NHRA News: W.J. wins Pontiac Pro Stock Super Bowl (2/7/2004)

W.J. wins Pontiac Pro Stock Super Bowl

Data by Larry Sullivan of FastNews
Testing photos by Robert Grice of Extreme Photography
Team reports
2/7/2004

Warren Johnson

Warren Johnson showed up late to the Pontiac Pro Stock Super Bowl, then got his new rig stuck in the mud at Houston Raceway Park, causing him to miss one of the two scheduled qualifying sessions. But the pair of distractions did little to slow his GM Performance Parts Grand Am once it hit the pavement. Johnson posted a 6.681-second pass to secure the No. 1 qualifying slot before deftly driving through the field for the $2,500 Super Bowl title.

"It's been quite a week," Johnson said. "Monday we were in Detroit picking up transmissions. Then it was back to the shop in Georgia to reload. Then we drove all night to get here and end up stuck in the mud turning around at the back of the pits and we nearly miss the chance to qualify for this deal.

"Fortunately, it all worked out and the GM Performance Parts car ran pretty well all day long. The 6.68 right out of the trailer was a good lap all the way around. So was the 6.70 in the semifinals. The new tires have so much bite that you have to back things down quite a bit, but this new surface here was just green enough that the tires were able to spin some, which helped us put up those numbers.

"This might be a test session more than a race but I've always been an advocate of the thought process that there is no such thing as a bad win or a good loss. This deal is nice because you get a real good chance to rank yourself against some other good cars. I'd have to say we're pretty pleased."

Johnson's 6.745 at 205.10 mph from the final round was actually his worst pass of the day, but final-round opponent Mark "Cowboy" Pawuk was out of shape early and aborted his run.

After a first-round bye, Johnson beat Bo Nickens and Reher-Morrison/Speedco Truck Lube pro Bruce Allen with a pair of 6.72-second passes to reach the final round.

"We can't complain," Johnson said. "We came here a little bit behind the eight-ball and it was a little gratifying to be able to open up with the 6.68. We ran good speed all day, ran 205 mph every run, which is kind of surprising on this racetrack considering how green it is. The bottom line is that we kept it between the guardrails, didn't hurt anything and learned a little bit.

"We have a whole new suspension in the back of our Grand Am, new housing and everything, that we fabricated at the shop. We ran a lot of calculations on what it should do, but between theory and the real world there's a lot of adjusting with the results. We obviously have to put some of the other suspension pieces back in and compare them from A to B. Maybe this is better, we don't know, but at least we got down the racetrack."

Johnson currently holds the official track record of 6.720 seconds set last April during the O'Reilly Spring Nationals, and his son Kurt holds the official speed record of 205.57 also set during last year's national event.

"We're going to stay Sunday," Johnson said. "We have a tire test with Goodyear, and we may stay until Monday depending on how many runs we make tomorrow. Then we'll go to Tucson for a couple of days on Friday and Saturday of next week, the truck's going over on Monday and I'm flying back to the shop. Then we'll drive to Las Vegas on Sunday and test there Monday and Tuesday before Pomona."

Summit Racing pilot Pawuk used some luck to earn his date with Johnson. After qualifying with a strong 6.735 at 204.45 mph, he beat Vinnie Barone with a 6.748 and took a bye run into the semis with a 6.779. Then he ran into major tire shake and should have lost to PiranaZ driver Mark Whisnant, but a red-light start gave the victory to Pawuk.

Thomas Patterson beat Brian Daniels in the Pro Mod finals, running a 6.155 at 226.28 mph to better Daniels' 6.242 at 222.25 mph.

Saturday qualifying session No. 1 at the Pontiac Pro Stock Super Bowl – Notes listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

Left Lane: Bruce Allen Runs 10.560/100.01, Now #2
Right Lane: Nick Drzayich Runs 9.047/103.79, Now #1
11:10 a.m. Current weather conditions: 44 degrees, 55 percent relative humidity, the barometer 30.52 inches, under sunny skies. There just a light breeze and it feels warmer than the thermometer indicates. Allen's problems continue, shaking at the hit. Drzayich launched cleanly, but the car went left and he had to lift to avoid the centerline.

