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"We have a lot of work to do to get a bunch of small block Chevy's ready to run 500-mile races. It's quite a challenge." -- Kurt Johnson

Five-time Pro Stock champion and noted engine builder Warren Johnson is throwing his hat into the NASCAR Winston Cup ring effective immediately. Johnson has teamed with former Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope to form Quest Motor Racing. The team plans to field a car in time for the 2001 NASCAR season.

Johnson, the second winningest Pro Stock driver of all-time, is in Charlotte, N.C., today busily working towards the team's stated objective. The plan is for Cope to drive the car and Johnson to build and supply motors to the operation. According to Johnson's son Kurt, the team has three owners; Warren, Cope, and an unnamed silent partner.

But drag racing fans shouldn't worry about W.J. leaving the NHRA any time soon. He still has three and a half years left on his current contract with GM Goodwrench Service Plus, his primary sponsor. Warren has told NHRA.com in the past that he will someday reach a point where he retires from driving and concentrates solely on building horsepower. However, he has never specified what sort of motors he would be building.

"It looks like dad's going Winston Cup racing," Kurt said. "We had to find a new way to pay for all these big horses and maybe this is the answer.

"This all started when Derrike contacted us four or five months ago and asked if we'd be interested in building motors for him. It just kind of went from there. We have a lot of work to do to get a bunch of small block Chevy's ready to run 500-mile races. It's quite a challenge.

"We have been building motors for some of the Pro Stock Truck teams so we're very familiar with the small block motor, but a NASCAR piece is a whole different animal."

As for Kurt, he says he has no plans on leaving the NHRA circuit. "We run enough races over here," Kurt said. "Those guys in NASCAR never get to go home."

In a statement released on his website, www.derrikecope.com, Cope seems very pleased with the new partnership.

courtesy www.derrikecope.com

"We share a common focus and have a good fit," Cope said. "Clearly, we compliment each other well. Warren is strong in engineering and has had great success as an engine builder. I view my strengths as my driving ability, communication, and my ability to relate to sponsors in the competitive business arena. I have always believed that the sponsor should receive a high return on their investment.

"I feel good about where we are in putting our operation together. Our focus is on completing our business plan, developing proposals for sponsorship, and establishing a solid infrastructure to build upon."

The team has hired Camp and Associates as their marketing firm.