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Wednesdays with Wayne (on Friday) – Happy Holidays!
(Bill W) December 26, 2008 – Wayne Johnson is still looking at the snow and ice from his Knoxville, Iowa home, but he is looking towards the 2009 season as the Holiday season is upon us. He is still seeking an opportunity to travel with the World of Outlaws, but last weekend, he found some time to focus on racing with owner Scott Benic in the "Twas the Midgets" event at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri.
With around 90 midget drivers in attendance on a narrow, tight, track, the draw was of the utmost importance. Wayne's sprint draw luck carried over to KC. "Our good draws continued with a 119 and a 139," he jokes. "We were o.k. We had a couple of flat tires, and that kind of stuff, but Scott (Benic) has a really good car there, and I can't wait for the Chili Bowl when we can stretch it out a bit."
Starting deep in Friday's pack didn't lend to much success for Wayne, but he began to turn it on in Saturday's heat where he started in row four. "In Saturday's heat, we came from seventh and we were racing with a guy for second," says Wayne of his charge. "We were looking good for starting up front in the feature (outside row one beside JJ Yeley), and a guy spun us out from behind."
That put Wayne way back in the D main with a steep hill to climb. "We ran second in the D main there, started at the back of the C, and got up to sixth," he says. "Unfortunately, it seemed like we got into every wreck out there, and that's where things ended."
Despite facing a great deal of challenges in the inaugural running of the event, organizers kept working to put on a good show for the fans in the finale. "The feature was a really decent race for the fans," says Wayne. "It ended up being the best race of the whole weekend, and I guess that's the way it should be. Part of that was, the majority of the guys out there knew you can't run over guys to get to the front. They were good drivers."
Perhaps Wayne's best laps of the weekend came at the local go-kart track. "We got over to the go-kart track in Olathe (Kansas)," he shares. "Glenn Styres, Cody Darrah, another midget guy and I went over there. I lapped them all. I was two seconds quicker every time out. My quick lap was 35.2 and theirs was around 37.2. Hey, at least I'm proud of that!"
Wayne's search for partnership with a traveling 410 team continues. "I'm going to give it until after the Holidays, and if there aren't any opportunities that arise, I'll decide what we're going to do regarding 2009," he says.
Wayne and the whole Johnson family would like to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Holiday Season!
Wayne's Website
To learn more about Wayne and the team, log on to www.WayneJohnsonRacing.com!
Wayne's World
Ray Stier asks: What are the biggest differences between driving a sprint car and getting in a midget?
Wayne answers: A winged car runs off the left side of the car, and any non-wing car, you drive off the right rear. It's a real switch, because as a wing driver, you want to drive it off the left, and a midget you want to lay on the right rear. It's kind of an awkward feeling for a little while.
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 eleven wins in 2008 marked one of his most successful years and gave him 123 in his career. He didn't start running Knoxville Raceway (IA) on a regular basis until 2002, but already owns six 410 wins at the famous ½ mile including a Nationals prelim this season. He also has eight 360 wins there, bringing his win total at the Sprint Car Capital of the World to 14.
"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, Stone Mountain Access, Deberg Concrete, www.RacingThreads.com, CnB Mushroom Farms, Maxim Chassis, ARP Wings, Hoosier Tire, Simpson, Weld and ButlerBuiltfor all their help!
Wayne in action at Kemper Arena in Scott Benic's #2B (Bob Jones Photo)
Bill W MediaMonroe, IAUSA[email protected]
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