Casey Johnson survived a flurry of late race accidents to win Tuesday night’s 47th Slinger Nationals
The native of Stoughton, Wisconsin and a long-time Midwest pavement late model racer scored his first career victory in the prestigious event on a sweltering hot summer night in front of a huge crowd that jammed the high-banked, ¼-mile short track.
“It means everything to me,” Johnson said after climbing from his car in Victory Lane. “I’m not gonna lie. There was a lot of emotion for me when I crossed that line.”
It was by no means an easy win for Johnson.
Ty Majeski looked as if he might cruise to yet another Nationals win but his quest for a fifth title eroded away in the late going. Contact with Gabe Sommers finally sent Majeski spinning into the infield with just four laps to go.
On the following restart Carson Brown, who won the ASA Stars National Series race at Slinger in June, was run into by Andrew Morrisey, who ran up and over Brown’s No. 81 machine.
Brown’s severely damaged car remained on track but in the ensuing restart Johnson entered the picture. Johnson was able to get by Brown rather easily and went on from there to take the checkered flag.
Austin Nason was able to slip by for second with Brown, Jesse Bernhagen and and Derek Thorn rounding out the top five.
Brown took home the $20,000 prize for the victory.