(Photo by Chuck Stowe Images)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (May 18, 2021) – Rain postponed a positive run for Kaleb Johnson last Saturday night at Knoxville Raceway.
Johnson had solid outings in qualifying and his heat race before the wet weather washed out the evening’s feature events.
“Our night at Knoxville went really well up until the rain,” he said. “It was disappointing to have the feature postponed, but at least we got our heat race in and got a good starting spot (fourth) for the feature, whenever they decide to run that.”
Johnson’s night got off to a good start when he qualified seventh quickest out of 23 drivers despite drawing the 20th timing spot.
“I didn’t think I qualified very well and I was surprised to find out we were seventh,” he said. “I made a couple mistakes so I know I could’ve done better. We try to be in the top eight in qualifying each night at Knoxville because that sets you up for a fairly good night so we were happy with that.”
Johnson started fourth in his heat race and advanced to finish second.
“The car felt really good in the heat race,” he said. “I was able to pass a couple of cars and when I drove it in the slick a couple of times it stuck. I was really looking forward to the feature.”
A visit to I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., the previous night also started well for Johnson, but it had a tougher ending.
“We were able to pass a couple of cars in our heat race to finish fourth before starting seventh in the feature,” he said. “The track changed a lot more than I expected. It was really heavy in the heat race and then pretty much dry slick in the feature.
“We were actually rolling pretty good in the feature and passed a couple of cars early. I was in fifth after a few laps when we had a caution. On the restart, I drove it into turns one and two a little too hard and looped it. I paid for my mistake and got T-boned by a couple of cars, tearing the rear end out of the car and breaking most of the bolt-on parts on that part of the car.”
Johnson was credited with a 14th-place finish after the DNF.
Next up for Johnson will be his first visit to Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa, this year during a Midwest Sprint Touring Series show on Friday and then a return to Knoxville Raceway on Saturday.
“I’m looking forward to racing at Rocky and having a race close to home,” he said. “We’ve had a couple of good runs there. It’s usually pretty slick and that’s kind of in my wheelhouse. I like racing on slick tracks.”
QUICK RESULTS –
May 14 – I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb. – Heat race: 4 (6); Feature: 14 (7).
May 15 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 7 (23); Heat race: 2 (4); Feature: Rained Out (4).
SEASON STATS –
5 races, 0 wins, 1 top five, 2 top 10s, 3 top 15s, 5 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday at Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa, with the Midwest Sprint Tour Series and Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.kalebjohnsonracing.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kaleb___Johnson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KalebJohnsonRacing22
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“It’s great to have Alec supporting us again this year,” Johnson said. “It’s been exciting to watch his business grow. We appreciate his help.”
Johnson would also like to thank Merle Johnson Farm Toys, Oddson Underground, GRP Motorsports, Innovative Design/Sletten Properties, Sea Foam, Guaranteed Rate-Mike Brudigan, Ron Weber Team, State Bank of Fairmont, Big Al’s Diecast, Dave’s Lawn Care & Landscaping, JF Capital, Last Deck, Hepfner Racing Products, Schaeffer’s Oil and TL Racing for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
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- Shawn Miller on May 18, 2021
- Article Date: 5/18/2021 by Inside Line Promotions