7/30/2019
Inside Line Promotions
Kaleb Johnson Scores Podium Finish With MSTS Series at Rapid Speedway
(Photo by Liquid Nitro Racing)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (July 30, 2019) – A podium finish among a stout Midwest Sprint Touring Series field a week ago Tuesday at Rapid Speedway highlighted a busy racing week for Kaleb Johnson.
Johnson worked himself into the feature redraw after advancing from seventh to third place in his heat race at the bullring in Rock Rapids, Iowa.
“I was able to pass a few cars in the heat race and I also caught a bit of a break when a couple of cars in front of me got together at the start,” he said.
Johnson drew the fourth starting position for the 25-car A Main.
“I was up to second for a while before falling back to fourth after the halfway point,” he said. “Then I was able to get by one more car at the end. I wish I had found the rubber a little sooner. I was real happy with our night. There’s no shame in finishing third behind those two guys (Jack Dover and Terry McCarl).”
While the mechanical gremlins that have plagued Johnson this season were absent for one night, they returned during the weekend.
“We couldn’t get our 305 motor to run for hot laps or the heat race at Jackson Motorplex (in Jackson, Minn.,) on Friday,” said Johnson, who eventually earned the Hard Charger Award for his seventh-place finish in the feature after being forced to start last (18th). “We got it running for the feature, but it still didn’t run well. We passed a few cars while some others dropped out. I guess it wasn’t too bad of a night considering the way it started.”
Johnson was eager to make his second appearance of the season at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday.
“I was really looking forward to racing at Knoxville again, especially since our 360 had run well in Rock Rapids,” he said. “Unfortunately, it turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. We didn’t qualify well, which is one of the things you have to do there since it sets up the rest of your night.
“We started eighth in our heat race and finished seventh. As we were taking the checkered, the motor took a turn for the worse. After that, we figured it was probably best that we scratch for the night and just move on from there.”
The recent mechanical woes have forced a change in Johnson’s racing plans.
“We were planning to run the 305 Sprint Nationals at Belleville this weekend, but that won’t happen unless we’re able to get our 305 fixed in the next couple of days,” he said. “Our next race will most likely be at Jackson on Aug. 17.”
QUICK RESULTS –
July 23 – Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa – Heat race: 3 (7); Feature: 3 (4).
July 26 – Jackson Speedway in Jackson, Minn. – Heat race: DNS (6); Feature: 7 (18).
July 27 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 22; Heat race: 7 (8); B Main: DNS (12).
SEASON STATS –
24 races, 0 wins, 10 top fives, 14 top 10s, 16 top 15s, 18 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Aug. 17 at Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.kalebjohnsonracing.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kaleb___Johnson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KalebJohnsonRacing22
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Kat’s Hog Heaven
Located in Jackson, Minn., Kat’s Hog Heaven serves delicious lunch and dinner meals and sides, specializing in barbecue. They also cater. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/katshogheaven.
“Kat’s Hog Heaven has awesome food,” Johnson said. “Donnie Schoenrock is the owner and a friend of mine. He loves sprint car racing and we’re fortunate to have him supporting our team again this year.”
Johnson would also like to thank Medical Machining Specialists, Merle Johnson Farm Toys, Oddson Underground, DeBerg Concrete, GRP Motorsports, Snyder Logging and Tree Service, Sea Foam Products, The Ron Weber Team, TL Racing, Big Al’s Diecast, Guaranteed Rate – Mike Brudigan Home Loans, Dave’s Lawn Care and Landscaping and Last Deck for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
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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.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller
