SEASON 4, LEGENDS: THE SERIES - THE LEGEND OF WARREN JOHNSON
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- Опубликовано: 18 апр 2018
- Warren Johnson won 97 national events and six championships at the wheel of a series of Chevrolets, Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles during the golden age of NHRA Pro Stock racing. Yet, even though he has hoisted more NHRA trophies than any pro racer with the exception of John Force, he never fancied himself a driver.
In this episode of Legends, the Series, season four, WJ gets candid about his career and those who helped shape it, from Dr. Zook to Bob Glidden, talks about being “vertically challenged” and explains his simple philosophy of life.
“If somebody wants to know something, just ask me,” he said. “I’ll give you an honest answer, at least from my perspective. It might not necessarily be right (but) I try to be as honest as I possibly can.
“I came from a frugal background,” he said of his years growing up on a northern Minnesota farm. “We had to repair everything ourselves, my brother and myself. That’s where I got my work ethic. (We) just worked till we got the job done.”
Johnson also learned car control racing on the ice and snow. It’s a skill that would serve him well in a driving career spanning four decades although he admits that he “probably should have gone circle track racing instead of drag racing.
“Racing cars was strictly a way of making a living for me,” he said. “I could have been better at it, obviously, but I was tenacious and dogmatic enough that I lasted as long as I did and made a good living at it.”
As for regrets, he has very few.
“If you enjoy what you’re doing, the ‘what ifs’ don’t count,” he said. “I still enjoy making parts and doing development work. The only time I ever got discouraged was when I couldn’t figure something out fast enough.”
So, sit back, listen and learn as “The Professor” tells all. 
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I was at Maple Grove In 1992, I saw Warren standing in the staging lanes, all alone, leaning on his car waiting to run. I hopped the wall, walked up to him and told him that I had been a fan since he ran his Vega. He smiled at me and took the time to shake my hand and posed for a picture. A great man indeed.
Don't forget Tom Hoover!
@@dalegaustad9386 We just lost Tom last fall, another amazing racer from Minnesota.
@@racerd9669 I first met Tom in the mid-60s at his dad's alignment shop, and sometimes I would run into him at Elsie's, and Minnesota Dragways. I loved the Show Time funny cars. I met Warren in 1971 at Twin City Speedway where we both raced before he moved to the big time. I miss those old days drag racing up and down Central Ave, and having a Sunburger at the Sun-Drive In.
"Liberal cesspool".......I love it!! The "professor" hit the nail on the head!!
I was ready to say the same thing, you sir are 100% right!!!
Was a big until he talked down on other AMERICAS who have a differnt poitical outlook. S.M.H.
So right!! Liberal scum
Probably ‘blew up’ 3/4 of all college students heads with the “liberal cesspool” honesty . Miss The Professor and Kurt on the track .
probably blew his engines cause he cant compete
@@1959nickd don’t remember him blowing motors , just didn’t have the reaction times to compete when he got older . ETs were ok but he couldn’t catch up . He was also not going to let anyone else drive his car .
@@classmike when gregg left his team fell apart
In today’s world,I would wager that there aren’t many college kids that would spend any time listening to Warren or somebody like him ,liberal indoctrinated minds don’t seem to play a very big role in motorsports.
I love his No bull approach he's a straight shooter he just wants to win I admire that 💯🙏 🙌🔥 💣🔑 👨👩👧👦🧘 👩🔧👩🎓 👩⚕️
Thanks Warren!! I enjoyed watching you race.
Very good interview. Warren is the man .always my idol .but for some reason when I hear Steve Evans voice it gives me chills. Both are legends. What a nice guy Steve was .you are not forgotten. STEVE EVANS best announcer / pit reporter/all around great person .
Bob Glidden was better
"Liberal cess pool." Spot on Mr. Johnson.
joe blow I got a kick out of this Comment WJ made ,I wasn't much of a fan of WJ until this comment, now I'm a big fan of WJ ( Comment , Great Story) Thanks Bobby !
I have always looked at him as a very smart person. Excellent racer.
