Each year since it was founded in 1990, the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame inducts a new class of individuals who have made a meaningful impact on the sport. The Pat Garlits Memorial Award was initiated in 2014 to honor the life and legacy of Pat Garlits, and each of the recipients have been individuals who have contributed to the success of a spouse or the sport through actions both on and off the dragstrip.
At the 2026 International Drag Racing Hall of Fame ceremony, Arlene Johnson was recognized for her lifelong contributions and received the prestigious award. Previous recipients include Barbara Hamilton, Joan Gwynn, Laurie Force, Eileen Daniels, Terry Chandler, Lynn Prudhomme, Etta Glidden, Laura South, Pat Baltes, Linda Jones, Rosalee & Terry Noble, and Debbie Bader.
After thanking Don Garlits and acknowledging the impact of Don’s wife, Pat, Arlene addressed the crowd.
“What a rollercoaster it’s been,” she said. “I remember all the firsts: the first win, the first championship, the first to 180 mph, 190, 200. I remember Kurt’s first win, first year of racing, first to the sixes. Those are records never to be broken. I remember going down the road and meeting all the fans and friends. We’re still, today, meeting people. It’s been great.”
Through six NHRA and two IHRA championships, 97 national event wins, and an abundance of performance milestones, Arlene Johnson has been by husband Warren Johnson’s side. They met in Minnesota in 1960 at the age of 17 and were married a year later, and over the next decade they welcomed son Kurt and began to build a life that revolved around all things racing.
Warren and Arlene first ventured to a racetrack together in 1962, and in the early 1970s, W.J. fatefully dipped his toe into a new class: NHRA Pro Stock. Soon, they were all in, and by 1976, racing was their full-time gig. It wasn’t a difficult transition for Arlene, who grew up helping her father work on cars, washing parts and whatever else needed to be done.
Arlene was W.J.’s first crew member, and at home, while he was deep into research and development in the shop, Arlene was running every aspect of the office and keeping everyone fed and paid. When their son Kurt was small, she was active at the racetrack changing tires, charging batteries, handling fuel, changing jets in the carburetors, packing the parachutes, and tackling whatever else she could to make sure that Warren could focus on what he did best.
Through good times and bad, Arlene showed fortitude, strength, and support. No task was beneath her; she rode in the truck with the crew for thousands of miles, and when they were able to get a motorhome, she drove it on her own for thousands of miles more, bringing homebase with her as she bolstered the career of a driver destined to become a legend.
With Arlene by his side, usually taking video of his runs so that he could scrutinize them later, Warren Johnson became the most winning Pro Stock driver in the history of the class when he passed Bob Glidden’s record in 2002. He claimed 11 more wins over the years, the 97th coming at St. Louis in 2010.
Arlene was an integral part of every one of W.J.’s milestones, and in addition to Warren’s championships, she was an important factor in son Kurt’s career as well. She was by his side for each of his 42 wins and as he finished No. 2 in the nation multiple times.
The drag racing history books have Warren and Kurt Johnson all over them, but it was Arlene behind the scenes making sure it was all possible.
Through her extensive collection of scrapbooks, notes, and photos she took over the years, Arlene was a major contributor to the Warren Johnson biography released by CarTech Books in 2021. She is wife to W.J., mom to Kurt, mother-in-law to Kathy, grandmother to Conner, Erin, and Jarrett, friend to many, and a legend in her own right.
Congratulations to each of the 2026 International Drag Racing Hall of Fame inductees — including Bob Frey, Steve Boggs, Anita Makela, David Reher and Buddy Morrison, and Rahn Tobler — and congratulations to Arlene Johnson on receiving the 2026 Pat Garlits Memorial Award!
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