Johnson and Simmons Stir Up the Chili Bowl Alphabet
Monday, January 23, 2006
by Kathy Bell - Tim McCreadie, who raced his #39 DIRT Late Model on Knoxville soil last fall, may have won the 20th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals last weekend in Tulsa, Okla. but it was, Wayne's World, until the beginning of the big show.
The Knoxville duo of racer Wayne Johnson and F5 chassis builder Wayne Simmons sparked excitement throughout the late afternoon and evening as their F5 midget scaled the alphabet moving up from the F-Main to claim a coveted spot in the Championship event, Saturday night. Johnson, the Knoxville Raceway 2005 runner-up in the 410 sprint class, was one of 74 rookies at this year's Chili Bowl. A former Oklahoma native who moved to Knoxville just over a year ago, Johnson competed in five mains and circuited 60 laps before nabbing a spot towards the tail of the A-Main.
Having never raced a midget before last weekend, Johnson said he really didn't have any expectations at the Chili Bowl. "I'm having a ball," he said early Saturday afternoon. "Driving one of these things
reminds me of racing a 4-wheeler through the pasture back home. The first thing I noticed is the only wheel that touches the ground is the right rear. This is a totally awesome experience. I don't mind
starting in the F-Main. It just means I get to race that much longer."
Johnson ran the 10-lap F, E, D and C-Mains before running, then transferring from the 20-lap B-Main which secured a spot in the 50-lap Championship race. Johnson was also in contention for Chili
Bowl Rookie honors when part way through the championship event, he had mechanical problems and was forced to the pits.
The Rookie of the Chili Bowl was Mike Goodman who was also driving a Wayne Simmons F5 midget. Simmons had seven cars at the Chili Bowl which is the premier midget race of the year as it pulls in top drivers from multiple racing series and top names such as NASCAR celebrities, Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne.
Other drivers racing in Simmons' F5 cars were, Cody Brewer, Russ Gamester, Dave Ely, Mark Arnold, Brady Short and Goodman. At the close of the championship race, Simmons pulled the motor out and sold their car.
Simmons, whose F5 Chassis shop is located in Knoxville, said he has 75 new cars scattered throughout the U. S. and in Australia. "It's not easy keeping an edge because every time we go to the race track someone else has tried to copy what we've done," Simmons said.
Simmons has always had a natural ability when it came to tinkering with cars and thanks to the assistance of Dale French, his dream came true and he's now known throughout many racing circles as a respectable car builder.
"This F5 is probably the best car I've ever built," he said. "Having good employees in the shop really helps. When a driver gets in one of my cars, I want to know he's going to be safe. Russ Prather does an excellent job as our welder. Jeff Kingery and Donnie Simmons also work in the shop. We build F5 Chassis for winged sprinters, non-winged sprinters, midgets and Silver Crown cars."
Some of the drivers who have or are currently racing an F5 car include, J. J. Yeley, Tracy Hines, Dave Darland, Dave Ely, Ian Madsen, Kevin Huntley and Sammy Swindell. "I feel our cars are second to none when it comes to safety," Simmons said. "We wouldn't have made it to the Chili Bowl this year if we hadn't had some help. I'd like to thank everyone who helped get us here."
The F5 Team who worked their tails off at this year's Chili Bowl includes, Johnson and Simmons, Donnie Simmons, Wayne Simmons Jr., Mike Gregg and Devin and Delanie Simmons. The team would like to thank the following sponsors who helped them make it to the Chili Bowl, Esslinger, Fatt Fro, Stone Mountain, Penske Shocks, RKK Production and the Knoxville Raceway Midget Nationals promotions.
Pictured left to right are members of the F5 Racing Team, Mike Gregg, Wayne Simmons Jr., Donnie Simmons, Devin Simmons, Wayne Simmons and Wayne Johnson.
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