Photo by Joe Dunn
By Joe Dunn / joe@onpitroad.com
In a NASCAR Nationwide Series race that was dominated by Kyle Busch, a late race mistake turned the lead over to Clint Bowyer on lap 162. That head would be lost on lap 205 to Bowyer’s Richard Childress Racing teammate Scott Wimmer who laid claim to the win and the coveted Gibson Guitar Trophy.
The win is the first of the 2008 season by a driver who is not a competitor in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Wimmer last drove full time in the Cup Series in 2006 for Morgan McClure Racing in the #4 car where he was released after 20 races. Late in 2006 he hooked up with RCR as a part time driver doing mostly testing. “Stepping down and running a partial schedule in the Nationwide Series is not what I want to be doing, but those are the cards that are dealt to me right now,” Wimmer said. “I’m with a great team with Richard Childress Racing and have great teammates. You can struggle in a single-car operation or a lower-budget team, but that’s not where any driver wants to be. I’m just trying to do the best I can for Richard right now, and hopefully, it’ll fall that someday I can get back to racing Nationwide full time or Sprint Cup full time. But right now, I’m having a good time.”
Following Wimmer across the line was Bowyer and Defending Series Champ Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, Kelly Bires and David Stremme in sixth. Seventh through tenth were Denny Hamlin, Cale Gale, David Reutimann and Nashville native Bobby Hamilton Jr.
David Stremme has a local connection as he teamed up with D&R Motorsports and Randy Weaver of Crossville this year in the Super Late Model Dirt Racing action. David’s participation in the Weaver team has been limited somewhat this year as his Nationwide Series racing and negotiations to get back into a NASCAR Sprint Cup ride have kept him very busy. But that has not curbed his enthusiasm about the working with Randy, Speaking of Randy, David commented, “It’s neat to see what he does and just how talented he is on dirt. I want to do some dirt racing and I figure with a guy like Randy that would really be good. I saw Randy run and he does real well, I want to do some dirt racing and I figured he would be a great guy to get hooked up with.”
For Crossville fans of Randy Weaver who have not had a chance to see him lately, his schedule indicates that he will be at Crossville Raceway USA on Hwy 70N, Sunday afternoon for an open practice. This will be the first event of the season for the track as they prepare for a full season of racing at the legendary track. The gates will open at noon on Sunday and practice will run until dark. For updated information on Crossville Raceway USA call 456-5000 or go to www.Crossvilleracewayusa.net.
