Luke Johnson Makes Sucessful PRO-Lite Debut

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   LUKE JOHNSON MAKES SUCCESSFUL PRO-LITE DEBUT IN PERRIS

    

   Trabuco Canyon, CA (September 29, 2009) - After a successful rookie  
season, finishing second in points, in the TORC Sportsman Limited 2  
division, Luke Johnson entered his next stage of his short-course  
off-road racing career, competing in the PRO-Light ranks. Luke was  
able to secure sponsorship from Traxxas, KMC Wheels, BFGoodrich Tires,  
and AMSOIL to put together a four race package to finish out the 2009  
season. This gives the seventeen year old more seat time, and the  
opportunity to compete on the PRO level before making a decision on  
what class to run during the 2010 season.

    

   The Leroy Leorwald PRO-Light Toyota Tacoma is vastly different from  
the Limited 2 Chevy Silverado that Luke raced back in the Midwest. The  
truck itself is powered by a 300 horsepower four cylinder engine, the  
suspension has only 12-14 inches of travel, and uses a 4-speed manual  
transmission.

    

   FRIDAY NIGHT ? ROUND 13

   With just more than a handful of laps behind the wheel of the  #48  
Traxxas AMSOIL KMC Wheels Oakley JS Pest Control BFGoodrich Tires  
Toyota Tacoma, Luke Johnson qualified tenth in the fifteen truck field.

   As the laps continued through the twenty lap event, Luke was  
getting more comfortable with the characteristics of the PRO-Light  
Toyota as well as the competitors around him. After twenty laps, Luke  
crossed the finish line, with all the body panels intact, in eighth  
place.

    

   Afterwards Luke mentioned the biggest difference between the  
Limited 2 and PRO-Lite trucks was the suspension. The shorter  
suspension travel made for a much harsher ride, and that would  
probably translate into a sore back after the weekend.

    

   The next morning Leroy Loerwald and his crew prepped the truck and  
deemed it race ready well before the only practice and qualifying  
session of the afternoon. Luke was definitely getting more at ease  
with the truck as his best lap time was the second fastest of the nine  
trucks needing to qualify on time.

    

   SATURDAY NIGHT ? ROUND 14

   The near capacity crowd at Perris Auto Speedway watched Luke and  
his Traxxas AMSOIL Toyota line up on the outside of row four for the  
rolling start. Right away Luke had his Toyota in a battle with the  
Friday night winner, Chris Brandt. The two went back and forth until a  
flat rear took Brandt off the pace.

    

   Then nothing but yellow was now in front of the #48 Toyota. The two  
trucks of Oberg and Cunningham were now trying to fend off the Traxxas  
AMSOIL Toyota. Then on the lap after the mandatory yellow Luke rolled  
his truck when he clipped the large tractor tire course marker  
attempting a pass inside of Cunningham. A full course caution was  
implemented, giving Luke a little more time to re-fire the truck and  
get to the back of the line. When green flag racing resumed, the  
Traxxas AMSOIL KMC Wheels Toyota continued to run hard and stayed away  
from any more carnage to cross the finish in fifth place.

    

   ?I wanted to come out here to get some seat time so I could really  
make the final weekend in Vegas my best performance,? noted Luke  
Johnson. ?This past summer has been an incredible experience not only  
racing, but meeting and making new friends across the country. I have  
to thank Traxxas, AMSOIL, Racing Dirty, KMC Wheels, and BFGoodrich  
Tires, for helping me put this Pro-Light ride together, as well as  
Leroy Leorwald for the great prep work. The team really gave me a  
great truck to drive, and I hope to really show my talents in Las  
Vegas.?

    

   You can watch all the Round 14 action, including the PRO-Light  
race, Sunday, October 4, at 11:30am eastern on ESPN2.

    

   The final weekend of the 2009 Traxxas TORC Series presented by  
AMSOIL is October 23-24 at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

    

    

    

    Luke Johnson would like to thank all his supporters including:

    

    

   TRAXXAS

   Oakley

   Cement Cutting Inc

   Mastercraft Seats

   AMSOIL

   The Jimmie Johnson Foundation

   Red Bull

   KMC Wheels

   BFGoodrich Tires

   Racing Dirty

   Whips RC Gloss

   Fox Shox

    

    

   For more information about Luke Johnson marketing opportunities for  
the remainder of the 2009 race season as well as the upcoming 2010  
season please email: l[1]ukedog92@aol.com[2]

    

   - Mike Reusche, Race Report - mtgraphics@ymail.com[3]

    

- Mike Reusche, MT Graphics
  "Affordable Website and Marketing Solutions"
  www.mt-graphics.com
  www.bumpracer.com

  mike@mt-graphics.com
  (847)343-4658



Links:
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[1] mailto:lukedog92@gmail.com
[2] mailto:lukedog92@gmail.com
[3] mailto:mtgraphics@ymail.com