He had, as some would say, it all, which included a beautiful wife and a dream job - driving a NHRA POWERade Series Funny Car for drag racing icon Don "The Snake Prudhomme.

Yes, life couldn't of been much better for Johnson ...then the phone rang.

It was Prudhomme, and the news wasn't good. The NHRA legend, whom Johnson had driven for since 2001, informed his nitro coupe pilot that due to lack of sponsorship he was trimming his two-car operation to just the the Top Fuel dragster driven by charter member Larry Dixon.

Prudhomme said Johnson would still be under contract, but without a car to drive, he certainly felt like a man without a country when the decision was made in late October.

HOW KENNY BERNSTEIN REVERSED A BAD SITUATION FOR THE FORMER DON PRUDHOMME DRIVER

 

He had, as some would say, it all, which included a beautiful wife and a dream job - driving a NHRA POWERade Series Funny Car for drag racing icon Don "The Snake Prudhomme.

Yes, life couldn't of been much better for Johnson ...then the phone rang.

It was Prudhomme, and the news wasn't good. The NHRA legend, whom Johnson had driven for since 2001, informed his nitro coupe pilot that due to lack of sponsorship he was trimming his two-car operation to just the the Top Fuel dragster driven by charter member Larry Dixon.

I kind of mentioned it to (Bernstein) in a joking manner after I found out that I wasn't going to have a ride. I asked him, 'Are you ready to retire yet?' He said, 'No, why?' I told him I have to find a ride for next year. And he said, 'Well, let me think about it. 

 

Prudhomme said Johnson would still be under contract, but without a car to drive, he certainly felt like a man without a country when the decision was made in late October.

"That was like getting hit in the stomach," said Johnson, who has since signed on to drive the Monster Energy Funny Car for Kenny Bernstein. "I had no idea that was coming. It was a total shock. It was no surprise that we hadn't run well all year, but I didn't even know that (being parked was) a consideration.

"It was probably one of the bigger shocks I've ever had. I just signed a contract extension and everything was a go for (2008). I knew there would be changes on the team, as far as personnel and the way we did things, but I didn't think (Skoal) would totally go away and go to the dragster. I was totally blown away."

So “blown away”, that when Johnson, who finished outside the top 10 for the second time since 2004, failed to qualify for the season-ending Auto Club Finals in November, he truly expected to be out of the driver's seat for quite sometime.

Per his agreement with Prudhomme, he was free to sign on with a new team, but he also wasn't prepared to accept just any offer.

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"Snake is such a good owner that he was willing to honor the contract," said Johnson, winner of 10 national events, seven in Funny Car. "But as a driver, the last thing you want to do is sit an watch. But you also don't want to take the wrong deal that might come along; (sign with a team) that doesn't have quality equipment. You don't want to be so desperate to compete that you will do it on (just any) terms.

"I didn't want to jump ship to just anything. I would have sat and watched if I had to, but I wouldn't have liked it very well. I've done it before, and you might as well just shoot me. I can't stand to sit there and watch, especially with (wife Melanie Troxel) competing in Funny Car next year. The last thing I would want to do is lose my ride and then have to watch her run a Funny Car."

Thanks to Bernstein, he won't have to.

The "King of Speed," seizing the opportunity to put a top-notch competitor in his Monster Energy Drink Dodge Charger, decided to step out of the seat a year earlier than planned and Johnson is the beneficiary.

"It wasn't looking good (for a while)," said Johnson, who signed on with Bud King Racing in early December. "It was a miserable off-season (up to that point). I wasn't even looking forward to Christmas. I didn't have that much to be happy about. But it all came together early in the month, so Christmas came about 20 days early for me."

Strangely enough, the seeds for the Johnson-Bernstein connection were planted early, and almost by chance.

"I kind of mentioned it to (Bernstein) in a joking manner after I found out that I wasn't going to have a ride," Johnson said. "I asked him, 'Are you ready to retire yet?' He said, 'No, why?' I told him I have to find a ride for next year. And he said, 'Well, let me think about it.'

"I said it to him half jokingly, but not really. I threw it out there to see if he'd bite and be interested in it."

Bernstein was, hook, line and sinker.

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The deal maker was the NHRA legend couldn't pass up an opportunity get a quality driver like Johnson sealed, signed and delivered, even if it mean leaving the driver's seat a bit earlier than he wanted had planned.

"It wasn't like I was looking for him," Johnson said. "I kind of threw it out there. He had to give it some consideration. It took him some time. That's what I wanted. I didn't just want him to get out of the car, if he didn't really want to. I know what that's like. It's something you do when you're ready."

Still, Johnson wasn't sure if Bernstein would make the offer.

"I really didn't think at the time he would get out," Johnson said. "I told Melanie at the time that I know he's interested, but if he's like me, he's not going to want to get out of the race car. If it's a year later, no problem. But he surprised me when he made his decision."
 
For Johnson, it wasn't only that Bernstein wanted him to be his driver, but that he was willing to step away a year earlier than planned.

"That made me feel really good," Johnson said. "He was planning on staying one more year, but made his decision early, because of me. That's awful flattering for me to have him make that big decision, based on my availability, and didn't want to lose the opportunity to hire me. It's such an honor, and flattering to have someone that high think that much of you."

Johnson hopes to repay Bernstein by having a phenomenal 2008, and by all accounts the percentages appear to be on his side. The Montster Energy Drink team struggled early in 2007, but rebounded to advance to two final rounds and one semifinal during the back portion of the season. Add in Johnson's experience and great things are expected from the unit this season.

"My expectations are pretty high," Johnson said. "I'm sure Kenny's are as well. He wouldn't have made the change, if he thought it would hinder the team. They were getting the hang of it at the end of the season. I fully expect to come out of the box (at the Winternationals) and be one of the guys to beat.

"It's not like a new driver starting with a team that has to begin all over again. I have plenty of experience driving, so it will just be a matter of (crew chief) Jimmy Walsh and I speaking the same language. There's a real chemistry that has to be there between the driver and crew chief, and Mike (Green, Johnson's crew chief at Snake Racing) and I had that. He would look at me, and I knew what he was thinking. That will take a little bit of time with Jimmy and I, but if we don't perform well during the first couple of races, I'll be disappointed.

“Just being around the team all ready, I can see how prepared they are, and the abundance of resources at our disposal. I think we'll be a front runner right off the box."
 

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