From the outside it appears to be an exciting life, racing all over the country, interacting with fans from New Jersey, Ohio and Colorado while also working with Snap-on Tools franchisees and newly enrolled students in the WyoTech Technical Schools. Oh, yes, it appears glamorous, but from the inside, inside Steve Johnson Racing, it’s a high-pressure world in which the need to excel is greater than ever before.
“Hey, I’m not complaining, ” Johnson says with his typical wide-eyed grin as he tries to juggle his schedule for the next month. “There’s a lot more to ‘racing’ than just throwing my leg over our Snap-on Tools Suzuki and heading for the finish line. Everything we do, from prepping the motorcycle, to traveling to the races, to making our personal appearances is a part of who we are and what we do.
“At one time, ” he acknowledges, “racing meant nothing more than what went on at the track, but times have changed. NHRA POWERade drag racing has ‘grown up, ’ I guess you could say, and we’re growing with it.
“I don’t think many of us thought about testing before the national events when I first started, but you can’t do without it now. That’s why, before we head to New Jersey this week, we’ll be testing at O’Reilly Motorsports Park in Indianapolis on Tuesday.
“On Thursday I’m going on a ride-along with a Snap-on Tools franchisee, and to me that’s just as important as the first qualifying session’s going to be on Friday afternoon at the ProCare Rx SuperNationals in Englishtown (New Jersey). The first’s important because I sincerely believe that every Snap-on Tools franchisee needs to understand the role NHRA POWERade drag racing plays in his business. When those men and women see professional competitors relying on the quality of Snap-on products in motorsports, it translates right down the line to the guy who’s adjusting the brakes on your Chevrolet.
“If I have to explain how important that first – heck, every qualifying session’s going to be in Englishtown – well, you know where I’m going, don’t you? ”
As he’s done all season long, Johnson will also be hosting newly enrolled WyoTech Technical School students in his pit area at Englishtown, and will continue to be welcoming them at all of his national event appearances this season.
“I get a real kick out of interacting with the new students, ” he admits. “After giving them the full tour of our operation we try to do a little Reaction Time testing, and that’s lots of fun for everyone. I think it gives them at least a little idea of what it’s like to race, too. ”
Johnson’s Pro Stock Motorcycle career began at Englishtown 21-years ago, and he hasn’t forgotten. “Let’s just say that, when I look back on it now, I’m almost embarrassed at how ill-prepared we were to race that weekend, but by the same token, I have no regrets about that, or about where my career’s taken me since then. ”
One place it’s taken him to is the winners circle of drag racing’s most important and prestigious race, the NHRA U. S. Nationals over Labor Day at Indianapolis.
As Johnson fights for a position among the Top 8 points earners, which will keep him a contender for this year’s NHRA POWERade championship, he’s got a difficult schedule ahead. The week following the ProCare Rx SuperNationals he’ll head west to Norwalk, Ohio for the Inaugural Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.
“This track has an exceptional reputation, ” Johnson says. “I’m really anxious to get there because everyone says the place is fantastic. Besides, it’s the only track I know of where you can get a full pound of ice cream for a buck!
“I don’t think Mark Peiser, our crew chief, is going to be happy if he sees me chowing down on four or five pounds of the it, but what the heck, maybe I can sneak a couple in when he’s not looking! ”
Following a week off for the Pro Stock Motorcycle contingent the series will move to Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, CO just outside Denver for the Mopar Mile-High Nationals.
“The altitude in Denver makes it tough on everyone, ” Johnson says. “That’s why we’re going to be making some serious changes to our motorcycle just for that weekend, because I love that track, and we really want to perform well up there.
“Yeah, there’s no question about it, the next few weeks are going to be tough on everyone. There’s a lot that we need to accomplish, but so do the other teams out there. Our plan is to first out-work those other teams between races, and then out-run ‘em on the track when we do race. A couple of good finishes in those races will have us right where we need to be, and that’s well up in the Top 8 in the standings. ”
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