QUALIFYING RESULTS:
POLE POSITION: Jeff Gordon (15.038 seconds / 127.597 m.p.h.)
SCOTT WIMMER STARTING POSITION: 28th (15.252 seconds / 125.806 m.p.h.)
RACE INFORMATION:
DAY/DATE: Saturday, August 23, 2003
RACE TIME: 7:00 p.m. ET
RACE: Sharpie 500
TELEVISION/RADIO COVERAGE: Live on TNT / Live on PRN Radio
RACE LAPS/MILES: 500 laps / 266.5 miles
RACE WINNER:Kurt Busch
FINISHING POSITION: 24th
RACE RECAP: Scott Wimmer started the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway from the 28th position. Wimmer had moved up to the 26th position by the time the first caution flag waved on lap six when Jeff Green tapped Steve Park on the frontstretch, collecting four other cars (Casey Mears, Todd Bodine, Christian Fittipaldi and Kyle Petty) in the process. Wimmer told the team, I think the car is good. It has lots of grip. Cars are stacking up a lot, so Im using too much brake right now. Green flag racing resumed on lap 12. Wimmers car started losing grip and he slid to the 29th position by lap 62. The next caution flag waved on lap 64 when Greg Biffle spun out Jeff Burton. Wimmer had to check up to miss the wreck, however, he received considerable damage to the car, both to the nose and rear, especially the left-rear quarter panel. Wimmer pitted several times during the caution period for four tires, fuel, and adjustments and to try to fix the damage to the car. Wimmer remained on the lead lap and restarted the race from the 32nd position on lap 70. He fell to the 33rd position on lap 74 and the next lap the caution flag waved when Jeff Gordon tagged Ryan Newman, causing Newman to spin out on the frontstretch. Wimmer told the team he felt like he had a left-rear tire going down, so he pitted on lap 78 for two left-side tires, fuel and the team continued to fix the left-rear sheet metal damage. Green flag racing resumed on lap 80 with Wimmer still in the 33rd position. On lap 89, Michael Waltrip got loose in turns three and four. He slid up the track and then starting sliding back down the banking, right in Rusty Wallaces path, causing irreparable damage to both cars. Wimmer told the team that the front end wasnt turning, so he pitted twice during the caution period for four tires, fuel and adjustments. The team also cut the rear bar off so the car would turn better for Wimmer. The race restarted on lap 100 with Wimmer in the 32nd position. The caution flag waved on lap 102 when Jeff Green hit Larry Foyt from behind collecting Joe Nemechek, Bill Elliott and Johnny Benson as well. This moved Wimmer to the 24th position for the restart on lap 107. Wimmer fell back to the 29th position by lap 124 and radioed in to the team that he felt like his left-rear tire was going down. He pitted under green flag racing conditions on lap 144 for two left-side tires and fuel. This caused Wimmer to fall to the 34th position, three laps down. The tire did have a cut in it. Not too long later, Wimmer said he felt like the left-rear tire was down again. Again, he pitted under green on lap 156 for two more left-side tires and fuel. The left-rear sheet metal damage was causing the tire to get cut, so the team fixed that as well. Wimmer returned to the track, still in the 34th position, but now five laps down to the leader. The next caution flag waved on lap 159 when Kurt Busch hit Casey Mears and caused damage to Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte also. Wimmer pitted several times during the caution flag for four tires, fuel and adjustments to help the car, as well as padding for his seat, as there was a lot of heat coming into the driver compartment. Wimmer restarted the race on lap 166, still in the 34th position. The next caution flag waved on lap 176 when Ted Musgrave tapped Ryan Newman and collected Jeff Burton and Terry Labonte in the process. Wimmer pitted several times during the caution period to fix the damage to the rear end of the car to avoid any further tire rubs. Green flag racing resumed on lap 186 with Wimmer in the 32nd position. Caution occurred again on lap 192 when Jeremy Mayfield turned Jeff Green into the turn four wall. Wimmer said the car feels like it is chattering the wheel bearings, so he pitted on lap 196 for fuel and to check the car out. Green flag racing resumed on lap 197. The caution flag waved on lap 222 when Kenny Wallace tapped Ricky Craven, causing Craven and Ted Musgrave to make contact on the backstretch. Wimmer pitted several times during the caution period to fix the rear bumper, and put on four tires, add fuel and make adjustments. Wimmer restarted the race from the 30th position on lap 228. On lap 253, Wimmer spun out in turns three and four due, but the next lap, Robby Gordon spun out on the frontstretch bringing out the caution flag. Wimmer pitted several times during the caution flag for four tires, fuel, adjustments and fluids. Green flag racing resumed on lap 261 with Wimmer six laps down in the 30th position. On lap 275, Christian Fittipaldi hit the wall, so Wimmer pitted on lap 278 for adjustments, fuel, fluids and to get his windshield cleaned. The race restarted on lap 282 but the caution would wave again four laps later when Larry Foyt spun out. This moved Wimmer to the 29th position for the restart on lap 292. Despite the damage to his car, Wimmer was running lap times faster than the leader and had a competitive car. On lap 299, the caution flag was displayed for debris on the track. Wimmer did not pit and racing resumed on lap 304. Two laps later, Elliott Sadler wrecked in turn three, moving Wimmer to the 28th position for the restart on lap 313. On lap 338, Bobby Labonte spun out bringing out the caution flag. Wimmer pitted on lap 340 for four tires, fuel and adjustments. Green flag racing resumed on lap 344 and two laps later, right in front of Wimmer, Steve Park hit Johnny Sauter, who hit Mark Martin, damaging Martins car beyond repair. Due to Martins misfortune, Wimmer gained another spot, moving him to the 27th position for the restart on lap 353. On lap 372, Kurt Busch tagged Sterling Marlin from behind, bringing out the caution flag. Wimmer chose not to pit and racing restarted on lap 378. On lap 384, Wimmer took over the 26th position when Ricky Rudd took his car to the garage for repairs. Sterling Marlins car had some debris fall off it, bringing the caution flag out on lap 422. Wimmer pitted on lap 425 because he said his car was tight in the middle of the corners. The YJ Stinger pit crew put on four tires, added fuel and made an air pressure adjustment to help the cars handling. Green flag racing resumed on lap 427. On lap 444, Kenny Schrader had a tire going down and behind him Jeff Gordon slowed up which caused Matt Kenseth to spin Gordon out on the frontstretch. Johnny Sauters car had problems, so he took his car to the garage for service, moving Wimmer to the 25th position for the restart on lap 449. Gordons damage was enough where he had to take his car to the garage as well, moving Wimmer to the 24th position on lap 451. The final caution of the day fell on lap 460 when Tony Raines spun out. Wimmer chose not to pit and the race resumed on lap 464. Wimmer finished the event in the 24th position, six laps down to the leader.