The Privateer Team’s Racers Getting a Lot of Help From “Mom & Dad,” According to Team Manager Chad Simonton

 

AURORA, Ill. (October 31, 2007) – A true Iowa-based Toyota AMA Arenacross privateer team, Johnson Racing, is looking to make a quick and noticeable impact on the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series this weekend when the tour opens its competition season on Friday at Des Moines’ Wells Fargo Arena.

 

Led by the 2005-’06 Toyota AMA Arenacross Series’ Rookie of the Year, Illinois’ Kevin Markwardt, the team also features two Iowa District 22 standouts in Colin Hickman (Des Moines) and Ryan Simonton (Waukee).

 

Riding a patchwork set up of bikes including Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki, the team will rely on sponsorship assistance from a source many Toyota AMA Arenacross Series racers are highly familiar with – Mom & Dad.

 

“As a team we have no outside help heading into Des Moines,” said Johnson Racing team manager Chad Simonton. “We’ll be riding everything from Kawasaki green to Honda red and Suzuki yellow – which made painting the trailer tough (laughter). But hey, we’ve got nobody to impress but ourselves this weekend in Des Moines.”

 

Johnson Racing will also field a couple bikes for Sunday’s Toyota AMA Arenacross Series amateur novice class races. The color of the bikes? “Yamaha blue, of course,” said Chad Simonton.

 

Tickets for Nov. 2-4 Toyota AMA Arenacross at Wells Fargo Arena are available through www.arenacross.com, at the Wells Fargo Arena Ticket Office, online at www.dahlstickets.com, all Des Moines-area Dahl’s Grocery Stores or charge by phone at 1-866-55-DAHLS. Fees and handling may apply. Show times are Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 12:00. Doors open Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday tickets are $20 for all Gold Circle seats, $16 for Mid Level seats/$8 for kids Mid Level seats. Sunday tickets are $16 for adults, $8 for kids. All seats $2 more day of show. Note: Kids = children ages 2-12.