Pro Stock Power!

[Johnny Mopar]

Ever notice that the most competitive teams always have in-house engine programs? There have been several competitive engine builders through the years (i.e. Schmidt, Maskin, Nickens, Morgan, etc.), but has there ever been a World Champ that rented horsepower?

 

[Jude]

Jeg with Maskin?
Yates with Maskin?

 

[FABMAN]

Ever notice that the most competitive teams always have in-house engine programs? There have been several competitive engine builders through the years (i.e. Schmidt, Maskin, Nickens, Morgan, etc.), but has there ever been a World Champ that rented horsepower?

Man, I remember at a race in Topeka Gene Lynch was helping Schmidt on his car set up and he took me over to the trailer and there had to be at least 20 complete Pro Stock motors ready for lease, had no idea that was going on.

 

[Johnny Mopar]

Man, I remember at a race in Topeka Gene Lynch was helping Schmidt on his car set up and he took me over to the trailer and there had to be at least 20 complete Pro Stock motors ready for lease, had no idea that was going on.

I remember discovering the same thing at Topeka...possibly the same race. I do remember that Steve was pitted at the end of the row, next to a tall burm and a cross road. He was competing with his car and had a trailer full of engines. It was impressive! It was like you could walk up and make a purchase (rental actually) of over 1,200 horses. Amazing site...

 

[camaro]

The thing that’s so amazing about Warren Johnson is he’s been at or near top of the engine builders class for nearly 3 decades while so many others have had their stint at the top (some longer than others) and eventually fell back into the middle of the pack or disappeared all together. I you were to go back, starting in the early 80’s and list the top 3 or 4 engine builders every year up until today, the one common name in every list, every year would be WJ.

 

[Tim5636sc]

Well i guess that we can hand ol V Gaines the full throttle trophy! He will debut the new in house engine this weekend! MADCAP MOPAR!

 

[FABMAN]

Well i guess that we can hand ol V Gaines the full throttle trophy! He will debut the new in house engine this weekend! MADCAP MOPAR!

April Fools, LOL All kidding aside I think this will be a big step for V. He's one of the good ol boys like Jim Yates. Good luck V.

 

[Speed1288]

The thing that’s so amazing about Warren Johnson is he’s been at or near top of the engine builders class for nearly 3 decades while so many others have had their stint at the top (some longer than others) and eventually fell back into the middle of the pack or disappeared all together. I you were to go back, starting in the early 80’s and list the the top 3 or 4 top engine builders every year up until today, the one common name in every list, every year would be WJ.

He's called the professor for a reason when he wrote in the back of the ND about engine building, it was so fascinating he was just so smart and knew so much about it all I wish I had a 1/1000 of his engine building capacity

 

[DrRocket]

He's called the professor for a reason when he wrote in the back of the ND about engine building, it was so fascinating he was just so smart and knew so much about it all I wish I had a 1/1000 of his engine building capacity

A bit has been written about Jason Line's association with NASCAR engine programs before GA hired him, but fewer people will remember that WJ had some involvement with NASCAR engine R&D as well. Don't know if that association continues today.

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

. . . has there ever been a World Champ that rented horsepower?

Has Jeg ever won a Pro Stock race with an engine he built? Didn't think so.

There are actually very few Pro Stock racers not named Johnson that exclusively race engines they built, dyno tested and tuned themselves. Steve Schmidt and Larry Morgan would be in that group.

 

[afx421]

now that im back from my 1 day ban, come on , how many got fooled by the nitromater april fools day, hell i did anyhow, in todays competitive pro stock world, in-house programs are the only way to go for pro stock. tons of R and D, takes a ton of cash but it pays off big time. v gaines will be right there by next year. look at what the in-house program has done for mike edwards in less than 2 years!

 

[Johnny Mopar]

Has Jeg ever won a Pro Stock race with an engine he built? Didn't think so.

There are actually very few Pro Stock racers not named Johnson that exclusively race engines they built, dyno tested and tuned themselves. Steve Schmidt and Larry Morgan would be in that group.

Actually, every World Championship that Jeggie has won was with power developed in-house by a team member.

Right now, the best in-house engine builders are;

1) Edwards
2) Line
3) Cagnazzi
4) Johnson (Roy & Warren)

Schmidt and Morgan aren't at the level of the above builders. Steve used to be, Larry never has been. Both are nice guys, but on a lower level of performance. Steve was able to supply multiple engines with comparable performance. Larry always seemed to have one great motor, one good motor and several others that wouldn't make the show. I like Larry a lot, but he's lost Max and Gaines in the last year...my guess is they both left due to a lack of ponies. They both had trouble qualifying. Rickie Jones is still running Morgan motors. I hope he gets the good bullet this weekend...

