In this week’s The Wally: Question and Answers Series, we talk with Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Steve Johnson. Johnson has been a part of the motorcycle class since 1987 when he first made his debut at the Englishtown Nationals. He has faced many trials and tribulations but has seen success throughout the years as well. Last year, Johnson was in the midst of a championship points battle that came down to the wire at the Pomona Nationals and could have secured his first Pro Stock Motorcycle championship. Unfortunately, losing to Eddie Krawiec in the second round at Pomona cost him a chance at the championship.
Despite not winning the championship, Johnson has scored 11 victories in his career and seven No. 1 qualifiers. This season, he has scored two victories that came at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals and Houston. For this week’s Q&A, Johnson recalls a lot about his early career, what some of his favorite moments are, why he’s partial to the NASCAR country, and his favorite Wally in his collection among many other topics in this week’s The Wally: Questions and Answers Series.
Kickin’ The Tires:
You’ve competed in 471 Pro Stock Motorcycle races throughout your career since making your debut in 1987 at Englishtown. Which season do you feel was your best and why?
Steve Johnson:
“I feel like this season has been my best season because we won back-to-back races, we just had some really good performances now and it’s fun learning, and working on our own engines,” Johnson said. “The wins are more gratifying with our results.”
Kickin’ The Tires:
Ever since the Countdown was installed in 2007, you’ve made the Countdown five times since 2008. In 23 races, you have one win, and two runner-up finishes. How special was winning Charlotte 2008 for you?
Steve Johnson:
“They’re (wins) are all very special,” the Birmingham, Alabama native said. “Winning Charlotte was so special because I’m partial to the NASCAR guys and winning over there was just special.”
Kickin’ The Tires:
At one moment during a driver’s career, they usually experience a scary moment. In your career, what’s a scary moment that you’ve experienced and hope to never experience again?
Steve Johnson:
“When I missed a couple of shop payments and they were going to foreclose on my business.”
Kickin’ The Tires:
Most drivers have their “Welcome to NHRA moment.” For you, when did you have that moment and how did you take that moment to apply it later in your career?
Steve Johnson:
“I think I get those (learning moments) all the time,” the 61-year-old said. “Some are big and some are small. Lately, with these engines, I’m learning so much. What I’m really learning most is there are 785 important things in Drag Racing and I’m learning only 12 of them are super important.”
Kickin’ The Tires:
If your driving career was over tomorrow, but you had the option to stay in the sport whether it’s a crew chief, marketing, or specialist, what would your other career choice be if you weren’t racing Pro Stock Motorcycle?
Steve Johnson:
“I think working on somebody’s team would be awesome, I love Pro Stock, Top Fuel, and Funny Cars,” he said. “Shoot, I would love to be on the TV side of it. I even love the sanctioning body of the sport, so I think that would be cool too.”
Kickin’ The Tires:
Sometimes people get mistaken for other people and that happens in racing a lot. Have you ever been mistaken for someone and if so, who?
Steve Johnson:
“There are a couple of movie actors I get mistaken for but can never remember their names,” Johnson said. “Somebody told me, Jim Carrey, once. I also get mistaken for a lot of NASCAR drivers and I’m like ‘no! I’m not him.'”
Kickin’ The Tires:
If time travel was available and you could go back in time, which season would you like to relieve and why?
Steve Johnson:
“I would like to relive last year because I really bumped my head,” the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider said. “Larry Dixon (former NHRA Top Fuel driver) brought his whole family out and we could’ve won the championship, I just bumped my head. I lost the race on a holeshot to Eddie Krawiec. I’d love to have that year back.”
Kickin’ The Tires:
Seven No. 1 qualifiers in your career with your first in 1995 at Atlanta. Favorite No. 1 qualifier?
Steve Johnson:
“Charlotte 2019, just because it’s always so fun to win there,” Johnson said. “No. 1 qualifiers are always so fun, as they show how well prepared you are.”
Kickin’ The Tires:
I am sure there are many achievements you would like to cross off the list before you retire, however, what would you like to cross off the list before you’re done with racing?
Steve Johnson:
“To win a championship,” he said. “I would love to win a championship before my career is over and when I do it, I’d like to have a black motorcycle at the end of the year.”
Kickin’ The Tires:
Favorite race you will always remember well after you retire?
Steve Johnson:
“Gainesville is a race I will always love,” Johnson said who has won at Gainesville two times in his career. “And the Indianapolis victories that occurred in 2005 and 2014 were very, very special. I also will point out that when Joc (crew member) came back from COVID this year and we won at Charlotte 2021 this year was a great moment too.”
Kickin’ The Tires:
Would you say Charlotte last year is your favorite Wally?
Steve Johnson:
“Yeah, it just might be,” the 11-time Pro Stock Motorcycle winner said. “Charlotte and Indy are probably my two favorite Wally’s in my collection.”
Kickin’ The Tires:
If there was ever a movie made about your career, what would the title of your movie be called and who is going to play Steve Johnson?
Steve Johnson:
“Perseverance,” the Birmingham, Alabama native said. “The person who would play me would be some kind of apparatus because it’s always there and you can always depend on it. No matter what, if you put in the right information, chances are you are going to get the right results.
“However, I wouldn’t somebody to play me, I would want something to play me. I like the sun, the moon, and the earth. Who can play those things really well? I think Darth Vader from Star Wars would play me in a movie.”
In Steve Johnson’s career, the motorcycle rider has amassed 11 victories, 19 runner-up finishes, and seven career No. 1 qualifiers. He has a career win-loss record of 299-431.
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