Inside Line Promotions – PETALUMA, Calif. (April 14, 2014) – Chase Johnson scored his first top five of the season last Saturday when he raced his family car for the first time this season at Petaluma Speedway.
However, it was anything but an easy race for Johnson, who battled mechanical issues throughout the feature.
“It was definitely a confidence boost despite all the troubles we had,” he said. “It was a nice, solid night.”
After qualifying fifth quickest to start the night, the team made some adjustments to loosen the car prior to the heat race.
“We struggled early on to get the car free,” he said. “It was just too tight. We figured it out for the heat race.”
Johnson, who started on the inside of the second row, picked up a position to finish second in his heat. It locked him into the inversion redraw for the feature.
“We pulled the two in the inversion, which started us on the outside of the front row for the feature,” he said.
Unfortunately, Johnson lost the brakes on his race car within the first five laps.
“I just kind of fell back from there,” he said. “I was running third for the majority of the race and then we lost about half our horsepower. We broke a rocker on the motor, so that was the cause of why we lost so much horsepower. We were able to hang, but we were putting around the bottom. We couldn’t make any moves or go anywhere.”
Without brakes and with a struggling engine, Johnson maintained a top five for the entire race before ending with a fifth-place finish.
“It’s always hard when you start in the front and go backwards,” he said. “As soon as we figure out our problems, we’ll be good.”
The team will put the spare engine into the car for this Saturday’s race at Petaluma Speedway, where Johnson will compete for his first win of the season.
QUICK RESULTS –
April 12 – Petaluma Speedway in Petaluma, Calif. – Qualifying: 5; Heat race: 2 (3); Feature: 5 (2).
SEASON STATS –
7 races, 0 wins, 1 top five, 2 top 10s, 2 top 15s, 5 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Petaluma Speedway in Petaluma, Calif.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.ChaseJohnsonRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChaseJohnson24
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chase.Johnson.Racing1
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Shifty Illusions
Shifty Illusions is a custom paint business based in Bakersfield, Calif. Shifty Illusions specializes in helmets and goalie masks. For more information, visit http://www.ShiftyIll.com.
“I can’t thank Shifty Illusions enough for giving me a great looking helmet that is a tribute to Marcus Johnson and Dale Wondergem,” Johnson said. “I’m really thankful for all that he’s helped us with. Shifty Illusions isn’t expensive and makes everything look great. He’s very talented.”
Johnson would also like to thank Newman Freeman Racing, Johnny Franklin’s Mufflers, PitStopUSA.com, Napa Auto Parts, Flowmaster, Don’s Truck Repair, VSR, Fast Lube Plus, K&N Filters, Oroville Cycle and I-Wear Graphix 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 and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Apr 14, 2014
- Article Date: 4/14/2014 by Inside Line Promotions