Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Steve Johnson doesn’t have a mountain of money to fund his efforts, but he has managed to be a serious contender since 1987, and his efforts are a great illustration of making the most of what you have.

Johnson’s attitude and energy rarely wane, and his exuberant presence is most definitely contagious. A top 10 finisher on 16 different occasions, the Alabama transplant has another shot at winning his first Full Throttle Series championship thanks to two final rounds and eight top-half qualifying efforts this season -- including a career-second start from the No. 1 spot in Norwalk.

A small budget wasn’t a factor in Steve Johnson’s quest to race for the championship

Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Steve Johnson doesn’t have a mountain of money to fund his efforts, but he has managed to be a serious contender since 1987, and his efforts are a great illustration of making the most of what you have.

Johnson’s attitude and energy rarely wane, and his exuberant presence is most definitely contagious. A top 10 finisher on 16 different occasions, the Alabama transplant has another shot at winning his first Full Throttle Series championship thanks to two final rounds and eight top-half qualifying efforts this season -- including a career-second start from the No. 1 spot in Norwalk.

“We’re really fortunate,” said Johnson. “I’m on this 25-year quest of racing Pro Stock Motorcycle as a career, and that works really well for the education programs we do at high schools and tech schools because it says, ‘Don’t give up on anything.’ Even though we’re in tough economic times, I wanted to go to every race this year. It started out that the only way to do it was to go in a pickup truck, qualify, and get first round money. Throughout the year, we’ve been able to generate money to buy a first class engine from Vance & Hines Motorsports - the best engine money can buy - and we’ve had some lucky breaks. Roll all that together, and you have, arguably, the best year I’ve ever had in 24 years.”

Johnson has integrated special appearances and autograph signings into his schedule to increase cash flow to his program. He has been a sponge throughout a career that spans more than two decades as he watched businessmen like Don Schumacher and Kenny Bernstein build empires that contributed so critically to the growth of drag racing.

Influenced by those strong examples, Johnson learned to think big and became more than just a rider out there to win. As a leader in PRO2, an organization that promotes Pro Stock Motorcycle racing on the professional level and gives the riders a voice with the sanctioning body, Johnson considers the needs of the community, from fans to fellow riders and the sponsors who keep the class alive.

The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis will be a fine example of Johnson’s expansive labors. In addition to promoting new sponsor White-Rodgers HVAC Solutions, Johnson and his two-wheel cohorts will host a party in the pits right after qualifying wraps up on Sunday. In an effort to reach a new demographic, flyers are being sent from dealerships across Indiana to their customers, and each flyer has a promo code to use in conjunction with buying a ticket so that the success of the affair can be tracked.

The veteran racer will also be found aboard his Suzuki at the venerable U.S. Nationals, competing in an event he has won twice before (2005 and 2008), and he’s ready to jump into the Countdown to 1 and have a go at claiming his first world title.

“I loved the Countdown from the moment they announced it,” said Johnson, who enters the playoffs as the No. 5 seed. “It put us in line with so many other entertainment venues, and it’s exciting to be part of it. We’re going into this Countdown 50 points behind Andrew Hines, we have a chance to win the Full Throttle championship, and I think that’s a very exciting story for the fans.

“The game plan is to lie, cheat, and steal. Buy the biggest gun I can at the local pawn shop. Since I’ll probably chicken out and not use it, I’ll have to resort to being resourceful with the money that we have, be motivational for my crew, and treat myself better in the sense of sleep, food, and exercise. We will test in St. Louis before the U.S. Nationals, but we have to be resourceful with our funds.

“Overall, I’m one of the fortunate people. Although I’d love to have lots more resources to race with, I’m just very appreciative for what I have.”