Toyota hands over the keys to AX Champ Chad Johnson

February 14, 2006, 6:20am

The Yamaha-backed rider and first time Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series champ handed the keys to a brand new Toyota truck on Saturday in Denver

AURORA, Ill., (Feb. 13, 2006) – The drive back to Rhinelander, Wis., from Colorado is a long one, but rest assured newly crowned Toyota AMA National Arenacross Champion Chad Johnson (Yamaha) is enjoying every mile of it in his brand new Toyota Tacoma 4x4 – the pinnacle of prizes awarded in the long history of the sport of arenacross.

“I can’t begin to thank the folks at Toyota enough,” said Johnson, who rides for Yamaha. “Their backing of the sport of arenacross has elevated our sport to new levels. And I will drive that Tacoma 4x4 around proudly, representing not only as the ’06 Toyota AMA National Arenacross champion, but also proud to represent the company that backs our sport.”

To Johnson, the championship was a team effort and he jokingly added that the key figure in his quest for the Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series title, owner/manager/trainer/mechanic Junior Jackson, “Should have at least been given Camary or something.”

Toyota will donate another Tacoma 4x4 to the Toyota AMA Regional Arenacross Series champion at the conclusion of that series on March 18th in Omaha, Neb.

Johnson returns to action in another Toyota-backed series this weekend when the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Eastern Lites class action picks back up at St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome. Toyota is the presenting sponsor for the series.

Arenacross Class Overall   Points Wins

1.) Chad Johnson    375 7
2.) Brock Sellards    375 7
3.) Kevin Johnson    325 3
4.) Jeff Northrop    306 1
5.) Greg Schnell    297
6.) Jim Neese     281
7.) Shawn Clark     235
8.) Zach Ames     209
9.) Scott Metz     169
10.) Jim Chester    141