News from the Source

Johnson Sets New Track Record Before Rallying to Top-Five Finish at Petaluma

Johnson Sets New Track Record Before Rallying to Top-Five Finish at Petaluma

(Photo by Devin Mayo Photography)

Inside Line Promotions – PETALUMA, Calif. (Aug. 29, 2016) – Chase Johnson put together the type of performance he’s been envisioning last Saturday at Petaluma Speedway.

Johnson, who was the 360ci winged sprint car track champion at the track in 2012, opened the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series event by establishing a new track record and setting quick time during qualifying while piloting the Shawn and Cyndi Thomas owned sprint car.

“Getting the track record was really cool,” he said. “I think they said that was the first time it’s been broken since 2007 or 2008. To put my name in the books is something really special.”

Johnson then advanced from fourth to third place in a heat race to lock into the dash, which he started seventh after pulling the second-highest number during the redraw.

“That was a bummer because you have to start pretty close to the front to have a shot at winning these races,” he said. “I was able to make up some ground to put us in a good spot for the A Main.”

Johnson picked up a position to finish sixth and start the main event on the outside of the third row.

“We hopped wheels on the initial start,” he said. “That made us go way out of the groove and fall back quite a bit. I think we fell back to 11th or 12th after the first lap. We had quite a bit of time to make up. We picked off guys here and there when we could. We were neck and neck at the line for third. If we wouldn’t have had that hiccup on the first lap I think we would have had a shot at winning the race.”

Johnson overcame the opening-lap incident to rally for a fourth-place result. It was his ninth top five of the season.

Johnson has a busy week of action on tap. He will drive for Shawn and Cyndi Thomas on Saturday and Sunday at Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, Calif.; Monday at Petaluma Speedway in Petaluma, Calif.; Thursday at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif.; Friday at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif.; and Saturday at Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford, Calif., for California Sprint Week with the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series.

Johnson will also race on Tuesday at Cycleland Speedway in Chico, Calif., for Kyle Larson’s Outlaw Kart Showcase and Wednesday at Silver Dollar Speedway with the Civil War Sprint Car Series in his family owned 360ci winged sprint car.

QUICK RESULTS –

Aug. 27 – Petaluma Speedway in Petaluma, Calif. – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 3 (4); Dash: 6 (7); Feature: 4 (6).

SEASON STATS –

40 races, 2 wins, 9 top fives, 14 top 10s, 22 top 15s, 25 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Saturday and Sunday at Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, Calif.; Monday at Petaluma Speedway in Petaluma, Calif.; Thursday at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif.; Friday at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif.; and Saturday at Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford, Calif., for California Sprint Week with the AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series; and Tuesday at Cycleland Speedway in Chico, Calif., for Kyle Larson’s Outlaw Kart Showcase and Wednesday at Silver Dollar Speedway with the Civil War 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 No. 68 t-shirts and sweatshirts as well as Chase Johnson shirts for sale at his race trailer at every race he competes in this season. T-shirts are $25 each and hoodies are $35 apiece.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Newman Freeman Racing

During the 1976 auto racing season, actor Paul Newman became interested in forming a professional auto racing team and contacted Bill Freeman from Santa Barbara. Freeman is credited as the man who introduced Newman to professional auto racing management and their company specialized in Can-Am, Indy Cars and other high performance racing automobiles.

“The reason Paul Newman got into racing was because of a guy named Bill Freeman,” Johnson said. “Bill hasn’t really been involved in racing since Paul’s death so we really appreciate his support and partnership.”

Johnson would also like to thank Johnny Franklin’s Mufflers, PitStopUSA.com, Shifty Illusions, Napa Auto Parts, Flowmaster, Don’s Truck Repair, VSR, Oroville Cycle, I-Wear Graphix, Driven Raceway, Nor-Cal Transmission 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.

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