By Bill W
November 21, 2012 – Wayne Johnson capped off a great 2012 season last Saturday night by conquering the $10,000 to win 45th Annual Western World at Canyon Speedway Park near Peoria, Arizona. The Knoxville, Iowa driver set up his win with a third place run in the prelim. He ended the season second in the Lucas Oil ASCS National Series point standings.
Things started well with a heat win on Friday from the pole. “We drew well on the front row,” says Wayne. “The racetrack wasn’t real good. There wasn’t much passing. That worked out for us.”
After starting and finishing third in his Qualifier, Wayne lined up fifth for Friday’s feature race. He would checker third. “We were pretty good there the first night,” he says. “We were riding around there. It was tough to pass. Brady (Bacon) was running the bottom, and I couldn’t run there at first. Then, about three laps to go, I started running the bottom. I pulled up on second, and I wasn’t behind him by much. We had a good car.”
Slated to start fifth in Saturday’s finale, Wayne kept an eye towards the track all night. “They reworked the track,” he says. “When the non-wing cars got out there, it started turning black all of a sudden. I went and put a harder tire on the left rear. It was used, but it had only been through one heat cycle.”
Wayne moved forward to third and kept an eye on leaders, Brady Bacon and Jason Johnson. “About 18 laps in, those guys really got to smoking their tires,” he says. “I was just really taking care of mine. I think it was lap 19 that I was a half-second better than those guys.”
It wouldn’t be long before the leaders’ rubber would yield and Wayne took command for the win. “Jason was leading and I could see under caution that he had cords showing,” he says. “I knew he was in trouble. They went two laps and he fell out. That put Brady in the lead, but then his tires were showing cord too. I knew I had to take care of mine. At the end, I’d say we had five or six laps left in ours.”
The prestigious Western World victory put Wayne at fifteen wins for 2012. “It’s been a really good year,” he says. “Winning fifteen races was the goal, and it was a successful season. We got that done. The only thing we didn’t get done was the championship, and we gave it the best shot we had.”
He remembers the year fondly as one of his best. “Between this and Lonestar (Lonestar Nationals), they paid $23,000,” says Wayne of the two wins. “Ten of them were National wins. We also won the 360 and 410 races at Knoxville and some regional shows. I don’t think I’ve ever won fifteen in a season. I think thirteen was the best year up to this one.”
Follow Updates on Facebook!
Wayne will update as his race night goes on 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 World
Andy Harble asks: What are your plans for Australia?
Wayne answers: Right now, the plan is to leave here the day after the Chili Bowl. We’ll team with Brett Smith down there. I think we’ll race Adelaide, Avalon, Mt. Gambier, Parramatta and at the Classic (Warrnambool). I go in on December 5 to see Dr. Trammel about my neck, but right now, that’s the plan.
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 saved his biggest win of the season for last with the Western World. He won fourteen other races (chronologically) at: Beaumont, Texas, Waco, Texas, Kilgore, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, Salina, Oklahoma, Knoxville, Iowa x2, Mesquite, Texas, Lawton, Oklahoma, Lebanon, Oregon x2, Elma, Washington, Lawton, Oklahoma, Kilgore, Texas and Peoria, Arizona.
Partner of the Week – Super Shox
Since 1997, Super Shox has been dedicated to building high performance shock absorbers with extreme durability at a reasonable price. Each year more racers make the switch to Super Shox and it shows with wins and championships. There have been 43 track and series champions along with numerous prestigious wins by racers using Super Shox. Super Shox has covered it all with winners from Micro Sprints to Mini Sprints, Dirt and Pavement Midgets, Dirt Wing and Non-Wing Sprint Cars, Wing and Non-Wing Pavement Sprint Cars, Silver Crown Cars, Dirt and Pavement Late Models. Visit them online at www.SuperShox.com!
“Wednesday’s with Wayne”
“Wednesday’s With Wayne” is an up close look at the past, present and future of colorful andtalented 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 Johnson Racing would like to thank Vern Rengen and Missile Motorsports, Sebastian Sandblasting & Powdercoating, City Vending, Outlaw Wings, Team Achieve, The Oil Medics, Century Signs, Smiley’s Racing Products, Hoosier Tire Southwest, Simpson, Butlerbuilt, Super Shox, Maxim, Speedway Motors, Rod End Supply, Schoenfeld Headers and RCM Design.