Johnson cruises to TA2 Muscle Car Series title

The Johnson family continues to write its way into the Australian motorsport history books with third generation racer Jett Johnson sealing his first national crown after wrapping up the TA2 Muscle Car Series in convincing style at Winton.

The son of 2001 Queensland 500 winner Steven Johnson and grandson of three-time Bathurst 1000 winner Dick Johnson drove a calculated weekend to ensure the title, beating Graham Chaney handsomely to the crown.

Despite a difficult start to the weekend with a blow engine in Friday practice, he capped off the TA2 season with second, fourth, fifth and fourth over the four races at Winton.

Young Jett Johnson said he paid tribute to his family by releasing his emotions with some celebratory burnouts after his championship success.

“It was a bit of a rocky start after the engine dramas on Friday, but we performed strong all weekend, no other dramas and I was able to keep it clean and ultimately got the victory,” he said.

“I was really conservative, especially in the first two races when it was wet to make sure I got the championship. 

“Once I knew I had the lead and I couldn’t be overtaken, I gave it a good push in the last race and ran with the leaders.

“I hope I did my granddad proud in that last race. He wanted me to push and I feel I did. 

“But I reckon he’d definitely be proud of the burnouts that I did at the end of that last race.”

Jett Johnson on his way to the TA2 Muscle Car Series championship at Winton. Image: Supplied

Kyle Gurton showed strong speed across the weekend, backing up his opening race win in the Saturday showers with another lights-to-flag triumph in race two.

Drivers had to content with tricky wet conditions once again with Gurton controlling the field, while the quick-starting Brad Gartner seized on second.

A late safety car caused by Mark Crutcher’s off at turn 11 setup a one-lap sprint to the flag which was not enough to stop Gurton.

Johnson provisionally sealed the title in the third race of the weekend with a P5 result, while Gartner managed to jump Gurton and secure victory.

Jackson Rice was able to claim his maiden TA2 Muscle Car Series win in the final race of the season.

Rice put early leader Gartner under extreme pressure which forced the latter into a mistake at the sweeper.

Rice pounced and managed to hold off the fast-finishing Gurton to secure the win, while the runner-up was rewarded with the round win.

But all the applause was saved for Johnson, who finished the final race fourth after overcoming a five-second penalty to complete a consistent championship winning year which included nine wins and three pole positions.

It was a performance that made both of his illustrious family members proud.

“He drove really well in the last race, but we had our struggles on Friday when we blew an engine and we were here until 2am on Saturday morning fixing it,” said Steven Johnson.

“Some say that we were unlucky with that, but I consider it luck to have happened on Friday, rather than in qualifying or the races.

“And we seriously have the best team in the business. Our guys are so dedicated and they deserve most of the credit for this and we hope we have done all of our supporters proud.”

“What we are most proud about is that he is a good kid. He’s not a smarty and very humble, and that’s one thing we want most – we want him to be a good person over anything else,” said Dick Johnson.

“The weekend didn’t start off too well with an engine lunched all over the road, but these things happen and fortunately that was on Friday, not Saturday or Sunday. It was a blessing.

“He drove conservative all weekend, which is unusual for him, but he came home with the goods.”

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