Flint Native Honored With Scholarship From Disabled Sports USA

IndyCar Pro Mazda Racecar driver and Flint native Michael Johnson has been named the scholarship recipient for the 2014 National Race Festival at the Hardford Ski Spectacular in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Disabled Sports USA provides adaptive sports opportunities for people with disabilities, in order to help them gain independence, confidence, and fitness.

"I'm so stoked to be able to attend the Ski Spectacular and to train with the members of the U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing National team," said Johnson. "Everything that the Disabled Sports USA organization stands for is something I'm really proud to represent. I'm truly honored for the opportunity, and look forward to getting on the ground in Denver this winter!"

Now in its 27th year, Disabled Sports USA's The Hartford Ski Spectacular is one of the nation's largest adaptive sports festivals for people with disabilities. Hosted annually, at the beginning of Dec., Johnson will not only get to enjoy the slopes, he'll also receive coaching from the nation's elite adaptive race coaches, including the US Paralympics Alpine Skiing National Team, U.S. Paralympics, the National Sports Center for the Disabled and Aspen Valley Ski Club. He will also train with members of the U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing National team.

Johnson is the first and only paralyzed driver licensed by INDYCAR to compete in the series' developmental ladder program, which prepares drivers for the VERIZON IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500.