Biography

Rich Johnson got interested in stock car racing when he joined his brothers in helping their dad compete with his car.  His dad started racing in the '50's and by the time Rich was 14 he knew that he wanted to compete also. So in 1972 Rich bought a Ford Galaxy from Jim Elgin for $50 and entered it in the super stock class at Tri-City Speedway, the old track out at Glacier International airport.  He soon found out he was into this thing " way over my head".

So for 1973 he entered the "C Stock" class at the newly opened Big Sky Speedway. By 1974 Rich had already earned the C-Stock track championship at Big Sky plus the Montana State C-stock championship.  He was a back to back winner of the prestigeous "KC Doane Memorial" race in "74 & '75. In the late seventies Rich moved his family to Wyoming and picked up where he left off in Montana by being crowned State Champ in the Super Stock Division racing in Gillette, Casper, Sheridan and Rock Springs.

Rich moved the family back to Kalispell and finished 2nd as track championto Dave McManus more times than he cares to remember. In the early '90's NWMSCRA president Dick Lawrence was hurt in a racing accident and Rich, as vice-president, took over his duties. The membership thought he did such a good job that he was re-elected 3 more times. Rich says one of the highlights of his career was finishing 3rd in the '92 Montana 200 and 2nd to Cory Wolfe in '94.  For the last few years he has competed in the Outlaw Carts Series where he has 2 Campionships under his belt.  He currently is helping son Randy with his Limited Late Model car.