Columbus Warren Johnson Results

THE WARREN REPORT: Warren Johnson GM Goodwrench Service Plus Results from the Pontiac Excitement Nationals

QUICK RESULTS:
Qualified: 1st
Finished: 2nd Round
Points: 2nd

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Warren Johnson has raced at National Trail Raceway, the site of the Pontiac Excitement Nationals, since the beginning of his Pro Stock career. In spite of his years of experience at the track near Columbus, Ohio, his results have been mixed. Although he won last year's Pontiac Excitement Nationals, his second-round finish this year is more typical.

Warren made a fast start, capturing the No. 1 qualifying spot for the fourth time this year and the 121st time in his career with his GM Goodwrench Service Plus Pontiac with a 6.935-second e.t. Although rain washed out one qualifying session, Johnson made the necessary adjustments to take the top spot.

"We looked at what we had done prior to that round in order to get the car down the race track, and then we made some changes to the setup," Warren reported. "Both the car and the track improved, so it was a combination of the two."

Johnson defeated Brad Jeter in the opening round of eliminations when Jeter encountered problems. W.J.'s performance fell off slightly in the second round, and that was enough to give the victory to Mark Pawuk, who went on to win the Pontiac Excitement Nationals title.

"We lost the fuel pump," Warren explained. "We had just put on a brand new fuel pump that had only five runs on it, which replaced one we had used for two years. It's just been one of those years - we've only got six months left of it!

"Actually we have a good race car right now," Johnson noted. "I think we're on the road to recovery. There are a few details that we've straightened out since the last race, and overall we're in good shape now."

Following the advice of Horace Greeley, Johnson and the GM Goodwrench Service Plus team will go west to St. Louis for the Sears Craftsman Nationals on Saturday night, June 24. Johnson won the inaugural race there in 1997.

"We'll be competitive," he promised.

WARREN JOHNSON RACE RESULTS:

Qualifying: Warren Johnson qualified No. 1 at 6.935/197.54 mph

Eliminations:

First Round: Warren Johnson (6.966/197.39) defeated Brad Jeter (8.424/110.83)

Second Round: Mark Pawuk (6.957/196.99) defeated Warren Johnson (6.975/197.19)

Final Round: Mark Pawuk (6.980/197.33) defeated Ron Krisher (6.975/197.51)

<pre> POINTS RACE: (After 10 of 23 events) Driver Wins Points 1. Jeg Coughlin Jr. 6 937 2. Warren Johnson 1 653 3. Ron Krisher 1 645 4. Troy Coughlin 0 583 5. Mark Pawuk 1 580

</pre> NEXT RACE:
Sears Craftsman Nationals, June 22-24, Madison, Ill.
TV: ESPN2, June 25, 9:30-11:30 p.m. (ET)