April 08, 2010

76 Freedom Car entering busy stretch

By James V. Carroll | The American Legion
Racing
76 Freedom Car entering busy stretch
Jerick Johnson temporarily leads the pack during a July 2009 ASA race at Salem Speedway. The 76 Freedom Car returns to the high-bank oval April 16 for the Kentuckiana Ford dealers ARCA 200. James V. Carroll

Jerick Johnson to race three times in 13 days; stops at Texas, Talladega will follow Sunday's Salem, Ind., race.

Take a deep breath, race fans: Jerick Johnson and The American Legion/David Law Firm 76 Freedom Car is scheduled to compete in three ARCA RE/MAX Series races within 13 days.

The Team Johnson Motorsports crew travels to Salem Speedway in Indiana this weekend for Sunday's Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 presented by Appliance Zone.com. The green flag start of the 200-lap, 111-mile race is scheduled to begin at 2:15 p.m.

ARCA Series practice on the southern Indiana .555-mile high-bank oval is from 12:30-2 p.m. Saturday. Qualification begins at 3:30 p.m.

"We are looking forward to returning to Salem Speedway," Johnson said. "We competed last year in an ASA Late Model Series race. The track is fast and tight. It's a fun place to race."

Following the Salem Speedway race, the 76 Freedom Car team commutes cross-country via North Carolina to Texas Motor Speedway between Fort Worth and Denton to compete in the April 16, 100-lap Rattlesnake 150. The race is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Practice and qualification on the 1.5-mile tri-oval is April 15 at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively.

Following the Texas race, the team motors east to Alabama to compete in the Talladega ARCA 250. The 94-lap, 250-mile race on the 2.66-mile tri-oval is scheduled to start April 23 at 4 p.m. ARCA Series Practice April 22 at 10 a.m., followed by qualification runs at 5:05 p.m.

"It's going to be a very busy two weeks," Johnson said. "We will be racing on very different tracks back-to-back-to-back. Each has its own challenge and reward. Salem is a physical race, Texas requires finesse and strategy. And Talladega is flat out pedal-to-the-metal speed. That's why racing is so fun."Not only are the tracks at Salem, Texas and Talladega different; so are the cars Johnson takes to the tracks.

"If we are going to race at short tracks, intermediate tracks and superspeedways, we have to have a short-track car, intermediate car and superspeedway car," Johnson said. "Each car has individual characteristics, balance and setup. It would be easier and less expensive if there was a one-car-fits-all car, but no one has figured out how to do that and remain competitive."

The Texas and Talladega races will be televised on SPEED Network.

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