Colt Johnson opened the 2023 Cook Out Summer Shootout with back-to-back wins in the Bandits Division. He's been racing for seven years, and has competed in Bandoleros for four years. He drives the number 24 because of his favorite driver, and is looking to capture the Bandits Championship at Summer Shootout with his black and green machine!
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Number: 24
Division: Bandelero Bandit
Team: Stillwell Racing
1.What is your favorite ice cream?
It’s got to be mint-chocolate chip ice cream.
2. What’s your favorite movie?
Probably Turbo.
3. What’s it like driving before you have your driver’s license? Are the kids at school jealous of you?
I don’t really know, because I've never actually gotten to drive on the road with my driver’s license. So, driving does feel like a privilege I get besides other kids. I’m not currently in public school, but when I was I believe they weren’t.
4. How long have you been racing and what inspired you to start?
I’ve been racing for about 7 years now, and what inspired me to start is just growing up around Charlotte Motor Speedway. [Also] having the Kvapils take me out to Millbridge [Speedway] and being with them. Travis, Carson, and Caden Kvapil have all been like family. Really being at a race track my whole life [inspired me].
5. When a lot of kids do school sports like football and basketball, why did you decide to choose racing?
Just being at the track. I like the feeling of going fast, and I tried a couple other sports but I liked racing better.
6. When did you start driving Bandoleros and when did you become comfortable driving them?
I started driving Bandoleros 3-4 years ago and I didn’t start to feel comfortable until last year or two years ago. [It took] a lot of seat time getting to know the car, just all-in-all being in the car more.
7. Describe the feeling of driving a Bandolero car versus Kart?
It’s a lot more work, you have to be up on the wheel more. You have to pay more attention because bigger cars are hard to slow down and maneuver that fast. It’s a bigger, heavier car so it’s hard to slow down and turn.
8. What are your goals in racing?
My goal in racing is to go into NASCAR, but whatever comes is whatever I’ll do.
9. Has anyone in your family raced before? How has your family supported you in your dreams and what does it mean to them to see you succeed?
I’ll be the first one that has raced in the family. My family has given me everything. Whenever I win, they have a huge smile on their face saying ‘congratulations, your awesome buddy,’ and everything like that.
10. You’ve gotten off to hot start at the Cook Out Summer Shootout, what’s been the reason for your recent success?
In my opinion, the early success in the Summer Shootout is having our choreography build up with the team. Just being with them for 3 or 4 years now [helps]. We know what I want, we just have to execute.
11. We’ve seen you in victory lane plenty recently, what has been your favorite victory or win that you’re most fond of?
I’ve had a lot of great ones. I’ve won at Daytona [NASCAR Youth Series Champion], Indianapolis [NASCAR Youth Series Champion]… but I think my favorite one would have to be the Cook Out Summer Shootout in Charlotte.
12. What has been your favorite driver to look up to, in any professional racing series?
My favorite driver would have to be Jeff Gordon. I just look up to him to how respectful [he is] and how he drives. He's [also] quick, and [that’s] how he won all of his championships. That’s exactly why I drive the 24.
13. If you were to thank just one person besides your sponsors for helping you in your racing career who would it be?
It would definitely be my dad.
14. What’s some cool experiences/opportunities that you have done in racing?
Being in racing, I’ve been able to meet Josef Newgarden, Max Papis, Randy LaJoie. I’ve done the STEAM program [at Charlotte Motor Speedway] three times, and I’ve won on dirt, oval, and road courses.
15. What is your favorite racing gift that you have received?
One time when we went to Indianapolis, we raced on the dirt track beside Indianapolis Motor Speedway I got a little thing of dirt [from the track].
16. What do you think separates yourself from other drivers your age?
I feel like I have more of an advantage because I’ve been racing for 7 years and I just know the flow of racing better.
17. In an inverted field, do you have a favorite position to start from?
On the inside because it’s just easier to get around and easy to turn under. It gives you more of that option instead of just only having that one line.
18. When you drive, do you think more of trying to win or trying to be safe and not risk the chance of wrecking?
I would be right in the middle. I want to go out there and win, but I don’t want to go I don’t want to wreck my car or other cars.
19. What’s your goals for the rest of the Cook Out Summer Shootout and the season heading into Bandolero Nationals?
The goal for Summer Shootout were looking to win the championship overall, I don’t care if we don’t get wins, but I want to win the championship.
20. How many wins do you think you have in your racing career right now, and where do you put the trophies that you win?
I’d say 40, I put them mostly in the bonus room. I have some in my room, but most of them normally go in the bonus room.