Kaleb Johnson highlighted a four-race week by making a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series main event for the second time in his career.
Johnson timed in 11 th quickest in his group before advancing from sixth to fourth place in a heat race last Saturday during the finale of a doubleheader at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa. He capped the night by placing 18 th in the feature – a career-best run with ‘The Greatest Show on Dirt.’
“I don’t have many laps racing against those guys and it was cool to make the show in a different car with a family that is close to me,” he said of piloting an entry for TKS Motorsports during the World of Outlaws doubleheader. “I was learning the most I could in those 25 laps, which will help me down the road. I had some good laps and some laps that weren’t so good. And those were when I’d lose a spot or two. Consistency is the main thing when you race with those guys.”
The busy week began a week ago Tuesday with a High Limit Sprint Car Series event at Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Neb., where Johnson qualified 16 th quickest in his group, placed eighth in a heat race and gained a spot in the B Main to end 12th.
Three nights later, he made his debut with TKS Motorsports at Knoxville Raceway, where qualifying 15 thquickest in his group hampered the remainder of the night. Johnson finished ninth in a heat race and 15 th in the Last Chance Showdown.
“If you don’t qualify well it makes it so tough because you’re buried in the back of a heat race,” he said. “With that level of competition you’re behind the eight ball the rest of the night.”
The weekend concluded on Sunday at Huset’s Speedway, where Johnson qualified 13 th quickest before finishing fifth in a heat race. He was slated to line up 10 th in the main event, but was unable to start the race because of mechanical woes.
The Border Battle, which features races this Friday at Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn.; Saturday at Knoxville Raceway; and Sunday at Huset’s Speedway, is up next. Friday’s main event is named in honor of Johnson’s grandfather – Merle Johnson – who recently passed away.
“Friday is a big night for not only me, but my entire family,” he said. “My grandpa did a lot for me in my racing career. I wouldn’t say the expectations are higher than normal, but I’m hopeful we can get a good finish in honor of him. The main thing is qualifying. You have to get a good lap in and hope the rest of the night can go smooth from there.”
QUICK RESULTS –
June 6 – Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Neb. – Qualifying: 16; Heat race: 8 (8); B Main: 11 (12).
June 9 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 15; Heat race: 9 (8); B Main: 15 (13).
June 10 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 11; Heat race: 4 (6); Feature: 18 (13).
June 11 – Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D. – Qualifying: 13; Heat race: 5 (5); Feature: DNS (10).
SEASON STATS –
18 races, 0 wins, 4 top fives, 7 top 10s, 7 top 15s, 9 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday at Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn.; Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa; and Sunday at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D., for The Border Battle
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