(Photo by Chuck Fry)
Inside Line Promotions – OROVILLE, Calif. (Sept. 9, 2015) – Chase Johnson wrapped up an up-and-down week on Tuesday by competing in Kyle Larson’s Outlaw Kart Showcase Presented by ParkerStore.
Johnson, who was piloting an outlaw kart for Shawn Schmitz, kicked off the event at Cycleland Speedway by qualifying 20th quickest in his group. That put Johnson on the pole of a heat race, which he won to line him up 14th in the C Main.
“We got moving pretty good early on,” he said. “The track faded where our car was and I started losing positions. I think we were hanging around 10th for most of the race. I tried something on the last lap and got hooked on the berm. It was still a strong outing for the amount of cars there.
“It was a lot of fun. I hadn’t raced at Cycleland in three years. I would say our night went pretty well. I had a blast.”
Johnson also competed last Saturday at Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, Calif., during the USAC/CRA 8th annual Louie Vermeil Classic. He qualified 20th quickest, which started the Shawn and Cyndi Thomas owned nonwing sprint car on the outside of the front row for a heat race.
“I think we got the lead on the second lap,” he said. “It was kind of surprising for being my first time at Calistoga in a 410 nonwing sprint car. I led for about five laps and then fell back to fifth. I just tried to hit my marks, but the cars behind me found a better line in turns three and four.”
Johnson ended fifth in the heat race, sending him into the B Main.
“I really didn’t get comfortable until halfway through the B Main,” he said. “Just getting my comfort level back up with the feeling of no wing took a while. It clicked in the B Main and I felt really good.”
Johnson finished fourth in the consolation race to transfer into the main event, which he started on the outside of the ninth row.
“The car was great,” he said. “We were able to keep our nose clean and keep the tires underneath us and pick off cars here and there. We were up into the top 10 until the last restart when another driver got by us.”
Johnson rallied to post an 11th-place finish.
Unfortunately, the team found mechanical problems during hot laps on Sunday. They scratched from that event as well as Monday’s race at Petaluma Speedway in Petaluma, Calif.
Because of the engine situation the team will scale back to only compete on Sunday at Antioch Speedway in Antioch, Calif., with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.
“I really want to thank Schmitz Motorsports as well as Thomas Family Racing for the great opportunities,” Johnson said.
QUICK RESULTS –
Sept. 5 – Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, Calif. – Qualifying: 20; Heat race: 5 (2); B Main: 4 (6); Feature: 11 (18).
Sept. 8 – Cycleland Speedway in Oroville, Calif. – Qualifying: 20; Heat race: 1 (1); C Main: 15 (14).
SEASON STATS –
28 races, 0 wins, 3 top fives, 5 top 10s, 9 top 15s, 13 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Sunday at Antioch Speedway in Antioch, Calif., with the World of Outlaws 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 – Johnny Franklin’s Mufflers
With California locations in Santa Rosa and San Rafael, Johnny Franklin’s Mufflers has been a leader in the service industry for mufflers, drivelines and hitches for more than 50 years.
“My great grandpa started Johnny Franklin’s Mufflers in 1961 and it has been in the family ever since,” Johnson said. “My family and everyone at Johnny Franklin’s Mufflers have supported me through my entire racing career and are my biggest fans. I couldn’t be happier to represent such a great company.”
Johnson would also like to thank Newman Freeman Racing, PitStopUSA.com, Shifty Illusions, Napa Auto Parts, 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 Sep 09, 2015
- Article Date: 9/9/2015 by Inside Line Promotions