 

[Johnny Mopar]

now that im back from my 1 day ban, come on , how many got fooled by the nitromater april fools day, hell i did anyhow, in todays competitive pro stock world, in-house programs are the only way to go for pro stock. tons of R and D, takes a ton of cash but it pays off big time. v gaines will be right there by next year. look at what the in-house program has done for mike edwards in less than 2 years!

Good to have you back Jeff!

 

[Super Mod]

Actually, every World Championship that Jeggie has won was with power developed in-house by a team member.

Right now, the best in-house engine builders are;

1) Edwards
2) Line
3) Cagnazzi
4) Johnson (Roy & Warren)

Schmidt and Morgan aren't at the level of the above builders. Steve used to be, Larry never has been. Both are nice guys, but on a lower level of performance. Steve was able to supply multiple engines with comparable performance. Larry always seemed to have one great motor, one good motor and several others that wouldn't make the show. I like Larry a lot, but he's lost Max and Gaines in the last year...my guess is they both left due to a lack of ponies. They both had trouble qualifying. Rickie Jones is still running Morgan motors. I hope he gets the good bullet this weekend...

You're snubbing WJ on purpose?..... At least you could make him #5

 

[Terry]

You're snubbing WJ on purpose?..... At least you could make him #5

Nah, it's just because John is a Mopar guy! In all actuality, I'm guessing that John just temporarily forgot about WJ. I know from some of our Pro Stock based visits that John highly respects both the talents and the accomplishments of WJ and always was quick to say so, even though he is a dyed in the wool Pentastar man. Talk about fair-minded, John will even smile and wink when someone mentions the break-in!

 

["Chuck"]

You're snubbing WJ on purpose?..... At least you could make him #5

WJ's engines are consistently within the top 2 if not the highest in MPH every race...I certainly think hes alot higher than #4 and im a Mopar guy too...And I saw up there that someone said Jeg hasnt won a championship with motors he's built, all the motors that Jeg and Troy run are built, tested and dyno'd in the Cagnazzi facility.

 

[Johnny Mopar]

You're snubbing WJ on purpose?..... At least you could make him #5

No way...I have "Warren" at #4 with the other Johnson..."Roy". He's on there...

Terry is correct, I have high respect for Warren. There's been a wonderful influx of new power from Edwards, Line and Cagnazzi that have put them ahead of Warren for several years now. The new guard is in place, and they're winning championships (Jeggie & Line/Anderson).

Maybe, just maybe us Mopar fans will have a contendor this year. We finally have a competitve Mopar team that isn't cheating (NOS) or breaking the law (trafficing).

 

[Nunz]

The closest anyone seems to having a hammer on the rest of the field is still the Anderson cars, but not like before. Everyone has definitely stepped up, but I don't think anyone has really passed WJ in the HP dep't. While HP is king, the set-up on these cars is every bit as important, and I think that's where WJ has had issues and Anderson has been shining. IMO.

 

["Chuck"]

The closest anyone seems to having a hammer on the rest of the field is still the Anderson cars, but not like before. Everyone has definitely stepped up, but I don't think anyone has really passed WJ in the HP dep't. While HP is king, the set-up on these cars is every bit as important, and I think that's where WJ has had issues and Anderson has been shining. IMO.

My point exactly. As far as pure HP goes nobody i think has more than WJ, but its usually other stuff he seems to miss on, most notably his reaction times more than anything else is what kills him from time to time.

 

[Johnny Mopar]

My point exactly. As far as pure HP goes nobody i think has more than WJ, but its usually other stuff he seems to miss on, most notably his reaction times more than anything else is what kills him from time to time.

Hasn't Greg Anderson or Jason Line held the MPH record (until last week's Houston race) for several years? Edwards 212.03 record run in Houston was far better than any other car. I think saying Warren has more HP than the field is more retrospective than anything. He used to, but doesn't anymore. And yes...his chassis tune up continues to be a challenge. I don't understand why Kurt's car is consistent and Warren's isn't. It was that way all last season as well.

The field has narrowed, but Greg and Jason are still the cars to beat each week. We all look at their numbers as a barometer for how the rest of the field is doing.