Left Lane: Mark Pawuk Runs 6.767/203.77, Now #1
Right Lane: Ron Krisher Runs 6.861/202.39, Now #2
Two clean runs, Pawuk pulling ahead early in the run and Krisher unable to close the gap on the top end.

Left Lane: Jim Cunningham Runs 17.909/55.08, Now #7
Right Lane: Ben Watson Runs 6.806/204.35, Now #2
Cunningham shook and headed for the wall, so he lifted. Watson made a very nice run, posting the fastest speed of the weekend so far.

Left Lane: Bo Nickens Runs 6.837/203.43, Now #3
Bo's car was moving around a lot in the first 300 feet, then he gathered it in and made a strong top-end charge.

Left Lane: Mark Whisnant Runs 6.750/203.86, Now #1
Right Lane: Vince Fourcade Runs 6.912/198.64, Now #6
Whisnant improved from his good runs yesterday to take over the #1 spot and Fourcade made his best run of the weekend in the brand-new Escort.

Left Lane: Jim Yates Runs 6.840/202.36, Now #5
Right Lane: Vinny Barone Runs 10.215/82.57, Now #9
Yates' car is "refrigerator white," unpainted. He was loose over the first part of the run. Barone was all over his lane before wisely lifting.

Right Lane: Fernando Cuadra Runs 6.878/201.70, Now #7
Cuadra was out of the groove for much of the run.

Warren Johnson just arrived but his brand new transporter is stuck in the mud down by the end of the track and, to add insult to injury, his new generator won't start. Hopefully he'll get things working in time for the second qualifying session.

Order after one round of qualifying:
1. Mark Whisnant, '03 Chevy Cavalier, 6.750, 203.86
2. Mark Pawuk, '04 Pontiac Grand Am, 6.767, 203.77
3. Ben Watson, '03 Chevy Cavalier, 6.806, 204.35
4. Bo Nickens, '99 Dodge Neon R/T, 6.837, 203.43
5. Jim Yates, '03 Pontiac Grand Am, 6.840, 202.36
6. Ron Krisher, '03 Chevy Cavalier, 6.861, 202.39
7. Fernando Cuadra, '03 Chevy Cavalier, 6.878, 201.70
8. Vince Fourcade, '04 Ford Escort, 6.912, 198.64
9. Nick Drzayich, '03 Pontiac Grand Am, 9.047, 103.79
10. Vinny Barone, '99 Dodge Neon, 10.215, 82.57
11. Bruce Allen, '03 Pontiac Grand Am, 10.560, 100.01
12. Jim Cunningham, '00 Mercury Cougar, 17.909, 55.08

Saturday qualifying session No. 2 at the Pontiac Pro Stock Super Bowl – Notes listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:

Left Lane: Vinny Barone Runs 10.909/80.57, Now #10; Best prior run: 10.215/82.57, Was #10
Right Lane: Jim Yates Runs 6.820/201.37, Now #4; Best prior run: 6.840/202.36, Was #5
1:20 p.m. It's 55 and sunny. Barone launched into shake and had to lift. Yates made a clean run and improved slightly.

Left Lane: Vince Fourcade Runs 6.942/197.97, Now #8; Best prior run: 6.912/198.64, Was #8
Right Lane: Jim Cunningham Runs 7.039/193.49, Now #9; Best prior run: 17.909/55.08, Was #12
Fourcade was unable to match his first run and stays on the bubble. Cunningham got a full pass on the Cougar, but won't be on the ladder.

Left Lane: Ben Watson Runs 6.778/204.08, Now #3; Best prior run: 6.806/204.35, Was #3
Right Lane: Bruce Allen Runs 6.788/204.20, Now #4; Best prior run: 10.560/100.01, Was #12
Allen finally got it down the track, the car a bit loose during the first part of the run after a 1.003 60-foot time. Watson, meanwhile, stepped up a bit and continues to make solid passes.

