SIX-TIME, SEVEN-TIME

Wade Hunter Johnson was born on November 1st, 1987 to parents Warren Johnson and Nancy Jo Harding in Moore, Oklahoma. Hunter is the oldest of three children, his younger sisters Daisy Lou born in August of 1995 and Rosie Mae born in June of 1998, prior to their father’s death on May 3rd, 1999 during the infamous 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado.

Hunter attended Moore Public Schools from kindergarten until ninth grade. From his freshman year on, he attended vocational school to become a certified automobile mechanic. In May of 2003, Hunter began competing in races at Thunder Valley Raceway Park, using a fake identification card that claimed he was over the age of 18.

In July of 2004, Hunter was arrested after a race and held in the county jail overnight for possession of a false ID, and for underage drinking. Hunter faced time in juvenile detention and having his learner’s permit revoked until he convinced the judge to allow him to compete in the 50 lap race that would be held at the Cleveland County Fair that September. Following Hunter’s win, his permit was returned to him and charges were dropped under one condition: that he keep racing. Sober.

By the time Hunter graduated from vocational school in 2006, he was sponsored by local businesses and earned himself a spot in the National Dirt Series. Hunter broke into the NASCAR Nationwide Series after only two years of racing for Chevrolet in the Dirt Series. Between 2008 and 2012, Hunter raced in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, then was called up to race in the Cup Series once the 2013 NASCAR season began.

Since joining NASCAR, Hunter has made history not only by becoming the first rookie to ever win The Winston in 2013, but by winning seven consecutive races at Dover Motor Speedway between 2013-2020, this earning him the nickname ‘Seven-Time’. As of 2025, Hunter is a seven time Cup Series Champion and has so far won at Daytona, Atlanta, Texas, Kansas, and Dover.