|
Wednesdays with Wayne – Chirpy's Enduro!
(Bill W) September 5, 2007 – For Wayne Johnson, last weekend was a disappointment. Driving the 410 FattFro #14AJ, he suffered a DNF at Knoxville on Saturday and a second place run at the 34 Raceway near West Burlington, Iowa on Sunday.
The night at Knoxville began with a disappointing 16th quick in time trials. The motor just wasn't pulling like it should, but a heat race win put the car in the main event. "We just started on the front row (of the heat)," says Wayne. "It was easy with the track the way it was and out in the clean air. We didn't change much for the feature. It didn't run in the feature, so we just pulled 'er off."
On lap 13, after sliding a few spots from his 13th starting spot, Wayne pulled it into the infield. "The motor just wouldn't run," he says. "I don't know quite what it was. We ran it (the motor) down at Burlington and it was fine, but that little track is slick. It was good enough down there, but it wasn't good enough for a 14 second lap at Knoxville."
After winning his heat at 34 Raceway going away, Wayne earned a spot in the dash and started inside row three. He quickly moved up to second, where he finished. "I didn't think I was going to catch Skip (Jackson) in the dash," he says. "He got out pretty good from the front row. I tried some stuff to try to make something happen. Trying different lines and stuff for the feature. Actually, I was rolling the bottom pretty good, because he wasn't pulling away." Actually, the tactic must have worked as Wayne was unofficially turning the fastest dash laps.
The 25-lap main event saw Wayne posting inside row two. By lap three, he was running second behind Billy Alley and took a shot at the high side. The tactic backfired. "I was going to catch the cushion, but there was no cushion on the entry!" he says. "Then I was trying a little too hard, spinning the tires." An unwelcome trip over the turn one and two berm, left him fighting back from fifth.
Once back on the throttle, he made quick work of a couple of cars and set his sights on the leaders (Alley and Jackson). "I was going everywhere they weren't!" he says. "After I slid off of there, I got back up through there and even got by Skip for awhile."
On lap 20, Johnson was reeling in the lead pair as they approached traffic. Jackson got by Alley, who then brought out the caution with a broken stop. "The caution didn't help me," says Wayne. "At first, when it came out, I thought those boys were in trouble. I didn't need that. I was catching up to them while they were dicing in traffic, and I felt good, because that is usually where I'm at my best, in traffic." Rubber had been laid down and Wayne had to settle for a second place finish after the restart, as Skip hit all his lines to lead the last five laps.
Wayne's race plans for this weekend are still undecided.
Chirpy's Enduro!
How long will he make it? Crew chief for Wayne, Jeremy "Chirpy" Rankin, will be making his racing debut in an "'80 Something" Mercury Marquis this Saturday night at the Knoxville Raceway Enduro. The car was purchased at the charity "Art Car Auction" a week ago Saturday at the raceway.
Wayne predicts that Chirpy "won't finish", while Chirpy himself is a little skeptical. "I think it will overheat in about 25 laps," he says. See for yourself if you're in town on Saturday night. The car will be painted white, with the number not yet determined, though #14BJ is being tossed about! Come out and cheer Chirpy on!
LaSalle IRA show on September 22
On September 22, the Interstate Racing Association will be running at the LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, Illinois. Al Christoffer, owner of the FattFro #14AJ is one of the promoters of the event. Bicycle giveaways are among the things on tap! More details will appear here in the coming weeks!
T-shirts
T-shirts can now be ordered at www.Racingthreads.com and Wayne's trailer. Wayne would like to thank Racingthreads.com and FattFro for all of their help with this!
Wayne's World
John Binz in Mesquite, TX Asks: Which driver or drivers are the best to race with?
Wayne answers: No one goes out and tries to wreck someone else. Everyone tries to run clean. Obviously, the veterans have more experience. I'd say GW (Gary Wright) is a good guy to run beside. I've never had a problem with him in hundreds of races, and we've run side by side a ton.
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 won once at Knoxville in 2007. That makes seven out of the last eight years that he has accomplished at least one trip to victory lane at Knoxville. In 13 features this year, he had one win, seven top 5's and ten top 10's.
"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, R&A Farms, FattFro, Cerma Technology (www.cermatechnology.com), www.RacingThreads.com, CnB Mushroom Farms, Eagle Chassis, Fast Wings, Hoosier Tire, Simpson, Weld and ButlerBuiltfor all their help!
(Jason McConnell Photo)
Bill W MediaMonroe, IAUSA[email protected]
If this post isn't results, stories or something c
constructive, it isn't me!
@BillWMedia
www.OpenWheel101.com
|
