Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Son assists Johnson in 90th Pro Stock victory

Thursday, May 8, 2003 | 10:07 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Warren Johnson is crediting his son, Kurt, with an assist for helping him score his 90th career NHRA Pro Stock victory last weekend in Atlanta.

Johnson beat Greg Anderson in the final of the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals final after borrowing the carburetors off his son's racecar.

"We made wholesale changes to the car for the final -- including using Kurt's carburetors," the elder Johnson said. "Kurt had set the top speed of the event with them and we had been struggling a little in the speed department, so we figured we had nothing to lose."

After defeating Terry Adams in the opening round of eliminations, Warren earned a second-round matchup with his son, who had won three of the past four races and is the Pro Stock points leader. Father nipped son at the finish line by a mere 8 inches.

"There's really no emotion involved when I race Kurt, other than pride in how well he is doing," Warren said. "We share information back and forth and whenever we face each other, we take some comfort in knowing one of our cars will advance.

"He cut a .035 light against me, which in this day and age will get you to the winner's circle more often than not. I happened to come out on top but both teams will benefit from the win."

Johnson said the victory was particularly satisfying because it came at his hometown race. Johnson's shop is outside of Atlanta in Sugar Hill.

"It's great to win anytime, but it's even better when you do so in front of your home crowd," Johnson said.

Kurt Johnson maintained his position atop the Pro Stock points but leads Greg Anderson by only 53 points. Warren Johnson is third, only two points behind Anderson and 55 out of the lead.

The special paint scheme will feature the likenesses of Larry, Moe and Curly and will celebrate their 75th anniversary. Action Performance Companies Inc., also will produce die-cast replicas of the car.

"Action is pleased to help celebrate the comedic legacy of The Three Stooges," Fred W. Wagenhals, Action's chairman, president and CEO, said in a release. "It is only fitting that comedy's greatest known trio would unite with the NHRA's most colorful showman, John Force."

Price turned in a record 218 mph run on his nitro-burning Harley but was unable to stop his bike, which continued into the sand trap at the end of the strip. His bike hit the first safety net at the end of the sand trap and he was thrown over the handlebars and landed more than 60 feet away -- beyond the second safety net.

Price, who was conscious when the safety crew arrived on the scene, was transported to University Medical Center. Price had pins placed in his broken right wrist and hand Wednesday and was due to be released today.

The weekend kicks off with a test and tune and Street Muscle Eliminator from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday and will be followed by Midnight Mayhem for street-legal cars from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

On Saturday, the Junior Dragsters' third points race of the season will run from noon to 4 p.m., the weekly JNCDRS will have the track from 5:30 to 11 p.m. and Motorcycle Madness for street-legal bikes will run from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.