Warren Johnson (born July 7, 1943 in

Virginia, Minnesota Virginia is a city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States, on the Mesabi Iron Range. With an economy heavily reliant on large-scale iron ore mining, Virginia is considered the Mesabi Range's commercial center. The population was 8,423 ...

) is a retired American

NHRA The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada. With over 40,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA claims to be the largest motorspo ...

drag racing Drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, most c ...

driver. He is the driver with the 2nd most wins in pro stock with 97 career wins, six world championships and earned himself the nickname "the Professor of Pro Stock."

Career

In 1995, Johnson had one of the biggest comebacks in NHRA history. After the alleged season ending vandalism of the cars driven by Darrell Alderman and Scott Geoffrion, Johnson started gaining points, and had gained over 500 points with the season half completed to clinch the championship that year. In 1997, he became the first NHRA Pro Stock driver to exceed 200 mph with a pass of 200.13 mph at

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

. He became the first Pro Stock driver to make a sub-6.9-second pass with a 6.894-second run at Richmond, Va. In 2006, Johnson reached his 500th career race. On May 2, 2010, at age 66, Warren became the oldest professional winner in NHRA history, as he won the AAA Midwest Nationals in Madison Illinois. Johnson was a member of the Kiz Toys’ Board of Advisors. Kiz Toys was a toy company based out of

Cumming, Georgia Cumming is a city in Forsyth County, Georgia, United States, and the sole incorporated area in the county. It is a suburban city, and part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. In the 2020 census, the population is 7,318, up from 5,430 in 2010. Su ...

, and Johnson advised the company on automotive aspects of the KizMoto line, Kiz Toys’ initial product line. Johnson reviewed product designs and development on an ongoing basis and offered suggestions on current and future products associated with KizMoto. The company is now defunct, and rebranded as Kiz Studios, an independent video game and entertainment studio, with offices in Atlanta, Ga. and Charleston, S.C. As of May 2010, he won the National Hot Rod Association's Pro Stock championship in six seasons and 97 NHRA national events. Johnson is also a two time IHRA champion in the Mountain Motor Pro Stock division.

Awards

*In 2001, a panel ranked him seventh in the National Hot Rod Association Top 50 Drivers, 1951–2000. *He was inducted in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007. *In 2015, he was inducted in the

Motorsports Hall of Fame of America The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) is hall of fame that honors motorsports competitors and contributors from the United States from all disciplines, with categories for Open Wheel, Stock Cars, Powerboats, Drag Racing, Motorcycles, Sp ...

.Warren Johnson
at the

References

External links

Kiz Toys Board of Advisors
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Warren 1943 births Living people People from Virginia, Minnesota Sportspeople from St. Louis County, Minnesota Dragster drivers NHRA drivers Racing drivers from Minnesota