RPW Exclusive: Jake Johnson And JMA Motorsports Making The Most Of A Part-Time Schedule

Column By: STEPHEN DURHAM / RPW – DERRY, NH – It was nearly a perfect day for Jake Johnson and JMA Motorsports at White Mountain Motorsports Park for Thunder in the Mountains 200. Johnson would come up two spots short of the perfect day, but came away with a 3rd place finish. Johnson is fresh off a victory at White Mountain Motorsports Park earlier in June with the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series with the family-owned car, and with a Top 5 finish at Seekonk with the JMA 07 earlier in June with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

Johnson says they were feeling confident from the start of the day at White Mountain Motorsports Park. Johnson timed 7th in practice to start the day.

“The car felt great right in practice, we only did a handful of laps. I think we went out two times,” Johnson says, “we had a really good feel for the car early.”

The Rehoboth, Massachusetts native and the JMA Motorsports team then followed up practice with more speed. Picking up the Hoosier Pole Award over veteran Ron Silk by six hundredths of a second.

“We went out, got the pole in qualifying, then got lucky with the redraw, redrawing the pole, so we were going to start up front,” Johnson explains.

Johnson led the field to the green flag, and led early on in the 200 lapper. Kyle Bonsignore and Patrick Emerling would trail Johnson early on. Johnson would lead the first 30 laps of the race, as he knew he had a fast car through the mid-point of the race.

“We let Kyle and the 1 go by early on, they were setting too fast of a pace, so let them lead the way for a bit,” Johnson explains, “we came in and got tires though with that first caution, and I realized we had a good shot to win it.”

Johnson would continue to stay within the top 5 through the second caution of the race at lap 175. Everyone would pit on this caution, except for Trevor Catalano, who would inherit the lead. Johnson would restart 2nd row inside behind Catalano on his older tires. After getting around Catalano on the following restart, Johnson would settle with the 3rd place finish.

“JMA prepared a really good racecar, so I really got to thank the 07 guys. After that last restart it was just the circumstances of racing and we came home third,” Johnson says, “not too much we can complain about today, we had the racecar today, just didn’t fall into our lap.”

Johnson says his confidence and speed at White Mountain Motorsports Park comes from growing and developing on his hometown track, Seekonk Speedway, where he is fresh off a top 5 with the JMA Motorsports machine.

“I grew up at Seekonk and ever since they repaved Seekonk, it’s been a little bit of a different racetrack than it used to be,” Johnson explains, ‘this place really reminds me of old Seekonk, so almost feels like I have a lot of laps here, but even though I don’t, but I really like this place”

The relationship and teamwork between Johnson and JMA Motorsports has been off to a strong start, with now back-to-back top 5 finishes.

“We are hitting the ground running for sure, everyone’s doing their job, and we still have a lot to learn, but so far we have had pretty positive results, so I think we are going to have a strong future together,” Johnson confidently says.

Team owner Justin Albernaz is just as excited and confident in his driver after the recent finishes.

“Just proud of all my guys, we are a part time team, and this is everyone’s first time working together, and we are only getting better,” Albernaz says.

The combination of Albernaz’s team and his driver Jake Johnson, created the perfect combination for White Mountain Motorsports Park. Albernaz says though, Johnson has the place figured out.

“I think his experience at Seekonk with the throttle input helps a lot with these bull rings,” Albernaz says, “a lot of times in these cars, on these type of tracks, you are not even close to being full throttle through the race, it takes a lot of discipline.”

Johnson and JMA Motorsports team owner Justin Albernaz are grateful for their crew and sponsors that make it happen. Albernaz says as of Sunday evening, they were planning to be at Thompson, Loudon in September, the World Series at Thompson, and then end the season at Martinsville.