Driver Profile

Home Town: Homer Glen IL
Brother: George
Parents: Lisa and John
Hobbies: Long Boarding and Snow Boarding

Hero’s:

Michael “Mickey” Kudlicki, amazing race car driver, crew chief, mentor and protector.

Mr. Nelson Stewart, humble, a big hearted, wise man who shares his wisdom and makes people feel at ease. A man who has earned every racers respect and is honored with his presence.

James “Jimbo” Sommers, a man you can learn a great deal from, not only about racing and race cars but life, he and wife Rose Mary are an inspiration of sharing kind hearted people, and “Jimbo’s” passion about race cars and racing.

Johnny for the 2015 season raced in the Pro Division of U.S. Legend Cars

Johnny had a breakout season, competing in 28 USLCI Dirt Races in the Pro Division. The highlight of the season was his dominating win at USLCI Dirt Nationals -Fitzgerald Glider Kits, where at times he had more than a straight away lead on the field, braking the track record three times during the National Championship Race. Johnny also won the 2015 Race of Champions and Trophy Dash during these Nationals held in Cleveland TN. Johnny also earned four other wins for the season and had 19 top five races. He raced in WI, IL, IA and TN during this season.

Age 16, Johnny raced for the first time, a complete season, he raced as many asphalt and dirt races as weather and budget would allow, being rained out at the track more than 8 times at both dirt and asphalt tracks.

Johnny managed to get in almost 50 races combined on both dirt and asphalt, during one stretch accomplishing 3 asphalt wins in a row.

Racing at tracks like Hawkeye Downs IA, Grundy County IL, Madison WI, Columbus 151 WI, Beaver Dam WI, Wilmot WI, Angell Park WI, Des Moines IA, Knoxville IA, 141 WI, Seymour WI and capping off the dirt season with a 3rd place finish at the US Legend Dirt Nationals in Ararat VA in the Semi-Pro Division.

For the 2014 Season Johnny finished with State of Illinois Championships in both Asphalt and Dirt, finishing 28th on asphalt and 3rd on dirt in National Points, US Legend Cars, Semi Pro Division. Johnny did not race for the national point’s instead focusing on the seat time and experience, of both dirt and asphalt. Johnny was one of only very few Legend car drivers in the county to race asphalt and dirt on a weekly basis.

2013, Johnny started the season on asphalt and then Johnny acquired a second 1934 Ford Coupe to be used for Dirt, presenting a steep learning curve for Johnny and longtime crew chief Michael ‘Mickey” Kudlicki, who had been there for Johnny since age 11.

Mickey,who is extremely knowledgeable on car set ups for Asphalt, stepped up on challenge to Dirt and became a learning in procress, but Mickey came through. Johnny finished 10th in the National Young Lions points and won yet another Illinois State Championship on Dirt.

2012, Johnny moved up to a Legend car, but the season was well underway when he finally got it.

A 1934 Ford Coupe, one set of tires and very few spare parts, the motor blew, cutting his season already short season even shorter.

But Johnny had scored enough points to win the Young Lions State Championship.

At this time Johnny only raced on asphalt.

Johnny formal racing career started at age 10 in a Bandolero and at 14 moved to Legend cars.

But from a very young age around 4, Johnny showed he had a knack for going fast under control as he would routinely drive his little brother Georgie on his tricycle around the inside of the house, never touching a piece of woodwork or trim as he peddled full speed.

He especially like to race toward the oven only to slide the rear end out at the last split second to avoid the crash and keep peddling while Georgie was holding on around his neck.

By age 6, 90cc quads, in the back yard up on two wheels just for fun, then progressing to motorcycles from full race 50CC to 80cc big bore 2 strokes. Johnny always having a quite side to his confidence of under complete control recklessness.

Never to one boast, brag or be flashy he has the same clam demeanor.

Handling numerous setbacks at a young with grace and ease, as there have been times, do to budgets of being self-funded that he was unable to race.

Johnny would just say, “it is OK I understand” although he made as many races as funding would allow, Johnny rarely raced an entire season in a Bandolero.

When Johnny was on the track he made the best of it with great finishes, winning numerous State Championships and races. Racing his “Bando” at Grundy, Rockford, Madison, North Carolina, and Orlando Florida.