(WOMR file photo)
In 2013 the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) began and ended their point season in Yuma, AZ at the Cocopah Speedway with two day shows on each visit. “The Ragin’ Cajun”, Jason Johnson bookended the season by sweeping all four races at “The Diamond of The Desert”, Cocopah Speedway! Johnson went on tow win a fourth championship in the ASCS!
The Friday and Saturday night event is the first on the 2014 national tour schedule for the winged sprint cars, and Johnson, from Eunice, La., will be setting out to win an unprecedented fifth championship in the prestigious racing series. He also has his sights set on sweeping the Cocopah Cup Challenge for a second straight year. In 2013, on the way to winning his fourth ASCS national crown, he won all four of the Cocopah Cup Challenge events. Also within grasp of the “Rajin’ Cajun” is the ASCS all-time record for feature event wins in a season. Johnson enters 2014 with 162 combined national and regional feature event wins. The record is 175, held by Gary Wright.
“I’d say it’s safe to say there will be a lot of eyes on Jason Johnson this weekend,” said Greg Burgess, Cocopah Speedway’s director of operations. “And rightfully so. He’s the defending champion, and a four-time champion at that. And he’s going to try and do what nobody has ever done in the history of the ASCS, and in not too many other organized or sanctioned competitions for that matter, and that’s winning a fifth championship.
As a comparison, Jimmie Johnson has won six NASCAR championships and he (Jason Johnson) is being compared to other great repeat champions. It is safe to say it that Jason Johnson is approaching that exclusive pedestal, that rarefied air if you will.
As of Wednesday morning, the pre-entry list for the showcase event was already at 34 ASCS sprint cars, with more expected to be on hand.
Leading the list is Johnson. Also on the list are Jeff Swindell, Johnny Herrera, Danny Lasoski, Brian Brown, Brady Bacon, Rick Ziehl and Tony Bruce Jr., all with their sights set on stopping Johnson’s march before it gets started.
Also, youngster Christopher Bell, the defending USAC Honda National Dirt Midget champion, is on the early entry list. The 18-year-old Bell ran strong during the final race for the 2013 ASCS national tour schedule at Cocopah Speedway in November, finishing third behind Logan Forler in second and the race winner, Johnson.
The one question that may be heard echoing all over this desert community, after this weekend is: “Where were you when “The Ragin” Cajun”, Jason Johnson, took a giant step into the racing history books?
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECKX
