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Wednesdays with Wayne – The Big Three!
(Bill W) October 17, 2007 – It has been a familiar refrain all year long with American Sprint Cars on Tour. "The Big Three" have dominated. The best in the 360 business were invited to the Devil's Bowl last weekend and the results were no different. Wayne Johnson, Gary Wright and Jason Johnson were on the podium at the end of both nights at the Winternationals. For Wayne, who is in second place in the ASCoT championship hunt, the distance between himself and Wright did not change. With only three nights of racing in Little Rock remaining, the window is closing on that opportunity, but he will give it his best shot.
The Devil's Bowl Speedway near Mesquite, Texas has been host to the Winternationals for 34 years. A two-night event this year, Wayne was a little disappointed with the way things started in the Friday prelim. "We drew the pole for the heat, but finished third," he says. "It just wouldn't take off, I don't know what happened, but it would just not go."
Things improved quickly for the driver of the Mike and Tim Hammers/Robbie Forbes #94 as the night wound towards the 20-lap main event. "We had to come up through the B and we ran well in the feature," he says. "To be honest, the leaders would have been in trouble if we had gone 25 laps. I came from 18th to G.W.'s rear bumper, and he was right on Jason's rear bumper. It was a Hell of a race!" They definitely would have had their hands full. After winning the B, Wayne started outside row nine. By lap five, he was into the top ten, and he was fifth by lap 14. The last six laps saw him surge up to the leaders, Jason Johnson and Wright, but he had to settle for third.
Finishing in the top four, locked Wayne into Saturday night's Pole Dash where he ran second, earning the right to start outside row one in the 25-lap finale. "I felt like I gave away the feature. I was able to get in front of (pole-sitter) (Jack) Dover and made a few laps before I came up on a lapped car. I got by the lapped car, but Jason was able to get by me on the low side. I was able to get back by him the same way he did me. Then he went to the top just like I did, and I was able to get back by."
The battle raged on, with another familiar foe entering the fray. "I went and did the exact same thing he did (going high), and he and G.W. both got by. I was able to race back by on the outside of G.W. before the caution came out." The battle was at a furious pace at the time of the caution, but the open track gave Jason Johnson the clear track he needed to sweep the weekend. Wayne held off Wright for second.
Despite a major league field of 360's on hand from all over the country, little changed for Wayne, Gary or Jason. "It was normal…like it is every week with ASCS. It was no fun for anyone else!" says Wayne of the trio's domination.
In addition to the feature events, three races were held as part of the Wesmar Challenge. Points were accumulated amongst the three segments, with Wright coming out on top with a brand new Wesmar Racing Engine. In the end, Wayne was fourth, winning a set of Brodix Cylinder heads. He won the first segment. "The Wesmar challenge thing was great," says Wayne. "The heads we won are a $2,500 value, and it's a good deal because everyone got a little bit of something." All 22 competitors won some racing product, making the challenge one of the richest 360 races in history.
Looking Ahead
Another of Wayne's favorite tracks will host the Short Track Nationals October 25-27. I-30 Speedway and its banked ¼ mile red clay oval will be the venue for the richest event in 360 racing in 2007. The STN will be sanctioned by the American Sprint Cars on Tour this year, and serve as the season finale for that series.
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
Kyle from Oklahoma City asks: You've traveled a lot of miles this year. What do you do to pass the time on the road?
Wayne answers: We hit every strip club in sight…just kidding…we try to sight-see to break the boredom up a little bit. We also get a lot of sleep.
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
In the thirty-three ASCoT races so far, Wayne has three wins, nineteen top threes (58%), 24 top fives (73%) and 28 top tens (85%). Of the five races Wayne finished outside of the top ten, three were DNF'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!
Wayne at the Devil's Bowl (ASCS)
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
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