Wisconsin native and two-time race winner Chris Wimmer returns to this year’s Larry Detjens Memorial Friday night at the Golden Sands Speedway. Wimmer, who won the race that honors his Uncle Larry in 1997 (Pure Stock Division) and 2000 (Late Model Division), will be running Wayne Brevek’s lucky #7-11.
“I’m really excited to be back running the Memorial, ” said Wimmer. “It’s been a few years since I’ve run it. I know the Bassuener’s are excited to have the race at Golden Sands and they’re good friends of our family. It’ll be a lot of fun racing there. I also want to thank Wayne for letting me run his car. I know they are running really well at State Park with this car and I really appreciate him letting me drive it this Friday. ”
The Larry Detjens Memorial, previously run from 1981 to 2006 at State Park Speedway, Wausau, WI, honors the popular short-track racer who lost his life in a tragic accident at Wisconsin International Raceway in 1981. At the time, Detjens was one of Wisconsin’s rising stars. During the 1981 season, Detjens had already collected over 20 victories, competing throughout Wisconsin on weekly tracks like State Park Speedway, and in ARTGO and ASA events. Detjens was well on his way to a NASCAR ride and a promising career. Detjens, a native of Wausau, grew up learning the ropes of short-track racing at the nearby Golden Sands Speedway, the location of this year’s Memorial race.
The Wimmer family was always close to Detjens. Ron Wimmer, Chris’s dad, worked in Larry’s pits during Detjens’s successful career. Detjens, ever the speed demon, competed in the Junior Olympics as a downhill skier when he was 17. However, a broken leg ended his ski racing career early. Detjens gave the eldest Wimmer child, Tim, his first pair of skis. All the Wimmer children followed in his footsteps and were great ski racers. Scott and Chris also followed their Uncle’s passion to the race track. Chris was only two years old when his uncle died, but Larry Detjens remains one of his heroes.
“I don’t remember him because I was so young, but everything I have heard about him is so great, ” stated the youngest Wimmer. “He was just a great guy – an amazing guy who always made time for everyone. And he is someone who I have always looked up to and want to be like, on and off the track. ”
| 
|