Defending U.S. Nat's champ Johnson signs 3-year deal with Snap-on Tools

U.S. Nationals Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Steve Johnson announced Monday the signing of a major, three-year sponsorship agreement with Snap-on Tools. Johnson, who is also the defending champion of the upcoming 37th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, hopes his new deal with longtime sponsor Snap-on will help transform his team into a serious contender for the 2006 NHRA POWERade Championship.

"This is a dream come true," Johnson told Irondale mayor Tommy Joe Alexander, Jefferson County commissioner Bettye Fine Collins, and other VIPs assembled at his new Alabama shop facility for the press conference confirming the multi-year deal. "I’ve been racing with Snap-on Tools support for 14 years but this takes our relationship to a new level.

"I thought winning the U.S. Nationals was my personal highlight, but this tops everything. (A major sponsor) is something I’ve worked so hard to secure and for it to be a company with which I have so much history makes it all the better."

Johnson, an 18-year tour regular, has finished as high as third in points (1995) but had found it increasingly difficult to compete against teams funded by high-powered sponsors like the U.S. Army and fielded by motorcycle factories like Harley-Davidson.
 
When Snap-on Tools decided last season to increase its support of Johnson, he responded by winning not only drag racing’s biggest single event, the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, but also the Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla.

The Gatornationals victory pushed Johnson into the points lead for the first time in his career and his performance over the course of the season, even though he finished only ninth, convinced Carl Johanson, Snap-on’s motorsports marketing manager, that Johnson deserved the company’s full support.

"We share Steve’s enthusiasm for our new relationship," Johanson said. "Not only is this colorful character one of the best racers on the NHRA circuit, he’s the kind of stand-up individual we’re proud to be associated with.

"We’re looking forward to a long term, mutually-beneficial relationship that will not only pay significant dividends on the track but with our nationwide franchisee network as well. Steve has an incredible charisma, and I’m not the only Snap-on person who thinks so. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that he’s already met and worked with most of our nationwide group of 3,500 franchisees."

"This is a great reward for all of Steve’s hard work on behalf of drag racing," said ESPN and NHRA announcer Bob Frey, who served as emcee at the press conference. "There are few people who have worked as hard for the sport and especially for the Pro Stock Motorcycle group."

Over the course of his career, Johnson has won internationally and appeared in nine national event finals with three victories here in the states within the NHRA. His first NHRA win was at St. Louis in 2004.

Although he’s finished in the Top 10 in points 14 times, Johnson is as well known for his work off the track as for what he’s done on it. Since 1990, he has made personal appearances before an estimated 50,000 school age youngsters, encouraging them to say in school, define personal goals and go out and achieve them. But he is most known for his views on living life in the fast lane without drugs and alcohol.
His "Crystal Ball" essay program has given hundreds of youngsters the opportunity not only to see him race in person but to participate as team members. In 1995, the American Motorcycle Association recognized all his work with children by presenting him with the prestigious Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award.

Johnson also has been instrumental in raising public awareness of the positive aspects of motorcycling and of the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. He is the president of PRO2, the organization of nationwide Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors.

"Steve’s work with youngsters and with his fellow competitors is just another indication of the kind of person he is," Johanson said. "Snap-on Tools is about much, much more than just selling quality products and Steve epitomizes the kind of first class people we’re proud to be affiliated with."

For fun you can check out the copy on Johnson’s web page, www.stevejohnsonracing.com