Kaleb Johnson tied a season-best result on Sunday with a third-place finish at Huset’s Speedway.
The strong outing increased his lead in the track’s championship standings to 33 points after the first four races of the season.
“It definitely builds confidence,” he said. “Consistency hasn’t been a strength the last couple of years. I don’t like to think about the points, but I think consistency is our goal this year. So it’s been nice to be consistent through the first handful of races.”
The night began with an eighth-place qualifying run before Johnson won a heat race after starting on the outside of the front row. That earned a spot in the feature redraw and Johnson pulled the No. 5 to line up on the inside of the third row in the A Main.
“For going out later in qualifying I thought we laid down a solid lap,” he said. “I got out front and tried to run away in the heat race. I got the win, which was good and put me in the feature redraw. The feature went pretty well. I didn’t get the greatest start as I fell to seventh right away. I think I was one of the first to move up in turns three and four. That helped to carry the speed. My car got better every lap. Every time I’ve raced there the first 10 laps are pretty average and then the car starts to come to life the last 15 laps. We were able to climb into a podium position.”
Johnson also competed on Friday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, where he drove for Dennis Gainey for the second straight weekend. Johnson was fourth quickest in his qualifying group before he placed fifth in a heat race. He capped the night by advancing from 12 th to ninth in the main event.
“I thought it went all right, especially for the way the track was,” he said. “We went out after the non-wing cars so there wasn’t a lot left. The top was curbed up so you had to hit your marks every lap to be fast. I got a good start to the race and was up to eighth at one point. I got passed by (Brian) Brown so I finished ninth. All in all, it was a good night to get acclimated with the team.”
Johnson plans to race his car this Friday at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., during the Don Mack Classic and Saturday at Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, Minn., during the Big ‘O’ Showdown with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series before heading to Huset’s Speedway on Sunday.
QUICK RESULTS –
May 31 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 4; Heat race: 5 (5); Feature: 9 (12).
June 2 – Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D. – Qualifying: 8; Heat race: 1 (2); Feature: 3 (5).
SEASON STATS –
10 races, 0 wins, 3 top fives, 8 top 10s, 8 top 15s, 8 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., for the Don Mack Classic and Saturday at Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, Minn., for the Big ‘O’ Showdown with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Sunday at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D.
ILP Photo
