“It’s been a tough road to get to this point, the most pain I’ve ever experienced in my whole life.” That’s how Chase Johnson reflected on the aftermath of a serious sprint car crash at Silver Dollar Speedway in August 2024, which left him with multiple fractured vertebrae and confined him to a wheelchair. But on Sunday, during the NASCAR Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, Johnson was present in a spectator capacity. 

As the event wound down, Johnson and his wife Hayley were making their way to the exit. Navigating the crowd calmly and holding valid passes for the pathway, they were attempting to reach a handicap parking area when a security guard stopped them while still allowing other fans to pass through. 

Hayley described what happened in a now-deleted Facebook post: When they asked to speak to a supervisor, he refused. And instead, alternated between telling them to leave and demanding they stay. He then shoved Johnson, flipping his wheelchair backward. According to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office,

“The guard pushed the victim, causing his wheelchair to tip over, resulting in the victim losing consciousness and sustaining injuries.”  Johnson hit his head on the pavement, lost consciousness for about 15 seconds, and was treated at the track’s medical center before being hospitalized overnight.

The security guard, identified as 27-year-old Alexander Rosiles, was arrested around 3:00 p.m. and charged with felony assault. He appeared briefly in Sonoma County Superior Court on Tuesday, and a judge has scheduled his plea hearing for August 12. Rosiles was held on $35,000 bail. According to the Sheriff’s Office, he has a prior conviction for assault from March 2019 in San Joaquin County.

But Chase Johnson is no stranger to adversity. A third-generation racecar driver with over 300 wins, which includes the outlaw cards and 360 winged Sprint cars, his promising career was drastically changed by a severe crash in 2024. And even before that, on March 16, 2013, Chase Johnson’s life was already altered during a practice session at Marysville Raceway Park. 

Chase Johnson is a symbol of resiliency

During the practice for the season opener for the California Civil War Series, a function with his steering wheel’s quick release caused him to lose control of his sprint car, which veered into the pit area after clipping the exit wall. The crash tragically claimed the lives of two people: 68-year-old Dale Wondergem Jr., a respected sprint car owner from Grass Valley, and Johnson’s 14-year-old cousin, Marcus Joseph Johnson.

Marcus was not only a promising outlaw car champion but also Chase’s closest friend, more like a brother than a cousin. The two shared a deep bond through racing and their love for basketball, making the loss even more devastating. The accident sent a shockwave through the Northern California racing community.

In the week of the tragedy, Johnson stepped away from racing for four months. Ultimately, he made the emotional decision to return to the port, not for himself, but to honor Marcus and Dale, before his own strategy struck. What followed was a deeply personal battle with survivor’s syndrome and clinical depression, which pushed Johnson into years of psychotherapy and emotional recovery. He continued racing in their memory and openly advocates for mental health awareness, striving to inspire others dealing with loss, trauma, and depression.

So, as was the case in 2013, then 2024, and will be now, too, Johnson, with the unwavering support of his family, friends, and fans, will continue to stand as a testament to both the fragility and strength of the human spirit.