They call Gunner Johnson “Super Mario.” However, instead of plumbing he works 70 to 90 hours a week at a variety of family businesses. Mostly Johnson tows cars, services family rental properties, and hauls garbage before he hauls a late model on track. That’s what it takes to support a family and race. It paid off last weekend at Willard Speedway with win in AAS Weekly Series competition.
For Johnson, racing provides a much-needed respite from his busy weekday schedule.
“It’s a stress reliever,” Johnson said of racing. “And it’s a way to have fun.”
The victory at Willard Speedway is Johnson’s second in a late model. It came after he podiumed the week before in the American All-Star Series Presented by PPM Racing Products at Mountain Motor Speedway in Isom, Kentucky. There he beat several top racers who tour with the series. Johnson felt that the third was like winning that race with the competition he had.
Two of his strongest finishes this year, though, come after taking a substantial hit to his car at Rockcastle Speedway on September 21. He said the front clip on his car from Swartz Race Cars is bent over four inches. Nevertheless, Johnson continues to plug away, manhandling a bent race car, making the best of what he has while the season winds down.
Most nights, it’s just him and his father, Bubba. With the exception of a few small sponsors, it’s his family businesses — Bubba’s Towing & Recovery and Garbage Grabbers and Rolloff Dumpsters — that primarily support the effort. Long hours and plenty of money spent certainly make one question if it’s worth it. Gunner Johnson then got reminded of why he does it at Willard Speedway in Kentucky.
He got to celebrate in victory lane with this three-year-old daughter Kinzley and fiancée, Haylee.
Gunner Johnson looks to finish out the year with a few more races, hoping to continue his fifth-place-or-better charge in the Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet; Chevrolet Performance: Vehicles, Parts, Racing AAS Weekly Series Presented by PPM.
Outside Groove Note of Transparency: Outside Groove is a sponsor of the American All-Star Series. The American All-Star Series paid for the production of this article. The content is not subject to the approval of the American All-Star Series.
The Outside Groove Executive Editor has covered motorsports since 2000. His many awards include the 2019 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Jim Hunter Writer of the Year and the 2013 Russ Catlin Award for Excellence in Motorsports Journalism.
