April Home of the Month: A Racecar Driver’s Dream Retreat Hits the Market
April’s home of the month was built to sell. The property, designed for both luxury and lifestyle, blends sleek modern comfort with rugged, wide-open space, ideal for anyone who enjoys horsepower on and off the track.
Tucked away in the rolling hills of the San Diego Country Estates, this month’s featured home isn’t just a beautiful place to live-it’s owned by a professional racecar driver and his wife. And it’s for sale. Johnny and Cassie Borneman have been Ramona residents since they were kids and will be married 14 years this August. The couple doesn’t live in this home; it is one they built to sell.
“We both moved to Ramona in 1st grade (him) and 2nd grade for me. Johnny graduated in 1996, and I graduated in 2000. We moved to Lakeside for a couple of years together, bought our current house in 2005, remodeled for two years, and moved in 2007 right before the fires,” says Cassie. They build homes through Borneman Investments—building 2-3 custom homes a year in Ramona—and are both owners of Borneman Trucking, Inc.
Johnny is a racecar driver and has been racing since he was 12. He started in karting and moved on to late models in the southwest region, including Cajon Speedway. He started racing NASCAR in 2000 and has raced in the ARCA series, Craftsman Trucks series, and Xfinity. Now he’s semi-retired, focusing more on their kids racing in karting and junior late models.
Their beautiful, newly built SDCEA home is 4056-square-foot with five bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and a large garage with an EV charger and golf cart parking. The open floor plan has wood flooring and rustic wood beams throughout. The interior and exterior feature natural stone shipped from Texas; the stunning master bathroom includes a natural stone wall. There is a 6’x11’ waterfall island in the chef’s kitchen and a laundry room with space for dual washers and dryers. A custom-made iron handrail runs along the staircase in an open entry/foyer. The home is also energy efficient, with solar panels and the latest technology. “I just came up with the interior and exterior design and chose materials. [Johnny]’s in charge of the rest,” says Cassie.
When the couple initially saw the lot, they fell in love with the location and the serene surroundings. Cassie says, “It’s really a one-of-a-kind lot. The community is great and so friendly. We had a lot of neighbors watching the whole process and stopping by to say hello.” She adds they wanted a different style home, one you would see in Texas, for example, and to offer upgrades that matched. An open floor plan was a must, with views of the neighboring golf course and open space preserve. The interior is neutral, with natural, earthy accents to tie it all together.
“Johnny’s biggest priority is positioning the home with the most effective layout to utilize the lot’s full potential. This one was a bit tricky due to the preserve and neighboring lot. We did it, though,” says Cassie. The property sits on a 1/2 acre backed up to an open space preserve with a natural waterfall. A mini vineyard is planted along the driveway, and the backyard can go any direction the new homeowners see fit. “The views are absolutely stunning, and the sunsets are to die for,” says Cassie.
“We love everything about it,” says Cassie. “We built it to what we would personally love in our own home. If we didn’t need a race shop, we would move and keep it for ourselves.” She hopes whoever buys the home feels the love and hard work they put into it. They really do love this house and have made many memories there already, and she hopes a beautiful family can continue and make their own one day.
This home offers a rare opportunity to live in style with a touch of speed. It won’t stay on the market long. Check out the listing here.
