Spencer Johnson can get used to this. After spending the bulk of last season flirting with getting feature wins, the Jamestown, N.D., driver has been collecting checkered flags in bunches this spring.
Johnson has won four of the six Street Stocks features he's raced in this season, and was mere feet away from picking up feature win No. 5.
"I normally run pretty well, but to win four of my first six races has been one of those 'pinch me' type of things," Johnson said. "But don't wake me up."
The 40-year-old driver leads the Street Stocks point standings at the Jamestown Speedway and the Dacotah Speedway in Mandan, N.D.
He's won both features run at the Jamestown track, and two of the three features he's run in Mandan. In the Mandan race Johnson didn't win, he took second to Kelly Hagel of Carrington, N.D., by a fender-length.
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The Jamestown driver was 14th in the national points last season.
He was second in the Street Stocks points in Mandan last year, and he was fourth in the class in Jamestown.
He also finished seventh at Sheyenne River Speedway in Lisbon, N.D., despite missing a few weeks with engine troubles.
Things have run smoothly so far this season, as Johnson has adapted well to the new tires required in the class by WISSOTA.
"They're a harder compound, and they're wider," Johnson said. "I don't know what it is, but I've made a good adjustment to them, and I think it's helped."
Johnson is hoping his hot start to the season helps push him to a points title - or two - that escaped him last season.
"I'd like to build a lead that's big enough to where I can handle a few falters," Johnson said. "It's been awesome, but like I said - I don't want to wake up."
Schatz update
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Donny Schatz has moved into second place in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car standings, behind the sizzling Jason Meyers.
On Monday, Schatz was third in the A-Main at Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, N.Y. He took seventh at Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, Va., on Saturday after taking sixth on Friday at the Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.
Meyers finished in the top two at all three of those events, including a win in Virginia.
The World of Outlaws heads to Attica, Ohio, on Friday and to the famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, on Saturday.
Hot laps
Sheyenne River Speedway was slated to open its season on Tuesday, but the Lisbon, N.D., track pushed its opener back a week. ... Motocross racers at Buffalo River Race Park can practice at the Glyndon, Minn., track from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
Readers can reach Forum sports writer Kerry Collins at (701) 241-5548.
Collins' prep sports blog can be found at www.areavoices.com
