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Wednesdays with Wayne – Arkansas Roller Coaster!
(Bill W) May 2, 2007 – The fastest car doesn't always win, but Wayne Johnson gave it his best shot in a pair of ¼ mile 30-lap slugfests last weekend in Arkansas. The result of the weekend showed up and down results, a little controversy, and a long ride home.
The American Sprint Cars on Tour descended on 67 Texarkana Speedway on Friday. Wayne got off to a slow start in the heat. "We started third in the heat race, and got caught behind a slower car. I was biding my time behind him, which held me up, and I let a few other cars got by me."
With the new dash format with the ASCoT, it becomes imperative to get enough passing points to qualify for the first three rows. Unfortunately, Wayne was headed outside row seven for the main event. "We started 14th and drove it up to third. We were coming! We just kind of ran out of laps, because we were fast! The track was good, I could go around the top or around the bottom, either way."
The third place finish after the rough start set the team up for one of their favorite tracks, I-30 Speedway near Little Rock. The track conditions that waited were some of the best seen all year. Wayne explains, "You could run right around the bottom, and it had a curb right at the top and you could run either/or. It reminded me of the days when I raced weekly there with (Bobby) Sparks. It was one of the best racetracks we've been to this year as far as racing surface."
Again, Johnson struggled to make the dash. "We didn't get enough points running second in the heat to make the dash." Indeed, he fell one spot short of qualifying, putting him inside row four for the main event. After a surge, disaster struck. "We started seventh in the feature and got up to third in about ten laps. The leaders were on the cushion, and I was running the bottom. A lapped car got sideways in front of me, and when I checked up, he hit me in the right front wheel and spun me around."
He continues, "I went to the back, and we went about four or five laps and the car started smoking. I knew it was probably a leak, because we had just put the valve cover gaskets on it earlier. A caution came out for someone else and I went to the work area. It wasn't my yellow, so I didn't get the two laps to fix it. I told them to push me off, and I'd get my yellow. When they threw the green, I drove up to the cone and stopped."
Much to his surprise, officials ruled that Wayne had caused his second unassisted yellow, and sent him pitside. "I would have never created that yellow, if I knew that. We would have worked on it more in the work area. I did not create two unassisted yellows, and it made me mad when they said I did, mostly because of all the points we lost. I was clearly hit on the first spin."
Regardless, of how he felt about the Little Rock incident, Wayne knows there's not much that can be done. He exited the weekend where he started it in the standings (second), but the separation between he and Jason Johnson, who runs third has become slim. "I think we had the fastest car both nights, but the fastest car doesn't always win!" he says.
When the ASCoT resumes on May 11, a new tire width and compound rule will be in effect. "I look forward to the new tire rule. When we go to Oklahoma City, it's going to even the playing field a little bit. I think its going to help us veterans, because it will free the car up, and you won't be able to just mash the gas with good equipment."
Finally the 410!
"I can't tell you how excited I am about this weekend!" says Wayne. The FattFro #14AJ will be unleashed on the Knoxville Raceway this Saturday, and 34 Raceway in West Burlington on Sunday with the IRA. He has never competed at 34 Raceway. "The car owner (Al Christoffer) will get to be there at Burlington. It should get him fired up for some racing!"
It's a Girl (Probably)!
Wayne and Erin made the trip to the doctor for a check-up on the couple's child. Results of the ultrasound showed "no visible signs" of a boy (insert Wayne joke here). Congratulations to the Johnson family for the upcoming bundle of joy expected in September!
A Look Ahead
Johnson will be heading back to his home state of Oklahoma on Friday, May 11, as the ASCoT tackles the State Fairgrounds Speedway in Oklahoma City. The tour then heads to the Devil's Bowl in Mesquite, Texas on May 12.
The rig will head Northeast the following weekend, tackling Black Rock Speedway in Dundee, New York. The Bully Hill Vineyards New York Nationals await the ASCoT series on May 18 and 19.
Wayne's World
Gary in Burlington, IA asks: What will be your biggest adjustments driving the 410 this weekend for the first time this year?
Wayne answers: Just getting used to the different tires and having to be smooth for qualifying are the main things. They actually don't drive that much differently except for the power difference.
Got a question for Wayne? Send it to us at [email protected], and we may answer it in this section! Put "? for Wayne" in your subject line. He'll try to keep it clean if you do!
Wayne's Fast Facts
Wayne's last Knoxville win was July 2, 2005. He started eighth and passed Billy Alley on lap 19 for the win. Brian Brown finished third.
"Wednesday's with Wayne"
"Wednesday's With Wayne" is an up close look at the past, present and future of colorful and talented sprint car driver Wayne Johnson. You'll never know what to expect next with Wayne, so don't miss us on Wednesdays!
To receive "Wednesday's with Wayne", send an e-mail to [email protected] with "Wayne" in the subject line.
Wayne would like to thank H&H Enterprises, Pearson Farms, R&A Farms, CnB Mushroom Farms, Eagle Chassis, Fast Wings, Hoosier Tire, Simpson, Weld and ButlerBuiltfor all their help!
Bill WrightBill W MediaMonroe, IA USA[email protected]
If this post isn't results, stories or something c
constructive, it isn't me!
@BillWMedia
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