Sponsorship
The 3-Email Sequence That Got Us in the Room
The exact 3-email sponsorship sequence we used to get a national brand to reply — and why most racers quit before sending email two.
Jett Johnson·June 29, 2026
Blog
Racing tips, sponsorship advice, and real stories from the track.
Behind the Scenes
Racing Brake Fluid Explained: Why Stock Won't Survive
Stock brake fluid boils on a race track. Here's how high-temp racing brake fluid works, what the numbers mean, and how to bleed it yourself before your weekend.
Jett Johnson·June 29, 2026
Sponsorship
Endemic vs Non-Endemic Sponsors: Who Actually Pays More?
The famous racing sponsors pay you in product, not cash. Here's the honest showdown between endemic and non-endemic sponsors — and who writes real checks.
Jett Johnson·June 28, 2026
Behind the Scenes
How to Use a GoPro to Improve Your Driving
A GoPro is the cheapest coach you'll ever buy. Here's how to mount it, set it up, and actually review the footage to find lap time.
Jett Johnson·June 28, 2026
Behind the Scenes
The Truth About Track Walks: What to Look For
A track walk isn't a stroll. Here's exactly what to look for on foot — grip, curbs, camber, elevation, reference points — so you're faster lap one.
Jett Johnson·June 27, 2026
Sponsorship
$19 vs $497: Which Sponsorship Help Is Right for You?
We sell sponsorship help from $19 to $497. Here's an honest breakdown of which one is actually right for you — so you don't overpay or underbuy.
Jett Johnson·June 27, 2026
Sponsorship
What a Sponsorship Activation Looks Like at the Track
A logo on a car is step one. Here's what a real sponsorship activation looks like at a grassroots race track — and why the cheap ones often win.
Jett Johnson·June 26, 2026
Behind the Scenes
Why Most New Drivers Are Slow in Turn 1 (And How to Fix It)
New drivers lose more time and positions in Turn 1 than anywhere else on track. Here's why it happens and the exact fixes to carry more speed and stay clean.
Jett Johnson·June 26, 2026
Sponsorship
What Do Brands Actually Get From Sponsoring a Race Team?
A logo on a car isn't the deal. Here's what a brand really gets from sponsoring a grassroots race team — and the numbers that decide if it pays off.
Jett Johnson·June 25, 2026
Behind the Scenes
What Is Wheel-to-Wheel Racing? (vs. Track Days)
Wheel-to-wheel racing and track days sound similar but they're not. Here's the real difference, what it takes to race for position, and how to get there.
Jett Johnson·June 25, 2026
Behind the Scenes
What R-Compound Tires Actually Are (And Why They Matter)
R-compound tires confuse a lot of new racers. Here's what they are, how they differ from street tires, and why they make your car feel like a different animal.
Jett Johnson·June 24, 2026
Sponsorship
Why Brands Ghost Racers After the First Email
That sponsor who went silent didn't reject you. Here's the real reason brands ghost racers after the first email — and the follow-up move that gets the reply.
Jett Johnson·June 24, 2026
Behind the Scenes
The HANS Device Explained: Why You Actually Need One
What a HANS device is, how it protects your head and neck, what it costs, and why NASA and SCCA require one before you can race wheel-to-wheel.
Jett Johnson·June 17, 2026
Sponsorship
Is It Worth Sponsoring a Local Racer? Let's Settle It
Should a small business actually sponsor a local racer? Here's the honest ROI case from the sponsor's side of the table — and a free way to make the ask.
Jett Johnson·June 17, 2026
Sponsorship
No, You Don't Need to Be Fast to Get Sponsored
Most racers think podiums unlock sponsorship. They don't. Here's the proof that brands buy your audience and your story, not your lap times — and what to do about it.
Jett Johnson·June 16, 2026
Sim to Real
Trail Braking Explained (Without the Engineering Degree)
Trail braking sounds scary and technical. It isn't. Here's how to blend braking and turning to rotate your car and carry more speed through corners.
Jett Johnson·June 16, 2026
Sponsorship
Sponsorship Pitch Tier List: Instant Delete to Signed
I ranked the most common racing sponsorship pitch tactics S to F. Some get you signed. Most get you deleted. Here's where each one actually lands.
Jett Johnson·June 15, 2026
Racing Costs
What to Look For in a Used Spec Miata: A Buyer's Guide
Buying a used Spec Miata? Here's how to read the logbook, check the engine, spot a hidden wreck, and tell a real deal from a money pit. From a team that runs them.
Jett Johnson·June 15, 2026
Sim to Real
First Track Day Tips: How to Survive It Without Wrecking
Your first track day, broken down step by step. What to bring, how tech inspection works, the passing rules, and how to come home with the car in one piece.
Jett Johnson·June 14, 2026
Sponsorship
9 Racing Sponsorship Emails: Why 7 Got Ignored
I lined up 9 real racing sponsorship emails — mine, ones sent to me, and public examples. Seven got ignored. Here's the exact pattern that killed them.
Jett Johnson·June 14, 2026
Behind the Scenes
Meet Ike: Building a Spec Miata From the Ground Up
A behind-the-scenes look at Ike, our new #19 NA Spec Miata — what really goes into a ground-up grassroots race car build, part by part.
