Scott Wimmer Quotes:
Scott, you had quite a disappointing start to your last race at Martinsville. What differences are there in how you approach a race at a track you have competed on earlier in the year? “Yeah, we didn’t have the best start to our day the last time we raced at Martinsville. It made for a really long race, because it is so hard to make up so many lost laps when you fall so far behind so early. It was amazing what the guys were able to fix in such a short time. The fan was pushed all the way back into the motor and cut the main belt, and they were able to replace that and get me back on track in less than 30 laps. I’m talking about 30 laps on a short track, and that says a lot.

“The crazy thing about that early-race setback is the car handled so well after it happened. It kind of made the whole ordeal more disappointing because we really could have gained some ground that day on the track and in the standings, but had to settle for less. So we’re giving the car another chance this weekend by taking it back to Martinsville.

“As far as comparing one race to another, there is a lot we can relate from the spring to the fall. The only difference that really comes into play is the weather and the effect it has on the track’s grip, but the notes from April will definitely come in handy this weekend.”

How was your grandmother’s visit this past weekend? What did she think of NASCAR? “It is a trip she will never forget. She had a great time and was a bit overwhelmed. She’s watched the races on TV, but she just didn’t realize all of the hustle and bustle that goes on behind the scenes and all of the things that take place in the days leading up to the race. It was really fun having her around and to watch her reaction to everything going on around us. It meant a lot to me to have her here, because she was very involved in my racing back home in Wisconsin and managed to make it out to a lot of those races. It was time for her to go NASCAR racing with me. Hopefully, that is only the first of many more visits to come.”

The last two weekends, you have really turned up the heat when it comes to qualifying. Is there something the team has been doing to improve its qualifying runs? “That chassis we ran in Kansas and at Lowe’s Motor Speedway is a great qualifying machine. We have definitely picked up the pace the last two weekends come qualifying time. Our intermediate track program has really gotten stronger as the year has progressed, and it has really shown at some of the 1.5-mile tracks this year. Now, it is finally transferring to the qualifying side of the show. Qualifying is something that has definitely needed some improvement. The crazy thing is when our qualifying runs are good, our racing isn’t as strong, so hopefully we can tie it altogether for a consistently sound performance this weekend at Martinsville and in the weekends remaining this season.”

What happened to your team at Lowe’s Saturday night?” “I think we are still wondering that ourselves, because the car put out such a solid qualifying run, and even during the final practices of the weekend it felt awesome. Then Saturday night, it just didn’t want to cut through three and four. At times, it felt like it was dragging the front end. The guys did get it running up the track better, but it repeatedly regressed throughout the night. I know Derrick [Finley, crew chief] tried everything he could to get it handling better, and it did improve, but just not as much as we hoped it would.”