Ricky Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ricky Johnson |
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Johnson celebrates winning the 2012 AMSOIL Cup
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| Nationality | American | ||||||
| Born | Richard Bernard Johnson Jr. July 6, 1964 El Cajon, California, U.S. |
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| 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 |
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| 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) |
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| 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 |
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| 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) | ||||||
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| Last updated on: February 3, 2014. | |||||||
Richard Bernard "Ricky" Johnson Jr. (born July 6, 1964) is an American former professional motocross, off-road truck, and stock car racer. He competed in AMA motocross and Supercross races during the 1980s. He won seven AMA national championships. Later, he switched to off-road truck racing. He won the Pro 2WD Trophy Truck championship in 1998 and 2010. He also won the Pro 4WD class in 2011 and 2012. In September 2012, Johnson won the 4x4 world championship race. He also won the AMSOIL Cup that same day. In 2014, Johnson won the Frozen Rush, which was the first off-road race held on snow.
Contents
Ricky Johnson's Racing Journey
Motocross Success
Ricky Johnson was born in El Cajon, California. His dad loved motorcycles and gave Ricky a mini-bike when he was just three years old. When Ricky turned 16 in 1980, he became a professional racer. He won his first 250cc national championship in 1984 with the Yamaha team.
In 1986, he joined the Honda team. He raced against his teammate David Bailey and won the 250cc title and the Supercross championship. Ricky, David, and Johnny O'mara represented the U.S. in a big international race called the Motocross des Nations in Italy. Team U.S.A. won every race! Sadly, David Bailey had a serious accident before the 1987 season and became paralyzed.
Ricky Johnson was amazing in 1987. He won both the 250cc and 500cc championships. He also won a very famous Supercross race at the L.A. Coliseum. He crashed at the start but came from way behind to win! In 1988, he added more titles, winning the Supercross and 500cc championships.
Injury and Retirement
Ricky started the 1989 season well, but he broke his wrist during practice. 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 he was retiring at the start of the 1991 season. He was only 26 years old.
When he retired, Ricky Johnson had won more Supercross races than anyone else. He was honored for his achievements. He was put into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2012, he was also inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
Racing After Motocross
After motocross, Ricky Johnson found success in other types of racing. He became a great off-road and stock car driver.
Off-Road Truck Racing
Ricky won the famous Baja 1000 race twice. He also became the American Speed Association stock car series Rookie of the Year in 1999. He raced for Herzog Motorsports, where his teammate was Jimmie Johnson, another famous racer.
In 2009, Ricky Johnson started his own racing series called the Traxxas TORC Series. After one season, he sold the series to focus on driving. He won the TORC Series Pro2wd Championship in 2010. This championship was decided in the very last race of the season.
In 2012, Ricky won the Pro 4x4 World Championship race. On the same day, he also won the AMSOIL Cup. This race had both Pro 4x4 and Pro 2 drivers competing against each other.
In 2013, Ricky raced in some Stadium Super Trucks events. He returned to this series in 2021. In 2014, he won the Red Bull Frozen Rush race. This was a unique event where Pro 4 trucks raced on snowy mountain slopes with special studded tires. Ricky beat seven other top drivers to win. He also competed in desert off-road races, like the SNORE Mint 400.
Ricky Johnson's Personal Life
Ricky Johnson 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
