5/5/2011
Sprint Source
Brandon Wimmer – Charging With the WoO!
(Bill W) May 5, 2011 – Charging from the back in a pair of World of Outlaw shows is not what Brandon Wimmer had in mind, but that was the reality. On Saturday in Haubstadt, after qualifying ninth and finishing third in his heat, that he had an unapproved tire. That set up a charge from 24th to 17th on the tight quarter-mile. A trip Tuesday night to the Salina High Banks in Oklahoma saw the Fairmount, Indiana driver shoot from 20th to 13th. This weekend, he’ll be back in familiar territory as the WoO spends two nights at the Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio.
The incident at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt on Saturday was unfortunate. Brandon timed in ninth in the stout field before running third in his heat. That is when officials approached him. “It was just a deal where we were good all night,” he says. “We ran the same tire on the left and right rear for qualifying and the heat race. After the heat, they came and said our left rear was not the World of Outlaws series Goodyear tire. They have a D31 series, and ours was a D27 that we picked up last year. It was still a 100 compound tire, just not the series they are running this year.”
Brandon was forced to start scratch in the feature, and made the most of it by moving up seven spots. “That put us in the back of the feature,” he says. “At Haubstadt, which is a smaller track, that’s a tough proposition. We felt we were running well. We’re definitely passing cars right now, and not going the opposite way.”
He proved that again on Tuesday night at the Salina Highbanks. This time, the qualifying effort of 25th was the reason he would have to make a surge. “We were the 13th quickest car in hot laps, but we were the next to last car to go out for qualifying,” says Brandon. “That didn’t help things. Every car there was a good car. It was one of those good deals, and going out late ended up hurting us some.”
The Alan Barton Motorsports Hedman Husler Hedders #7TW was a rocket in the heat race. Starting ninth, he shot up to fifth, passing the defending WoO champion in the process. The finish put him squarely in the feature. “The heat went really well,” he says. “We were able to get by four cars. The last two were Jason Meyers and Brad Sweet, so we felt really good about how the car was working on the high banks.”
Starting outside row ten, Brandon worked his way to threaten for a top ten finish. However, a series of restarts set him back. “The car just got better in the feature,” he says. “I’m positive we could have had a top ten car, but the double-file restarts hurt us a few times. It’s the luck of where you line up on the restarts. Early in the race, you wanted the top, but later on, you wanted the bottom. It seemed we ended up on the opposite side every time.”
Is it frustrating to have so many double-file restarts? “It works on you,” says Brandon. “It’s challenging, because you work so hard to get by those cars under green, and then they get to start beside you on the restarts.”
Overall, Brandon was happy with the way the car was moving forward, and he was impressed with the facility in Salina. “It was racy all night…high, low, middle, wherever,” he says of the track. “It’s a pretty nice racetrack. I had never been there before. We’re looking forward to Eldora. We just need to qualify a tick better and start up front.”
Win a New Sprint Car by Purchasing Hedman Hedders
Buying a set of Hedman Husler sprint car headers could get you a new sprint car in 2011. Buyers of Hedman Husler sprint car headers will be put in a drawing for the giveaway car...a Eagle chassis supplied with a Gaerte 360 engine.
About Hedman Husler
Hedman Husler is part of Hedman Performance Group comprised of Hedman Hedders, Trans-Dapt and Hamburger’s Performance Products. Hedman Hedders, began as a one man shop in 1954. Bob Hedman, founder of Hedman Hedders, sold his highly sought after exhaust tubes to fellow racers on the salt flats of the Mojave Desert. But, what started out as a way to make a few bucks to pay for Bob’s racing hobby, quickly turned into the premier hedder manufacturer for both the racing and street hedder marketplaces.
Originally designed for straight-line drag racers, word spread quickly about Hedman’s reputation for building hedders that gave you the best boost in power for your dollar. It wasn’t long before Hedman Hedders was the brand of choice among racing’s elite engine builders, racers and race series. Familiar names like Don Garlits, Warren Johnson, Shirley Muldowney, Bob Chandler and his BIG FOOT Race Team, and the IROC series.
Hedman Hedders constantly reshapes itself to meet environmental requirements and incorporates computer technology to ensure that its products offer the best performance improvement.
Whether you’re a Pro or sportsman racer, Hedman Hedders builds your hedder with one goal in mind, optimum performance. Even if you’re not a racer, the lessons Hedman learns at the track and on the dyno make it into every street hedder we design.
Team Mannatech
Brandon has realized that a driver not only needs good equipment on the racetrack, but needs to also be in the best physical shape to be a success. That's why Brandon has added a wellness program to his daily routine, which includes adding a line of scientifically validated nutritional products from Mannatech. Mannatech, Incorporation is a leading developer and provider of proprietary nutritional supplements, weight management products and skin care solutions. Athletes around the world rely on Mannatech products because they are formulated from high quality, natural plant sources and are formulated without any substances banned by major worldwide anti-doping agencies.
Brandon has been invited to serve on an elite team of athletes called Team Mannatech because of the results he has had with the products and will be working to share his experience with drivers, crews and fans. With more than 200 athletes representing countries around the globe, Team Mannatech members have been drawn from the exclusive ranks of sports legends, the everyday athlete and young enthusiasts destined to become superstars. They inspire action and attract passionate wellness champions and are all role models for their sport, committed to helping people of all ages lead a healthy, active lifestyle.
Attached: Brandon races the Salina Highbanks (Thriller Photography – www.ThrillerPhoto.com)
Bill W Media
Monroe, IA USA
sprntcar@hotmail.com
Submitted By: Bill Wright
