Inside Line Promotions – PETALUMA, Calif. (June 1, 2015) – Chase Johnson powered to his first podium finish of the season last Saturday at Petaluma Speedway during his 360ci nonwing sprint car debut.
“It was definitely really good being our first podium of the year,” he said. “We were looking at is as more of a confidence builder for the nonwing side, but it still gives us confidence for the winged car as well.”
Johnson, who entered Saturday with approximately a half-dozen nonwing 410 and spec sprint starts in his career, kicked off the event by qualifying fifth quickest.
“I was really hesitant at the beginning of the night and wasn’t really comfortable,” he said. “I was struggling backing it into the corners and getting it really sideways and leaning on the right side. I really struggled finding that comfort zone. The crew gave me a great car, which is what I needed.”
Johnson then claimed his heat race after starting on the outside of the front row.
“I grabbed the lead after a couple of laps and led the rest of the thing,” he said. “The guy who started on the pole and I were battling the first couple of laps and then I got ahead of him. That put us in the pill draw for the feature and we pulled a three.”
The No. 3 lined him up on the inside of the second row for the main event.
“I got more comfortable as the laps went on,” he said. “At one point we got up to second and at one point we fell back to fourth. At the end of the race I closed on second place and me and him were side by side at the finish.”
Johnson’s third-place result also marked his first top-five finish this season.
“It was a confidence builder,” he said. “I love to do new stuff and I really like nonwing racing. We don’t get too much nonwing racing in Northern California so we’ve been focused on winged racing. It’s new and exciting. It’s fun to go learn and be a rookie again.
“I think I have the monkey off my back now, at least I feel like it. We have some confidence going and I think that will transfer directly into the winged car. I’m looking for another good race this weekend.”
Johnson will return to the Shawn and Cyndi Thomas owned No. 68 sprint car on Saturday at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., for the 3rd annual David Tarter Memorial with the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series.
QUICK RESULTS –
May 30 – Petaluma Speedway in Petaluma, Calif. – Qualifying: 5; Heat race: 1 (2); Feature: 3 (3).
SEASON STATS –
15 races, 0 wins, 1 top five, 2 top 10s, 3 top 15s, 4 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., for the 3rd annual David Tarter Memorial with the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.ChaseJohnsonRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChaseJohnson24
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chase.Johnson.Racing1
APPAREL –
Johnson has new red, black or gray t-shirts and hoodies for sale at his race trailer at every race he competes in this season. T-shirts are $20 each and hoodies are $35 apiece.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – PitStopUSA.com
PitStopUSA.com is an online motor sports superstore that offers more than 40,000 different circle track parts, supplies, tools and accessories from more than 400 of the premier brands in the industry. PitStopUSA.com specializes in racing safety equipment and is proud to offer the widest assortment anywhere. For more information, visit http://www.PitStopUSA.com.
“We’ve been partnered together for the last few years and it’s great to have their continued support,” Johnson said. “All that they do really helps out and we couldn’t do what we do without them. Make sure to check out their website and give them a call today. They have great products at great prices. Everyone at PitStopUSA is great and I couldn’t be happier to represent such an amazing company.”
Johnson would also like to thank Johnny Franklin’s Mufflers, Newman Freeman Racing, Napa Auto Parts, Shifty Illusions, Flowmaster, Don’s Truck Repair, VSR, Fast Lube Plus, K&N Filters, Oroville Cycle, I-Wear Graphix, Driven Raceway, Nor-Cal Transmission, Justin Henry Racing and Chevron Pro-Gas 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 Jun 01, 2015
- Article Date: 6/1/2015 by Inside Line Promotions