RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE:
TOMMY JOHNSON JR. CHOSEN BY KENNY BERNSTEIN
TO DRIVE MONSTER ENERGY FUNNY CAR

Christmas came about 20 days early for Tommy Johnson Jr. in 2007, and the present he wished  for came wrapped in a golden opportunity.  Johnson, who at season’s end confided to fellow Funny Car pilot Kenny Bernstein that he would be without a ride in 2008, was elated when the motorsports icon called a few weeks later and told Johnson that he had made a decision to step out of the cockpit, and subsequently offered Johnson the driver’s seat in his Monster Energy Funny Car.

A deal was quickly struck and in early December, Johnson was being fitted to the cockpit of the Kenny Bernstein-owned Dodge Charger.

“It’s such an honor and flattering to have someone that high think that much of you,” said Johnson.  “We hope to come out of the box at the season opener and be one of the guys to beat.”

Prior to joining Kenny Bernstein Racing, Johnson drove for Super Bowl champion coach Joe Gibbs, Helen Hofmann Racing, and spent seven seasons driving a Funny Car for drag racing legend Don Prudhomme.

Johnson claims there was never any doubt that there was only one career path for him.  Born into a drag racing family in Ottumwa, Iowa, the need for speed ran through Tommy’s veins and his interest grew as he spent years accompanying his dad, mom and sister to the races to watch as his father competed in a variety of sportsman classes, and for a short time, the Pro Stock professional category.

Johnson started his racing career as an eight year old, competing on a mini bike in a local drag racing series in his Iowa hometown. 

“Growing up, I just thought racing was what you were supposed to do,” said Johnson. “Our family spent the majority of our non-working and non-school hours at the track.”

At the age of 15, Johnson began to drive the family-owned Super Gas car and two years later advanced to a family-owned alcohol Funny Car.  He was well into racing mentality by the time he graduated from Ottumwa High School and chose to continue to pursue that profession.

In 1989, Johnson earned his NHRA Top Fuel license and the next season powered a dragster to a run of 4.964-second becoming the 14th member of the exclusive Cragar 4-second Club.

Johnson counts the Cragar 4-second Club as one of two of the most important racing accomplishments in his career to date.  The other highlight was joining the Slick 50 300 Mile Per Hour Club in 1994.  Bernstein was the inaugural member of the club, becoming the first in NHRA history to crack the 300 miles-per-hour barrier in Gainesville, Fla. in 1992.

Johnson married drag racing driver Melanie Troxel on New Year’s Eve in 2003 and they are both competing in the professional NHRA ranks.  In 2005 and 2006, Troxel competed in the Top Fuel category while Johnson campaigned a Funny Car.  Johnson claims it was a bit of a learning curve to balance emotions when one had a good day and the other had a bad day.  Having successfully negotiated the emotional roller coasters, they are both driving Funny Cars in 2008 and find themselves in a position to compete against each other. “It’s every man for himself,” said Johnson.  “It will definitely make it interesting.”

With nine career victories to his credit, Johnson has cleared room on his trophy shelf in anticipation of a successful 2008 season and is hoping for the opportunity to celebrate in victory circle with team owner Bernstein.

Bernstein earned NHRA Funny Car titles in 1985-1988, and became the first in NHRA history to win titles in both nitro categories when he won the Top Fuel championship in 1996.  He won a second Top Fuel championship in 2001. 

Bernstein’s combination of professionalism, commitment and competitiveness have made him a motorsports icon.  He holds the unique distinction of being the first and only race team owner to have collected wins in each of America’s three major motorsports series:  NHRA drag racing, NASCAR and CART.  He was nominated for the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association Newsmaker of the Half-Century award and was voted in the top 10 on NHRA’s 50 Greatest Drivers list. He has been inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Don Garlits International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.

Johnson will join Bernstein in building awareness and sales for Monster Energy drinks.

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