In a true sign of the financial times, both Warren Johnson and his son Kurt will begin the 2010 NHRA season without primary sponsorship and may only compete at a handful of races through the year. This would mark the first time in a couple of decades that WJ was not out on the NHRA trail full time. The father and son duo are hunting for an 11th hour sponsorship miracle, but the hopes of that happening grow dimmer by the day.
Warren Johnson carried GM sponsorship for many years. Kurt was backed by ACDelco for as long as we can remember. Unfortunately, the two were linked to companies that were completely buried by the economic downturn and severed their backing of nearly all racing.
For the 2009 season, WJ was backed full time by K&N filters, who remain with him as an associate sponsor. Kurt will receive backing for the first two races of the year from Mark Christopher Auto Center in Ontario, California. K&N will fund WJ through the first four races.
Although neither have tastes the winners’ circle recently, it would be a pretty large emotional/psychological void to not have a Johnson running in NHRA Pro Stock. With those guys struggling, having one of the most successful and famous names in the sport, we can only imagine what lesser known teams are going through.
Source — NHRA.com — WJ and KJ will begin 2010 season in Pomona, Phoenix
