Slick Johnson

{{short description|American stock car racing driver}}

{{For|the wrestling referee|Mark "Slick" Johnson}}

{{Infobox NASCAR driver

| name = Slick Johnson

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Julius David Johnson III

| birth_date = {{birth date|1948|02|23}}

| birth_place = Florence, South Carolina, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1990|02|14|1948|02|23}}

| death_place = Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.

| death_cause = Basilar skull fracture and crushed chest caused by racing accident

| achievements =

| awards =

| Total_Cup_Races = 68

| Years_In_Cup = 8

| Best_Cup_Pos = 23rd (1980)

| First_Cup_Race = 1979 Carolina 500 (Rockingham)

| Last_Cup_Race = 1987 Holly Farms 400 (North Wilkesboro)

| Cup_Wins = 0

| Cup_Top_Tens = 7

| Cup_Poles = 0

| Total_Busch_Races = 1

| Years_In_Busch = 1

| Best_Busch_Pos = 138th (1983)

| First_Busch_Race = 1983 Mello Yello 300 (Charlotte)

| Last_Busch_Race =

| Busch_Wins = 0

| Busch_Top_Tens = 0

| Busch_Poles = 0

}}

Julius David "Slick" Johnson III (February 23, 1948 – February 14, 1990) was an American stock car racing driver. A veteran of short track competition in the Carolinas, he competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series during the 1980s; his best finish in the series, second, came in a non-points consolation race at Daytona International Speedway. He was killed in a racing accident in an ARCA race at Daytona in 1990.

Career

File:SlickJohnsonNASCARCar1983.jpg

A native of Florence, South Carolina,{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/18/sports/experience-is-lacking.html|title=Experience Is Lacking|last=Siano|first=Joseph|date=February 18, 1990|work=The New York Times|accessdate=2013-03-01|location=New York}} Johnson started his racing career on dirt tracks at age 16; his racing career was interrupted due to his spending time in the military, however he returned to competition in 1968 at Cooper River Speedway;{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yc1JAAAAIBAJ&pg=3143,6397956&dq=slick+johnson+-referee+-mark+-kyle&hl=en|title=Cooper River Welcomes Back Slick Johnson|date=June 27, 1968|work=The News and Courier|page=4D|location=Charleston, SC}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Johnson also competed at other tracks in the Carolinas during the late 1960s and 1970s including Sumter Speedway.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dhYvAAAAIBAJ&pg=4203,2614153&dq=slick+johnson+-referee+-mark+-kyle&hl=en|title=Johnson Tops Sumter Field|last=Watts|first=Dargan|date=June 30, 1969|work=The Sumter Daily Item|page=3B|location=Sumter, SC}}

Moving up from local competition during the 1970s, Johnson made his first start in NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition in 1979 at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina, finishing 27th in his first race in the series. He would go on to compete in a total of 68 Winston Cup Series races between 1979 and 1987, posting a best finish of eighth on two occasions, both in 1980, at North Wilkesboro Speedway and at Rockingham.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/rquery?id=johnssl01&trk=t0&series=W|title=Slick Johnson – NASCAR Sprint Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=USA Today Sports Media Group|accessdate=2013-03-01}} Johnson also finished second, to Tim Richmond, in a non-points consolation race for Daytona 500 non-qualifiers at Daytona International Speedway in 1982.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lNohAAAAIBAJ&pg=1199,6189854&dq=slick+johnson+-referee+-mark+-kyle&hl=en|title=Richmond Slips By Slick For Win|last=Hinshaw|first=Lydia|date=February 13, 1982|work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|page=4B|location=Daytona Beach, FL}}

Johnson also competed in a single Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race in his career, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1983; he started 19th and finished 28th in the event.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/rquery?id=johnssl01&trk=t0&series=B|title=Slick Johnson – NASCAR Nationwide Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=USA Today Sports Media Group|accessdate=2013-03-01}}

