ASAMT Top Ten Of 2010: Number 2 - Chris Wimmer

2010 was a great year for Wausau, WI driver, Chris Wimmer. Wimmer finished a close second in the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and GrandStay Hospitality point standings.

In the season opener, Wimmer took home one of his two ECHO/Oregon Cutting Systems “Quick Cut Qualifier” awards. After starting 14th, Wimmer quickly moved up to the 10th spot by lap 29. He finished the afternoon in fifth, placing himself third in the point standings.

Next up on the schedule was Elko Speedway where he wrapped up his second of six, top-fives in the season. Chris Wimmer and Ross Kenseth had a side-by-side, and one of the most exciting, battles of the season in the 100 lap event. Unfortunately Wimmer was unable to finish in the top spot and finished a very close second to Kenseth.

The driver of the #52 continued to wrack up top-five finishes when they headed to Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, IA. The Keith Fleck/Miller 100 was by far one of the hottest weekends during the season. Drivers were tired and dehydrated when the event was over, but once again Wimmer came out and finished in the top three. Chris was now the new point leader and the only driver to have finished the first three events in the top five.

Chris continued to prove why he was the point leader finishing again in the top five at the 9th Annual Elmer Musgrave Memorial. Steve Carlson became the ninth winner of the event, but he still was not able to snag the point lead from Wimmer who finished right behind him in second. This was Wimmer’s fourth consecutive top-five finish in the 2010 season, keeping him 12 points ahead of Carlson in the point standings.

The ASAMT headed back to MIS for The Swiss Colony All-Star Challenge on June 29th. Chris Wimmer won the event in 2009 passing Matt Kenseth on lap 89 to take home the victory. Unfortunately he was unable to repeat the win in 2010, finishing in tenth. However, this was still his fifth consecutive top-ten of the 2010 season.

Drivers next headed to Shakopee, MN for the “Kwik Trip 125.” Wimmer had started in eighth and was making a charge to the front and had settled into fourth position until his night ended early. He dropped out on lap 90 due to mechanical problems, ending his consecutive top-ten finishes. The points race was beginning to get very interesting.

Wimmer had a quiet, but successful night at the 29th Annual Dixieland at Wisconsin International Raceway. Just days after the loss of their home in a fire, Wimmer was pleased with his third place finish. He was quiet most of the night, but in the closing laps, Johnny Sauter, Steve Carlson, and Chris Wimmer were nose-to-tail until the checkered flag fell. At this point in the season, Carlson had extended his lead to 28 points over Wimmer, with four events remaining.

It was time to head to Dells Raceway Park, a track that Wimmer typically had great success at. He topped the qualifying chart for the second time during the season and continued to keep Steve Carlson in his sites for the championship. The driver of the #52 Pathfinder Chassis finished sixth on that Saturday night and was now only 31 points behind Carlson who finished fourth.

Next up on the schedule was Marshfield Motor Speedway. After qualifying 11th, Wimmer and Mark Eswein led the field to the green flag. Wimmer took the lead and was able to hold on even after late race challenges from Chris Weinkauf. Chris wrapped up his first victory of 2010 and continued to keep the points race tight.

Jamie Iverson has won every ASA Midwest Tour event at Norway Speedway in Norway, MI, and 2010 was no different. Wimmer had a fairly quiet night, finishing in seventh, his ninth top-ten of the 2010 racing season.

Going into the final event of the season, only five points separated Carlson and Wimmer. Carlson qualified 17th, locking him in the field, while Wimmer won his qualifying heat to lock himself into the event. Unfortunately, Wimmer’s day continued to get worse as he drifted back in the field and finished an uncharacteristic 20th, putting him second in the overall 2010 point standings.

To learn more about Chris Wimmer and his career, log on to www.chriswimmer.com.

To learn more about the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and GrandStay Residential Suites Hotels and Crossings by GrandStay Inn & Suites, log on to www.asamidwesttour.com or call the ASA Midwest Tour office at (262) 514-3880 or e-mail Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus at steve@asamidwesttour.com.

If you would like to learn more about the ASAMT series sponsors, please visit their websites: Kwik Trip, Inc. (www.kwiktrip.com), ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment (www.echo-usa.com), and GrandStay Residential Suites Hotels and Crossings by GrandStay Inn & Suites (www.grandstay.net).

To learn more about the Midwest Sportsman Tour log on to www.asamidwestsportsman.com.

To learn more about the ASA Midwest Truck Tour log on to www.asamidwesttrucks.com.

To learn more about the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association® Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association®, visit www.asaracing.com.

ASA®, ASA Racing®, and American Speed Association® are registered trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC. ASA International, LLC or Racing Speed Associates, LLC are not related to or affiliated with the ASA Late Model Series, LLC.