From Bill W, image courtesy of Carey Akin
In the Channing Zierolf Motorsports entry, Wayne Johnson found a lot of speed, but mechanical gremlins plagued the team all weekend long with the ASCS-Gulf South series in south Texas. The Knoxville, Iowa veteran sprint car driver is still looking for opportunities to land a ride for 2010.
Wayne feels closer to making a deal on some equipment, but can’t do it alone. “I’m still looking for a ride,” says the 2010 “King of the 360’s”. “I do have a deal on the table with everything I need to go racing, but I need one more partner to help out on it. I can’t do it alone. I was hoping to get something rounded up for this weekend with the Outlaws, but I don’t think it will happen.”
Wayne competed in the Zierolf #c41 on Friday at Golden Triangle Raceway Park near Beaumont, and on Saturday at Battleground Speedway near Highlands. “Anytime you’re in a brand new situation it seems to take a little while to get going, but I have to say, that is one of the best handling racecars I’ve ever driven as far as balance,” says Wayne of his opportunity. I don’t know how Jason (Johnson) got it that way. We’re talking about running together some more.”
Competitors found wet conditions at GTRP. “I was just so greasy,” says Wayne. “I put 28 tear-offs on for the heat race, and in the eight laps, only had four left. We started last and got as far as sixth. I pulled tear-offs with the right hand, and I don’t think it ever touched the steering wheel.”
A sixth place heat run left Wayne in the back of one of the B mains, but he surged to the third and final transfer. Problems emerged, however. “We had some oil pressure issues, and you don’t want to take a chance with that,” he says. “We did a lap in the feature and pulled her in. It was probably a good thing, because there was a lot of stuff torn up.”
Wayne found some luck in the draw by recruiting yet another victim. “On Saturday, Wolfy, who helped Jason Johnson…I made him draw for us,” he says. “Darned if he didn’t put us on the front of the heat and the pole of the feature.”
Wayne won his heat and shot out to lead the first five laps of the main event, but lost power steering before he could complete a lap. “It was a good race,” he says. “We were able to get out to a lead early. Unfortunately, the power steering line came off. It happened on the start where we finally went green. I drove the first ten laps with it. (The fluid) covered my new Butlerbuilt suit. I’m hoping it will come out.”
It resulted in another DNF. “Finally, I went down into three, and it was all I could do to turn the wheel,” says Wayne. “Finally, I just had to stop. I was so tired. I thought I was going to be King Kong for 25 laps, but I made it ten.”
If you would like to partner with Wayne, you can e-mail him at waynejohnsonracing@yahoo.com.
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
Eddie Garrett asks: Have you ever had any superstitions with your racing?
Wayne answers: Peanuts, 13, green, I’ve never had those superstitions. Everyone says green is bad luck, but I’ve seen Steve Kinser kick everybody’s tail with a green car. The race starts with a green flag, and at the end of the night you go to the pay window and get some more green. I don’t see anything wrong with that. I won’t eat past 3 o’clock, but that’s about it. I used to have a pair of raceday underwear, but I think the luck wore off of those too.
Wayne’s Fast Facts
A March win came in 1994 for Wayne at the State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City. Bruce Jennings was second ahead of Edd French, Danny Jennings and Scott Sabolich. In 2007, he won two weeks in a row with the ASCS National features, first at the Devil’s Bowl and then Oklahoma City.
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!