Paralyzed driver teams up for first pro win at IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge

Jace Evans | USA TODAY

When he was 12, a motorcycle accident left Michael Johnson paralyzed from the waist down.

On Saturday, the 25-year-old Johnson teamed up with Stephen Simpson for his first victory in professional racing by taking the checkered flag in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut.

"I have been thinking about this win, coming in professional car racing since I broke my back," Johnson said.

"This is all the hard work over the years coming together and everyone gets to see that. It makes me so proud that I can prove to everyone that I’m the same as everyone else and that I deserve to be here, and I love to be here.

"I’m so proud, all the talking and now showing people that I can finally get them real results. It clearly shows that it can be done and I am so proud that I can show other people, and talk to them, that dreams can come true with lots of hard work."

All of us @IMSA are very proud of the first win for Michael Johnson and Stephen Simpson in the #TCR class of the @continentaltire SportsCar Challenge. There is no question about Michael’s ABILITY! pic.twitter.com/sWxkICZCbF — Scott Atherton (@IMSAtherton) July 21, 2018

Johnson, who uses hand controls, kicked off the race before handing the reins over to teammate Simpson, who guided the No. 54 of JDC-Miller Motorsports to the TCR-class win by dramatically edging Kenton Koch by 0.066 seconds.

"Michael did a fantastic job today, but not just today, the last couple of months," said Simpson — probably in reference to Johnson's recent comeback from a broken leg as the result of a Daytona crash.

"He really kicked things off and got us in a good position at the start and then the JDC-Miller Motorsports guys gave us a great car. It really was a team effort and I’m pleased to get the team and Michael’s first win in the IMSA Continental Tire Motorsports Challenge. It was an exciting end there and it was another good finish."