Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson '07 has worked in motorsports for the last 10 years, moving his way up to program director for Corvette Racing. In that role, he directs drivers and crew members for Corvette’s entries into the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series. Races are held in the United States and Canada starting in January and ending in October. A sampling of the events includes: the Rolex 24-Hour at Daytona, Florida; the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix; Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen in Watkins Glen, New York; and Motul Petit Le Mans, a 10-hour race in Atlanta.

“My dream job has always been working in a fast paced environment where the contributions of effort and talent can truly be measured,” said Johnson, an alumnus of Tech’s mechanical engineering program. “Motorsports, and specifically endurance racing, is one of the best examples of this environment. There are objective measures—lap time and finishing position—and a field full of skilled competitors with exactly the same motivation.”

Highlights of Johnson’s young career include championships in IMSA’s GT Le Mans division each of the past three years. His Corvette Racing team competes against entries from Porsche, Ford, Ferrari, and BMW.

His personal highlights reflect more of a focus on the day-to-day of his position. “I believe the biggest highlight for me is working with a dedicated team of individuals who constantly strive to get the most out of the car, tools, and equipment we bring to the track each weekend.”

The key for Johnson’s quick rise to becoming a racing team director is his preparation. “I approach every project and season with the goal of doing the absolute best that I can and leaving nothing to chance. I find the closer I get to this goal the better the outcome tends to be and the more opportunities are presented.”