RPW Column: Even After All These Years, Danny Johnson’s Still Having Fun Racing Cars

RPW Exclusive Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – SYRACUSE, NY – Danny Johnson may be a veteran. He may have won many races and championships. With that being said, you’d think racing’s become more of a daily grind for the veteran from Phelps, NY.

Quite the contrary. He still enjoys racing very much, and strapping into a race car continues to be all about having fun for the four-time Super DIRTcar Series Champion.

The 2019 racing season saw Johnson record two top 5’s and 11 top 10’s on tour and collect ninth place in series points. While he didn’t reach victory lane, the Doctor, as he’s affectionately called, had a best finish of second to Matt Sheppard at the Weedsport Speedway on Labor Day. Even though he didn’t win, he still had a good time this season.

“We really enjoy racing,” Johnson said. “We have fun at it. I don’t know what it is about it, but we enjoy it.”

Each and every time Johnson entered the pit area, he was ready for action and enjoyed himself, but also knew what the task at hand was.

“It’s a lot of work, there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “All of the teams on tour know how much work it is. It’s a tough grind for sure, but as I’ve said, I enjoy it so what else would you do? You got to stay busy somehow, so why not have fun doing what you like?”

Johnson is currently working on his plans for the 2020 season. Nothing is set in stone as of yet but he’s working to be back, once again, so he can contend for more wins and titles.

“Right now, we’re taking things as they go,” he said. “I usually go day-by-day, and we’ll just have to see what happens, but we’re working on things for next year.”

Danny Johnson got his first career Super DIRTcar Series win in July of 1983 at the Weedsport Speedway and there’s no doubt that he won’t pick up more in years to come.