Im excited to return to California this weekend, said Scott Wimmer, driver of the #22 Caterpillar Dodge. They have a first class track and facility and Im glad well be there for a second race this year. We ran real decent there in the spring and I think we can run as well as we did last time. It was so hot there the last time and the car vapor locked the fuel line and we had to change the line during a caution. I think we were running 13th at the time, but we lost a lap changing the line and we never recovered from that. Hopefully, well have a better weekend this weekend.
Frank Stoddard on last weekends race at Bristol Motor Speedway
It really is too bad that we never were able to really run the race last weekend, said Frank Stoddard, crew chief for the #22. We ran very well in practice leading up to qualifying, but we went out first and Im sure that didnt help and we were just too tight. Then we got the car really dialed in for happy hour and we were third quickest on the board, we just never got the chance to find out how well we could have run. But, that stuff happens at Bristol and I think our team did a great job at making the repairs needed to get Scott back out there. Well hope for some better luck this week.
California Speedway Notables
- Scott Wimmer, Jody Wimmer, Frank Stoddard, Derrick Finley and Tony Anderson will be on the Family Feud for NASCAR week. They will be on the lot taping their episode on Wednesday along with seven other teams. Stoddard is the crew chief, Finley is the team engineer and Anderson has been the top mechanic for several years.
- Wimmer dropped to third in the Rookie of the Year standings, trailing Brian Vickers by one point.
- Wimmer will have a teammate this weekend with Shane Hmiel driving the #23.
Cat equipment for the Pop Secret 500
Wimmer and the No. 22 Caterpillar team are taking the same car they competed with at Michigan International Speedway just a few weeks ago. The car was brand new prior to the race in Michigan. Wimmer started 26th after qualifying was rained out and finished 18th in its debut.