Rookie Justin Johnson Scores Top-8 Finish in First Ever TruckRace

Vision Aviation Racing (VAR) rookie, Justin Johnson, came home 8th in his first ever NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race last night at Phoenix International Raceway in the Lucas Oil 150.

Johnson and his Wounded Warrior Project/Vision Airlines Toyota Tundra started from the 14th position and never fell below the top-15. Mostly happy with the feel of his truck all race long, Johnson reported a slight tight condition early on. “We started out the race and we were pretty decent. The truck started to get a little snug, so I came in and the team made some adjustments in the pits,” said Johnson. “We went back out and I started getting a little free in. Then we made one last adjustment and the truck went back to being a little snug in the center and that was fine with me. I would rather not spin the thing out from being free and cause a wreck in the field.”

Though it was Johnson’s first start in the Series, it was hard to tell. He competed with an average running position of 8.9 and was able to contend with the front runners all night long. Johnson credited his crew saying, “I’ve got a lot of veteran guys on my team that have been in this industry for a long time so I think that helped quite a bit. I couldn’t be happier. We unloaded fast for me, for someone who has never done this before in the trucks and we were fast. A positive attitude around the shop this whole offseason and a positive attitude in the pits helped a lot in getting the Wounded Warrior Project Toyota Tundra upfront today.”

When the checkered flag flew, Kyle Busch wasn’t the only driver celebrating. “You can’t imagine the excitement I am feeling. I didn’t win but man I feel like I won because I am trying to get qualified so I can run Daytona next year and Talladega at the end of this year. So every good race finish and bringing the fenders home in one piece means a lot to me and my Wounded Warrior Project/Vision Airlines Team.”

 

VAR PR

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