Some racers roll in quiet, just looking to learn. Others? They roll in hot—and by the end of the season, they're qualifying at the top and earning titles. John Schneider came into his rookie AMRA season with a love for Harleys, a hunger for horsepower, and something to prove. And by the time the tire smoke cleared, he'd earned the racing title of Johnny Rotten.
Riding out of Wood River, Illinois, John showed up in 2024 with his 1998 XL1200S, ready to run in Street Eliminator. What followed was anything but a warm-up season. John put down solid performances across the board—#4 qualifier in Ohio, #2 in Bowling Green, and #1 qualifier in Rockingham. Not bad for a first-year racer.
When the season points were tallied, John finished 14th out of 55 riders in the 11.50 index class. That kind of debut doesn’t happen by luck—it happens with focus, fire, and a few solid mentors. John credits Donnie Huffman, Joe Perry, Jay Turner, Jeremy Hall, Matt Hawkins, Andy Simon, Jim Vanfleet, and Clayton Danford for helping sharpen his edge on and off the track.
Why did he start racing? Easy: a love for Harleys and going fast. Once he felt the adrenaline hit and the Christmas tree dropped, there was no turning back.
Now, with a strong rookie year under his belt and that Johnny Rotten title in his back pocket, John Schneider is eyeing 2025 with serious intent. The bike’s dialed in, the fire’s lit, and the track is calling.
The next chapter? It's gonna be loud.
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