OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — On the eve of the Knoxville 360 Nationals, two-time event winner Wayne Johnson has announced his retirement from driving.
Johnson suffered a severe arm injury in a violent crash during the High Limit Racing event at the Dirt Track at Texas Motor Speedway in April and had not raced since, though, he has continued to field his 2C Racing sprint car with Hank Davis at the wheel.
Johnson, who won the Knoxville 360 Nationals in 2000 and 2008 and has his car and Davis entered in this week’s 34thrunning of the event, confirmed his retirement on social media.
“Doctors said it will take a year and a half to get 60 percent movement in my arm and at my age, that just too long to sit idle,” said Johnson, who will turn 53 on Aug. 5. “I will still stay involved in the sport, but my role will be drastically different.”
Johnson expects to make a major announcement concerning the future of the 2C Racing Team in the near future.
Johnson began his career at Fairgrounds Speedway in Oklahoma City, racing modifieds. He eventually moved to supermodifieds and sprint cars.
Johnson won the 2000 ASCS National Tour championship and has won 59 American Sprint Car Series features.
He also won four NCRA 410 features and two NCRA 360 events as well as a pair of features in the World of Outlaws-operated Gumout Series.
He’s competed at 217 tracks in 36 states, Australia and Canada, winning races in all three countries.
Johnson earned rookie of the year honors with the World of Outlaws in 2020.