Victory on the Track
Racecar Champion Rod Johnson, Jr.
by Stephanie Struyck Elgin
Coming from a family of racing, where his grandfather owned cars that raced at Saugus Speedway in the 1960’s and his father raced in the 1980’s, it seemed as if his destiny had already been determined. With a passion for cars both on the course and in the shop, it’s no wonder RJ is just that good. He was born to be a racer.
Santa Clarita resident and graduate of Canyon High School, Rod Johnson, Jr. “RJ” started racing competitively at the age of 18, but has been a part of the “racing world” long before that. “I was always surrounded by racecars growing up,” states RJ. “It was just natural for me to continue the legacy.”
And that, he did.
RJ began racing in 2008 for King Taco Super Truck. His first season was simply stellar, having 14 races under his belt, taking home the Rookie of the Year Award, placing 4th in overall standings, adding 2 wins, 2 Fast Time Awards, 12 Top 5 finishes and 12 Top 10 finishes.
He raced the 2009 season, continuing with King Taco Super Truck. With 14 races, RJ took 1st Place overall, winning the Championship Award. He had 8 wins, 11 Fast Time Awards, 11 Top 5 finishes with 12 Top 10 finishes.
Life on the track seemed to be getting better and better for RJ.
This season, RJ raced for the Auto Club Late Model Division. He had 16 races, winning the Championship and Rookie of the Year Award. He ended the season with 6 wins, 9 Fast Time Awards, and an amazing 14 Top 5 finishes. “It was really cool that I was named Rookie of the Year, especially in a higher division. It’s an honor to receive that.”
RJ’s determination and commitment to the sport is astounding.
“It’s not just about racing,” states RJ. “It’s about maintenance, setting up the car, not to mention there’s also a lot of mental work involved. As a driver you have to remember your notes, how to improve the race and stay ahead of the game. A lot of preplanning is involved before you actually get to the race. The least amount of work is on the track.”
Racing has become a six-day a week gig for RJ. “When he’s not on the track, he’s basically running our shop,” states owner Tim Huddleston of High Point Racing. “RJ is far beyond his years, in maturity and skill. He’s a hard worker, and to be able to do what he does at 21 years old, we are just so proud of him.”
And while the racing season runs from March to November, being involved with racecars is a yearlong venture for this rookie. “On the off season, I break cars all the way down and refurbish them. But this off season will be a bit different,” states RJ. “I’ll be preparing to move on to another team-the Super Late Models Position One Motorsports including Sunrise Ford Racing.” RJ will race with Position One for a full season next year and will have a limited schedule, with four to five races with the Sunrise Ford Team. “The Sunrise Ford Team is one of the highest level of NASCAR racing on the west coast.”
“I owe a lot of my success to my dad and my grandpa,” states RJ. “My grandpa didn’t make it big but he had the ideal outlook on racing. He did it for fun. He’s a legend of racing and it’s hard to live up to. My father has been an inspiration as well. I was very involved in his racing, and now the tables have turned. It’s just great. I’m always making sure I’m having fun, not getting caught up in the moment.”
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