Primary Sponsor: Aero Exhaust
Driver: Scott Wimmer
Associate Sponsors: Race Face, Wide Open Performance Energy Drink, Players Extreme Spirits, Coyote Ugly Saloon, Tuff Country, Kodak
Owner: Morgan-McClure Motorsports
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
Race: Pennsylvania 500, Pocono Raceway
Scott Wimmer and the Morgan-McClure Motorsports team earned some redemption for their previous visit to Pocono by qualifying for the Pennsylvania 500. Two flat left-front tires in the late stages of the event left the team with a 38th place finish at the 2.5 mile triangular-shaped speedway.
As Saturdays practice sessions were cancelled due to rain, Wimmer and crew chief Chris Carrier had to revert back to notes from previous years to determine an appropriate setup to start the event. Early in the event, the lack of track time was evident as the No.4 car could only advance to 40th by the competition yellow at lap 20.
Upon the restart, however, the No.4 Chevrolet Monte Carlo continued to suffer from tight handling conditions and throughout the first half of the race, could only advance as high as the 32nd position. Despite many adjustments over the next two stops, the cars lack of front grip would only marginally improve and Wimmer continued to run between positions 33-36 while posting his fastest lap of the day.
During the second half of the event, adjustments by the Carrier led crew started to show solid improvement on the handling of the # 4 Aero Exhaust machine and Wimmer ran some of his most competitive laps of the event. Having fallen to 37th position, Wimmer began to work his way forward, advancing all the way to the 30th position while battling for a chance to earn the Lucky Dog Free Pass.
On lap 178, the left-front tire went flat on Wimmers machine and, while nursing the car around to the pits, the tire exploded, ripping the front fender off the car and bringing out a caution.
Following repairs in the pits, Wimmer returned to the track two laps down in 38th position. Luck would continue to go against the Morgan-McClure team as another flat left front tire on lap 192 would send the team to pit road again. After a quick two-tire change by the No. 4 crew, Wimmer again returned to the track and crossed the line for the final time in 38th, four laps off the leaders.
With the finish, the Morgan-McClure team remains 39th in NASCAR Owner Points.
Scott Wimmer Quote:
It was good going back up there to Pocono. We made the race after missing it last time. I was kind of disappointed about the race but looking back at it we didnt have any practice and not running in the race three weeks earlier really hurt us. All in all, we struggled with the car all day, made it better at times but never really made it right. Ultimately, we had some tire problems that dropped us out of it. Overall I thought it was a day that we learned quite a bit. Going back again would definitely be a plus after having run the track.
This week: The Nextel Cup takes its final week off during the 2006 season. The No.4 Morgan-McClure Motorsports team returns to action Sunday, August 6 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard.