(Photo by Chuck Stowe Images)
Inside Line Promotions – SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Oct. 6, 2021) – The 2021 racing season was one of marked improvement for Kaleb Johnson.
In his second year of 360ci sprint car competition, the Sioux Falls sprint car driver finished sixth in the championship standings at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, where he competed regularly. He also recorded five top-five finishes at other tracks.
“I thought we had a pretty decent year,” he said. “Obviously, there are some things you wish would have gone differently, but that’s racing. It definitely wasn’t a year for us to hang our heads about.”
Among the highlights of the season for Johnson were his first podium finish at Knoxville Raceway and qualifying for his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series A Main at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D.
“We really wanted to win this year at Knoxville, but we knew how difficult that can be,” he said. “So to make our first podium there was a pretty cool deal. Shortly after that we made our first World of Outlaws A Main in just our third start in a 410. That was a pretty special moment, too.”
While a feature victory eluded him, Johnson finished second three times and had eight top-five finishes overall.
“It was disappointing that we didn’t win a race this year,” he said. “There were some days that I felt like I wanted to win a race more than I wanted to breath. But we raced where the toughest competition was so that makes it more difficult to win. That’s what makes us better going forward.
“We finished second to Justin Henderson, Terry McCarl and Jack Dover – three great drivers who have way more experience than I do. But I feel like we’re really close to winning against drivers like those guys.”
One of Johnson’s most significant improvements came in qualifying at Knoxville Raceway – a track where being able to lay down a quick time trial lap is generally key to a successful night of competition.
“I was proud of how we were able to improve our qualifying at Knoxville,” he said. “We really needed to be in the top eight for qualifying there each night and we got to where we were usually in the top eight if not the top five.
“We had a few DNFs there I wish I could change, but that’s just part of the learning process. But we also had some really good finishes against some really good cars, and I’m proud of that.”
SEASON STATS –
34 races, 0 wins, 8 top fives, 17 top 10s, 21 top 15s, 27 top 20s
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.kalebjohnsonracing.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kaleb___Johnson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KalebJohnsonRacing22
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“Ron Weber started sponsoring me when I began racing sprint cars when I was 16-years-old,” Johnson said. “I’ve gotten to know him pretty well over that time and I greatly appreciate his support over the years.”
Johnson would also like to thank Merle Johnson Farm Toys, Oddson Underground, GRP Motorsports, Innovative Design/Sletten Properties, Sea Foam, Snyder Tree Service, Guaranteed Rate-Mike Brudigan Home Loans, 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 –
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 Oct 06, 2021
- Article Date: 10/6/2021 by Inside Line Promotions