(Photo by No Limit Media)
Inside Line Promotions – BRANDON, S.D. (July 14, 2025) – Kaleb Johnson produced a trio of podium results last weekend during the three-race Border Battle.
Johnson and Team DGRD kicked off the tripleheader on Friday at Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn., which hosted the Hefty Seed Merle Johnson Memorial – an event in honor of his grandfather.
Johnson was third quickest in his qualifying group and he placed third in a heat race to line up 13th in the Cressman Sanitation Midwest Sprint Touring Series 410 Sprint Cars main event.
“I really wanted to win that bad, but when you start 13th it makes it tough,” he said. “I didn’t get the greatest start in the heat race and didn’t have the rear grip I needed to make it work. Come feature-time it was the opposite. I could put the car anywhere I needed.”
Johnson hustled from 13th to third place to garner the Hard Charger Award for passing the most cars.
The team headed to Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, on Saturday. Johnson was second quickest in his group and he advanced from sixth to third place in a heat race. The feature inversion lined him up on the pole for the main event.
“It was a complete turnaround from how our year has gone at Knoxville,” he said. “We finally qualified well and led some laps. At the end of the day, it felt good to run well there.”
Johnson led 10 of the first 12 laps – his first time leading 410ci winged sprint car laps at the track – before ending the race third, which was his best outing of the season at Knoxville Raceway. The strong night moved him to eighth in the championship standings.
“I thought I ran a decent race,” he said. “Little decisions here and there I could have done differently. An untimely caution hurt and I think I just lost to two of the best at Knoxville.”
The weekend concluded on Sunday at Huset’s Speedway, where Johnson set quick time overall. He advanced from fourth to third place in a heat race and from sixth to third place in the main event.
“I felt we had a second-place car,” he said. “Certain circumstances didn’t play into my favor at the end of the race, but overall it went very well. It was one of those deals where we hung on to run third and live to fight another day.”
Johnson’s lead in the Huset’s Speedway championship standings is 31 points heading into an off weekend for sprint cars at the track. He is slated for double duty – running in both the 410ci winged sprint car and 360ci winged sprint car divisions – this Saturday at Knoxville Raceway.
“It’s the best I’ve felt going into Knoxville all year,” he said. “I felt we clicked on something so hopefully we can continue to lay down good qualifying laps and keep up the speed.”
QUICK RESULTS –
July 11 – Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn. – Qualifying: 3; Heat race: 3 (2); Feature: 3 (13).
July 12 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 2; Heat race: 3 (6); Feature: 3 (1).
July 13 – Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D. – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 3 (4); Feature: 3 (6).
SEASON STATS –
30 races, 3 wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s, 17 top 15s, 20 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.kalebjohnsonracing.com/
X: https://twitter.com/Kaleb___Johnson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KalebJohnsonRacing22
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Construction Products & Consultants
Construction Products & Consultants, which has been owned and operated in Sioux Falls, S.D., since 1992, helps builders of all skill levels see their project through to completion. For more information, visit http://www.ConstructionProductsSD.com.
“Construction Products & Consultants specializes in concrete and masonry products,” Johnson said. “I worked there and they have been great supporters of me and my racing. I’m grateful to have their continued support.”
Johnson would like to thank Hefty Seed Company, Oddson Underground, Inc., Blondie Motorsports, Innovative Design/Sletten Properties, Construction Products & Consultants, GRP Motorsports, Folkens Brothers Trucking, DKW Transport, Merle Johnson Farm Toys, Epoxy Co., State Bank of Fairmont, Specialized Caulking Sealants, AB Custom Construction, the Ron Weber Team, Mike Brudigan Home Loans, Heartland Properties, Clarks Custom Coatings, New Era Plumbing, ICE Contractors, Speedquip Motorsports, Norwalk Small Engine Repair, Janssen Fabrication, MPD, Ti22, Smith Ti, Hellraizer Jacks, DMI, 8740 Suspension, Maxim, HRP Wings, Hepfner Racing Products, Keizer Wheels, Hoosier Racing Tire, Howe Motorsports, FID Media and Parker Engines for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Jul 14, 2025
- Article Date: 7/14/2025 by Inside Line Promotions