Jett Johnson·June 5, 2026
Sponsorship
We Just Put All Our Sponsorship Help in One Place
We launched a sponsorship hub for grassroots racers — free templates and tools plus paid playbooks. Here's what's in it and where to start.
Jett Johnson·June 5, 2026
Parents
Karting Parents: What a Sponsor Actually Wants From Your Kid
A sponsor doesn't care about your kid's lap times. Here's what a local business actually wants from a karting program before they'll put money on it.
Jett Johnson·June 2, 2026
Sponsorship
27 Companies That Sponsor Grassroots Racers in 2026
Real companies that actually back grassroots and amateur racers in 2026 — named, sourced, and grouped by what they give you. No fluff.
Jett Johnson·June 1, 2026
Sponsorship
The Five Questions Every Sponsor Will Ask You
Walking into a sponsorship pitch meeting? Here are the five questions every sponsor will ask a racer — and exactly how to answer each one with confidence.
Jett Johnson·May 30, 2026
Kart to Car
Are Racing Schools Worth It Before You Buy a Car?
Are racing schools worth it before you buy your first race car? An honest breakdown of cost, what you actually learn, and the cheaper paths that work.
Jett Johnson·May 29, 2026
Sponsorship
How to Price Racing Sponsorship (Without Guessing)
Learn how to price racing sponsorship the right way. A grassroots racer's guide to valuing your assets, building tiers, and naming a number sponsors trust.
Jett Johnson·May 28, 2026
Behind the Scenes
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Started Racing
Honest starting road racing advice I wish someone gave me on day one. Seven things about cost, nerves, and the first season that nobody warns new racers about.
Jett Johnson·May 24, 2026
Kart to Car
Spec7 vs Spec Miata: Which Is the Right First Race Car?
Spec7 vs Spec Miata for your first race car: real costs, parts support, grid sizes, and the honest verdict on which one to buy in 2026.
Jett Johnson·May 22, 2026
Week in Review
Week in Review: Round 2 at Pueblo
Liam found real speed at Pueblo Round 2, Jett shook down a national-championship-ready car, Tomas captured 300GB of telemetry, and the newest LFR Miata is about to debut.
Jett Johnson·May 22, 2026
Sponsorship
Non-Endemic Sponsors vs Tire Companies: Which to Pitch First
Why non-endemic racing sponsors are easier to land than tire companies for grassroots racers — and the targeting move that gets more yeses.
Jett Johnson·May 21, 2026
Sponsorship
How to Build a Racing Sponsorship Media Kit Brands Read
A racing sponsorship media kit template that actually gets opened. Section-by-section walkthrough — what to include, what to cut, and why most decks get deleted.
Jett Johnson·May 21, 2026
Behind the Scenes
Spec Miata Race Weekend Schedule: An Hour-by-Hour Walkthrough
Curious what a real Spec Miata race weekend actually looks like? Here's the hour-by-hour breakdown from gate open to checkered flag, with no fluff.
Jett Johnson·May 21, 2026
Behind the Scenes
The First 10 Laps at a New Track: How to Get Up to Speed
Learning a new race track without crashing or wasting a weekend. Here's the lap-by-lap approach I use at every unfamiliar circuit, from out-lap to flow.
Jett Johnson·May 17, 2026
Kart to Car
Kart to Car: Why Most Drivers Wait Too Long to Move Up
Wondering when to move from karting to cars? Most young drivers wait too long and stall their career. Here's the honest readiness checklist and the path that works.
Jett Johnson·May 15, 2026
Sponsorship
The Three Things Every Sponsorship Email Should Do
Most racing sponsorship emails get deleted in under five seconds. Here are the three things every pitch must do — with real examples — to actually get a reply.
Jett Johnson·May 14, 2026
Sponsorship
How to Find Local Sponsors for Racing (Grassroots Guide)
Looking for local sponsors as a grassroots racer? Here's the targeted, hometown-first approach that actually works — and why cold-emailing Red Bull doesn't.
Jett Johnson·May 11, 2026
Sim to Real
Sim Racing to Real Racing: The Honest Bridge
Going from sim racing to real racing? Here's what actually transfers, what doesn't, and the cheapest honest path to your first real lap in a race car.
Jett Johnson·May 10, 2026
Racing Costs
How Much Does It Really Cost to Race Spec Miata for a Season?
An honest 2026 breakdown of Spec Miata racing costs. What owning a car costs per season, what an all-inclusive program runs, and the hidden fees most posts skip.
Jett Johnson·May 9, 2026
Sponsorship
How to Get Racing Sponsors: The Complete Guide for Grassroots Racers
Everything you need to know about finding, pitching, and landing sponsors for your racing program. No fluff, no theory — just what actually works.
Jett Johnson·April 13, 2026
Behind the Build
We Won $50,000. Here's What That Actually Means.
LeadFoot Racing became the inaugural winner of the Spark the Springs business grant. Here's the story behind the win — and why a race team competed against real businesses in the first place.
Jett Johnson·November 8, 2025