Went to his shop sugar hill ga. Back in 1991, looking to buy a used HOLLY Dominator. I was working at WADE FORD about 2.5 miles away. He came out to talk to me, i told him we had a low budget drag team and wondered if he could sell me a old used carb. He didn’t act to happy about me asking
and told me to come back later. So after i left and gave it some thought i knew he was basically telling me to Piss Off. Also he needs to go back and review the tapes, I cant tell you how many times I watched him on TV complaining that Bob Glidden was cheating! I remember them asking Bobs wife what she thought about WJ accusing them of cheating. She said if WJ worried as much about his car as he did there’s he might could win a race!
One thing that stands out to me is he comes off very confident in his abilities but not arrogant...a true competitor.
Named the Professor for a reason! Man of few words, and lots of ACTION!!
Never liked Warren back in the day and in fact, always thought he was unapproachable and grumpy most of the time. The fact is, he was completely focused on being successful and considered talking a waste of time. Can you imagine the knowledge one could gain by working next to him in his machine shop? "Bring a lathe and a Bridgeport to the beach". LOL! This was an outstanding interview Mr. Bennett.
That was what I thought, too. My dad and I were at the Nationals in St. Louis in the early 90's. There was literally a sign on his hauler that said "ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTIONS WHILE WE'RE WORKING". We thought that was petty crappy. We went back after he was eliminated and everything had been serviced, and he was coolest dude to talk with. We asked about the sign and he told us "I'm here to win, not chit-chat. I don't come to your job and yap at you while you're working." He basically wanted to able to focus 1000% until he was done for the day. Can't fault him for that.
Yes great interview!! In 30 some years of attending and following drag racing these are by far the most words I have EVER heard WJ SPEAK! Lol
He is so grumpy i doubt you would be next to him for more than 5 min
Met him out in Denver @ Bandimere, I said "My former employer wanted me say hi." 'Who might that be?" He asked, "Wally Booth" I said. He looked, grabbed a rag for his hands and walked over saying. "Son.....That goes back a few years! How is that old boy?!" we chatted only briefly but he was friendly to say the least
Jeremy Kmieciak r
This is exactly how I encountered WJ the first time I spoke with him. It was at a race (in '91 I believe), while he was taking a breather in the pits. He's very direct, doesn't waste a lot of words, but will not short change anyone on answers. And he's got a really good, dry sense of humor. Despite public opinion, I always found him approachable.
I had the very same experience with WJ as you describe. I spoke with him a few times while testing at Desoto Speedway in Bradenton, Fla.
Wow all I can say is wow! WJ and Glidden were my hero's growing up. I have seen them both race I've talked to them both. Very genuine people and humble as well. The prostock of today is nothing like the past. But nothing really is. Drivers today don't work on the cars they may put fuel in it. WJ built everything on them and fixed it between rounds and won too. Now that's a driver!
Yes He Did ‘ Bob & Lee 🙏 Kurt Frank Iaconio Steve Schmidt Larry Morgan Bruce Allen with David & Buddy 🙏 real racers & real pro stock racing Then ! Not now & that’s a shame
My favorite racer ever. WJ was the man.
Beancounters instead of promoters...spot on...
Thank you so much for the legends series. I'm a little nostalgic and I remember watching these guys every weekend on diamond p or tnn with my dad. Neat to see my larger than life childhood heroes on camera talking about IMO the golden age of drag racing.
he did a Pontiac ad during the 2001 U.S Nationals ruclips.net/video/903DPWML-3M/видео.html
Warren you and Bob Glidden inspire me to work hard on my 10 second Nova and have fun doing it. I enjoy crawling underneath it as much as running the 1/4 mile.
Warren Johnson to me is the professor nothing but respect for him he deserves it he earned it you know it's not given its earned and in my opinion he earned it he kicked ass and he deserves to be considered a legend. God bless Warren Johnson the one and only
a true gent. my friend asked him once at the drivers talk one evening at Pomona "would you ever go to top fuel?".. what followed was a 5 min reply where he stated that top fuel was nothing more than throwing away parts every pass, pro stock was the pinnacle of drag racing! a man true of his convictions :)
I love Warren's competitive nature I feel that to my core anything to win 💯🙏 🙌🔥 💣🔑 👨👩👧👦
Warren has always been my favorite pro stock driver. Him and Kurt would always be at the Pro Stock shootout at Woodburn Dragstrip on their way from Seattle to Sonoma. Really cool seeing the man up close and watching him race.