Left Lane: Nick Drzayich Runs 6.900/197.51, Now #9; Best prior run: 9.047/103.79, Was #11
Right Lane: Mark Whisnant Runs 6.737/204.57, Now #1; Best prior run: 6.750/203.86, Was #1
Both drivers made clean runs, no wiggles or waggles. Whisnant stays at the top of the heap with even better numbers than he ran earlier.

Left Lane: Ron Krisher Runs 6.871/201.94, Now #7; Best prior run: 6.861/202.39, Was #7
Right Lane: Bo Nickens Runs 6.801/203.40, Now #5; Best prior run: 6.837/203.43, Was #6
Nickens stepped up a bit, still having problems getting the car off the line cleanly. Krisher made a good run but, surprisingly, appears to be a bit down on power.

Left Lane: Fernando Cuadra Runs 6.799/202.52, Now #5; Best prior run: 6.878/201.70, Was #8
Right Lane: Mark Pawuk Runs 6.734/204.45, Now #1; Best prior run: 6.767/203.77, Was #2
Two nice runs, Cuadra getting off the bubble and Pawuk moving to the top with low E.T. of the weekend.

Right Lane: Warren Johnson Runs 6.681/205.76, Now #1; No Prior Run
W.J. missed the first session, stuck in the mud. Based on this run, he didn't need the practice. Shattering both ends of the Houston Raceway Park track record (unofficially), Johnson shows his heels to the field. Johnson's 60-foot time matched Bruce Allen's, a 1.003. All 13 cars will run in eliminations, so W.J. gets a first-round bye.

Final order after two rounds of qualifying:
1. Warren Johnson, '03 Pontiac Grand Am, 6.681, 205.76
2. Mark Pawuk, '04 Pontiac Grand Am, 6.734, 204.45
3. Mark Whisnant, '03 Chevy Cavalier, 6.737, 204.57
4. Ben Watson, '03 Chevy Cavalier, 6.778, 204.08
5. Bruce Allen, '03 Pontiac Grand Am, 6.788, 204.20
6. Fernando Cuadra, '03 Chevy Cavalier, 6.799, 202.52
7. Bo Nickens, '99 Dodge Neon R/T, 6.801, 203.40
8. Jim Yates, '03 Pontiac Grand Am, 6.820, 201.37
9. Ron Krisher, '03 Chevy Cavalier, 6.861, 202.39
10. Nick Drzayich, '03 Pontiac Grand Am, 6.900, 197.51
11. Vince Fourcade, '04 Ford Escort, 6.912, 198.64
12. Jim Cunningham, '00 Mercury Cougar, 7.039, 193.49
13. Vinny Barone, '99 Dodge Neon, 10.215, 82.57

Saturday elimination session No. 1

Jim Yates vs. Bo Nickens
Nickens' 6.781 at 203.00 beats Yates' 6.983 at 201.85 – Yates spun the tires on the launch and by the time he got it hooked up Bo was long gone.

Fernando Cuadra vs. Ron Krisher
Cuadra's 6.929 at 201.10 beats Krisher's 9.196 at 100.91 – Cuadra nailed the tree and Krisher's car started dancing around before half track, so he lifted

Nick Drzayich vs. Bruce Allen
Allen's 6.719 at 204.63 beats Drzayich's 6.925 at 197.62 – Allen was uncharacteristically late, but Drzayich could not run with him. It looks like the Reher-Morrison team is finally getting a handle on the new beadlock wheels, running the second-quickest lap of the weekend so far.

Vince Fourcade vs. Ben Watson
Watson's 6.894 at 202.70 beats Fourcade's 6.996 at 197.68 – Fourcade was on time and Watson was late, barely nipping the new Escort on the top end. Watson's MOV: 0.0300 seconds (approximately nine feet). Watson faces Allen next round and Allen will choose the lanes.

