Update #11 Race #14, #15 & #16

KJ Motorsports

Update #11

Race #14, #15 & #16

By Kenny Johnson
31 May 2010

We went to Skyline for double features. In the make up feature we started 2nd along side Booger Garnes. We took the early lead and drove away for the feature win. For the regular show, Kim drew us a #23 to start us 5th in the 2nd heat. We were able to get the heat win to start us again on the outside pole along side Booger Garnes. This feature, the track was slicker, but we drove away for the win yet again to make it #4 for the year.

Saturday we went to Tyler for another make up feature. This one we started 7th but it wasn’t long we took over 2nd and was chasing down the leader, until we had engine problems. This was an engine we had just put in to give the other engine a break. But it was detrimental and we were unable to continue the rest of the night. On the way home Coop and I discussed back and forth as to what we were going to do for the next night. Such as put the other engine in? Take the night off from Sunday’s race? (I really didn’t want that to happen). But Jason Canepari offered up his car for us to go to WVMS to race the Dickson Classic.

Sunday we got Jason’s car ready and headed out to WVMS. They had 32 cars and we qualified 11th fastest. Pretty pleased with that and started 3rd in our heat race. We moved into 2nd pretty quick and it wasn’t until the last 50 feet that we wound up finishing 3rd. Started 11th in the feature and ran around 10th the first 23 laps until I jumped the cushion and got a right rear flat. All in all we learned some things with Jason’s car and our tire selection. I really want to thank Jason for giving me an opportunity to drive his car.

If everything works out, we should be at Skyline on Friday and K-C on Saturday. We hope to see you there. R

emember! To make this work, support those that support us!

Thanks again for your support, KJ

Update #10 Race #12 & #13

KJ Motorsports

Update #10

Race #12 & #13

By Kenny Johnson
23 May 2010

I want to start off by saying, Dad spent Wednesday thru Monday in the hospital. He had some bleeding ulcers that caused him to lose some blood and made him very weak. They stopped the bleeding and gave him some blood and is on the road to recovery. Thursday we headed off to Elkins for another opportunity to race against Kenny Wallace. Kenny and I started on the tail of the heat (7th and 8th) and I finished 5th and he finished 6th. I was not very pleased with the car, for it was not fast at all. So we changed springs, shocks, wedge, engine location and we even threw the kitchen sink at it. We started 9th in the feature and passed our way to 3rd. I was please with the progress and now we have a baseline to take back in July for a Road Warrior Tour race. Kenny Wallace wound up finishing 4th. Tom Lemon made his first visit to Elkins with Tim and I and we put him right to work. I figure next time Tom will know to take a vacation day when we race on a week night. . . LOL

Friday’s racing was rained out and Saturday’s entire racing was called off except K-C Speedway. They had 40 cars and we started 6th in our heat race. The track was a little rough from the heavy rains they got the night before. So I went to the high side above the rough and took the lead and went on to win the heat race. This started us on the pole of the feature along side of Adam Jordan. Adam took the early lead and again I was forced to the high side to take the lead back then I moved to the low side where it was a little smoother. We managed to take the win and the $600 pay day. We met up with some new fans Bob Morris and company and visited some old fans, Tony “Sucker Man” and crew. K-C has some great race fans and aren’t bashful about letting me know they like watching me race. Sure makes me want to go back! Thanks to all of you!

Well, if Mother Nature cuts us some slack this weekend, we will be doing double features at Skyline on Friday and again double features at Tyler County on Saturday and then on to West Virginia Motor Speedway on Sunday for the Dickson Classic. So if you can make it all 3 nights you can see 5 features. I hope we can keep it maintained all weekend. So we hope to see you there!

Remember! To make this work, support those that support us!

Thanks again for your support, KJ

Update #9 Race #:9, #10 & #11

KJ Motorsports

Update #9

Race #:9, #10 & #11

By Kenny Johnson
17 May 2010

We were supposed to go to Beckley for a RWT race, but they were forced to cancel their season opener due to the weather. So we went to Skyline and watch the storms pass by all around us, but we got no rain at the track. Tim drew us another good pill to start us on the outside pole of the 1st heat. Jeremy Blake took the lead in the heat a whooped us by a straight a way. The track was extremely slick and the car didn’t go as well as I would have liked it to. So we made some set up changes to it and started 4th in the feature. We moved into 3rd early and battled Doug Henry for 2nd for several laps. Was able to pass him and started seeing myself closing in on Jeremy Blake, but not near enough to pressure him, so we got 2nd place. I was happier with the car after the changes, but still need to find a little more. You can catch the feature race on YouTube and type in Kenny Johnson 5-14-10 and it will take you right to it.

