8/19/2015
Sprint Source
Wednesdays with Wayne – Successful Nationals Week and Tribute to the 12x!
Wayne Johnson’s Southern Iowa Sprintweek was a success. After finishing fourth in the 360 Nationals, he put the retro Beaver Drill & Tool #12x in the main event on Saturday night of the Knoxville Nationals. It’s back to Lucas Oil ASCS National Series action this Sunday night, when the series invades the Missouri State Fair Speedway in Sedalia with the winner going home with $12,000.
Wayne’s qualifying night at the 360 Nationals saw him qualify fifth quick. He would roar to victory in his heat after starting sixth, but he faded from fourth to sixth in the feature. “We were way too tight,” he says. “We thought the racetrack was going to be a lot slicker than it was. We just messed up.”
Still, he earned enough points to start fourth in Saturday’s 360 Nationals championship. He would finish fourth. “Saturday, the racetrack looked a lot slicker than the night before,” says Wayne. “We freed it up a little bit, but we were still too tight. The racetrack was kind of one-lane around the top once everyone got settled in. We were just chasing everyone.”
The three-time 360 Nationals champ was still pleased with the outcome. “We were happy with our finishes,” says Wayne. “We felt like we had better than a fourth place car on Saturday night, but anytime you can go in there a finish fourth with a hundred cars, you’re alright.”
Wayne competed Sunday, August 9 in Knoxville’s Capitani Classic. “We started in the back, because we qualified back there,” he says. “We use that race as a mockup for the Nationals. We just wanted to make sure the motor ran. We had been having some issues where the motor has heated up. We didn’t want to run it too hard, and pulled it in.”
The Beaver Drill & Tool #12x paint scheme was a hit on and off the track last Wednesday of the Knoxville Nationals. Wayne would time in 14th quick, before getting through his heat race with a fourth place finish. That set him up inside row two for the feature. “We were really good on our qualifying night,” he says. “I was able to get by (Daryn) Pittman there and we were running second. I actually felt like I was gaining on (Shane) Stewart a bit. The caution came out, and the motor was getting hot. That thing starts to wheeze when it gets really hot. I think we would have been o.k. if the thing had went green.”
Still, he was able to finish. “Normally, the water temperature cools a little under caution, but it just kept creeping up,” says Wayne. “We lost a lot of water and I knew we were in trouble. On the restart, it sounded sick and I knew I was in trouble. I was just trying to hang on at the end, and luckily we were able to finish sixth. I didn’t think we’d finish at all.”
That was enough to secure the pole for Saturday’s B, but the team was unsure about their motor issue. “We put a completely different motor in,” says Wayne. “We tore the car apart. We had time to do that between Wednesday and Saturday. We tore the tail tank and fuel lines out, and went over everything. The motor we put in has a smaller head. It’s a good motor, it’s just not a Knoxville motor. I even put a bigger radiator on.”
Despite the smaller power plant, things went well and Wayne took the 22-lap B main, locking himself into the Knoxville Naitonals championship. “We thought we might be in trouble, but we went out and won the B,” he says. “We thought this little motor’s pretty good! It got to 250 degrees though too. Rob Hart was there to help us, and we took time out of it, changed a mag box, and we did a ton of things.”
Unfortunately, a mistake in the pits led to an early exit. “That all helped, but unfortunately, the stupid driver changed some weight in the car,” admits Wayne. “I forgot to tighten the jam nut on the stops. I went out for driver introductions, and forgot about it. I just screwed up! Man, I was no good. I barely held on the first 25 laps. I came in and the tie rod was bent. They replaced that, but when I went back out, it was still bad. I pulled in after a couple laps. I was already a lap down. I came in a found the jam nut on the stop was loose and the adjuster had unscrewed all the way.”
Wayne was pleased with his week. “All in all, it was a good Nationals,” he says. “To be honest, with money earned, it was my second best Nationals. I didn’t feel too bad about that.”
He was also happy to have the Vielhauer family as a part of the Nationals, including Bob and his son Billy. “It was awesome to have them around,” says Wayne. “The bad part was Bob being sick and going to the hospital. He had to watch Saturday night on the internet there, but he’s home now. I saw him tear up a little Wednesday when we showed him the car, so that was all worth it to me. It was all a little inspirational for me. We stumbled on some things in the Capitani that worked, and we just stayed with it. It sure gave me some confidence that the car was working as well as it was.”
Not only was the car retro, but so were the crew uniforms. The team took second place for “Best Appearing crew”. “I thought that was really cool,” says Wayne. “Those were the old shirts from back in the day! Billy (Vielhauer) did all that. I also have to thank the guys at Speedway Graphics. They could not have nailed that car any better! All they had was a picture of the car!”
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/#!/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 Fast Facts
Wayne finished fifth in 1998 in ASCS National action at Sedalia. None other than Billy Vielhauer was the winner that night, followed by Danny Wood, Garry Lee Maier, Travis Rilat and Wayne.
Partner of the Week – Kustom Sprint Car Supplies
Whether you need new or used sprint car parts, contact Kustom Sprint Car Supplies. Visit them on the web at www.KustomSprint.com or call them in Newton, Iowa at 515 864-6551!
"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, Townline Variety, Outlaw Wings, City Vending, Stone Mountain Access Systems and product sponsors The Oil Medics, Sebastian Sandblasting & Powdercoating, Rod End Supply, Astro Titanium, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson, Butlerbuilt, Xtreme Accu-Tach, Weld Wheels, Slade Shocks, Kustom Sprint Car, Fisher Racing Engines, Team Achieve, Speedway Graphics and Canyon Apparel.
Photo: The Beaver Drill & Tool #12x team
Article Credit: Bill Wright