JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Justin Johnson enters Saturday night’s New River 125 presented by United Rentals as one of the favorites to win after a runner-up finish at Goodyear All American Speedway last fall.
However, the early portion of the CARS Tour Late Model Stock season has not gone as planned for the veteran driver.
Johnson, 35, from Roxboro, N.C., has two career wins in the Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour but, so far, he has yet to finish in the top-10 finish and has two DNFs in three starts. He hopes he can get his season turned around at the four-tenths-mile Goodyear All American Speedway.
“We’ve not had that great a start to the year,” Johnson said. “We’re kind of behind the eight-ball and looking to get back on track. Honestly, I was not a huge Caraway fan, have never been a huge Hickory fan, and don’t have a lot of experience at Greenville-Pickens. We’re hoping the next couple race stretch with Goodyear All American Speedway and Ace will be in the right direction for us.”
Johnson is an owner-driver who fields three cars — one for himself, one for Carter Langley and a third for Conner Jones. Last fall, all three drivers scored top-five finishes in the Solid Rock Carriers Battle of the Stars.
“I think we have a good baseline to show up with since all three cars finished in the top five in November,” Johnson said. “Hopefully, we’ll show up a little better. I think we learned some things so hopefully we can make the cars a little better. If all three of us can do a little better, I think we have a really good shot at it.”
Johnson is one of only nine drivers in the field who has raced at Goodyear All American Speedway.
“We really learned how that race trends and how races at that track are going to trend,” Johnson stated. “I think that gives us a little bit of an advantage over the competitors that weren’t there in the fall.”
Tire management will likely be a key factor during the 125-lap race. Last fall’s race was run on American Racer tires while Saturday’s race will be on Hoosier tires.
“I was a big fan of the American Racer tires,” Johnson explained. “I thought it felt similar to the Hoosier we traditionally run [in the CARS Tour]. They’re the same size. I don’t think tires will play a factor as far as the difference between the American Racer and Hoosier. Most of the guys on the CARS Tour do a good job managing the race and being on an abrasive tire wear track is pretty common for us. Florence and Langley are very similar tire wear factor.
“This will be the first time this year some of the younger drivers and rookies have been on a surface like that but, for the veterans, I don’t think it will be an issue.”
Saturday night’s New River 125 presented by United Rentals will be broadcast live by SPEED SPORT affiliate, Carstour.tv.