“Red Man Moist Snuff has done a lot for the sport and this team, so I’m glad that we could deliver a top-10 finish in their final race,” said Wimmer. “I got up in the marbles in Turns 1 and 2 and I thought we had a right front flat going down so I came down pit road. We put ourselves in a little hole but Rick (Viers) did a great job with some strategy calls to get us back on the lead lap. We ended up leading some laps and almost had a top 5, but we were on old tires and on the longer runs we just couldn’t keep up and slipped a few spots. Baker Curb Racing builds really good cars and I’m thankful for the opportunity they gave me. We led laps and ran in the top 10 in all three races I ran for them. Hopefully things work out and I get another chance to get back in their cars this season.”
Just 12 laps into the 200-lap race Wimmer felt a right-front tire going down and brought the Red Man Moist Snuff Ford down pit road. The Red Man Racing crew put right sides on the car and returned him to the track scored one lap down in the 41st position. When the second caution of the race occurred on lap 21, Wimmer brought his Ford Fusion back down pit road for left side tires, a trackbar adjustment and fuel.
As the race progressed, the Red Man Racing team made numerous adjustments to the Red Man Moist Snuff Ford Fusion as the race progressed in an effort to get their veteran driver back on the lead lap. Their efforts paid off when a caution occurred on lap 112 and Wimmer was awarded the “Lucky Dog.” The Wausau, Wis. native brought his No. 27 down pit road for four fresh tires, wedge and trackbar adjustments, and a full tank of fuel and returned to the track scored in the 22nd position.
When a debris caution occurred on lap 134, Viers elected to roll the dice and keep the Red Man Moist Snuff Ford Fusion on the track in an effort to gain track position. With all other lead lap cars pitting, Wimmer assumed the lead and picked up five bonus points. The race restarted on lap 142 and Wimmer pulled to the front of second-place Joey Logano before another caution quickly occurred.
As the race progressed, the veteran driver settled into the top five holding off many cars on fresher tires. Viers alerted Wimmer to conserve fuel in order to try and make it to the end of the race. Six cautions totaling over 30 laps during the race final 85 laps allowed Wimmer to make it the distance on fuel. When the race went green for the final 25 laps Reed Sorenson and Steve Wallace made their way around the No. 27 Red Man Moist Snuff Ford, but Wimmer managed to bring home his fifth top-10 finish in seven starts at the mile and a half track. He also has now led at least one lap in each of his five NASCAR Nationwide Series starts this season.
Over the first 14 races of the season, the Red Man Racing team registered eight top-10 finishes and led nine races for a total of 81 laps. The team currently stands eighth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series owner standings. Australian Owen Kelly will make his NASCAR debut in the No. 27 for the Bucyrus 200 at Road America Saturday on ESPN 2 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
- Baker Curb Racing Press Release