Jim Cunningham vs. Mark Whisnant
Whisnant's 6.752 at 204.51 beats Cunningham's 7.055 at 194.04 – Whisnant was sharp at the tree and made a nice run to win easily. He faces Cuadra next round and will have lane choice.

Vinny Barone vs. Mark Pawuk
Pawuk's 6.748 at 204.11 beats Barone's 6.946 197.05 – Barone shook early and lifted around half track. Nice run by Pawuk to advance with a bye into the semifinals.

Warren Johnson bye run
Johnson runs a 6.723 at 205.51 – W.J. took his bye and fell off his scorching qualifying pace just a bit. He will race Nickens in round 2 and will have lane choice.

Saturday elimination session No. 2

Fernando Cuadra vs. Mark Whisnant
Whisnant's 6.759 at 204.35 beats Cuadra's 6.887 at 201.94 – Whisnant was once again right on time and easily drove away from Cuadra for the win.

Mark Pawuk bye run
Pawuk runs a 6.779 204.17 – Pawuk made another solid run on the bye, but was not quick enough to get lane choice against Whisnant in the semifinals

Bo Nickens vs. Warren Johnson
Johnson's 6.724 at 205.51 beats Nickens' 18.562 at 42.26 – Bo had a good light, but W.J. had a psychic .003 reaction time. Then Bo's car shook and danced around, forcing him to lift, while Johnson went right down the groove.

Ben Watson vs. Bruce Allen
Allen's 6.730 at 204.45 beats Watson's 6.735 at 204.20 – Most of the difference in this one came at the starting line, both cars going right down the groove with no wasted motion. Allen got the win, but lost lane choice to WJ in the semifinals by 0.006 seconds

Saturday elimination session No. 3

Mark Pawuk vs. Mark Whisnant
Pawuk's 11.976 at 63.65 beats Whisnant's 6.753 at 204.11 – Whisnant is going to be kicking himself, turning on the red bulb and then making a nice run while Pawuk was shaking and falling behind. Pawuk threw in the towel before half track, the win lights gleaming in his lane.

Warren Johnson vs. Bruce Allen
Johnson's 6.706 at 205.69 beats Allen's 6.881 at 174.57 – Allen was late and was losing ground on the top end, so he gave up on the run. W.J. goes to the final round with lane choice against Pawuk.

Saturday elimination session No. 4

Mark Pawuk vs. Warren Johnson
Johnson's 6.745 at 205.10 beats Pawuk's 11.853 at 69.98 – Pawuk's run was almost a duplicate of his semifinals run, the car with the front end up and shaking hard. W.J. made his slowest pass of the weekend, but a win is a win is a win.

Saturday Pro Stock Bike Summary – Lost among the hustle and bustle of the Pontiac Pro Stock Super Bowl Saturday were several notable test runs by Pro Stock Bike competitors.

Chip Hunter continued to pace the two-wheeled warriors on the Lucas Oil Suzuki with a best of 7.13 at 183 mph on a run where the bike was out of the groove, with Hunter hanging way off the side on the top end. Hunter is a rookie, having a total of just nine passes on a Pro Stock Bike after riding in the 600 category in ProStar. He only weighs 130 pounds and says he is going to be down to 125 by Gainesville. He's already turning in "Angelle-like" 60-foot times, with several 1.07 short times this weekend.

Blaine Hale, running a brand-new bike that's still unpainted, made several passes at 7.20 and 180-plus mph, then uncorked a 7.13 of his own.

Craig Treble, running a Kosman chassis retooled by Bobby Shahan, is sporting a great-looking Matco Tools 25th anniversary paint scheme that features an eagle on the side of the faring, came out of the box with a 7.14 at 183 mph. You can ask Craig just about anything, but don't ask him about the 2003 season, he says he's "on a fresh sheet of paper" this year.

Friday testing report from Houston
Thursday testing report from Houston

2004 News Archive
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