Death

In 1988 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Johnson was injured in a severe crash during a practice session.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-02-13-sp-639-story.html|title=Driver Still Critical, but Course Worker Improves at Daytona|last=Glick|first=Shav|date=February 13, 1990|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2013-03-01|location=Los Angeles}} Following his recovery, Johnson returned to racing in the ARCA Permatex Super Car Series season-opening 200-mile race at Daytona International Speedway in 1990. Starting last in the 40-car field, Johnson was involved in a crash on the race's 76th lap that left him with a basal skull fracture and crushed chest; Johnson had been hit by three other cars during the course of the accident. Transported to Halifax Medical Center in critical condition, Johnson died three days later; he was the 23rd racing-related fatality at Daytona, and the first stock car driver to be killed since Joe Young in 1987.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-02-15-sp-1010-story.html|title=Driver Dies of Injuries Suffered in Daytona Crash|date=February 15, 1990|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2013-03-01|location=Los Angeles}}

The accident in which Johnson was involved, in which paramedic Mike Staley was also injured one lap later, was featured in an episode of Rescue 911 that aired on November 13, 1990 on CBS.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eooxAAAAIBAJ&pg=1273,2905844&dq=rescue+911+daytona&hl=en|title=Candy stars in 'Uncle Buck' tonight at 9 on CBS|date=November 13, 1990|work=The Item|page=7A|location=Sumter, SC}}

Motorsports career results

=NASCAR=

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

==Winston Cup Series==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
colspan=45| NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! 26

! 27

! 28

! 29

! 30

! 31

! {{Tooltip|NWCC|NASCAR Winston Cup classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

rowspan=2| 1979

! Satterfield Racing

! 87

! Chevy

| RSD

| DAY

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
{{small|27}}

| RCH

| ATL

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS
{{small|24}}

| BRI

| DAR

| MAR

| TAL

| NSV

| DOV

| CLT

| TWS

| RSD

| MCH

| DAY

| NSV

| POC

| TAL

| MCH

| BRI

| DAR

| RCH

| DOV

| MAR

| CLT

| NWS

| colspan=3|

! rowspan=2| 42nd

! rowspan=2| 431

! rowspan=2| {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnssl01/1979/W|title=Slick Johnson – 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

rowspan=3| Johnson Racing

! 51

! rowspan=3| Chevy

| colspan=28|

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CAR
{{small|10}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ATL
{{small|13}}

| ONT

1980

! rowspan=2| 53

| RSD

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY
{{small|14}}

| RCH

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
{{small|30}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ATL
{{small|10}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI
{{small|26}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAR
{{small|25}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| NWS
{{small|9}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAR
{{small|9}}

| TAL

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NSV
{{small|25}}

| DOV

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT
{{small|32}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TWS
{{small|30}}

| RSD

| MCH

| DAY

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NSV
{{small|13}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC
{{small|31}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL
{{small|19}}

| MCH

| BRI

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAR
{{small|15}}

| RCH

| DOV

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| NWS
{{small|8}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR
{{small|24}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT
{{small|40}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CAR
{{small|8}}

| ATL

| ONT

! 23rd

! 1851

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnssl01/1980/W|title=Slick Johnson – 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

rowspan=2| 1981

| RSD

| DAY

| RCH

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
{{small|25}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL
{{small|34}}

| BRI

| NWS

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
{{small|32}}

| MAR

| TAL

| NSV

| DOV

| CLT

| TWS

| RSD

| MCH

| DAY

| NSV

| POC

| TAL

| MCH

| BRI

| colspan=9|

! rowspan=2| 65th

! rowspan=2| 216

! rowspan=2| {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnssl01/1981/W|title=Slick Johnson – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

Ulrich Racing

! 40

! Buick

| colspan=22|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
{{small|35}}

| RCH

| DOV

| MAR

| NWS

| CLT

| CAR

| ATL

| RSD

rowspan=3| 1982

! rowspan=2| Hylton Motorsports

! rowspan=2| 48

! Buick

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DAY
{{small|DNQ}}

| colspan=3|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CAR
{{small|18}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
{{small|26}}

| colspan=2|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL
{{small|12}}

| colspan=22|

! rowspan=3| 29th

! rowspan=3| 1261

! rowspan=3| {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnssl01/1982/W|title=Slick Johnson – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