02-16-20 10:00AMCST... excellent production folks! WJ and Earnhardt were both my hero’s growing up. My Dad and I never missed a race where either of these men showed up. WJ, pro stock hasn’t been, nor will it ever be the same without you.
I love prostock,Lee Shepherd,W J Iaconio Bob Glidden Butch Leal etcW J is a bloody good man
I relate to him because he stands up for what he believes 💯🙏 🙌🔥 💣🔑 👨👩👧👦
WJ is a pure drag racer, straight and simple. Pro stock is more pure than the other pro categories. WJ was the last of the old school racer. Met him a couple of times, what I can say in those meetings is there is no BS and he tells it like it is.........I LOVE THAT!
He's going to be remembered as one of the greatest of all times 🙏🙌 🔥💣 🔑👨👩👧👦
Without the spectators and sponsors there is no race 💯🙏 🙌🔥 💣🔑 👨👩👧👦
I agree there's no friends when the green light drops 💯🙏 🙌🔥 💣🔑 👨👩👧👦
The man is a true legend and a drag racing assassin 🙏🙌 🔥💣 🔑👨👩👧👦
I wasn’t a fan of Warren Johnson back in the day. But after watching this video I have a hole different outlook about him now!!
Great video as always! The burn down footage brings back so many great memories of watching drag racing on early ESPN and TNN. I still would LOVE to see the story of the rise and fall of the Dodge Boys / Wayne County Speed Shop team. (future episode perhaps?)
WJ BMF! Legend right up there with Garlits, Kalitta, Muldowney, Prudhomme, Glidden, Kuhlmann. Pioneers.
Mike Rietow I do believe he built alot of the cars in the Don Garlits Museum in Florida.
@SuperGoldnut I liked Amato as a driver. I do remember Lahaie beating Amato for the Top Fuel Champioship in the last round of the season at Pomona, the final Rd. What a great lead up to a Top Fuel championship that was!
I love the staging dual against Connolly! Rick Stewart got so tired of standing he took a seat! Lol!!! That was awesome! The professor was and still is a badass.
One of my favorite Racers, Builders and Tuners
When I build my team someday Warren I'm going to run it just like you did fact 💯🙏 🙌🔥 💣🔑 👨👩👧👦
One of the true greats of the sport 👏
My all-time favorite👍👍👍
Ol grumpy smiled too lol
something we never saw in the 70s!!
Great Video !!! Back in the day ,Always thought he was a $rick and a wise a$$ ,Today I miss him ,Never understood him ,Not here to chit chat just win ,I remember when he broke a wheelie bar at Indy ,Took out the tree ,Go Fast Turn Right He Did ,Another Classic quote he said after he got beat at a race was ,Every Dogs A$$ Shines In The Sunshine Sometimes , Today We Have To Be Politically Correct On Everything,BORING ,Now we just have the Camaro Nationals ,The Good Ole Days Were A Lot Of Fun !!! Chevy ,Ford ,Mopar !!!
WJ was approachable and very smart he when into the darkness of drag racing and find the secret of going fast and was given the name THE PROFFESSOR and made other racer do there home work to compete with him he push everyone to do better
Great lnterview...Pro $ummit, er, Stock ain't the same without you & Kurt...
WJ RULES...
ANDER$ON DROOLS!
Really enjoyable video. Like many people, I'd never really heard much from him. Good to hear from him ! Thanks for uploading.
Excellent interview , love even more
Dude, awesome series! Right next to Bill Pitts series of videos these are some of the best! Thank you
THE PROFESSOR!!
