Steve Johnson Possesses New Outlook, Fresh Determination Entering Gatornationals

[PressRoom-GFN]

IRONDALE, Ala. -- Some kids want to grow up and become police officers or firefighters, while others aspire to be doctors or lawyers. Some actually want to be politicians.

For transplanted Californian Steve Johnson, “becoming a champion motorcycle drag racer was my goal, probably from the day I saw my first race,” says the veteran of 22 seasons on the NHRA POWERade Series trail.

“It’s amazing how your life changes over the years,” Johnson said from his race shop in the Birmingham suburb of Irondale. “I never thought I’d leave Southern California, but here I am, loving life in Alabama.

“I honestly thought there might come a time when I wouldn’t be as enthusiastic about NHRA drag racing as I was about 20 years ago, but the exact opposite has happened. I’m more stoked about this coming season than you can possibly imagine.

“At first, all my effort went to just getting to the race and I never gave things like sponsors and giving back to the community a second thought, and now those things occupy most of my time. Everyone’s talking about change this year, but I’m living it. The first time I walked into a classroom to speak to a group of youngsters I was hooked, because it immediately dawned on me that these kids are our future, and it’s critically important that we help set them on the right path to success.

“My relationship with the folks from Snap-on Tools and WyoTech Technical Schools, for example, goes way beyond a racer trying to win for a sponsor. We’re working together for goals beyond the winners’ circle, which makes me extremely proud to be a part of those plans and their teams.”

The NHRA POWERade Series for Pro Stock Motorcycle kicks off at the AC Delco Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Fla., March 14-16.

“Our team has been working on our Suzuki, from the leading edge of the front tire right to the end of the wheelie bar, since the day the Finals ended last November,” Johnson said. “We’ve been over everything, and we think were going to hit the ground running hard in Gainesville.”

Johnson’s team of Tim Kulungian, Richie Wiley and top WyoTech graduate Jeffrey Imhoff will again be headed by noted tuner/crew chief Mark Peiser, who guided Johnson’s Snap-on Tools Suzuki to his 15th top 10 points finish in 21 years in 2007.

“To be completely honest with you,” Peiser said, “we want to have the best Suzuki at the race. But Steve and I, with many other Suzuki teams, look at the V-Twins qualifying number one 75 percent of the time for the past four years and feel the 160 cubic inches they have is too much of an advantage over our 101 cubic inch Suzuki engines. It’s my job to tune the motorcycle to get the most out of it and try for the No. 1 spot no matter what the rules are. After qualifying, it’s about racing and our short-term goal is to be in the NHRA’s Countdown program.”

Johnson noted it would be a busy year for his team.

“There’ll be a dozen races before the Countdown field of the Top 10 points earners is set at the end of the U.S. Nationals over Labor Day,” Johnson said. “Then we'll have five more chances to win the championship.

“I'd love to be as bold as to predict we will win it all, but I know better than to do that. Heck, I stick one or both of my feet in my mouth often enough without going that far out on the limb about the championship, so I’ll just leave it like this: When the Countdown to the Championship begins, our team will be in it!”

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