepower, which was far from an overnight project, and one that continues today. With that aspect under control, our goal now is to take what we have discovered and apply it to the racetrack more consistently.

"We also need to get better alarm clocks for the drivers. Our competition knows what our cars are capable of, and, as a result, every one of them goes up there trying to mow down the tree, so we need to be on our game every time. We're going to test some things before Topeka, trying to get the whole package to react a little quicker than it has been. If we can do that, I believe we'll be in good shape in Kansas."

Located on the outskirts of Kansas' capital city, Heartland Park Topeka is a multipurpose motorsports facility covering 750 acres. Throughout its 19-year history, it has hosted events for numerous sanctioning bodies including stock, sprint and sports cars. It has also been the site of an NHRA national event since 1989, with WJ among the select few who has participated in every straight-line competition held there.

"Although the facility in Topeka is quite nice, the racing surface can be pretty tricky, as we saw last year when the starting line was as smooth as a terrazzo floor," said Johnson. "I thought they were supposed to resurface it, but I'm not sure what work they have done, so we'll have to wait and see what we have to work with when we get there. Fortunately, it will be the same for everyone.

"We've been looking at our notes from the last few years, seeing what the track conditions were, as well as what direction we took and what did and did not work. We'll then factor in our increased performance, and come up with a game plan for the first qualifying session on Friday afternoon. I know we'll be in better shape than we were last year, and based on how this GM Performance Parts GXP has been running, am cautiously optimistic about our chances. I guess we'll all find out this weekend."

-credit: j2r

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Topeka: Mike Neff preview

Next article Chip Ellis warms up funny car

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

13 min

Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP

Max Verstappen "needs to understand what happened" after "night and day" F1 comeback in Brazilian GP

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

14 min

Max Verstappen "needs to understand what happened" after "night and day" F1 comeback in Brazilian GP

LIVE: NASCAR Cup season finale at Homestead lap-by-lap updates

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Homestead-Miami

40 min

LIVE: NASCAR Cup season finale at Homestead lap-by-lap updates

Kyle Larson wins 2026 NASCAR Cup championship with Stage 1 clinch at Homestead

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Homestead-Miami

45 min

Kyle Larson wins 2026 NASCAR Cup championship with Stage 1 clinch at Homestead

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts