NOTABLE
• One of 16 drivers who have won NHRA events in Funny Car (15) and Top Fuel (2)
• Driven for three motorsports hall-of-fame team owners (Don Schumacher, Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, and NFL Hall-of-Fame member Joe Gibbs)
• Has won drag racing events in six countries: United States, England, Finland, Sweden, Australia and United Arab Emirates
• At the age of 15 became the youngest person to hold an NHRA competition license
• He has competed in seven NHRA categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Nostalgia Funny Car, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Top Alcohol Dragster, Super Gas and Super Comp
• First NHRA national event trophy was for winning Top Alcohol Funny Car in 1988 near Columbus, Ohio
• Became a member of the Slick 50 300-mph Club as one of the first 16 nitro drivers to reach 300 mph (302.01, 1994)
• Became a member of the Cragar 4-second Club as one of the first 16 nitro drivers to complete a quarter-mile run in less than 5 seconds (4.964, 1990)
• One of five drivers to be members of both 300-mph Club and 4-second Club
JOHNSON READY TO PICK UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF WITH MAKE-A-WISH DODGE CHARGER R/T FUNNY CAR
Tommy Johnson Jr., driver of the Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car sponsored by Doug and the late Terry Chandler, enters 2018 teeming with confidence.
In an effort to get a head start on the 2018 NHRA season, the team led by crew chief John Collins and assistant Rip Reynolds, opted to transition from the five-disc clutch setup they had been employing previously, to a six-disc clutch at the 2017 NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif. The decision proved to be effective, enabling Johnson to drive past the competition and into the winner’s circle. Closing out the year with a win and a proven combination fuels Johnson’s belief that the success the Make-A-Wish team enjoyed at the 2017 season finale will carry into 2018.
Couple the new setup with the introduction of a new Dodge Mopar body later into the year, and Johnson’s 2017 accomplishments, which include two event wins in six final rounds, a No. 1 qualifier and a track E.T. record, are poised to be upstaged by his 2018 performance.
BIOGRAPHY
The native of Ottumwa, Iowa, and longtime resident of Avon, Ind., also recorded a career-best time (3.837-seconds) and speed (332.02-mph).
When the late Terry Chandler opted to fund the fourth DSR Dodge Charger R/T team for the 2014 season and devote marketing exposure to Make-A-Wish, Johnson was hired to drive and longtime DSR assistant crew chief John Collins was promoted to run the team.
Chandler was presented with the NHRA Blaine Johnson Award in November 2015 during the annual NHRA Awards Ceremony. The award named for late NHRA racer Blaine Johnson is presented to a person who exemplifies perseverance, commitment and dedication to NHRA.
Johnson has competed in 370 NHRA pro events, which includes stints driving for four hall-of-famers (Don Schumacher, Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme and the NFL’s Joe Gibbs).
In addition to winning event titles in seven countries – United States, Canada, England, Finland, Sweden, Australia and United Arab Emirates – he is one of only 16 drivers to win NHRA events in Top Fuel and Funny Car and one of only 18 to qualify No. 1 in both nitro categories.
Johnson’s first stint with DSR was in 2009 as the lead driver for the Yas Marina Circuit Top Fuel dragster team that was managed by DSR and later remained as DSR track specialist through 2012.
His racing career started at age 8 competing on motorcycles at his local Iowa track and raced on two wheels until 14 when he then strapped into his first racecar. At 15, he became the youngest to earn an NHRA competition license. His driving career began in the sportsmen ranks as he piloted vehicles in the Super Gas, Super Comp and Top Alcohol Funny Car categories. He broke through for his first NHRA victory at the 1988 NHRA event near Columbus, Ohio, beating Pat Austin in the final round of Top Alcohol Funny Car to collect his first career "Wally" trophy.
He earned his NHRA Top Fuel license in 1989. The next season, he powered his dragster to a run of 4.964 seconds becoming the 14th member of the exclusive Cragar 4-Second Club.
A year later, Johnson advanced to his first professional final round where he posted a runner-up finish to five-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Joe Amato at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals near Denver.
The following season, he became the 15th member of the Slick 50 300-mph Club after clocking a speed of 302.01 mph at Houston Raceway Park.
Johnson’s career was stuck in neutral for a few years before Gibbs, the NFL hall-of-fame and Super Bowl winning coach, hired him to drive a Funny Car in 1999 when he claimed two victories in four final round appearances and finished 10th in the Funny Car standings in just 13 events.
Johnson was hired by Prudhomme to drive a second Skoal Racing Funny Car in 2001 where he remained through the 2007 season. He finished sixth in the 2005 standings with crew chief Mike Green. He joined Bernstein’s Monster Funny Car team in 2008.