Excellent video. . . ..Your my hero Warren.
love this man a lot of cooerlations there
In my 28 years of working for NHRA he was a great person to work with no fooling around he asked them to do something that's exactly what he did you know me as Alabama the man with the red cowboy hat at the head of the staging Lanes👍
Warren IS THE KING AT THE TREE... I Learned a lot from this man... One of me and my Fathers Hero's. Warren Johnson is a Living Legend.
I met him @ Bandimere in Denver around 1999-2000 & knowing he didn't talk much, so when I had the chance I told him "My former employer wanted me to say hello." he asked (without looking up) "Who might that be?, Wally Booth' I said!" Man, he Turned! Grabbed a rag wiping his hands while walking up to me as he said, "Son' that goes back a few years, How is that ol Boy?!" We chatted only for a minute but he told me, "You tell Wally that if he doesn't come to Indy this year I'm gonna be really mad at him!" All in all, he was very pleasant ! ! !
Cool syoru
Met WJ in Denver @ Bandimere in Denver oh, around 1999-2000 he was working on carbs I think (paid me no mind as stood there) after quite a few minutes I figured I wasn't gonna just stand there all day. So I said, "I know you're busy but my former employer wanted me to say hello." He replied, "Who might that be?" (not looking up) "Wally Booth, I said" He stopped.... grabbed a rag wiping off his hands turned and walked towards me, "Wally Booth!, How is that Ol boy?! You tell him if he doesn't make it to Indy this year I'm gonna be real md at him! he said he was gonna be there last year and didn't show up!" We chatted for just a minute or so and I told him, "I know you're busy & I'll let you get back to it, he shook my hand and off I went. I found Warren Johnson a likeable guy! PS. Wally did' make it to Indy that year and he told me Warren remembered me....
Thx bobby enjoyed it as always.
These are great interviews. I have seen Jungle Jim race, Prudhome, Force...all the old guard in funny cars. I truly respect Pro Stock as they were running cars that were way overlooked by most people. The times and speed they could get out of the cars was amazing...without the major team sponsors like Funny car or Top Fuel.
The 80s-90s were some of the best Pro Stock racing ever.
Excellent! Professor of Drag Racing! Warren Johnson. I've been following Drag Racing since 1980 at Orange County International Raceway. Pro Stock, Super Comp and Super Gas.
ALWAYS loved Warren Johnson!!!, he was a very good racer, easily one of the best!!!
I'm 29 and I'm almost positive back in the 90's Warren Jonhson and Force where my favorite nhra drivers
One of the best !
great man!
great story , i got the opportunity to have a dinner with the professor at my ASEP GM graduation back in 91' , warren brought his pro stock car and sat with us , my dad was in awe being warren was his favorite driver ,thans for the show warren , these days we race our outlaw mustang turbo charged
God Bless you Warren! You're my ProStock Hero
N A is the pure talented guy,s
Awesome. Thanks for sharing
I’m am really enjoying watching the Legends channel. This interview of Mr WJ was very enlightening. His comments of Mountain Motors class and NHRA was awesome. 👍👍
Warren you are 1 of the great 1ns. But I remember you and geofrion in that burn down. I don't know if anyone told you this but you were all most shaking from where I was sitting. So putting on a show for the fans,I'm not buying it.
But hey,I was cheering for you in that race
Good luck ole friend.
Class act.
Love these videos.
IF MORE MEN WERE LIKE WARREN JOHNSON RACING WOULD HAVE BEEN AWESOME . RACING NOW IS BORING AND NHRA JUST WANTS YOUR MONEY. I HAVE THE UPMOST RESPECT FOR WARREN JOHNSON.
Amazing 😍👌💙
Great Story
Right one person takes something from it it's a success I believe that and racing and in life 💯🙏 🙌🔥 💣🔑 👨👩👧👦
It would be nice if they included some pictures of Warren's cars before he made it to the show.
