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Johnson Battles Back From Qualifying Woes at Stockton and Placerville

(Photo by Collin Markle Photography)

Inside Line Promotions – STOCKTON, Calif. (March 30, 2017) – Chase Johnson was just a tick off during his qualifying attempt at the last two World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series events in his home state of California.

“We were a couple of tenths off both nights and a couple of tenths when you’re racing with the World of Outlaws is the difference between setting quick time and timing in mid-pack,” he said.

The action began for Johnson and the Shawn and Cyndi Thomas owned team last Saturday at Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, where the FVP Western Spring Shootout finale was the only race of the weekend after Friday’s event was rained out.

“We started out really good, but a couple of mechanical problems held us back a couple of tenths in our qualifying run,” he said. “That dug us in a hole.”

Johnson qualified 17th quickest in his group, which lined him up on the inside of the eighth row in a heat race.

“We had a fast car and went from ninth almost to the transfer spot,” he said. “We were really fast and passed a bunch of cars, but came up one car short of locking in.”

Johnson powered from ninth to sixth place and he missed locking into the main event by only one position. That relegated him to the C Main, which he won to transfer into the back of the Last Chance Showdown.

“The car continued to run great and we checked out by a straightaway to win the C Main,” he said. “We went to the back of the Last Chance Showdown and drove it up to 10th, but the 12-lap race went green to checkered and that’s not good for the guys in the back trying to make it to the front.”

Johnson placed 10th in the Last Chance Showdown.

The team returned to action on Wednesday at Placerville Speedway for the Brad Sweet Placerville Short Track Showdown presented by NAPA Auto Parts.

“I didn’t do great in qualifying,” Johnson said. “The track was moving around a bit and we didn’t catch on to how the track was moving around. We ran the high side and the best lane was moving down the track. We were a couple of tenths off and a couple of tenths was the difference between first place and 14th place.”

Johnson timed in 14th quickest. That lined him up seventh in a heat race, but an opening-lap crash sent him to the pits early.

“We went into the first corner and there were some cars that took it three wide,” he said. “One came down the track and into our right rear. Our car rolled over. It tore up the wings and did a little damage on the right rear.”

Johnson returned to the bullring for the Last Chance Showdown, where he advanced from his seventh starting position to battle for the fourth-and-final transfer into the feature.

“We had a really fast car,” he said. “We got to fifth on a late-race restart and then with two laps to go Donny Schatz got around us so we finished sixth. I felt like we were faster than a couple of cars in front of us, but it was tough because everyone was so close. Track position was so important.”

Johnson placed sixth to miss a transfer by only two positions.

Next up, the team is slated to compete this Saturday at Antioch Speedway in Antioch, Calif., with the Sprint Car Challenge Tour.

QUICK RESULTS –

March 25 – Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif. – Qualifying: 17; Heat race: 6 (9); C Main: 1 (1); B Main: 10 (13).

March 29 – Placerville Speedway in Placerville, Calif. – Qualifying: 14; Heat race: DNF (7); B Main: 6 (7).

SEASON STATS –

9 races, 1 win, 3 top fives, 3 top 10s, 3 top 15s, 4 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Saturday at Antioch Speedway in Antioch, Calif., with the Sprint Car Challenge Tour

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.ChaseJohnsonRacing.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChaseJohnson24

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chase.Johnson.Racing1

APPAREL –

Johnson has No. 68 t-shirts and sweatshirts as well as Chase Johnson shirts for sale at his race trailer at every race he competes in this season. T-shirts are $25 each and hoodies are $35 apiece.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Flowmaster

Flowmaster manufactures performance mufflers and exhaust systems for street performance, race, truck and RV applications. For more information, visit http://www.FlowmasterMufflers.com.

“Flowmaster makes our race cars sound great as well as giving us the performance we need to win races,” Johnson said. “To be a part of Team Flowmaster is an honor. As their history comes from a racing background in California, Flowmaster is now one of the leaders in exhaust technology today. When you’re looking to make your street car sound like a race car make sure you choose Flowmaster. We look forward to our future with such an established company.”

Johnson would also like to thank Newman Freeman Racing, Johnny Franklin’s Mufflers, PitStopUSA, Woodland Napa Auto Parts, Wesmar Racing Engines, Bell Helmets, Champion Machine, VanLare Steering Repair, Swift Metal Finishing, Shifty Illusions, Oroville Cycle and Chevron Pro-Gas 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.

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