2017 Super Stock Triple Threat WeekendMay 26, 2017 by Victoria Beaver
Johnston Knows There's No Place Like Tri-State Speedway, His Home Track
Johnston Knows There's No Place Like Tri-State Speedway, His Home Track
For Neil Johnston, there's no place like the home track of Tri-State Speedway, where he's logged "a million miles."
Neil Johnston is a 34-year-old local racer who took his first laps at Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, OK, 21 years ago. When he turned his attention to this course, he immediately found success, placing placed second in the bombers division his first year and then winning the championship as a sophomore.
When the three-night Super Stock Triple Threat Weekend kicks off on Friday, much more will be at stake.
Johnston has been primarily a dirt track racer during his career, but he took a turn racing asphalt late models in the early 2000s.
Johnston is one of the hometown favorites at the track because of his personal and family history at Tri-State. His comfort level at the track is as high as the track's banking.
"I've made a million laps around that track," Johnston said. "There's no place like home"
Johnston is not the first of his family to race at the track. His father, Gary Johnston, ran it back when it was paved track.
"My dad raced at Tri-State back when it was asphalt before they put dirt on it," Neil said. "Back in the late '70s... I grew up around there, been there my whole life."
This is the first year of the Super Stock Triple Threat Weekend, and Johnston, like many of the other locals favorites, is excited for the change-up from a regular race formula.
Johnston has momentum on his side. He has come close to winning on a couple of occasions this year, and with three consecutive nights of racing, he hopes to be able to find the rhythm needed to finally get that elusive victory. To win any one of the nights would mean that he pockets a paycheck of $3,000.
"This deal here is kind of neat because it's three different days," Johnston said. "If you have a bad night you'll be able to come back and make some changes and be better the next night. We've been real close at a couple of these big races. We ran second in a $5,000-to-win. So hopefully we'll have a good weekend this weekend."
Jim Philpot This Hometown Driver Will Win
Chuck Knight Is Still Excited 48 Years Later
Super Stock Triple Threat Weekend Preview
1705 West Race Track Road
Pocola, OK, 74902
STREAMING: Available only on FloRacing. A yearly FloPRO subscription provides access to ALL FloSports sites. SIGN UP HERE
When the three-night Super Stock Triple Threat Weekend kicks off on Friday, much more will be at stake.
Johnston has been primarily a dirt track racer during his career, but he took a turn racing asphalt late models in the early 2000s.
Johnston is one of the hometown favorites at the track because of his personal and family history at Tri-State. His comfort level at the track is as high as the track's banking.
"I've made a million laps around that track," Johnston said. "There's no place like home"
Johnston is not the first of his family to race at the track. His father, Gary Johnston, ran it back when it was paved track.
"My dad raced at Tri-State back when it was asphalt before they put dirt on it," Neil said. "Back in the late '70s... I grew up around there, been there my whole life."
This is the first year of the Super Stock Triple Threat Weekend, and Johnston, like many of the other locals favorites, is excited for the change-up from a regular race formula.
Johnston has momentum on his side. He has come close to winning on a couple of occasions this year, and with three consecutive nights of racing, he hopes to be able to find the rhythm needed to finally get that elusive victory. To win any one of the nights would mean that he pockets a paycheck of $3,000.
"This deal here is kind of neat because it's three different days," Johnston said. "If you have a bad night you'll be able to come back and make some changes and be better the next night. We've been real close at a couple of these big races. We ran second in a $5,000-to-win. So hopefully we'll have a good weekend this weekend."
Super Stock Triple Threat Weekend Coverage
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Chuck Knight Is Still Excited 48 Years Later
Super Stock Triple Threat Weekend Preview
Where To Watch
Tri-State Speedway1705 West Race Track Road
Pocola, OK, 74902
How To Watch
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