QUALIFYING RESULTS:
POLE POSITION: Kevin Harvick (27.082 seconds / 132.930 m.p.h)
SCOTT WIMMER STARTING POSITION: 7th (27.322 seconds / 131.762 m.p.h)
RACE INFORMATION:
DAY/DATE: Saturday, November 1, 2003
RACE TIME: 3:00 p.m. ET
RACE: Bashas Supermarkets 200
TELEVISION/RADIO COVERAGE: Live on TNT / Live on MRN Radio
RACE LAPS/MILES: 200 laps / 200 miles
RACE WINNER:Bobby Hamilton, Jr.
FINISHING POSITION: 7th
DRIVER POINTS POSITION:th (502 behind leader, Scott Riggs)
RACERECAP: Scott Wimmer started the Bashas 200 at Phoenix International Raceway from the seventh position. Due to rain showers, the race started under a green/yellow flag condition, running the first few laps under caution to help dry the track. After four laps, the rain started coming down harder and NASCAR brought the field down pit road and parked them until the rain stopped.
Approximately two and a half hours later, the field re-fired the engines and resumed running caution laps. On lap 11, the field took the green flag. On the restart, Wimmer slid back to the 13th position unsure of the reason, but thought the air pressures in the tires might have been too low. Kevin Harvick started on the pole and kept the lead throughout the early running of the race. Wimmer fought back, climbing back up to the 10th position by lap 51.
The caution flag flew on lap 52 when Tammy Jo Kirk backed her car into the wall in turn three. Wimmer told the Stacker 2 crew his car was tight on entry and through the center of the corner. He brought his car down pit road on lap 53 for four tires, fuel and a track bar and air pressure adjustments. Wimmer exited the pits in the 13th position and green flag racing resumed on lap 57 with Harvick still leading.
Bobby Hamilton, Jr. took the lead on lap 61 and by lap 95, Wimmer made his way up to the eighth position. Wimmer reported to the crew his car was too hard on the right-rear and wanted the team to take a rubber out of the right rear on the next pit stop. He was said he was way loose.
The caution flag was displayed on lap 101 when Billy Boat spun out in turn two. Wimmer pitted on lap 102 for four tires, fuel, and air pressure and wedge adjustments, plus the team took a rubber out of the right-rear spring. Wimmer returned to the track in the 15th position. Hamilton, Jr. still led and restarted the field on lap 107 with 27 cars on the lead lap.
Wimmer charged his way back through the field, landing in the 10th position by lap 158. NASCAR reported to the teams they would end the race on lap 190, rather than 200, due to losing daylight. On lap 166, the caution flag flew again when Stacy Compton got turned around by Kasey Kahne and ended up hitting the wall in turn three. The team chose not to pit and Wimmer restarted the race on lap 171 in the eighth position.
On lap 172, Wimmer took over the seventh position and on lap 175, the final caution flag of the day fell due to rain falling. Hamilton, Jr. never let go of the lead and NASCAR shortened the event, throwing out the checkered flag on lap 181, as the rain did not let up. Wimmer scored his 11th top-10 of the season.