By Bill W
April 23, 2014 – The Wayne Johnson Racing #77x may not have had the results they were looking for at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas last weekend, but they had a fast racecar. The Knoxville, Iowa driver used his experience at the ½-mile oval to lead ten laps on Friday night, and with the help of Rick Ferkel, felt good all weekend, despite a pair of DNF’s. This week, the team continues with the World of Outlaws at the Salina High Banks in Oklahoma, and at the weekly show at Knoxville Raceway.
Wayne started on Friday at Devil’s Bowl with 12th quick, and a heat race win. “I can’t say enough about my buddy Rick Ferkel,” he says. “He really got me rolling down there. Twelfth quick was perfect. That put us on the front row of the heat race. We were able to get the jump on Kerry Madsen there and win it.”
An invert of six in the Dash put Wayne on the pole. He took advantage with another win. “We won pretty convincingly there,” he says. “The car as really working well in the Dash.”
Wayne led early on and continued to run amongst the leaders. “We led the first ten laps or so,” he says. “We started to get a little free. (Donny) Schatz got by us, but we were still second. I got frustrated a little bit. I should have calmed down a little bit and I would have been fine. I got to a lapped car and I tried to run around the outside of it. That got me back in third.”
A change in the motor signaled something was amiss in the #77x. “Something started sounding a little funny with the motor, and I thought, ‘Oh here we go,’” says Wayne. “On lap seventeen, I was running fourth and it was spraying fuel on me. At that point, I just pulled it in. The fuel nozzle got knocked loose.”
Saturday’s finale saw Wayne timing in 13th quick, and starting fifth in the first heat race. “The first heat is the tough one,” he says. “We got a horrible start. We got the car a little too tight. I jumped the curb and I stopped to bring out a caution. The right front wheel packed full of mud. We were able to drive it back up into a transfer though.”
Wayne would start the main event 13th. “On the first start, we were up to eighth or ninth,” he says. “Steve Kinser spun, so we had to restart. On the next start, we got as far up as ninth. Kevin Swindell and I started playing slidejobs, and David Gravel got in the mix. For a few laps, it was a three-way battle. I got shuffled to eleventh, and that’s where I was going to run.”
Unfortunately, the veteran driver suffered a miscue. “We were still a little tight,” says Wayne. “The racetrack was getting slim up in one and two on the curb, and I ran in way too hard with about three to go. From there, I just pulled in.”
Wayne was happy with the way the XXX chassis powered by Fisher engines was feeling. “We’ve been superfast,” he says. “Devil’s Bowl is a good track for us, and that helps. We’re hoping to keep it going this week at Salina and Knoxville.”
Take Advantage of Wayne’s Deals on Apparel!
New Wayne Johnson Racing #77x t-shirts and sweatshirts are in! With any purchase of this year’s apparel, you can get a free t-shirt from 2013 while sizes and supplies last!
Follow Updates on Facebook!
Wayne will update as his race night commences at his Facebook page. Find it by searching for Wayne Johnson Racing or clicking the following link…
http://www.facebook.com/#!/
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 at the Salina High Banks in ASCS competition on April 27, 2012. He bested Brian Brown, Jack Dover, Danny Lasoski and Brad Loyet aboard his #77x.
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“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@hotmail.com with”Wayne” in the subject line.
Wayne Johnson Racing would like to thank partners, Todd Carlile, Vern Rengen, Miles with Townline Variety, Russell with Outlaw Wings, Ray with City Vending, Scott with Stone Mountain Access Systems and product sponsors Bill with The Oil Medics, Byron with Sebastian Sandblasting & Powdercoating, Jeff with 517 Design, Shawna and Kaleb with XXX Chassis, Bob with Rod End Supply, Dave with Astro Titanium, Mark and Doug with Schoenfeld Headers, Desiree at Simpson, Jeannie at Butlerbuilt, Tom at Xtreme Accu-Tach, Carl with Kustom Sprint Car, Brad with Momentum, Charlie with Fisher Racing Engines, Team Achieve and Tim with Canyon Apparel.