Johnny VanDoorn’s racing future changed with one phone call. On the other end of the phone was three time ARCA Champion Tim Steele inviting Johnny to have lunch with him. Steele’s invitation to drive his late model was the break the teenage VanDoorn was looking for. “We have never really had a big budget to race on. We would have been only able to run a few races in 2007. When Tim called and he offered me a ride at lunch that brought my racing career to a whole new level” said VanDoorn.

Johnny’s racing career began at the age of 8 on the go-kart track in Ravenna, Michigan where he finished fourth in points in his first season. Johnny went on to compete locally and nationally winning several races and championships along the way. The big highlight of Johnny’s go-kart career was at a World Karting Association event in East Lansing, Michigan. Johnny was the fast qualifier, then won his heat race and went onto finish second in the feature. To this day, Johnny lists this weekend as one of his most memorable.

At age twelve, Johnny headed to the dirt tracks and began racing stockcars. He needed a special waiver to race at Winston Motor Speedway, but after track owner Bert Grega witnessed Johnny’s test, the waiver was granted. Johnny drove his Monte Carlo to the Amateur Division Championship, thus becoming the youngest driver to win a season championship in a stock car in the United States.

In 2002, Johnny and his family owned team headed to Crystal Motor Speedway, racing in the tracks Pro Truck Division. Johnny proceeded to win several races en route to winning the Michigan Racing Scene’s “People’s Choice Award” for favorite dirt truck driver as well as the 2002 Rookie of the Year Award. He finished fourth in points.

In 2003, Johnny and his team returned to Crystal with their sights set on the championship. After leading the points battle most of the season, a last race tangle dashed the teams’ hopes. Johnny would finish second in points with two wins. He also repeated as Michigan Racing Scene’s Favorite Dirt Truck Driver, as voted by the fans.

In 2004, Johnny started a new chapter in his racing career. When Johnny turned sixteen, he left the dirt tracks and headed to the Berlin Raceway vying for the Rookie of The Year award in the tracks top division, the late models. Johnny became the youngest driver to win a race at Berlin, when he won a heat race on opening night. He also became the youngest driver to qualify on time for a late model feature. Johnny finished the season 28th in points out of sixty drivers.

In 2005, Johnny raced full time at Berlin and finished 12th in points. Along the way, he was named the Most Improved Driver in the late model division as well as the divisions Hard Charger. Johnny ended the season with three top fives and nine top ten finishes. He also collected three heat wins.

In 2006, Johnny and his team started the season off with its sights on the Rookie of the Year award in the CRA Super Series. The team was forced to withdrawal from the CRA due to lack of sponsorship. In six attempts, Johnny had four top ten finishes. The team decided to turn its attention to its outlaw late model program. Highlights from that schedule included a second place finish at Auto City Speedway in the Patriot 150 and a second place finish in the Main Event race at Columbus Motor Speedway.

In 2007, Johnny’s career took off. He started the season driving the family owned #121 car in the CRA Super Series, once again vying for Rookie of The Year and black outlaw late model with #71 as the number. Johnny finished 23rd and 11th in his first two CRA races. Then he won his first late model feature on May 12th. The following week was when Tim Steele called offering his #16 HS Die ride. Johnny and Steele combined to win five races including the prestigious All American 400 in Nashville. VanDoorn went on to finish second points and was the run away Rookie of The Year in the CRA Series.

For 2008, Johnny and his HS Motorsports team will once again chase the CRA points and run select outlaw late model races.