|
Wednesdays with Wayne – Travelin' I-80!
This edition of "Wednesday's with Wayne" is dedicated to Wayne's Dear Friend and Biggest Fan, Papa Tom, who passed on last week.
(Bill W) April 11, 2007 – Wayne Johnson and the boys will see a lot of Interstate 80 this weekend. Loading up the Hammers/Forbes #94 360, they will hit I-80 Speedway at Nebraska Raceway Park near Greenwood, Nebraska this Friday and Saturday for a Shootout with the ASCS-Midwest and ASCS-Northern Plains regional series.
The banked 3/8 mile oval will mark the first action for the Oklahoma transplant since he stood in victory lane at his hometown of Oklahoma City in American Sprint Cars on Tour action, March 24. A slug of tough competitors are expected to battle at I-80 including ASCS-Midwest defending champion, Toby Chapman and ASCS-Northern Plains defending champ, Chuck Swenson. Others expected to show include defending race winner, Brian Brown, three-time and defending Knoxville champ, Jake Peters, Skip Jackson and others. The NCRA series will officially join the action on Saturday, led by defending champ, Garry Lee Maier.
Cold weather boycotted the start of Wayne's 410 season when last weekend's World of Outlaws show at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri was postponed. Wayne was 'worn out after 50-60 miles' driving a rented U-Haul to Chicago loaded with parts, and battling the wind. After loading the trailer with 410 cars and parts in Chicago, the bunch headed for Springfield, Illinois to pick up tires. They found out about the cancellation about ten minutes after arriving in St. Louis and headed home to Knoxville.
"I wanted to race bad, but as cold as it was in Chicago loading the trailer, I said, 'Man do you realize how cold it's going to be when the sun goes down? It's probably a good thing they did it, cause it can be hard on everybody and on the stuff. You have to keep everything warm with the heaters, and the motors don't do well when it's that cold."
Wayne recalls Knoxville Raceway's opening night in 2005, a night he won. "I don't know how the fans sat in the stands that night. I couldn't do it. There's no way!" says Wayne.
410 Scheme for 2007
Check out the look of the FattFro #14AJ. Too bad the models kept getting in the picture:
A Look Ahead
The American Sprint Cars on Tour will kick back into action on April 21 at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Mississippi. The following week will see the group headed to 67 Speedway in Texarkana, Arkansas on April 27 and I-30 Speedway in Little Rock on April 28.
Wayne and company will bring the FattFro #14AJ 410 out to play for a pair of dates the weekend of May 5-6. The team will be at Knoxville Raceway on May 5, and at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa for the IRA show on Sunday.
Wayne's World
Dave in Oklahoma City, OK asks: How do you like living in Knoxville? What do you miss most about OKC?
Wayne answers: I love living in Knoxville. It's the greatest place in the world - The Sprint Car Capitol of the World!  I've never lived anywhere else but it feels like home now - but I don't like the winters very much. LOL
What I miss most about OKC is being away from my family - and Rib Crib!
Got a question for Wayne? Send it to us at [email protected], 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's only prior trip to I-80 was a 2001 World of Outlaws three-day show where he drove Court Grandstaff's #66.
"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 [email protected] with "Wayne" in the subject line.
Wayne would like to thank H&H Enterprises, Pearson Farms, Eagle Chassis, Fast Wings, Hoosier Tire, Simpson, Weld and ButlerBuiltfor all their help!
 Wayne chases Aaron Berryhill at OKC (ASCS)
Bill WrightBill W MediaMonroe, IA USA[email protected]
If this post isn't results, stories or something c
constructive, it isn't me!
@BillWMedia
www.OpenWheel101.com
|
