Norwalk: Steve Johnson race report

Tag : Snap On Tools

Johnson's Strong Performances In Ohio Mark The Turning Point Of HisSeason
NORWALK, OH 6/28/08 Steve Johnson didn't win the Summit RacingEquipment Nationals aboard his Snap-on Tools Suzuki Pro StockMotorcycle, but a strong semifinal round finish in the seventh of17 races on the NHRA POWERade Series tour showed that there's stilla world of racing still to come, and he's going to play animportant role in the outcome of the championship.
Johnson qualified in the top half of the field with a strong 7.058second effort that earned him the third starting position in afield of 16 motorcycles. It was his team's strongest qualifyingeffort of the still-young season, and a credit to the work of crewchief Mark Peiser.
"This was a tricky racing surface," Peiser said. "SummitMotorsports Park is an exceptionally well prepared facility, butwhen it rains, and then the sun comes out and heats the track, it'stough to make the right tuning calls. Steve did a great job ridingour Snap-on Tools/WyoTech Technical Schools Suzuki, and I thinkwe're right on the verge of winning one of these races."
Johnson stopped former American Harley-Davidson Racing AssociationPro Stock superstar Junior Pippin in the first round with asuperior Reaction Time and better elapsed time and then used aneven better R.T. to take a holeshot victory over Chip Ellis in thesecond round. But, in the semifinals Johnson had the tables turnedon him when Craig Treble defeated him with a holeshot of his own.
"Even though we didn't win today, we were overwhelmed when ourteammate, Doug Herbert, drove his SnaponToolsFranchise.com Top Fueldragster to a big victory over Brandon Bernstein," Johnson saidfollowing an emotion-filled finale. "I couldn't be happier for Dougbecause this has been a very trying year for he and his family. Histwo sons were killed in a highway accident back in January, andDoug has devoted himself to bringing his message of safe driving toyoung people ever since then. This was a big day for him, as wellas a big day for our team and the entire Snap-on Tools family.
"Now our goal is to double up at the Mile-High Nationals in Denverin two weeks, with Doug winning again in Top Fuel, and us joininghim in the winners circle with our first Pro Stock Motorcyclevictory of the season."