Racing is fast, life happens faster

Sunday I found out that the driver I picked just 2 months ago as my favorite in the World of Outlaws Sprint car series, Jason Johnson, was killed in a crash Saturday night at Beaver Dam Speedway in Wisconsin. I finally attended my first WoO race (and first trip to Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, for that matter) in April. Jason was the fastest car in hot laps and obliterated the track record in qualifying. I ended up in the pits for the event, and was able to meet all the drivers. Jason's meeting left a lasting impact on me. After he signed my program with his unique left-handed signature, and before he climbed in the number 41 410 Sprint car, I shook his hand and told him "good luck" and he looked me in the eye and said "thank you". Again, having never attended an Outlaws show and having only seen a couple of them race in person, Jason was one of the 2 or 3 that I actually had. I saw him race the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) 360 Sprint cars at the Texas Motor Speedway dirt track back in 2014. I met him that day too. Just as nice, soft-spoken, and humble as ever. And thankful. Thankful to the fans. Thankful to be given the opportunity he was in. He worked for it. He owned all of his own stuff. He got to where he was in the National sprint car ranks on his talent alone.

I was close to buying a die-cast of his number 41 that night, and I never went back to the souvenir stand to get one. I was close to ordering a Ragin Cajun t-shirt online, that was next on my agenda of t-shirts to order (those that know me know I love to collect t-shirts, especially of dirt track racers to show my support) and I never did. I have a feeling they would all sell out by now, postumously.

I remember Saturday night at my local track in Greenville, walking back to my seat in the stands, a fan in front of me was wearing a Jason Johnson shirt and I took an extra long glance. That may have been around the time Jason suffered his life-ending injuries, I don't know the time frame for an accident that happened 1,000 miles away.

I got home from the races and logged into social media and saw that he was in a bad accident and the prognosis was good. When I checked again the next morning before getting ready for church, I saw that he had passed. My heart absolutely sank. One of the best. One of the nicest, most humble guys in that series, gone. Number 41. Ironically, 41 was also his age This loss hit me like it did when we lost Bryan Clauson 2 years ago, but I think Jason's hit more at a personal level since I had met him before. I kept replaying my encounter with him 2 short months ago in my mind all day Sunday. I have an autographed hero card from my meeting with him in 2014. My entire wall is autographs. I made sure it's at the top center of my autograph wall, where it will remain forever.

Forever. Thank you Jason. Honored to have been a fan. Thank you for putting on a show for us fans. Thank you for being an organ donor so that you may live on and that others have a second chance at life. You will be missed, not just by the racing community, but by everyone you came in contact with. Race in peace, champ, God speed. Have fun giving Clauson some slide jobs in heaven!