Track: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile trio-val) in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Race: Pepsi 400
Date: 07.02.05
NASCAR Nextel Cup points position: 34th (same as last week)
Notes:
- The No. 22 Caterpillar Dodge Charger at Daytona International Speedway this weekend is Chassis No. 89.
It is a brand new race car.
· First and best Scott Wimmer posted his career-first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series top-five finish at Daytona International Speedway with a third-place finish in the 2004 Daytona 500. That finish still marks Wimmers overall best in his young career as a Nextel Cup Series driver.
- Wimmer races back home After Wimmer finished racing in Sundays Dodge/Save Mart 350 in Sonoma, Calif., he headed to his home state of Wisconsin to race in the Miller Classic Return of Champions event at Madison International Speedway Tuesday, June 28. Wimmer isnt the only NASCAR driver slated to compete at the Madison track in the Miller Classic 150. Scotts brother Chris Wimmer, Ted Musgrave, Todd Kluever, Tim Sauter, Johnny Sauter and Rich Bickle are planning to race, as well.
- Wimmer to race in uncles memorial event After competing in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway this weekend, Wimmer will return to Wisconsin to compete in the 25th Annual Larry Detjens Memorial Race on Tuesday, July 5. Chris Wimmer will compete, as well. Both brothers are past winners of the event that is named after their late uncle who was fatally injured at Kaukauna International Speedway in 1981. To learn more about the memorial event, go to wimmerracing.com.
- Catch the action Qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Pepsi 400 is scheduled to start at 4:40 p.m. ET Friday, July 1, and will broadcast LIVE on MRN (radio) and XM Radio. The Pepsi 400 is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET Saturday, July 2, and will broadcast LIVE on NBC (TV), MRN and XM Radio.
Q&A with S. Wimmer
What are your thoughts on heading back to Daytona International Speedway? Im looking forward to getting back to Daytona. We had such a strong run going the entire time we were there earlier this year and really thought we couldve left there with at least a top five if we hadnt gotten caught up in the late-race accident. The engine department back at Bill Davis Racing has really done a great job finding us more power this entire year, so Im looking forward to getting back down to Daytona to try to capture the finish we almost had in February.
I should probably knock on wood when I ask you this, but you and your CAT Racing team have definitely put out more competitive racing in the last couple of weeks. Have there been any major changes, or do you think this is just a simple change in luck for you guys?I dont think we are really doing anything major different now than we did earlier this year. Trust me, we are trying just as hard, but we have learned more about the Dodge Charger, as well as the shocks and springs. I guess you could say part of it is we are just managing to not get caught up in other peoples messes. You know, we all want to win, and if we cant win we want to be top-five or top-10; but the way this year has been going for us, weve gotten to where we want to just finish the races. Most of the time it really hasnt been at any fault of our own. I mean, there for a bit it was like we kept getting taken out by spinning cars in front of us or behind us. Admittedly, part of it is about not being in the back at the start of the race, so you can usually avoid those spins, and if you look at the last couple of weeks, our starts are improving as well as our finishes. I dont want to count the chickens before they hatch, but we are getting better every week. I think it all comes down to the fact we are gaining more experience. I mean, we learn more every time we get out on the race track, so I guess we can attribute it to education and the fact we are better prepared in many ways now than we were earlier in the season. A little bit of luck always helps too.