NAPA Auto Parts continues to cement their name in Automotive Aftermarket parts, with great strides in local and global Motorsport.
Celebrating the first anniversary of their NAPA Know How Motorsport Academy in July, announcing the sponsorship of Jett Johnson in April, and launching their new grassroots racing podcast, NAPA Auto Parts isn’t hitting the brakes anytime soon.
In July 2021, NAPA Auto Parts announced the NAPA Know How Motorsport Academy – an online portal designed to offer tools and resources to any motorsport enthusiast that is striving to be the best they can be – on and off the track.
Since then, they have gained more than 450 members and have a large range of invaluable online content for those who want to take their racing skills to the next level.
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NAPA Auto Parts have also recently launched their new podcast, the ‘NAPA Auto Parts Grassroots Racing Podcast’.
The podcast details all motorsport at a national, state and club level, talking to some of the best local drivers that Australia and New Zealand have produced.
Check out the podcast for interviews with multi-championship winning Australian race
car driver, Tony Ricciardello, Australian Drivers’ Championship two-time winner, Tom Macrow, and many more.
Hosted by journalist Garry O’Brien and commentator Darren Smith – the podcast can be heard on Apple Podcasts of Spotify.
You don’t need to be a member of the Academy to tune in, so check it out to hear all the latest in motorsport news.
In April this year, NAPA Auto Parts announced the sponsorship of Jett Johnson, the grandson of three-times Bathurst 1000 winner Dick Johnson and son of Supercars race winner Steve to wear the NAPA blue and yellow for the 2022 Turtle Wax Trans Am Series.
Johnson made the step up from state-based Hyundai Excel racing at the start of this year and committed to the Turtle Wax Trans Am Series to develop his driving skills ahead of progressing towards his dream of racing in Supercars.
In only a few short months Jett has already been making his mark, achieving second in Race 1 and first in Race 2 at the Winton Motor Raceway in the TA2 Muscle Car Series. He also took out the Hoosier Cup for rookie drivers at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Johnson says the biggest challenge of moving into the Trans Ams has been getting his head around the rear-wheel-drive versus front-wheel-drive in his previous Excel.
“For me, getting used to how the car handles, how it reacts in different situations and once you get that general feel of the car, and confidence in the car then it’s quite easy to make those steps forward,” he said.
“I probably went into this season with quite high expectations in Trans Am, but
it is just so competitive and every round you’re having to work your butt off to find every little tenth just to try to get the better of the other competitors.”
Johnson says he’s most looking forward to the Sandown circuit later in the season.
“On paper, it doesn’t look that exciting a layout, but from the footage I’ve watched it looks unreal. From talking to dad and grandad, they love the place, so I’m pretty excited to race there,” he said.
“Hopefully we can take the next step forward into something great next, but I’m not sure what that will be at the moment.
“Currently we’re doing Trans Am again next year, where I’ll be focusing on getting a good result after learning the tracks this season.”
Jett is part of a team of superstars that NAPA Auto Parts already sponsor globally, likes of V8 Supercars star Bryce Fullwood, NASCAR driver Chase Elliott, World of Outlaws driver Brad Sweet and NHRA Drag Racing driver, Ron Capps.
For more information about NAPA Racing, the NAPA Know How Motorsport Academy, or NAPA Auto Parts’ widest range of automotive and mechanical brands for your workshop, visit napaparts.com.au.