Johnson said he’s most excited about the people he’s set to work with during the upcoming season, as well as joining the likes of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series star Kyle Larson and reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Christopher Bell among the list of names who have driven for Kunz in a national midget.

“To be able to race side-by-side with some of the top names in the sport — Kyle, Christopher, Rico (Abreu), Spencer Bayston — that’s something I’m really looking forward to and it’s going to be amazing to be able to lean on them for advice as I’m learning and getting comfortable in the new cars. Yes, it’s a big learning curve because you’re learning from the best, but I feel like I’m ready for it and I’m excited to get started.”

There’s also one specific attribute of midget racing that Johnson circled as the highlight he’s most excited to master next year.

“I’m pumped about the slide jobs,” Johnson smiled. “We can’t do that in go-karts because you have to keep your momentum up, so that’s probably the one thing I’m most ready to learn how to do and I can’t wait for that part of it.”

Johnson anticipates a schedule of 50 to 60 races in his Kunz midget, a schedule that might seem daunting, but doesn’t faze him thanks to his experience in criss-crossing the country for various go-kart races in the past.

“I’ve traveled so many places to race the kart in the past; I’m excited to be able to run that kind of a schedule in the midget next year,” said Johnson.

The goal, says Johnson, is to capture USAC Rookie of the Year honors in 2018 and follow in the footsteps of Tanner Carrick, who took down top rookie honors for the Kunz team this past season.

“We want to be able to perform well enough to score Rookie of the Year at the end of it,” Johnson affirmed. “That’s the goal and if we can pull it off, I’d feel fantastic about that kind of an accomplishment.”

Johnson’s age prevents him from running the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals next month in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but the teenager says he’ll still be there with the Kunz team to soak in information and learn how the squad operates before his USAC debut at DuQuoin’s Southern Illinois Center on March 10.

“It’s a bummer that we can’t run Chili Bowl; obviously with a deal like this coming together, you want to start as soon as you can, but I’m still looking forward to being around the team in Tulsa,” said Johnson. “That’s going to be the first step, and then once I can get in the car we’ll take off from there and see what happens.”

About the Writer

Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network, as well as a periodic contributor to SPEED SPORT Magazine.

Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.

The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.

Email Jacob at: [email protected]

Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77

Email Race Chaser Online: [email protected]

Follow RCO on Twitter: @RaceChaserNews