I got lucky enough to work at Mr. Gasket from 1994 thru 1997 in product development and racing services. 1996 - 1997, I ran the race trailer and handled the product sponsorship. WJ and Kurt were great to work with. Do not ever ask WJ a question that you do not want an answer to. In 1997 I asked WJ to help me fix the Hays 8" dual disc clutch. He gave a sheet of paper with a question on it at 3 different races. Each time what was asked could not be done, as far as I knew. After I gave him the 3rd paper back with my answer he said "Are you ready to fix that clutch?" He had to know you were serious and ready to work before he would commit to doing anything with you. WJ always told me, "do everything yourself and you will never be hindered by someone else's mistake. In 1996 at Brainerd, MN, WJ came to the trailer and handed me a paper. It had 1 thru 8 listed and beside each number was the length of wire needed. WJ said, "Make me a set of wires." I was shocked, he had always asked for boots, terminals, and a long length of wire. I had made several 100 sets of wires for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Comp, S/C, S/G, and other class cars, but this set I was nervous about making. They worked fine and fit just the way he wanted. Kurt told me later at Indy, that was the first time he could remembered that WJ had allowed anyone to make his wires.
Other than all that goes with packing pillows and being on the road, id bet that was a helluva gig. Thanks for sharing
outstanding drag racer with straightforward personnality
he is truely the best and what a true competitor and gentlmen
good stuff. Him and I think almost almost the exact same way on almost all of this interview
There's a lot of history here guys 💯🙏 🙌🔥 💣🔑 👨👩👧👦
Warren Johnson's the man 💯🙏 🙌🔥 💣🔑 👨👩👧👦
We should be running a team for Warren fr I just love his approach I relate to it I approached it that way this man is a thinker straight shooter No bull approach I respect that 💯🙏 🙌🔥 💣🔑👨👩👧👦👩🔧👩🎓👩⚕️
A class act
Thank you team Bobby.
I will never forget seeing him somewhere in pro-stock car on tv rolling the car on the top of the guardrail several times. I thought the man was dead, took my breath away, Shit flying everywhere. car destoyed. You have to take your hat off to him that he survived. Good LORD.
That was Glidden in Atlanta
Knew a guy who worked on Kurt's crew, he said if Warren had an idea, he would work on it immediately. Where they'd leave Kurt's car alone during eliminations, Warren would be chasing a thought down sometimes as they were pushing the car to stage. Don't get me wrong, earlier in his career those ideas paid off, I feel toward the end of his career they were going in a different direction. If you ever saw him in staging, he couldn't be bothered, he was intensely watching the track, noting every characteristic of the cars leaving, and which lane to choose, his door open, he'd stand on the floor of the car to gain any height he could. I'll always remember him as the studier rather than professor, an ultimate professional!
AWESOME solid lucite pedestals for the trophies !
Amen 🙏💯
Anything to win 💯😁
I had a WJ t-shirt as a kid that my dad got at his Phoenix race. Said "First to 200... Was there ever a doubt?" ...... This was a couple months before he actually broke the 200 record. There was never a doubt.
The good old days when racers raced
HEY RAY CHARLES Can drive one of those things. 28:50
Excellent Warren.
Another Fantastic video....he is one of a kind...
Amen sir 👍💯🙏 🙌🔥 💣🔑 👨👩👧👦
The professor. Very smart
My hero back in the day! First time I saw him we were at Houston, and he was pissed! He was at the MSD booth and bitching them out for costing him a race for ignition problems!
Took notes on this conversation.
I've always been a huge fan of THE PROFESSOR. HE IS A MAN OF VERY FEW WORDS.. BUT WHEN HE SPOKE ..IF YOU DIDN'T LISTEN .THEN YOU LOST OUT. he was a giant in the pro stock ranks.
My friend Whit Bazemore in the photo credits !!!!😁😁😁😁🏁🏁🍺🍺🍺🍺
Best pro stocker of all time, Greg is a second best. But one win away of Warren
Warren Johnsons smart fr 💯 🙏🙌 🔥💣 🔑👨👩👧👦🧘 👩🔧👩🎓 👩⚕️
I can relate I'm definitely my toughest critic I'm just competitive I hate to lose 💯🙏 🙌🔥 💣🔑 👨👩👧👦🧘 👩🔧👩🎓 👩⚕️
Preparation is key 🙏🙌 🔥💣 🔑👨👩👧👦