Saturday we went to I-77 Speedway to the 2nd RWT race of the year. They had 28 cars and we managed to set fast time with a 14.50. This started us on the pole of the first heat along side Booger Garnes. We took the lead on lap one and never looked back. Started on the pole of the feature beside Jeremy Berwanger and Rod Sayre was behind us. We again took the early lead and were running the high side where it was a little smoother, but the entire track seemed to be getting rougher and rougher and our car did not manage it very well. Rod passed me with like 7 or 8 to go and we tried different lines to make a pass, but could not make it happen. Rod took home the $2,000 and we had to settle for 2nd place money of $550. That made the loss hurt even worse. . . LOL

Sunday we headed out to WV Motor Speedway for the Mark Balzano Memorial race. They had around 20 modifieds and I screwed up and drew my own pill instead of having Kim or Tim draw it. I drew #52 and this started us 6th in the 1st heat. We managed to work our way in to 3rd and was pressuring 2nd place Kenny Riddle. But when a caution came out, WVMS rules for restarts are double file. This put us starting 2nd row inside and Riddle lugged it down to a crawl on the start and we bogged and that allowed Chris Stotts to pass us back again so we finished 4th. This starts us 7th in the feature, but we got rained out. I am not aware of the make up dates as of yet, but will let you know in a later news update!

I want to thank everyone for all of their help and give a call out to Wayne Cornell whom maintains the web site. I have been getting lots of comments and also a lot of people using it to check the latest news and what our schedule is. This week we plan to go to Elkins on Thursday, Skyline on Friday, this will also be a make up feature too and Tyler County on Saturday for a Road Warrior Tour race. So we hope to see you there!

Remember! To make this work, support those that support us!

Thanks again for your support, KJ

Update #8 Race #7 & #8

KJ Motorsports

Update #8

Race #7 & #8

By Kenny Johnson
10 May 2010

Friday we went to Skyline Speedway and Tim Cooper drew us a #4 pill to start us on the pole of heat #2 along side Ricky Venham. We got the heat race win and this started us on the outside pole of the feature, with Booger Garnes on the pole, Doug Henry starting 3rd and Jimmy Fordyce starting 4th. We wrestled Booger for the #1 spot for a lap and half and we managed to take the lead. We lead for the 5 or 6 laps that we got in until the 2nd rain came and this time they had to cancel. So we have yet another double feature to run at skyline in 2 weeks, on May 21st. So mark your calendars and you will get to see us run 2 features for the price of one.

Saturday we were suppose to go to Tyler for our make up feature, but weather conditions forced them to cancel. So we took off and went to K-C Speedway. They had 34 cars and Tim Cooper again drew us a good pill, #8. We started on the outside pole of the 4th heat and got the heat race win to start us 4th in the feature. I messed up on the start and dove to the bottom of turn 3 only to have me sitting in 4th place. I passed for 3rd and worked Jason Montgomery for 2nd until about 4 to go when I was able to get by him for 2nd place. With only 4 laps left it wasn’t enough to give Doug Adkins a run for the money. 2nd place isn’t bad, but wins sure would be better.

We are supposed to go to WVMS for open practice on Tuesday night, but the weather forecast doesn’t look to good right now. So we’ll have to wait and see. Friday we will be going to Beckley for a RWT race and then to I-77 for another RWT race on Saturday. Then Sunday we will be at WVMS for their opening day. So a big 3 day weekend if Mother Nature cooperates with us. Hope to see you there! Remember! To make this work, support those that support us!

Thanks again for your support, KJ

Update #7 Race #5 & #6

KJ Motorsports

Update #7

Race #5 & #6

By: Kenny Johnson
03 May 2010

First off I want to wish my Mom and Dad a Happy 44th Wedding Anniversary, which was last Friday. Dad always said they married for better or for worse. His words are, she couldn’t have done any better and he couldn’t have done any worse. . . LOL I’m certain mom would disagree. Love you both! Friday we went to K-C for $1,000 to win. They had 36 modifieds and we set 2nd fast time overall and in our group as well. They inverted the top 4 in each heat, which started us 3rd. Based on the last time we were there I thought more gear would help us in the slick, so I put more gear in it and I was WRONG! The car was gear bound and I finished 4th. This started us 13th in the feature. At the start of the feature our car started smoking, I knew what it was, and it was a valve cover gasket. I ignored the smoke and continued to race. Car was really, really good! We made it to 3rd and were pressuring Bobby Kitchen for 2nd, when my oil pressure started fluctuating with 5 laps to go. I made the judgment call to shut it down and pull to the infield. This cost us a great finish and maybe even a win. But if I had stayed out for 5 more laps, I may have lost an engine, which costs way more than the $1,000 to win. The car was a total mess with all of the oil under it. I went to Sean Schobelock’s garage to get it washed and cleaned up. We finished up around 2:30 am or so.

Saturday got up and started it after changing the oil and the oil pressure was fine. So we went to Roosters in Chillicothe to eat with some friends and then headed home because K-C cancelled due to rain. Saturday night we wound up going to Tyler, because it looked the best weather wise. I dumbed up and drew my pill which started us last in our heat race. I started 8th and made it up to a 4th place finish. This starts us 7th in the feature which got rained out, so we will have double features next Saturday. I’d also like to thank all the fans that we have acquired while racing at K-C and it is one of my favorite tracks to race at and we get a lot of good feedback from the fans. THANKS!

This weekend we will be going to Skyline on Friday and will have to go back to Tyler for double features on Saturday. Hope to see you there! Remember! To make this work, support those that support us!

Thanks again for your support, KJ