(Photo by No Limit Media)
Inside Line Promotions – BRANDON, S.D. (July 30, 2024) – Kaleb Johnson highlighted a four-race weekend with a pair of podium results.
Johnson earned third-place finishes on Thursday and Friday at Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn. On Thursday, he qualified third quickest, placed third in a heat race and advanced from seventh to third during the Gunderson Racing Inc. Midwest Sprint Touring Series and Midwest Power Series feature.
“We did well at Jackson both nights,” he said. “We qualified and ran well in the heat race on Thursday. I was able to utilize the bottom to get by cars in the feature. It was mainly around the top and I was able to poke it around the bottom groove to get a podium.”
That continued on Friday during the Midwest Sprint Touring Series 410 Sprint Cars event at the track. Johnson was seventh quickest in time trials and he won a heat race to advance into the feature redraw of the Merle Johnson Memorial Border Battle – an event named after his grandfather.
“Friday was an important night for me and my family,” he said. “We qualified decent and won the heat race. In the feature, once we got to traffic I got to fourth and moved up to second for a green-white-checkered restart. I could have got second, but a mistake on the last lap cost us a spot. I drove it in too hard and it let Garet (Williamson) get by me.”
Johnson shifted gears to drive for Dennis Gainey on Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, where drivers got one last night in prior to the upcoming 360 Knoxville Nationals. Johnson timed in 15th quickest in his group before he won a heat race and a B Main to advance into the back of the main event.
“We didn’t qualify the greatest,” he said. “We were running a different car so it took me a bit to get comfortable. Once I did I felt I could pass cars anywhere. We drove it into the top 10 before a late caution when I think the tires sealed over. When we came in they almost felt like slicks. With that many cars, we knew it’d be tough so I guess finishing 13th out of 62 drivers isn’t horrible.”
The weekend concluded on Sunday at Huset’s Speedway, where Johnson was 12th quickest in qualifying. He placed second in a heat race before ending the night 12th in the A Main.
“I think qualifying buried us for most of the night,” he said. “We were all right in the heat race. In the feature we had a good car, but a couple of mistakes put me back to 15th. We climbed back a few positions. The main thing is the car is in one piece.”
Johnson will return to Knoxville Raceway this weekend for the 34th annual Xtream powered by Mediacom 360 Knoxville Nationals presented by Great National Bank that runs Thursday through Saturday. He will then pilot a car for Aaron Long on Sunday during the Avanti Capitani Classic presented by Great National Bank.
QUICK RESULTS –
July 25 – Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn. – Qualifying: 3; Heat race: 3 (4); Feature: 3 (7).
July 26 – Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn. – Qualifying: 7; Heat race: 1 (1); Feature: 3 (5).
July 27 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 15; Heat race: 1 (2); B Main: 1 (3); Feature: 13 (21).
July 28 – Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D. – Qualifying: 12; Heat race: 2 (2); Feature: 12 (13).
SEASON STATS –
30 races, 0 wins, 10 top fives, 21 top 10s, 25 top 15s, 25 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Thursday and Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, for the 34th annual Xtream powered by Mediacom 360 Knoxville Nationals presented by Great National Bank and Sunday at Knoxville Raceway for the Avanti Capitani Classic presented by Great National Bank
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.kalebjohnsonracing.com/
X: https://twitter.com/Kaleb___Johnson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KalebJohnsonRacing22
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Innovative Design/Sletten Properties
Innovative Design is an architectural firm owned by Lanny Auringer and Sletten Properties is a property owner and management company owned by Lanny and wife, Tammy. Together, they design, develop and manage the commercial and retail workspaces they lease in Sioux Falls, S.D.
“Lanny is a big-time fan and supporter of racing,” Johnson said. “We really appreciate him letting us use one of his shops. I feel extremely fortunate to have him on our team and I’m grateful for what he’s done to help us.”
Johnson would like to thank Merle Johnson Farm Toys, Oddson Underground, Inc., Folkens Brothers Trucking, Blondie Motorsports, Construction Products & Consultants, GRP Motorsports, Innovative Design/Sletten Properties, Cressman Sanitation, State Bank of Fairmont, AB Custom Construction, Specialized Caulking Sealants, The Minnesota Mafia, Guaranteed Rate-Mike Brudigan Home Loans, The Ron Weber Team, David Kramer Drywall, Big Al’s Diecast, Heartland Properties, Dave’s Lawn Care & Landscaping, TL Racing, Hepfner Racing Products, TJ Forged Wheels, Howe Motorsports, Moyle Racing Engines, FID Media, Team DGRD and Hefty Seed Company for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Jul 30, 2024
- Article Date: 7/30/2024 by Inside Line Promotions