Pontiac

|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RCH
{{small|17}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BRI
{{small|21}}

| ATL

| colspan=2|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS
{{small|30}}

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAR
{{small|10}}

| colspan=23|

Ulrich Racing

! 40

! Buick

| colspan=9|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NSV
{{small|25}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV
{{small|16}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT
{{small|18}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC
{{small|29}}

| RSD

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MCH
{{small|30}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY
{{small|34}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NSV
{{small|28}}

| POC

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL
{{small|32}}

| MCH

| BRI

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
{{small|32}}

| RCH

| DOV

| NWS

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| CLT
{{small|DNQ}}

| MAR

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
{{small|19}}

| ATL

| RSD

|

rowspan=3| 1983

! Billy Matthews Racing

! 42

! Buick

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DAY
{{small|DNQ}}

| colspan=30|

! rowspan=3| 38th

! rowspan=3| 705

! rowspan=3| {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnssl01/1983/W|title=Slick Johnson – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

Satterfield Racing

! 18

! Buick

|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RCH
{{small|27}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
{{small|23}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ATL
{{small|34}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
{{small|29}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS
{{small|25}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR
{{small|28}}

| TAL

| NSV

| DOV

| BRI

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CLT
{{small|24}}

| RSD

| POC

| MCH

| DAY

| NSV

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC
{{small|37}}

| TAL

| MCH

| BRI

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
{{small|27}}

| RCH

| DOV

| MAR

| NWS

| CLT

| colspan=4|

Cronkrite Racing

! 96

! Chevy

| colspan=27|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR
{{small|20}}

| ATL

| RSD

|

rowspan=2| 1984

! Jimmy Means Racing

! 52

! Pontiac

| DAY

| RCH

| CAR

| ATL

| BRI

| NWS

| DAR

| MAR

| TAL

| NSV

| DOV

| CLT

| RSD

| POC

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| MCH
{{small|DNQ}}

| DAY

| NSV

| POC

| TAL

| MCH

| BRI

| colspan=10|

! rowspan=2| NA

! rowspan=2| 0

! rowspan=2| {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnssl01/1984/W|title=Slick Johnson – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

Satterfield Racing

! 18

! Chevy

| colspan=21|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
{{small|36}}

| RCH

| DOV

| MAR

| CLT

| NWS

| CAR

| ATL

| RSD

|

rowspan=4| 1985

! Gray Racing

! 31

! Chevy

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY
{{small|20}}

| RCH

| colspan=29|

! rowspan=4| 48th

! rowspan=4| 343

! rowspan=4| {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnssl01/1985/W|title=Slick Johnson – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

rowspan=2| Spohn Racing

! 05

! rowspan=2| Ford

| colspan=2|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CAR
{{small|15}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL
{{small|21}}

| BRI

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
{{small|36}}

| NWS

| MAR

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| TAL
{{small|DNQ}}

| DOV

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT
{{small|17}}

| RSD

| POC

| MCH

| DAY

| POC

| TAL

| MCH

| BRI

| colspan=12|

51

| colspan=19|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR
{{small|29}}

| RCH

| DOV

| MAR

| NWS

| CLT

| CAR

| colspan=5|

Blue Max Racing

! 27

! Pontiac

| colspan=26|

| style="background:#FFFFFF;"| ATL
{{small|QL}}

| RSD

| colspan=3|

1986

! Gray Racing

! 54

! Chevy

| style="background:#FFFFFF;"| DAY
{{small|QL}}

| RCH

| CAR

| style="background:#FFFFFF;"| ATL
{{small|QL}}

| BRI

| DAR

| NWS

| MAR

| TAL

| DOV

| CLT

| RSD

| POC

| MCH

| DAY

| POC

| TAL

| GLN

| MCH

| BRI

| DAR

| RCH

| DOV

| MAR

| NWS

| CLT

| CAR

| ATL

| RSD

| colspan=2|

! NA

! -

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnssl01/1986/W|title=Slick Johnson – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

rowspan=3| 1987

! rowspan=2| Hamby Motorsports

! rowspan=2| 12

! Olds

| DAY

| CAR

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RCH
{{small|19}}

| ATL

|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NWS
{{small|19}}

|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR
{{small|30}}

| colspan=15|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR
{{small|25}}

| colspan=7|

! rowspan=3| 47th

! rowspan=3| 444

! rowspan=3| {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnssl01/1987/W|title=Slick Johnson – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

