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| Watson remembers time
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Sarah Howell
Features Beat
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Special to The AppalachianSophomore Kevin L. Johnson and
his family came to North Carolina to give him an opportunity
to follow his dream of becoming a NASCAR driver. After injuring
his hand Kevin is trying to break into Formula One driving.
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Almost every little
boy has dreams of sitting behind the wheel of a racecar, throwing
caution to the wind and flying around the track. Yet how many
of those little boys ever pursue their childhood ambitions?
Sophomore business education major Kevin L. Johnson did, and at
21 years old, he is an experienced National Association for Stock
Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) driver.
Johnson said he has always been a fan of racing, so when his driver’s
education teacher suggested racing as a career it seemed like
a great idea. When Johnson graduated high school in Kentucky,
he decided to come play basketball for Buzz Peterson at Appalachian
State University. |
Johnson
had a second agenda for moving to North Carolina—breaking
into the NASCAR circuit.
Johnson’s entire family moved to Lexington so he could better
pursue racing. Once at school, Johnson asked different businesses
for an opportunity to drive.
He finally began his racing career driving go-carts in the World
Karting Association. Eventually he was able to drive stock cars
as well.
“My first sponsor was myself,” Johnson said. “It’s
a lot of money, but if you have enough you can do it.” Toward
the end of his first year at Appalachian, Johnson received an
offer to drive from Hall Thorne of Carroway Speedway in Asheboro.
Johnson completed his freshman year, then moved into an apartment
in Charlotte. Johnson picked up a job for Penske Racing changing
tires for Jeremy Mayfield’s number 12 car. His dreams were
really starting to take off.
“I got to drive a stock car all weekend, and during the week
I learned to change tires,” Johnson said.
Of course, with any extreme career there is a certain level of
danger. Johnson said he does not know the number of wrecks in
which he has been involved.
“I’ve been about 3 or 4 feet off the ground before,
going about 70 miles per hour in a go-cart,” Johnson said.
He has sustained many injuries, including a bruised spine and
second degree burns to his buttocks and back.
A hand injury forced Johnson to return to school. While changing
a tire, Johnson broke his hand and as a result lost his ride.
“I tried to drive for a while, but that only hurt my hand
more. The owner did not want to risk my health, so he let me go,”
Johnson said. Johnson came back to school and broke his hand for
the second time playing basketball.
He has been waiting almost a year for his hand to heal completely.
“I did get a chance to be involved with NASCAR again this
past summer. I was a test driver and pit crew member for David
Watson Racing here in Boone,” Johnson said.
Johnson is now back at Appalachian as a full-time student. However,
due to recent offers, he doubts he will follow through with his
business education degree.
Johnson’s parents fully support him in this lifelong dream.
“They want me to get a degree, but they have told me ‘never
let an opportunity to race pass you by,’” Johnson said.
David Watson Racing was going to join the Craftsman Truck Series
this year, but their sponsor fell through. Johnson said after
that he decided he was not going to sit around anymore; he would
take the opportunities as they came.
Johnson said his newest goal is to become the next American star
of Formula I Racing.
“There hasn’t been an American driver in Formula One
in about 13 years,” Johnson said. “If no one else is
willing to do it, I figure I will.”
If all goes well, Johnson and his agent, Mike Eply, will be moving
to London, England at the end of the school year.
Mirage Motor Sports has offered Johnson the opportunity to drive
on one condition—he must find $65,000.
“Formula One takes a total racing effort of about $125,000
to $150,000. Mirage offers half, but I have to either come up
with the rest, or if I find just enough money for one race, I
can drive on a race-to-race basis,” Johnson said.
If he goes to England, Johnson will be competing in the United
Kingdom Formula Ford Championship. Johnson said it is a completely
different form of driving.
“In NASCAR, you drive laps around an oval, and you are inside
of a car. The Formula One race cars are more like go-carts.
“You’re close to the ground, your head is exposed so
everything hits you and there are no fenders on the wheels.”
You don’t drive on a track either; you drive a road course,
meaning you have to turn left and right. It’s a more dangerous
type of racing.” Johnson said.
Regardless of the increased danger, Johnson said he is not afraid.
“There’s no room for fear in this sport. If you think
about it, you’re going to get hurt,” he said.
Johnson said his No. 1 priority in life is racing; it’s what
he does.
“I love doing it. The best part isn’t driving a fast
car—it’s the competition. I’m not much into the
speed, but I love the sportsmanship,” he said. |
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