Grudge and no-time (N/T) racing standout Mario Johnson has never been known for doing anything second-rate, and when he chose to return to the 4.84-inch bore-space arena with another car of his own, he did it the only way he knows how: first class all the way.

Johnson set the bar high two years ago with the debut of his spectacular ’67 Camaro, Lucky Luciano, and his new ’69, known as Pressure, follows right in its footsteps with show-winning looks. The most notable difference this time around, though, is Johnson’s transition from nitrous oxide injection to a ProCharger-boosted combination.

Last season, Johnson teamed up with friend Randolph Scott and veteran racer and promoter Mike Hill to campaign the Uncle Sam Camaro. While talking strategy in the offseason, Johnson iterated that in order to compete adequately with the level of competition in today’s 4.84 shootouts, a new build was necessary.

“This build started off as a partnership between Randolph and myself,” Johnson begins. “He had a brand new Fulton nitrous engine, but in the midst of the build he took on a new business venture and went to do that, and that was when I decided I was going to do something different. I always try to be a trendsetter of some type, and looking at the rules for three years and having the experience in the class, I just wanted another challenge. I’m not a turbo man, so I didn’t want to do turbo, but I felt like ProCharger was badass, and I love zoomie headers, so that’s the direction I chose to go.” 

Johnson secured the services of Teddy Houser Race Cars in North Carolina to construct the stunning new piece that features a Joe Van O carbon-fiber body, one-off RC Comp polished wheels, Strange Engineering’s new Evolution series brakes, a custom Hammer Concepts rearend housing, a FuelTech ECU and electronics, and Menscer Motorsports 4-way adjustable shocks and struts at all four corners. The unique color started as orange and was mixed with several other candy colorways to produce a striking hue to compliment the polished parts and pieces.

“Teddy and Zach Houser are like family to me, and so we put our heads together, and I got with Ziff Hudson and we came up with a plan,” Johnson explains. “I always try to outdo myself, and with this build that’s what we did. I had never worked with ProCharger, so I called up Fletcher Cox, and he connected me with their team.’ There haven’t been ProCharger cars in the 4.84 class, so they really worked with me to get everything I need.”

For horsepower, Johnson partnered with EIC Motorsports to build the 4.84-inch bore-space, 480 cubic inch small-block Chevrolet, using a CN billet block and cylinder heads. Out front is a ProCharger F-3X-136 supercharger. A three-speed Turbo 400 and Torque Converter Services piece send the power out to the Mickey Thompson 275 drag radials.

Johnson’s efforts, under the BMF Racing umbrella, continue the legacy set by close friends and fellow stablemates Brian and Chris Tuten, with whom Johnson was teamed with for more than a decade. Johnson is quick to credit Kevin Mullins, his fabricator Scott Peterson, painter Richard Wright, friend Shannon “Iceman” Jenkins, and his entire BMF crew, including his brother Van, “Fatz,” “Flip,” “LT,” “KB,” “Big Herm,” Herb, Omari, MJ, “Nutso,” Brown, Reggie, Kelly, ‘Shop Boy,” ‘Lil Charlie, “Nepp,” “Black,” “Rog,” “Weezy,” “Nephew,” “Kiel,” “Meech,” “King,” Jay, Donte, and Sade. “My guys, I can’t thank them all enough for standing by me and stepping up and helping with maintenance, with merchandise, travel, and everything that it takes to do this,” Johnson says.

Johnson and Harvey, with Hudson calling the tuning shots, debuted the car at Hill’s recent Year End Finale at South Georgia Motorsports Park, powering to the semifinals in the 19-car field of the nation’s best X-Treme 4.84 cars before striking the tires against Tyler Hancock.

Johnson is targeting Hill’s Hitman Productions N/T X-Treme 4.840/Small Block Boost series in 2025, in an effort to add a points championship to his many event and grudge successes over his long career in the sport. The chance to win a true championship, and the camaraderie of his team, is what Johnson says drove him back into the sport in an ownership capacity.

“The main reason that I decided to come back was the same reason I originally built Lucky Luciano. I’m still a no-time racer at heart, and over the years, my reputation in racing has meant I don’t get as many grudge races as I used to because people respect me or whatever the case may be,” Johnson explains of his decision to reinvest in the fledgling 4.84 N/T arena. “But when Mike came up with this no-time class, it was perfect because it’s the same racers, but in a very competitive class. He put out a set of rules that’s been fair, and anybody can win — the level of competition in this class is what drew me back to it.” 

“Mike came out with the points series the next year after we sold the ’67, and I really wanted to be involved in that,” he continues. “It’s almost like organized no-time racing — like shootout racing, and it’s just exciting. And my guys on my crew —I have the best crew in the world — we love it. For us, it’s a chance to get together, we fellowship, we cook out, and we have a great time together. It’s really about them — my son, the guys, they all love it.  So it was more about doing it for everybody, and for my love of the series. That’s why we chose this deal, because I’m still into grudge racing. The no-time part was good, and I love the fact that his rules make you do something to separate yourself and think outside the box. And that’s what makes it for me. It made it real competitive, to where it’s anybody’s race to win.”