There is a saying in racing that, “Nice-guys finish last.” But that is not the case for Wilmot Raceway’s 2019 track champion, Ryan Johnson, of Salem. “He’d give you the last dollar out of his wallet if you needed it,” said crew chief and car owner, Brad Becker, of Lake Geneva.
Johnson, a 2012 Central grad, demonstrated a calm and strategic approach in his rookie season of dirt track racing. “He always kept his cool. He went out there and hit his marks every night,” said Becker. “He always wanted to learn more and improve. He would ask after the heat races, ‘What did I do wrong?’He took critisism very well.”
Coming into the season, Salem’s Ryan Johnson (#38) never thought of being a track champion. “My main goal was just to learn as much as I can, get faster, and shoot for rookie-of-the-year,” he said.When asked how he won a track championship in his rookie season, at age 25, Johnson (#38) said, “I have no idea. I just showed up every week, raced as hard as I could, listened to the advice from Brad on what I could do to get around my competition, and tried not wrecking anybody.”Salem’s Ryan Johnson (#38) started in the 5th position on Championship night. He won the feature race, and claimed the 2019 track championship of the Bandit Division at Wilmot Raceway.Salem’s Ryan Johnson (#38) gets to the front of the pack, and is pressured heavily by John Cole (#92) for the final six laps. Johnson won the race, and the 2019 season championship of the Bandit Division at Wilmot Raceway.Ryan Johnson (purple #38) , of Salem, holds off a charging John Cole (#92), and takes the checkered flag in the feature race on Championship night. Johnson won the 2019 season championship in the Bandit Division.We Are The Champions = Salem’s Ryan Johnson takes a minute with car owner and crew chief, Brad Becker, in Victory Lane at Wilmot Raceway. Becker sacrificed his own 2019 racing season to coach Johnson, and let him drive the #38 Bandit. Together, they are the 2019 track champions. Jen Rooney (right), girlfriend of Ryan Johnson, will make her racing debut on Saturday, Oct 5th, in the Fall Festival of Speed at Wilmot Raceway. Come on out and cheer on the local girl from Salem.
Johnson’s advice to anyone considering trying out dirt track racing, “Go for it. Everybody down there that I’ve met will do their best to help you out. Ask a lot of questions, and listen to everything the guys tell you. Also, don’t be afraid to bump and bang a bit, just don’t wreck anybody. But rubbin’ is racin’ and it’s so much fun.“
So, the nice-guy from Salem wins the 2019 Bandit Championship, out there just trying to learn, and be in consideration for rookie-of-the-year.
