2/29/2012
Sprint Source
Wednesdays with Wayne – Season Kicks off in Arizona!
(Bill W) February 29, 2012 – Wayne Johnson Racing is race ready and in Arizona for this weekend’s opener for the Lucas Oil ASCS National Series. The 2012 season kicks off at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria Friday and Saturday night. The Knoxville, Iowa driver is in great shape both physically and with his new race team.
A number of partners have teamed up to build a formidable team. “I’m really fired up!” says Wayne. “We’re locked and loaded. It’s the most prepared winter I’ve had in probably five or six years.”
The trip to Peoria reminds Wayne of his first meeting with Kenny Woodruff. “We ran the Slick 50 series here for four races or so back in the early ‘90’s,” he says. “That was a long time ago. I remember it really well. We were out here working on our car. It was my dad’s car. We were out there tuning the motor up or whatever. I had never met Kenny Woodruff and he came over to the car. He said, ‘Hey boys, are you gonna run that 360 against the 410’s?’ I told him, ‘That is a 410!’ He ended up working on it a little bit, and then he said, ‘There you go, now it sounds like a 410!’ I’ll never forget that!”
Wayne has strong backing from a number of partners and friends. “There’s one guy behind the scenes who doesn’t want to be named, but definitely without him, and everyone associated with him, we wouldn’t be able to do it,” he says. “He owns our truck and trailer, and helps us out a lot.”
Other major partners have a stake in the team as well. “Vern Ringen at Missile Motorsports supplies our motors,” says Wayne. “Byron and Allan Sebastian (Sebastian Sandblasting and Powder Coating) are helping me out a ton too. We have one of their motors on this trip. We have two that haven’t come in yet. They also helped with the powder coating. Ray Williams from City Vending in Texas is on board with us this year and helping a lot. He has helped Kevin Ramey in the past.”
Many have helped Wayne in past seasons too. “I also have to thank Russell at Outlaw Wings, Bill Jewell at the Oil Medics, Harold and Debbie with Century Signs who do our lettering and decals, Smiley’s Racing Products, Hoosier Tire Southwest, Brian at Super Shox, Chuck at Maxim, Jeannie with Butlerbuilt, Desiree at Simpson, Bob at Rod End Supply, Speedway Motors and Mark at Schoenfeld Headers,” he says.
Two crew members have been hired to run a busy schedule in 2012. “Paul Valentine is from Branford, Ontario, and he will come on as chief mechanic,” says Wayne. “He has worked for the Styres Racing Team in the past. I’ve known him for a couple of years, and he’s good. Connor Nelson is a young man out of Burlington, Washington and he will be helping us too. He’s been around racing and wanted to get out on the road. It will be a change of pace for me after having the guys we have had around home, but we had to have some full-time guys. We’re looking at about 80 races on our schedule.”
The schedule is an ambitious one. “We’re running the whole ASCS schedule,” says the 2000 ASCS champ. “We’re looking at about four nights in the 410 at Knoxville before the Nationals too. We’ll definitely be there opening night. The rest of the racing will be regional stuff that pays enough and doesn’t conflict.”
Follow Updates on Facebook!
Wayne will update as his racenight goes on at his Facebook page. Find it by searching for Wayne Johnson Racing or clicking the following link…
http://www.facebook.com/#!/WayneJohnsonRacing
Outlaw Wings!
Check out the new “recessed rivet” design put out by Outlaw Wings. Talk to Wayne about purchasing Outlaw Wings for your car! Outlaw Wings – "When Downforce Matters"!
Wayne's Website
To learn more about Wayne and the team, log on to www.WayneJohnsonRacing.com!
Got a question for Wayne? Each week, Wayne will answer your questions about "Tech Tips", or anything that's on your mind. If you ever wondered what a part on a sprint car is all about, send an e-mail to us at sprntcar@iowatelecom.net, 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 World
Bill W asks: How are you doing physically heading into the season?
Wayne answers: I haven’t lost a lot of weight, but I’ve gained a ton of muscle! I’ve been on my wife’s training regimen. She is an independent trainer with Beach Body (www.BeachBodyCoach.com/TeamAchieve). I’ve been running about three miles a day, and I’ve been running as much as six miles. I even have a mountain bike with me on the road. The program has made me regular. I get up at a decent hour and work out. I just feel better. My waist size has changed three times since December 10. I feel as good as I’ve felt in a long, long time.
Got a question for Wayne? Each week, Wayne will answer your questions about "Tech Tips", or anything that's on your mind. If you ever wondered what a part on a sprint car is all about, send an e-mail to us at sprntcar@iowatelecom.net, 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 last win of 2011 came at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway on October 21. He topped Sam Hafertepe Jr., Koby Barksdale, Bryan Dobesh and Aaron Reutzel. It was his 31st career ASCS National win.
Partner of the Week – The Oil Medics
Wayne says, “We had some problems with our hauler this week around Fort Worth, and Bill Jewell helped get us back on the road. He fixed it, and put some “air tabs” on our truck. It saves us about a mile per gallon with our fuel mileage.”
The Oil Medics provides truck service without the expense or wait of a dealer! Visit them online at www.TheOilMedics.com!
"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@iowatelecom.net with "Wayne" in the subject line.
Wayne Johnson Racing would like to thank Vern Ringen and Missile Motorsports, Sebastian Sandblasting & Powdercoating, City Vending, Outlaw Wings, Team Achieve, The Oil Medics, Century Signs, Smiley’s Racing Products, Hoosier Tire Southwest, Simpson, Butlerbuilt, Super Shox, Maxim, Speedway Motors, Rod End Supply, Schoenfeld Headers and RCM Design.
Article Credit: Bill Wright
Submitted By: Admin Account
