Chris Wimmer knows frustration. Chris Wimmer knows what it is like to be so close to your dream, yet have it just beyond of your fingertips. Chris Wimmer knows disappointment. Yet, despite all the setbacks and bad luck, he has never given up and continues to work, persevere, and retain hope that he will realize his dream of becoming a successful stock car driver.
Wimmer started his racing career in the ASA Late Model Series where he returns this weekend at the 38th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, Wisconsin. Wimmer will once again take the reins of the Wimmer Racing No. 52 Chevrolet, driving in the Dick Trickle 99 and the ASA Midwest Tour Late Model event.
“I’m really looking forward to this weekend at La Crosse, ” said Wimmer. “We’ve had really strong cars at these races, just bad luck. I’m ready to get this monkey off my back and get back to Victory Lane. ”
“Also, ” added Wimmer, “I want to thank my sponsors Philly’s Subs and Gyro’s out of Wausau, Joe Rader Towing in Wausau and Flip Side Graphics in Wausau for coming on board this weekend. I really appreciate their support. ”
When older brother Scott made the full-time move to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2001, Chris took over the family-owned late model and set off to make a name of his own. Where Scott has seen success in stock car racing’s upper tiers, the youngest Wimmer has struggled to get his foot solidly in the door. In 2001 and 2002, Wimmer finished 15th and 17th in the ASA National Standings, respectively. 2003 brought Wimmer his first career pole at Elko Speedway, Minn. and the 12th position in the ASA National Standings. Wimmer’s total career stats include 17 wins, 56 top-5’s, and 113 top-10’s.
Wimmer made the jump in 2004 to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS), running a limited schedule. Although he has seen some seat time, Wimmer has struggled to find success and a full-time home in the NCTS or the NASCAR Busch Series.
Frustrated with sitting at home on his couch in High Point, NC, Wimmer packed some belongings, his chocolate lab, and headed home to Wisconsin where he has spent his summer running Late Model races across the state. Driving the family-owned and operated Wimmer Racing No. 25 Chevrolet, Wimmer participated in the Larry Detjens Memorial at Golden Sands Speedway, the Miller Lite Slinger Nationals at Slinger Speedway, the Wisconsin All-Star 50 at the Milwaukee Mile, and the Wisconsin Challenge Series Championship 80 at the Marshfield Super Speedway.
Most recently, and with the hope that anything can happen in Vegas, Wimmer was poised and ready to make his mark with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the Smith’s Las Vegas 350 on September 21. Driving for a small team with a lot of heart, they unloaded a truck that was very loose on the track. Making adjustment after adjustment, the handling was finally tolerable to the driver. Unfortunately, the truck failed the templates and had to be readjusted. The team beat and banged the truck to get it to fit the NASCAR templates. When the truck finally took the qualifying grid, team and driver had no idea how it would handle. Wimmer climbed in and attempted his first lap. Having not driven the truck in the state it was now, Wimmer tried to get the best lap possible but lost control of the truck and connected with the track wall. NASCAR officials informed the team that because of the number of trucks entered in the even, if they could repair the truck and have it on the starting grid in time for the green flag, they could start the race. They missed it by two minutes.
Yet another shot at his dream had been dashed.
Wimmer returns to the track this weekend in the Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway. He knows he can win. He knows that he is a competitive driver. And he is ready to remind the world of that fact. He is a race car driver. It’s all he has known; it is all he has ever wanted to be
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