By Bill W
April 20, 2011 – Wayne Johnson and the BDS Motorsports #38 team towed to Little Rock with high expectations. Taking a fast car to a place where you have won multiple times and consistently finish up front will do that. However, a motor failure turned a two-day Lucas Oil ASCS National Series event into a half of a night for the Knoxville, Iowa driver turned spectator on Saturday. With a spare motor still on the way, they were forced to watch the finale.
The car was a rocket from the beginning. Wayne drew inside row four of his heat race on a tacky track that saw some cars struggle to pass. He surged forward into second by the checkers and was running down the leader. “The track was racy, and we were spot on,” he says. “To be truthful, we may well have won it in another lap. We were right there. The car was that good.”
The new combination of Wayne and owner/crew chief Bryan Sumby has jelled well. Wayne has had plenty of success at I-30 Speedway, and there were plenty of notes to go off of. “I just gave Bryan my book and told him ‘this is what I do’,” he says. “We’ve been going off of that…especially at the racetracks that I have done well at in the past.”
The shock package has proven to be a key in setup. “Bryan built us some stuff for the Super Shox that was compatible with what I was already doing as far as valving the shocks,” says Wayne. “I think we’re on the verge of winning some races…we just need some things to go our way.”
Wayne has suffered in the redraw with ASCS this season, and Friday was no different. “Of course, in the feature draw, I had to give the other guys a break by drawing seven,” he says. “That redraw is just like an Outlaw dash anymore. It’s just tough to start back in row four with the caliber of competition you have out here.”
It turned out that Wayne could have drawn anywhere. The race was short-lived. “Everything was good for the first ten laps or so,” he says. “We knocked the head off the valve, and that was it.”
Unfortunately, that was it for the weekend as far as racing. The team’s second motor is still not ready. “It stunk that we were all the way down there without a spare,” says Wayne. “Our other one is on the way. We didn’t think there would be any problems there, but that’s racing.”
Wayne and Sumby are mulling over options to race this weekend, but will definitely be in action April 29 and 30. “We’ve not decided what we’re doing for sure this weekend,” says Wayne. “It’s still up in the air. We’ll definitely be at the Knoxville opener (April 30), and I’m pretty sure we’ll be at Jackson (Minnesota) that Friday (April 29) before Knoxville opens.”
Big Sale on T-Shirts!
Wayne Johnson Racing has a variety of 2010 apparel and it is ALL on sale! $10 for t-shirts, hats, women and kids’ shirts and more! E-mail WayneJohnsonRacing@yahoo.com to place your order!
Buy Your Outlaw Wings from Wayne
Wayne is an Outlaw Wings dealer located in the Knoxville, Iowa area. Wayne credits the new Outlaw top wing for his 2009 wins at Little Rock and Cowtown. Contact Wayne for your Outlaw Wing, as he has some special Holiday deals going! Outlaw Wings – “When Downforce Matters”!
Wayne’s Website
To learn more about Wayne and the team, log on to www.WayneJohnsonRacing.com!
Wayne’s World
Lee Billings asks: What has been the toughest part in you and Bryan starting this new team?
Wayne answers: You know really, it hasn’t been too tough. We’ve worked really well together, and there really hasn’t been much of a struggle. I guess the biggest part was trying to pull everything together quickly so we could go racing. That was the biggest thing.
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!
Wayne’s Fast Facts
Wayne found Victory Lane at the 34 Raceway last year, driving Dale Oaks #41 against the Sprint Invaders. After starting in row six, he battled with Jerrod Hull and Matt Sutton for the lead. In the end he would finish first ahead of Sutton, Bobby Mincer, Hull and Donnie Steward.
“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.
Wayne would like to thank the following for making this possible: BDS Motorsports, Parker Machine, Champion Oil, BMRS Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Max Muscle, Butlerbuilt, Hinchman, Schoenfeld Headers, Super Shox, Hoosier Racing Midwest, Rod End Supply, Fuel Safe, Simpson, Conroy Pneu Controls, KSE, Maxim Chassis, Kinsler Fuel Injection, Astro Titanium, ITI Lubricants, DMI, Laser Carwash and Speedway Motors