Jarit and Jessie Johnson are tearing up the track in the TORC series, competing in the Pro 2 and Pro Light classes. For the younger brothers of NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson, racing in an off-road series means carrying on a family tradition. Jarit Johnson recently spoke with Maxxis about the brothers’ progress this season, the performance of their Maxxis tires and much more.
MD: Why have you and Jessie chosen to ride in Pro 2 (for Jarit) and Pro Light (for Jessie?
JJ: Racing in Pro 2, I feel it’s more of a drivers’ class compared to Pro 4. You have almost 900 horsepower with only two-wheel-drive. I like the challenge, and budget-wise, [it’s better]. I’m more of a two-wheel-drive racer, Usually, there’s a higher car count, and they’re harder to drive. We’re just getting this program off the ground and getting the ball rolling and starting with Husqvarna and Maxxis.
MD: Have the two of you ever raced in the same class?
JJ: We’ve raced asphalt stuff in the same class here in North Carolina, but we’ve never raced off-road against each other.
MD: Is the season so far lining up with you expectations?
JJ: We’re very pleased with what we’ve got going on. Over the winter, I rebuilt the Pro 2 truck, and Jessie’s truck is new to us. We ran strong at Charlotte, and Jessie led some of the race, even though there were mechanical difficulties. We need to get on the box. You never stop working on these things. For us as a start-up team to go out and compete with Chad Hord and C.J. Greaves…We won Rookie of the Year, and we’re still playing catch-up. We’re building our notebook and moving forward. We’re getting there
MD: How did your family come to be a racing family?
JJ: It all started with my grandfather, who owned a motorcycle shop, and he has been a huge race fan for years. My dad started working in my grandfather’s motorcycle shop, and that’s how we got into it. We grew up racing motorcycles, and then went to moto, then go-karts, then off-road stuff. Jimmie’s had much success on the NASCAR side.
MD: How has Jimmie helped with your off-road careers?
JJ: The biggest thing with me getting into this and doing it is how to run a business; how to look at contracts and try to get other sponsors involved. Jimmie’s really good at looking at the opposite side of the equation. You go to him with an idea, and he’ll say ‘Why don’t we do it this way?’ It’s a huge advantage to be able to call him and get insight into different ways to pursue things. As far as the driving style, the biggest thing is that he hasn’t been in [an off-road racing vehicle] for like ten years. He still remembers some of it, like changing transmissions.
MD: How is the rest of your family involved in what you do?
JJ: My dad is a spotter for all races. My dad drives a semi to all the races; he cooks us breakfast and all that good stuff. My mom, she’s not really a track person. Just like any mom, she gets nervous. My wife and two kids love coming to the races, but it’s hard with the kids being in school.
MD: Why are you two running the TORC series?
JJ: The reason I chose it is I love the series and I love the tracks we run. Also, it’s based out of North Carolina. I’m in North Carolina, so it was a lot easier for me to choose the TORC series. I wouldn’t be able to drive across the country.
MD: Why have you chosen Maxxis?
JJ: It’s very nice to be a part of the Maxxis family, especially with Maxxis taking the time to, I don’t know if the right word is gamble to be able to sponsor a start-up team. We’re very grateful and proud to be on Maxxis tires. They’re durable, long-lasting and the right fit for our program. It has just turned out to be a great fit.
MD: How do they give you an edge in competition?
JJ: There’s a great selection of compounds, and with the Bighorn, the support team does a great job of grooving them. In Pro 2 we can always change the tread pattern with the grooving iron.
Maxxis is proud to sponsor Jarit and Jessie Johnson. Be sure to follow Maxxis Tires on Facebook and at Maxxis.com to hear all the latest news of these rising off-road stars.
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