WIX FILTERS LAP LEADER NOTES FOR THE SHARPIE MINI 300 NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES RACE AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY, MARCH 15, 2008.
Scott Wimmer earned WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race honors in today’s Sharpie Mini 300. Wimmer led twice for 12 laps, the first time he has led a lap in the Nationwide Series this season. He was one of just three drivers to lead a lap in the race.
DID YOU KNOW? A different driver has claimed WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race honors in each of the five Nationwide Series races this season: Wimmer, Brian Vickers, Mike Bliss, Brad Keselowski and Kenny Wallace.
WIMMER QUOTES: “We had a real good day and we’re happy to win the WIX award. We started out tight and Pat [Smith, crew chief] and the guys got the car better on that next stop. Tried to put a little strategy there and stay out and we’re running third and the rain came and it kind of looked like it was going to go away but it kind of set in here. We opted to try to pit there. We lost 10 spots or so but all in all, it’s been a really good day. I’ve learned a lot. I haven’t been in the car since Daytona so it’s big just to get back in and get rolling.” YOU HAD GOOD TRACK POSITION FOR THE START OF THE RACE. “Definitely starting on the pole was a great deal. It’s all the hard work that these guys put in last year and winning that owner’s championship. It’s nice starting out front there. You don’t have to worry about a lot of things. Traffic is pretty crazy here at Bristol. We just had to deal with lapped cars. We didn’t have to deal with other cars that we were racing against real hard. Any time you can start up front at any racetrack it really helps out.” YOU WERE RUNNING FOURTH BUT HAD TO PIT JUST BEFORE THE RAIN CAME. WAS FUEL MILEAGE A CONCERN? “I think we were fine on fuel for a little bit. We were hurting on tires. Tires are not real big but when guys behind you have ‘em, you need to have ‘em. The guys behind us probably had 40 less lap tires that we did and we needed to get in here and get some new ones. If this thing goes back green it’s going to play in our favor. If it doesn’t, it’s going to hurt us. It was a good day for us.”
Wimmer scored a 12th-place finish in today’s race in just his second start in the series in 2008.
WIX FILTERS LAP LEADER AWARD STANDINGS
Brian Vickers 1
Mike Bliss 1
Brad Keselowski 1
Kenny Wallace 1
Scott Wimmer 1
WIX FILTERS LAP LEADER AWARD WINNERS BY RACE
EVENT DRIVER
Camping World 300 Brian Vickers, two laps
Stater Bros. 300 Mike Bliss, three laps
Sam’s Town 300 Brad Keselowski, 12 laps
Nicorette 300 Kenny Wallace, three laps
Sharpie Mini 300 Scott Wimmer, 12 laps.
