(Bill W) August 30, 2017 – Wayne Johnson and the Two-C Racing team took a quick car to their outings last weekend with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Series. After finishing seventh at Riverside International Raceway (“The Ditch”) in West Memphis, Arkansas on Thursday, the Oklahoma City driver ended up crashing after leading in his first trip to Smoky Mountain Speedway near Maryville, Tennessee. This weekend will see a two-night stretch at Jackson Motorplex in Minnesota.
Things would start well for Wayne in West Memphis, but the redraw was typical. “We were good at the Ditch,” he says. “We won the heat from outside the front row. Can you imagine that we would draw the seven?”
Things went well on the first start, but that was called back. “We were up to third coming off of two,” says Wayne. “The (Gio) Scelzi kid spun I think. The second start didn’t go as well. I fell back to twelfth. We had to work our way back up to seventh. It was a tricky track. It had a big curb and it was slick below it. But the middle was heavy, and they didn’t even water the bottom.”
Smoky Mountain Speedway was a new track for Wayne. “It’s a high-banked place,” he says. “It reminded of the old 3/8-mile track in Oklahoma City that Lanny (Edwards) built. It was about that size. You could haul around it for sure. We were able to win the heat from outside the front row again.”
This time, he drew outside row one, and took off early in the feature. “We got out there and we were really moving,” says Wayne. “Our fastest lap in the feature was a 14.9 and the next fastest was a 15.5. We were really rolling there out front.”
Wayne would get into lapped traffic and things went haywire. “The lapped cars screwed me up a couple of times,” he says. “Sam (Hafertepe) got by me, and Blake Hahn got in underneath me. I drove it in there stupid and knocked down the fence. It was a pretty good lick. It knocked the wind out of me.”
Considering one story from Smoky Mountain Speedway, Wayne considered himself lucky. “They told us a story about the track and Buddy Baker,” he says. “Buddy had crashed and they put him in the ambulance. As they were driving out the back gate, the gurney flew out of the ambulance!”
Wayne emerged o.k., and wasn’t as sore as he thought he’d be on Sunday. “It was unfortunate, because we were really good,” says Wayne. “We’ve got our stuff rolling. The driver just stepped on it. I just went in there and overdrove the corner. The fence ripped the front end out, and we tore it up good. We’ll have things ready for Jackson this weekend though.”
Follow Updates on Facebook!
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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
Wayne won the Bud Shootout at US36 Raceway near Cameron, Missouri on June 6, 2003. He registered second quick behind Terry McCarl, who turned the first sub-ten second lap in the history of the high-banked 3/8 mile (9.99). Wayne held off the rest of the field in the feature, driving the Vielhauer #12x. Jesse Hockett was second, followed by Colin Northway, Jesse Giannetto, Skip Jackson and Brian Brown.
Partner of the Week – Rod End Supply
Whether you are running a go-cart, micro, mini-sprint, midget, modified, late model, sprint or a tractor, Rod End Supply has the assortment of rod ends, radius rods, and specialty products that will help you lead the field in performing at your maximum potential. At Rod End Supply, “They don’t just sell ‘em, they race ‘em! Visit them on the web at www.RodEndSupply.com or call 1-800-284-2902 today!
"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.
Bill W Media
Monroe, IA USA
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