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West Palm Beach, Fla. – December 23, 2024 – American racing driver Billy Johnson has made an amazing recovery after a terrible street accident, going from a LifeFlight hospital ride to driving into the winner’s circle just six weeks later. Mr. Johnson is now reviewing opportunities to join professional racing teams for the 2025 season, as well as offers by automakers to help develop their high performance cars and drivers who seek world-class coaching.
A driver who has competed at the highest levels of sports car racing, Johnson’s rental car collided with a deer shortly after leaving the Watkins Glen racetrack on October 20th. The accident left Johnson with severe facial trauma and multiple skull fractures, resulting in a helicopter LifeFlight to the Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York.
Through extensive emergency surgery, Johnson persevered and rebounded despite the ongoing injuries, driving a BMW M4 GT4 during the World Racing League at Sebring in November. He then took the checkered flag with the Team ACP – Tangerine BMW team at the Circuit of the Americans WRL race in Texas on December 7.
“Steve McQueen is famous for saying ‘Racing is life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting,’ said Billy Johnson. “But in late October, an accident occurred outside of the racetrack that almost ended my driving career and life. That’s why it felt so incredible to win at COTA, just six weeks after being airlifted to the hospital. I am lucky to be alive and grateful for the life-saving actions of the first responders and dedicated medical teams in Onondaga County and Syracuse, New York, who put me back together so I could resume my motorsports career. With the win in Texas, I’ve proven that I’m ready to resume full-time racing, development and coaching duties anywhere in the world.”
Johnson started his career from humble beginnings and climbed the ranks to compete at the highest level of sportscar racing and NASCAR. As a Japanese American from California, Billy started racing go-karts at 13 years old, won scholarships to race in the Skip Barber Racing School and inaugural Formula BMW USA season. He finished 5th in the championship and received the Sportsman of the Year Award.
Over the last nineteen years, Billy has raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Ford, the NASCAR Cup Series driving for Richard Petty, the FIA World Endurance Championship, British GT, NASCAR XFinity series, IMSA, Michelin Pilot Sportscar Challenge, Blancpain GT World Challenge America, SRO GT4 America, and Lamborghini Super Trofeo series. Billy has more victories, and podium finishes than any driver in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Series.
A world-class development and test driver, Billy was an integral part of the Le Mans-winning Ford GT “GTE/GTLM” racecar and street car development programs driving for Multimatic Motorsports and Ford Motor Company. Recognized by the likes of Edsel Ford for contributions to the Ford GT program, he was also part of the team responsible for the Shelby GT350/R, 2020 Shelby GT500, Mustang Performance Pack 2, Bullitt and Mach 1. He currently works with Vaughn Gittin Jr’s RTR Mustang models, as well as Guntherwerks’ modified Porsches.
Billy was an engineering consultant for Roush Fenway Keslowski’s NASCAR Cup team where he helped lead the testing and development of the current 7th-generation “Next Gen” racing car. He also consults for various companies in the aftermarket and performance car industry.
Johnson is highly active in coaching. His clientele ranges from track-day beginners to mentoring and advising young aspiring racecar drivers, to business executives, actors, and professional drivers in different disciplines from NASCAR to rally racing.
“Billy Johnson is the most versatile driving instructor I’ve worked with,” said Seth Burgett, Chairman and CEO of Gateway Bronco. “As my lead coach since 2022, Billy’s approaches are different. His methods work and the results stand on their own. In our first season, Billy helped us achieve a series championship and track record. After three seasons, we’ve earned a 100% podium and 69%-win rate. He has earned my loyalty.”
Billy has a background instructing for multiple world-renown racing schools and was retained by Ford to create a “Road Course Clinic” for which he developed the curriculum to teach advanced road course techniques/race craft to their NASCAR Cup and Xfinity drivers for over 10 years.
“I’ve worked with Billy in a variety of capacities – as a student, doing development work, various projects, and family gatherings,” said Solomon Rosenthal, Co-Organizer, Tire Rack One Lap of America. “Billy’s been a part of our One Lap family and a personal friend since first competing and winning his class in 2011. He is just as tenacious a friend as he is a competitor. I have had the opportunity to watch him grow as a person and driver through the One Lap and outside of it. As an event, we have seen some phenomenal talents participate and compete over the last 40 years, and Billy certainly ranks as one of the best.
On a personal note, I am grateful that we were able to be there for Billy the way he has been there for so many of us and could not be prouder of his winning mentality. I’m sure his success at COTA was just the first of many as Billy continues his battle to recover fully.”
Individuals interested in retaining Johnson for their racing team, vehicle development program or coaching can learn more at www.billyjohnsonracing.com.
