Wayne races at TMS (Bryan Hulbert Photo)
(Bill W) April 12, 2017 – Wayne Johnson and the Two-C Racing #2c team found some much needed speed with two podium finishes at last weekend’s Tony Stewart Texas Sprint Car Nationals at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The Oklahoma City driver registered second and third place finishes Friday and Saturday. The team will run with the World of Outlaws in Texas at Gator Motorplex near Willis Thursday, and Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite on Friday. The Lucas Oil ASCS National Series will be back in action Saturday at the Missouri State Fair Speedway in Sedalia.
Wayne and the team made some wholesale changes before practice on Thursday. “We made some big changes that worked out for us,” he says. “We were fast. Sam (Hafertepe who swept the weekend) is just so good right now. He was unbeatable last week. No one was going to beat him.”
Things started well for the team. After winning the heat from the pole, they went from fourth to second in the qualifier. Wayne drew the pole for Friday’s feature. “We led a little there in the beginning,” he says. “We had a red on lap five. Bud looked at the tire and said we’d have to take care of the tires or we wouldn’t make it.”
Hafertepe was coming from his seventh row starting spot and eventually tracked the #2c down. “We had gone through several sets of tires and I didn’t think anyone had any left,” says Wayne. “When Sam went by me on the outside, I picked up the pace to get back to him. I ran him down, and the caution came out. That’s when I thought to myself that I better calm down. I thought he may eventually get a flat.”
Wayne’s best hope was misfortune for the leader. “I conserved the tire and kind of rode there,” he says. “I let him go. Don’t get me wrong…he was a lot better than us. I just had to hope that he was going to get a flat. But everybody made it. I was shocked!”
The second-place finish locked him into Saturday’s finale, where he would draw a starting spot outside row one. “The track had a lot more moisture in it Saturday,” says Wayne. “It was really racy. We were able to lead the first two or three laps. We were good early, but the car got tighter and tighter. I had a racecar that I hadn’t had in a long time. We just over-adjusted a little.”
The tight condition continued for Wayne. “We fell back and really should have run fifth,” he says. “Sam got by us, then (Seth) Bergman, (Aaron) Reutzel and (Christopher) Bell too. Bell and Reutzel crashed, so that moved us back up to third and that’s where we finished.”
Overall, the weekend was a huge confidence booster with a large and stout field in attendance. “We gained leaps and bounds,” says Wayne, who jumped from eighth to third in the series’ standings. “We’ve changed so many things on this racecar. I’ve never been very good at Fort Worth. We went down there with things that were off the wall for me, and it seemed to work. We just got beat. Sam is really operating right now. All of us have been in that zone, and it’s a good feeling.”
Follow Updates on Facebook!
Wayne will update as his race night commences at his Facebook page. Find it by searching for Wayne Johnson Racing or clicking the following link…
http://www.facebook.com/#!/WayneJohnsonRacing
Outlaw Wings – “The Wing with an Attitude”
Check out the new “recessed rivet” design put out by Outlaw Wings. Talk to Wayne about purchasing Outlaw Wings for your car! Outlaw Wings – "The Wing with an Attitude"!
Wayne's Fast Facts
On April 7, 2012, Wayne won in ASCS-Lone Star regional action at the Lonestar Speedway near Kilgore, Texas. Martin Edwards came home second in front of Logan Forler, Sam Hafertepe Jr. and John Ricketts.
Partner of the Week – The Oil Medics
The Oil Medics provides truck service without the expense or wait of a dealer! Visit them online at www.TheOilMedics.com!
"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!
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Wayne Johnson Racing would like to thank partners, Todd Carlile, Outlaw Wings, City Vending and product sponsors The Oil Medics, Sebastian Sandblasting & Powdercoating, Rod End Supply, Astro Titanium, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson, Butlerbuilt, Xtreme Accu-Tach, Weld Wheels, Slade Shocks, Kustom Sprint Car Supplies, Fisher Racing Engines, Speedway Graphics and Canyon Apparel.
Photo: Wayne races at TMS (Bryan Hulbert Photo)
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