By Bill W
February 17, 2010 – Wayne Johnson brought his race gear to Florida for a reason. He was able to show it off, driving Glenn Styres #0 car last Thursday in All Stars action at East Bay Raceway Park. Styres was snowed in at home, and Wayne ran second for most of the feature event, before a tangle involving a lapped car sidelined him. He will return to Florida this weekend and next, before continuing his pursuit of a ride for 2010.
The Knoxville, Iowa driver was serving as the wrench for Styres, and filled in as driver for this one. He won this race at East Bay one year ago, so he was ready. “Glenn went back home to Ontario, but he couldn’t make it back because of the weather,” says Wayne. “I was glad I had my race stuff with me, and we tried to make the most of it. I put my seat in, and there we were with a chance to win the race! But then came the bad luck…story of my life lately…”
With 35 solid entries in attendance, Wayne jumped in the car for the first time and turned the sixth quick lap of the night. “We were the first car out, and as luck would have it, the track was still greasy,” he says. “Dale Blaney went out dead last and set quick time, so for us to be sixth quick, you knew we were on it. The car felt really good, and you know, we won this race last year in the 14AJ. I have a feel for East Bay. We went back to the notes I had for last year.”
Starting fifth in his heat, he would advance to third and cinch a spot in the first three rows for the feature. “The track widened out as the night went on, and had a top and bottom at both ends,” he says. “It was my first experience with the Goodyear tires. That was a little different, but I think they really put the driver back in the equation. They definitely loosen the car up. We were able to get by (Paul) McMahan and (Greg) Hodnett (in the heat), so we were going by some good cars. The track was still a little bit narrow, but I got a good start. I’m just hungry right now. Those guys just wanted a transfer, but right now, I have something to prove.”
Wayne’s luck (or lack of luck) in the draw came into play when it was time to see where he would start. “At Volusia, I drew for Styres twice and came up with a one and a three for him,” he says. “One of the guys drew for qualifying for me at East Bay and drew three. Of course, I go to the frontstretch and have to draw my own number for the feature. Obviously, I drew the worst number (6).”
Despite the start outside of row three, Wayne was quickly into the top three. “It was a good race,” he says. “Brandon Wimmer started on the pole, and (Tim) Shaffer got the jump on him. We settled into third there, and I felt like we were faster, we just couldn’t get by Wimmer. Something broke on his car, and he wrecked.”
After the restart, Wayne was on the leader. “Shaffer was out of the picture at that point, but on the restart, I was on his bumper,” he says. “We took off, and I stayed right with him. He may have got a couple car lengths out there at one time when I messed up, but I was able to drive right back up to him.”
Fred Rahmer suffered a flat right in front of the leaders, and that would spell disaster for Wayne. “Rahmer blew the tire, and Shaffer swerved to miss him,” he says. “I had nowhere to go and got into the back of (Shaffer). That spun me out and sent me to the back with six laps to go.”
Restarting at the tail, Wayne would move up to eleventh at the final checkers. After coming home to Iowa this week, Wayne will return to Florida for more action. “I’m heading back down to run at Clewiston, Florida this weekend in Glenn’s car. He’s going to be running two cars in those races, and also at East Bay the week after.”
Buy Your ARP Wings from Wayne
Wayne is an ARP Wings dealer located in the Knoxville, Iowa area. Wayne credits the new ARP top wing for his wins at Little Rock and Cowtown. Contact Wayne for your ARP Wing, as he has some special Holiday deals going! ARP Wings – “When Downforce Matters”!
Wayne’s Website
To learn more about Wayne and the team, log on to www.WayneJohnsonRacing.com!
Wayne’s World
Mason Lewis asks: How did you get hooked up with Glenn Styres?
Wayne answers: Scott Benic actually called me back in September of 2008, and said they were looking for someone to go up there and run the Canadian Nationals in their car (which Wayne won). It’s all been downhill from there (laughs)!
Wayne’s Fast Facts
Wayne’s Winternationals preliminary win at East Bay last year came in the Al Christoffer #14AJ Maxim/Fisher. Greg Hodnett was second, ahead of Daryn Pittman, Mark Smith and Terry McCarl. 2009 was the third straight year that Wayne has won a feature in Florida.
Got a question for Wayne? Each week, Wayne will answer your questions about “Tech Tips”, or anything that’s on your mind. If you ever wondered what a part on a sprint car is all about, send an e-mail to us at sprntcar@iowatelecom.net, 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!
“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 sprntcar@iowatelecom.net with “Wayne” in the subject line.