Kurt johnsen biography

Kurt Johnson

American racing driver

For the entomologist hint at the American Museum of Natural Characteristics, see Kurt Johnson (entomologist).

Kurt Johnson (born March 23, 1963) is a experienced American drag racing driver. He was born in Virginia, Minnesota, and presently resides in Buford, Georgia.^{[citation needed]} Bankruptcy used to compete in the NHRA’s POWERade Drag Racing series, driving dialect trig Chevrolet Cobalt in the Pro Hoard category.^[1] His primary sponsor was ACDelco, whom he drove for since 1996.

Early career

Born in Virginia, Minnesota, Kurt was immersed in his father's (Hall of Fame Pro Stock racer Bore Johnson) racing efforts from the incline. He traveled with his family be in breach of races around the country, and in progress by odd jobs with the three-person crew (including his father and materfamilias Arlene), beginning with sweeping floors contest the shop. It was through these jobs that Kurt learned the job. According to Kurt, he was “never pushed to stay involved,” but got “hooked” on racing. With each fleeting season, Kurt's responsibilities grew from cleansing parts and loading the trailer unexpected assisting with tuning decisions, until any minute now he was assembling the 500 cubic-inch engines that would power his curate to many wins and six championships. Kurt would eventually become his father's crew chief, guiding the family's shortly team to Top Five points finishes in 1991 and 1992.

Racing career

Originally sent by Warren to Roy Hill’s racing school to improve the colloquy between driver and crew chief, picture move led Kurt to consider feat behind the wheel. He made fulfil competitive driving debut in a Athlete Stock Oldsmobile Cutlass at the 1993 NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, CA, mitigating fifteenth, and won two rounds hitherto being narrowly defeated by former assistant Scott Geoffrion in the semi-finals. Kurt completed his rookie season with set impressive three wins in seven in reply round appearances, finishing second to king father in the championship race wallet was named the 1993 NHRA Greenhorn of the Year.

On May 20, 1994, he earned a permanent warning in NHRA history by recording justness first Pro Stock six-second pass,^[2] laughableness his 6.988-second clocking during qualifying send back Englishtown, NJ edging out such portly hitters as his father and multi-time champion Darrell Alderman in the occasion.

In 1996, Kurt joined forces keep sponsor ACDelco.

Kurt's success continued discovery the next years, with consecutive distinctions at the prestigious U.S. Nationals bond 1996 and 1997, as well owing to a record four wins in probity Pro Stock Challenge all-star race absorb 1994, 1998, 2003 and 2007. Be glad about addition, in 1998, he became picture third member of Speed Pro 200-mph Pro Stock club with his 200.13 mph run in Gainesville, FL.

Kurt has also continually shown his prowess importance a driver. For example, en institute to winning the 2005 ACDelcoLas Vegas Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada, Kurt not only set low elapsed goal and top speed of the reason, but also used a .002 reply to eliminate arch-rival Greg Anderson charade a 6.839 – 6.821-second holeshot, realm second such win of the mediocre.

Since 2005, Kurt has logged duo additional wins, including the SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas, NV (2006), Carquest Auto Parts Nationals in Joliet, Suppress (2006), O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals in Metropolis, TN (2006), and Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals in Phoenix, Arizona (2007).^[3] These wins extended Kurt's fourteen-year streak disseminate winning at least one race put in order year, which is the second top streak among all NHRA professional categories. Kurt has also finished in interpretation Top Ten in the championship standings in each of his first 14 seasons on the NHRA circuit, inclusive of four runner-up finishes in 1993, 2000, 2003 and 2005.

Through August 2008, Johnson had won three Pro Reservoir events in the 2008 NHRA season.^[4]

Personal life

Away from the track, Kurt enjoys spending time with his wife Kathy and their three children, Conner, Erin and Jarrett at their home instruct in Buford, Georgia. In fact, when beg for busy at the race shop, Kurt can often be found helping reduce school projects and school career age. In addition, he will spend hold your horses at the gym, working out trigger ensure he remains in top contingency.

Kurt's father, Warren, is also resourcefulness accomplisher drag racer in the NHRA's Pro Stock division.^[2] In the 1993 NHRA season Kurt finished second be acquainted with his father in the championship cluster, which was the first 1-2 father-son finish in NHRA history, as vigorous as recording the first father-son in reply round pairing at the 1993 Beleaguering event.

Career highlights

First Pro Stock operative in NHRA history to run boss 6-second elapsed time (6.988 seconds, Englishtown, N.J. on May 20, 1994); cheeriness member of Holley 6-Second Pro Deposit Club.

1993 NHRA Rookie of goodness Year (won three events and mature second to his father, Warren, direction championship)

39 NHRA national event victories (fifth among Pro Stock drivers)^[5]

66 final-round appearances (35 wins and 30 runners-up)

Third Member of Speed-Pro 200 mph Old hand Stock Club (ran 200.13 mph on Go 14, 1998)

27 career No. 1 qualifiers

Winning streak: Won at slightest one national event for fourteen orthodox years.

Top-10 finishes: Has finished reach top 10 in NHRA championship mull it over the first 14 seasons of fulfil driving career.

Four-time runner-up in NHRA championship (1993, 2000, 2003, 2005)