Ricky Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ricky Johnson
Johnson celebrates winning the 2012 AMSOIL Cup
Nationality	American
Born	Richard Bernard Johnson Jr. (1964-07-06) July 6, 1964 (age 61) El Cajon, California
Related to	Luke Johnson
TORC: The Off Road Championship Pro 4 career
Debut season	2011
Current team	Vildosola Racing
Championships	2011, 2012,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023
Best finish	1st in 2011, 2012
Finished last season	1st
Previous series
2013, 2021 2009–2010	Stadium Super Trucks TORC Pro 2
Championship titles
1984 AMA 250 1986 AMA 250 and Supercross 1987 AMA 250 and 500 1988 AMA 500 and Supercross TORC Pro 2 (2010) TORC Pro 4 (2011, 2012)
Awards
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee (1999) Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inductee (2012) 1997 and 2003 Baja 1000 winner 1999 American Speed Association Rookie of the Year 2012 AMSOIL Cup winner 2014 Frozen Rush winner
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career
12 races run over 4 years
Best finish	31st (1996)
First race	1995 Spears Manufacturing 200 (Mesa Marin)
Last race	1997 Carquest 420K (Las Vegas)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 2 0
Last updated on: February 3, 2014.

Richard Bernard "Ricky" Johnson Jr. (born July 6, 1964) is an American former professional racer. He competed in motocross, off-road truck, and stock car events. During the 1980s, he won seven national championships in AMA motocross and Supercross.

After his motocross career, Ricky Johnson switched to off-road truck racing. He won championships in the Pro 2WD and Pro 4WD classes. In 2012, he won the 4x4 world championship race and the AMSOIL Cup. He also won the 2014 Frozen Rush, which was a unique off-road race held on snow.

Ricky Johnson's Racing Journey

Motocross Success

Ricky Johnson was born in El Cajon, California. His father loved motorcycles and gave Ricky a mini-bike when he was just three years old. Ricky earned his professional racing license in 1980, at age 16.

In 1984, he won his first 250cc class national championship. He was part of the Yamaha factory motocross team. For the 1986 season, he joined the Honda team. This was a big move, and he worked with team manager Roger De Coster, a famous former world champion.

Rivalry and Triumphs

Ricky Johnson had a strong rivalry with his Honda teammate, David Bailey, in 1986. Johnson won the 250 title and the Supercross championship that year. De Coster chose Johnson, Bailey, and Johnny O'mara to race for the U.S. in the Motocross des Nations in Italy. Team U.S.A. won every race.

Sadly, the rivalry with Bailey ended when Bailey was paralyzed in a practice crash before the 1987 season. Johnson then dominated the 1987 season, winning both the 250 and 500 championships.

In 1987, Johnson also won a very famous Supercross race at the L.A. Coliseum. He crashed at the start but came from last place to win. He continued his success by winning the 1988 Supercross and 500 titles.

Injury and Retirement

In 1989, Johnson started the season well but broke his wrist during a practice session. This injury was very serious, and he never fully recovered. He tried to keep racing for a few more seasons, but the injury made it too hard. He announced his retirement at the start of the 1991 season.

When he retired from motocross at 26, Ricky Johnson had won more Supercross races than anyone else at that time. He was honored for his achievements by being inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999. Later, in 2012, he joined the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Life After Motocross Racing

After his motocross career, Ricky Johnson found success in other types of racing. He competed in off-road racing and stock car racing. He won the famous Baja 1000 desert race twice. In 1999, he was named Rookie of the Year in the American Speed Association stock car series. He raced for Herzog Motorsports, where his teammate was Jimmie Johnson, another famous racer.

Off-Road Truck Racing Adventures

Johnson's 2010 truck

Ricky Johnson helped start the Traxxas TORC Series in 2009. After the first season, he sold the series to focus on racing himself. In 2010, Johnson won the TORC Series Pro2wd Championship. This championship was decided in the very last race of the season at Crandon International Off-Road Raceway. Johnson finished second in that race, which was enough to win the overall title.

In 2012, Johnson won the Pro 4x4 World Championship race at Crandon. On the same day, he also won the AMSOIL Cup. This special race brought together the best Pro 4x4 and Pro 2 drivers to compete against each other.

In 2013, Johnson joined some Stadium Super Trucks races. He raced with sponsorship from Jegs High Performance. He returned to the series in 2021 for the Music City Grand Prix.

Johnson also competed in the first-ever Red Bull-sponsored Frozen Rush race in 2014. This unique event featured Pro 4 trucks with special studded tires racing on snowy mountain slopes in Maine. Johnson beat Johnny Greaves in the final round to win the race.

Besides short-course truck racing, Ricky Johnson has also raced in desert off-road events. In 2009 and 2010, he finished third in the Unlimited Truck class of the SNORE Mint 400.

Personal Life

Ricky Johnson currently lives in Southern California with his wife, Stephanie, and their children.

Images for kids

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  Johnson after winning a Traxxas TORC Series race in 2010

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  Holding US$40,000 check for winning 2012 AMSOIL Cup

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  2013 Pro 4 Trophy Truck