Chris
Wimmer Looking for Good Finish at MB Motorsports’ Home
Track
In recent weeks, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
driver Chris Wimmer, has moved up several
spots in the points standings on the strength
of strong
finishes, despite qualifying being washed
out two weeks in a row and having to start
from the
rear. Saturday night, Wimmer makes his debut
at Gateway International Raceway at the Missouri-Illinois
Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200, the home track
for his team, Foristell, Mo.-based MB Motorsports.
The track is one of the more challenging
on the
circuit and Wimmer knows he has his work
cut out for him.
“I’m a little nervous about racing
at Gateway,” said Wimmer, “because
of the fact it is a unique track and it’s
kind of like a road course, due to the fact
you have to shift on every lap. But at the
same time, it’ll be pretty awesome to
race in front of the hometown fans here in
St. Louis and be able to sleep in my own bed.
(MB Motorsports owner/crew chief) Mike Mittler
and MB Motorsports are well known by the race
fans here and I hope I can give the fans a
reason to be proud of their hometown NASCAR
team.”
While Wimmer has not raced at Gateway before,
his older brother, NASCAR Nextel Cup rookie,
Scott Wimmer, has raced here in the Busch Series
and Wimmer plans to pick his older sibling’s
brain about the track. “Scott had two
top-10s in three races there, so hopefully
he’ll be able to pass down some tips
for me,” he said. “It’s been
a great advantage for me to have a brother
who has raced a lot of these tracks already
so I have a little bit of a heads up when I
go there myself.”
Mittler is confident Wimmer will finish strong
Saturday night. “Gateway can be tough,
but Chris knows how to use his head and stay
out of trouble,” he said. “Hopefully,
we can get away from the rain this week and
get qualifying in. It’s important to
start well here because passing comes at a
premium and with the long, green-flag stretches
that Gateway tends to have, it’s easy
to go a lap down early. But like I said, I
have faith in Chris and our team to do well.”
During the race, Wimmer’s #63 Ford will
be carrying a special decal in honor of fallen
NHRA top-fuel racer, Darrell Russell, who died
in a crash at the NHRA event in June. “Since
Gateway is our home track,” said Mittler, “we
felt it was important to remember a great man
and a great racer who lost his life here. We’ll
carry the decal with honor in memory of Darrell.”
Onboard with Wimmer for this race is local
sponsor, Dave Porter Truck Sales, “Your
Star Connection,” located in Wright City,
Mo. Dave Porter Truck Sales specializes in
premium low-mileage semi trucks and trailers.
The most popular lines include Western Star,
Peterbilt, and Kenworth semi tractors. Nationwide
sales (49 of 50 states) cater to the smaller
owner/operator. A full-service facility is
available for customer service, repairs, parts,
and “The Chrome Connection,” all
maintained by eight qualified service technicians
with over 100 years combined experience. Dave
Porter Truck Sales is located on I-70 (exit
199) in Wright City. Contact Dave Porter Truck
Sales at 800-407-8008 or e-mail: Dptsllc@aol.com.
The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough
200 at Gateway International Raceway in Madison,
Ill., will be carried live on SPEED Channel
at 7 p.m. local time and on MRN Radio live
at 6:30 p.m. local time.
|
