QUALIFYING RESULTS:
POLE POSITION: Michael Waltrip (21.510 seconds / 125.523 m.p.h.)
SCOTT WIMMER STARTING POSITION: 25th (22.122 seconds / 122.050 m.p.h.)
RACE INFORMATION:
DAY/DATE:Friday, May 2, 2003
RACE TIME: 7:40 p.m. ET
RACE: Hardees 250
TELEVISION/RADIO COVERAGE: Live on FX / Live on MRN Radio
RACE LAPS/MILES: 250 laps / 187.5 miles
RACE WINNER: Kevin Harvick
FINISHING POSITION: 5th
MONEY WON: $27,905
DRIVER POINTS POSITION: 14th (251 behind leader, Todd Bodine)
RACERECAP: Scott Wimmer started the Hardees 250 at Richmond International Raceway from the 25th position. By lap four, Wimmer took over the 19th position and on lap six, the first caution flag of the event waved due to oil in turn one collecting four cars (0, 16, 44 & 49) in turn two. Wimmer commented his Stacker 2/Stamina RX Chevy was a little loose all the way around, mostly off the corners, but the front end is really good. The team chose not to pit and Wimmer restarted the race on lap 17. Wimmer battled between the 17th and 19th positions before the second caution period occurred on lap 61 when Stanton Barrett hit the wall in turn two. Wimmer told the crew he needed the car tightened up, so he pitted on lap 63 for four tires, fuel and an air pressure and track bar adjustment. The Stacker 2/Stamina RX pit crew had an awesome stop, gaining five positions in the pits and sending Wimmer back on the track in 14th. One car had to return to the pits so, when the race went back to green on lap 72, Wimmer restarted in the 13th position. The next caution occurred quickly, on lap 76, when Jay Sauter crashed on the frontstretch. Wimmer told the crew, the car is much better now, so he restarted the race on lap 84 from the 13th position. On lap 87, points leader, Todd Bodine, hit the wall in turn two and Wimmer barely missed making contact with him. Again, Wimmer did not pit and resumed racing on lap 91. Wimmer remained in the 13th position by the time the next caution flag waved on lap 100 due to Carl Long blowing a right-front tire and hitting the wall in turn three. Green flag racing resumed on lap 107, but not for long, as the caution flag waved on lap 109 when Troy Cline hit the wall in turn two. Racing resumed on lap 116 and by lap 119, Wimmer took over the 12th position. Caution occurred on lap 125 when Dave Blaney hit the wall in turn four. Wimmer told the crew, The car is REALLY good! All of the leaders pitted except for one, which moved Wimmer to the second position for the restart on lap 133. Crew chief, Chris Rice, decided not to pit since Wimmers tires only had 23 green flag laps on them. Wimmer battled for the lead for several laps with Michael Waltrip, however, he settled into second, not wanting to push the issue so early in the race. The next caution flag waved on lap 139 due to a multi-car incident in turns one and two involving Joe Nemechek, Coy Gibbs and Hermie Sadler. Wimmer told the crew, the chassis is really good, but think we couldve picked one gear higher. Green flag racing resumed on lap 144 and on lap 151, Wimmer took over the lead from Waltrip. On lap 165, he commented, the car is a little tight off, and by lap 170, Waltrip took over the lead again. Caution occurred again on lap 186 due to Kevin Grubb hit the wall on the backstretch. Wimmer pitted on lap 187 for four tires and fuel only. Wimmer exited the pits in the third position, however, five cars chose not to pit, so Wimmer restarted the race from the eighth position on lap 196. The next caution flag waved on lap 201 when Kasey Khane hit the wall in turn four. Wimmer did not pit and green flag racing resumed on lap 206. However, on the restart, Martin Truex Jr.s car stalled bunching up the field in front of Wimmer. Since three cars in front of him checked up, Wimmer took advantage of the situation and moved to fourth by the time the caution flag waved on lap 207. He chose not to pit and the race resumed on lap 214. On lap 217, the caution was brought out due to a multi-car incident in turn four. Racing restarted on lap 222 and Wimmer took over third on lap 224, but then fell back to fifth on lap 226. On lap 240, the caution flag was displayed due to Mike Bliss hitting the wall in two. NASCAR red-flagged the race with eight laps to go to clean up the wreck. After eight minutes and 41 seconds the race resumed on lap 244 with Wimmer in the fifth position. On lap 247, the caution flag was brought out for the final time due to a multi-car wreck in turn three. NASCAR ended the race under caution and Wimmer scored his first top-five finish of the season, which gained him three positions in the driver points standings.
NEXT RACE:
EVENT LOCATION: Gateway International Raceway (St. Louis, MO)
DATE: Saturday, May 10, 2003
TELEVISION: Live on FX at 3:00 p.m. ET
RADIO: Live on MRN at 3:00 p.m. ET