Open Wheel Racing Innovator Passes Away/ Not a Good Day for Open Wheelers at M’ville
Open Wheel Racing Innovator Passes Away
Ted Johnson changed the course of sprint car racing in the United States and the world. Johnson founded the World of Outlaws in 1978. The former china salesman set out to make his series the best and his drivers stars.
He assembled a group of drivers to tour nationally.
Over the years the series grew and found a partner in TNN.
Johnson’s World of Outlaws at one point became one of the most popular forms of racing in the United States.
The series toured the best tracks in the United States and even convinced
Bristol Motor Speedway to cover it’s hallowed high banks with dirt.
Not everyone agreed with Ted Johnson but everyone could admit that he was a pioneer.
Several years ago I had scheduled a meeting with an IRL official. He didn’t know me from Adam but he knew that my last name was Johnson and that I was from a racing family. He gave me the royal treatment with a personal tour of the IMS facilities. Then he asked how my father, Ted Johnson, was doing. “Ted Johnson is not my father,” I said. “Oh,” said the IRL official. I might have not accidentally got in the door that day if it wasn’t for that mistake.
Ted Johnson wielded a lot of power. He created an empire. He was a promoter and pioneer. His leadership and contributions to the sport of Sprint Car racing will not be forgotten.
Not a Good Day for Open Wheelers at M’ville
There was not a lot of positives to report for Open Wheelers at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville.
The most positive thing I can say is that Krista Voda did look smokin in that black leather jacket in SPEED’s prerace show.
Now on to the bad news. Young Cameron Dodson went around for the first time Saturday when an impatient Brendan Gaughan hit the sprint driver sending both spinning.
Erin Crocker went around after being tapped from behind.
A multi-car pileup began when someone got into Erin Crocker and it was on. The accident also took out Cameron Dodson.
The final Open Wheeler spin cycle featured USAC veteran Mike Bliss was turned around when Rick Crawford got into Denny Hamlin. Hamlin then got into Bliss. Jack Sprague won the race. Terry Cook was the highest finishing Open Wheeler at 17th.
Open Wheeler Truck Results Martinsville
1. (60 Jack Sprague)
17. 10 Terry Cook
18. 17 David Reutiman
21. 21 Bobby East
22. 16 Mike Bliss
26. 98 Erin Crocker
30. 63 Cameron Dodson
All images courtesy of World of Outlaws, TNN, CBS Cable, SPEED and NASCAR Images.
Ted Johnson changed the course of sprint car racing in the United States and the world. Johnson founded the World of Outlaws in 1978. The former china salesman set out to make his series the best and his drivers stars.
He assembled a group of drivers to tour nationally.
Over the years the series grew and found a partner in TNN.
Johnson’s World of Outlaws at one point became one of the most popular forms of racing in the United States.
The series toured the best tracks in the United States and even convinced
Bristol Motor Speedway to cover it’s hallowed high banks with dirt.
Not everyone agreed with Ted Johnson but everyone could admit that he was a pioneer.
Several years ago I had scheduled a meeting with an IRL official. He didn’t know me from Adam but he knew that my last name was Johnson and that I was from a racing family. He gave me the royal treatment with a personal tour of the IMS facilities. Then he asked how my father, Ted Johnson, was doing. “Ted Johnson is not my father,” I said. “Oh,” said the IRL official. I might have not accidentally got in the door that day if it wasn’t for that mistake.
Ted Johnson wielded a lot of power. He created an empire. He was a promoter and pioneer. His leadership and contributions to the sport of Sprint Car racing will not be forgotten.
Not a Good Day for Open Wheelers at M’ville
There was not a lot of positives to report for Open Wheelers at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville.
The most positive thing I can say is that Krista Voda did look smokin in that black leather jacket in SPEED’s prerace show.
Now on to the bad news. Young Cameron Dodson went around for the first time Saturday when an impatient Brendan Gaughan hit the sprint driver sending both spinning.
Erin Crocker went around after being tapped from behind.
A multi-car pileup began when someone got into Erin Crocker and it was on. The accident also took out Cameron Dodson.
The final Open Wheeler spin cycle featured USAC veteran Mike Bliss was turned around when Rick Crawford got into Denny Hamlin. Hamlin then got into Bliss. Jack Sprague won the race. Terry Cook was the highest finishing Open Wheeler at 17th.
Open Wheeler Truck Results Martinsville
1. (60 Jack Sprague)
17. 10 Terry Cook
18. 17 David Reutiman
21. 21 Bobby East
22. 16 Mike Bliss
26. 98 Erin Crocker
30. 63 Cameron Dodson
All images courtesy of World of Outlaws, TNN, CBS Cable, SPEED and NASCAR Images.
posted by Blake Johnson at 1:01 AM
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