The ëMilaca Packí at Princeton Speedway
featuring Brett Johnson - Car No. 89

By DAWN SLADE
Mille Lacs County Times
Posted 8/1/02

"Itís an addiction, like anything else. They should have group meetings for retired drivers," race car driver Brett Johnson said, half jokingly.

Johnson, who retired briefly for a year, is back at Princeton Speedway racing Wissota modifieds.

The 12-year veteran canít seem to stay away from the track.

In 1992, Johnson "rolled one bad" and did some vertebrae damage to his neck.

"I was still learning, thatís why I ended up on my head," Johnson said of that race.

The neck problems he sustained from 1992 led to his retirement last year, but the retirement only lasted one season.

"Iíve tried quitting before, but racing becomes a lifestyle, rather than a hobby," Johnson said of the sport.

Johnson began this season in the midwest modifieds, a slower class of cars. But, he quickly bought a new vehicle and upgraded to the modifieds.

"Itís very tame," Johnson said of the midwest modified car, No. 64, he started the season with. Now, Johnson is racing car No. 89 - back in the modifieds.

The 1981 Milaca High School graduate said his wife, Monica, wasnít real pleased about his return to racing.

But Monica says sheís okay with his decision to race again. "As long as heís happy," she said.

And their 10-year-old son, J.T., is quite happy about it as well. "Itís awesome," J.T. says as he watches the race cars go by.

J.T. plans to race when he turns 16, but not modifieds. Johnson told his son he can race superstocks, but he has to wait until heís 20 years old before Dad will let him race modifieds.

Johnsonís wife has even taken part in the action. In the mid-í90s, Monica competed in a powder puff race in Brainerd.

"It was my first and last race," she said. So how did she do?

"I came in 12th," Monica said, which doesnít sound too bad.

"Out of four drivers - I was lapped three times," she says with a smile.

Cooperation at the track

"I missed the camaraderie, thatís why I came back," Johnson said. "We donít carry grudges."

Johnsonís willingness to help out other drivers is part of his character.

"Everybodyís always worked together," Johnson said of the other drivers. "Itís one nice thing about the Milaca crew."

Johnson pointed out the cooperation and exchange of parts and labor between race teams.

"Heís helped quite a few of the Milaca pack when theyíve wrecked their cars, letting them use his shop and such," track manager Jay Rittenour said.

As the owner of Johnson Auto Body and Johnson Auto Sales and Service, heís fixed more than his share of vehicles - especially race cars.

"I donít want to see racers get hurt. I would just as soon compete with others that have a good car," he said.

Johnson has had 13 feature wins, mostly in the mid-to-late ë90s, and has ended two seasons in second place in point standings, both at Princeton and at Brainerd.

Rittenour said of Johnson, "He drives more different race cars than anybody I know. Heís ingenious when it comes to finding cars and changing them to suit his needs. Heís very resourceful.

"He competes well. Heís also one of the few drivers who has raced on both asphalt and dirt surfaces. At times, that gives him an edge."

Johnson obviously still enjoys racing and says, "I just come down to drive."

A good night of racing for Johnson is when, "If, at the end of the night, I can put it straight in the trailer, Iím doing great."