Chevy

| colspan=4|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAR
{{small|12}}

|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRI
{{small|14}}

|

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL
{{small|15}}

| CLT

| DOV

| POC

| RSD

| MCH

| DAY

| POC

| TAL

| GLN

| MCH

| BRI

| DAR

| RCH

| DOV

| colspan=8|

Fillip Racing

! 81

! Ford

| colspan=24|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS
{{small|32}}

| CLT

| CAR

| RSD

| ATL

| colspan=2|

1988

! Sadler Brothers Racing

! 95

! Chevy

| DAY

| RCH

| CAR

| ATL

| DAR

| BRI

| NWS

| MAR

| TAL

| CLT

| DOV

| RSD

| POC

| MCH

| DAY

| POC

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| TAL
{{small|DNQ}}

| GLN

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| MCH
{{small|DNQ}}

| BRI

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DAR
{{small|DNQ}}

| RCH

| DOV

| MAR

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| CLT
{{small|DNQ}}

| NWS

| CAR

| PHO

| ATL

| colspan=2|

! NA

! -

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnssl01/1988/W|title=Slick Johnson – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

colspan=38| - Qualified but replaced by Tim Richmond · - Qualified but replaced by Eddie Bierschwale

===Daytona 500===

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
Year

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Start

! Finish

1980

| Johnson Racing

| Chevrolet

|align=center| 39

|align=center style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 14

1982

| Hylton Motorsports

| Buick

|align=center colspan=2 style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ

1983

| Billy Matthews Racing

| Buick

|align=center colspan=2 style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ

1985

| rowspan=2| Gray Racing

| rowspan=2| Chevrolet

|align=center| 40

|align=center style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 20

1986

|colspan=2 align=center style="background:#FFFFFF;"| QL

colspan=5| - Qualified but replaced by Eddie Bierschwale

==Late Model Sportsman Series==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

!colspan=42| NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Series results

Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! 26

! 27

! 28

! 29

! 30

! 31

! 32

! 33

! 34

! 35

! {{Tooltip|NLMSC|NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Series classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

1983

!

! 46

! Buick

| DAY

| RCH

| CAR

| HCY

| MAR

| NWS

| SBO

| GPS

| LGY

| DOV

| BRI

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT
{{small|28}}

| SBO

| HCY

| ROU

| SBO

| ROU

| CRW

| ROU

| SBO

| HCY

| LGY

| IRP

| GPS

| BRI

| HCY

| DAR

| RCH

| NWS

| SBO

| MAR

| ROU

| CLT

| HCY

| MAR

! 138th

! 79

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnssl01/1983/B|title=Slick Johnson – 1983 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

=ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series=

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
colspan=45| ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series results
Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! {{Tooltip|APSC|ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

1983

! Satterfield Racing

! 81

! Buick

| DAY

| NSV

| TAL

| LPR

| LPR

| ISF

| IRP

| SSP

| FRS

| BFS

| WIN

| LPR

| POC

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TAL
{{small|8}}

| MCS

| FRS

| MIL

| DSF

| ZAN

| SND

! NA

! 0

! {{cite web|url=https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/Slick_Johnson/Results/ARCA_Permatex_SuperCar_Series/1983|title=Slick Johnson – 1983 Season Results ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series|work=TheThirdTurn|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

1989

! rowspan=2| Sadler Brothers Racing

! rowspan=2| 95

! Chevy

| DAY

| ATL

| KIL

| TAL

| FRS

| POC

| KIL

| HAG

| POC

| TAL

| DEL

| FRS

| ISF

| TOL

| DSF

| SLM

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ATL
{{small|10}}

| colspan=3|

! 108th

! -

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnssl01/1989/A|title=Slick Johnson – 1989 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

1990

! Pontiac

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY
{{small|17}}

| ATL

| KIL

| TAL

| FRS

| POC

| KIL

| TOL

| HAG

| POC

| TAL

| MCH

| ISF

| TOL

| DSF

| WIN

| DEL

| ATL

| colspan=2|

! 102nd

! -

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnssl01/1990/A|title=Slick Johnson – 1990 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}

References

{{reflist|2}}