EC Gearhead Gears Up For Reality TV Series

Tom Giffey |

Say hello to Kyle.
Say hello to Kyle.

Gentlemen, start your engines (and your DVRs): An Eau Claire gearhead is a contestant on a new racing reality series on the NBCSports Network. “Kwik” Kyle Johnson is among 24 competitors on Season 2 of Octane Academy, a cable show focused on racing in which – at least judging from a video from the previous season – they’re also pitted against each other in extreme activities like paintball, boxing, and having insects stuck inside their helmets (a surefire reality show staple). On the series, Johnson and the other participants hone their skills with the help of four professional racers – Ken Block, Brian Deegan, Tanner Foust, and Vaughn Gittin Jr. – with the ultimate winner getting a prize package that includes a chance to train with the pros, a Ford Racing Scholarship, and a new Ford vehicle. (If you hadn’t guessed it, Ford sponsors the show.) Johnson, 26, is an experienced dirt oval racer who says he was born into a racing family and works at a diesel repair shop in Eau Claire. The series was slated to premiere at 11pm Monday, June 17, and will reportedly run for six one-hour episodes. If you feel the need for speed – or just want to cheer on a local guy who has motorsports in his blood – tune into the NBCSports Network (that’s channel 33 on Charter Digital Cable in Eau Claire). Learn more at www.octaneacademy.com or check out Kwik Kyle’s Facebook page.