By: Kevin Ramsell
Cedar Rapids, IA – Three-time ASA Midwest Tour champion Casey Johnson recorded his second win of the season in his first-ever visit to Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Edgerton, Wisconsin driver’s second victory of the season in the Tour was just like his earlier victory in the season at the Joe Shear Classic, holding off two-time defending track champion and two-time defending winner Gabe Sommers for the victory.
“My guy’s absolutely busting their butts today,” Johnson said in victory lane. “I don’t know if I’ve ever scrambled quite that hard in a racetrack in a while.”
Being the first time at the half-mile oval, celebrating its 100th anniversary,Johnson knew he had to learn quickly how to get around the track. He found a teacher.
“Coming to a new track, trying to learn some things, it was actually a blessing getting passed by that 15 (Sommers) car early, showed me the line I needed to run, and then I used that,” Johnson said with a smile. “But, man, like I said, I just can’t thank my guys enough, my sponsor’s enough. We just had a rocket under us today.”
Johnson had to hold off Sommers on two restarts with seven laps to go in the race. Sommers would try to get to the inside of Johnson, but each time Johnson got a good run out of two to open up his lead to a 0.545-second victory.
Sommers, who was the fast qualifier, was hoping to continue his streak at Hawkeye Downs, but came up one spot short.
“Yeah, just straight up got beat by the five (Johnson), just not good enough,” Sommers said. “I just couldn’t keep it in front of him, and he just got track position, and he was really good and when he got in front of me, we just got to be better.”
Van Der Geest, who led 40 laps, picked up another podium finish, but is still looking for his first ASAMT victory. He took over the top spot from Justin Mondeik on lap 47 after a spirited battle for the top spot.
“Yeah, it’s bittersweet. You know, podiums are something to be proud of in the tour.
This is a really competitive series,” Van Der Geest said. “I got into Mondeik there, I don’t know if he’s got something out against me. He always runs me like that, but yeah, overall Casey and Gabe just had a little bit more tires than me at the end, a little bit more right rear.”
Riley Stenjem finished fourth with John Beale rounding out the top five.
For Johnson, who currently leads the ASA Midwest Tour standings after four events, he feels that he is getting back on track after spending some time away from the driver’s seat to better after a medical issue.
“Yeah, getting out of the super late for any amount of time puts you behind, and that’s what we did to ourselves last year,” Johnson explained. “We were able to pick up a couple of wins, ran top five all the time, but that’s not where we wanted to be. Now we’re working and we’re rolling and I’m just excited to get these cars now.”
The ASA Midwest Tour will return to Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wisconsin on Friday, July 25th for the Howie Lettow Classic 100. Tickets are on sale at midwesttour.racing.
You can see a replay of this event at tracktv.com.
