This message was edited on
March 25, 2007 at
10:39:39 PM by Gary Thomas
Wimmer wins 1st GSC race in controversial fashion
By Gary Thomas
Placerville, CA - Mach 25, 2007...Controversy reigned supreme Saturday night at Placerville Speedway and it all ended with Fairmont, Indiana’s Brandon Wimmer picking up his first career Golden State Challenge Series win in only his second ever start. Wimmer started fifth aboard the ARB Inc, Redi-Green Sod Farms, Pam Kumar Real estate No. 1k, and made several aggressive moves en route to his second win a row at the high banked 1/4 mile clay oval.
The initial start of the 30 lap main event was called back as Salinas driver Ronnie Day, who sat on the pole, was deemed to have started too early and was set back two rows. The next start saw 2004 GSC Rookie of the Year Andy Gregg of Placerville jump out into the lead in the Guts Racing, Myers & Sons Drywall, Nor Cal Vinyl Fencing, The Paint Spot, BR Motorsports No.16x. Gregg did a terrific job throughout the race, even when dealing with traffic. Coming into the night he had never scored a top five with GSC and had never won a sprint car race in California. His one career win came in ‘04 at the 1/3 mile Southern Oregon Speedway in Medford, Oregon.
Gregg, a 27-year-old motocross graduate, was quite impressive as he held off some of the top names on the west coast and ran one of the finest races of his career. He remained calm, cool and collected as the laps wound down and had a bevy of strong challengers breathing down his neck. As the white flag was unveiled from the starters stand he looked to be on his way to victory, but it all came to an end it turn two as he and Wimmer made contact racing for the lead. It resulted in Gregg getting upside down and putting an end to what could have been one of the biggest upsets in recent years. Gregg was visibly upset, but was still able to smile after the races in the pits showing the personality of a guy that’s easy to root for.
With Gregg out of the race it moved Wimmer up to the lead and Day up to second for the green, white checkered restart. Day stayed close and looked to have made the pass going down the back stretch only to have Wimmer slam the door shut, nearly sending Day off the track in turn two.
Wimmer went on to pick up the win and it marked the third time that the Kumar 1k has won in Golden State Challenge Series competition, as they had won twice previously with Stephen Allard as their driver. Wimmer also won in Placerville the week before with the California Civil War 360 Series. He got out of the car to a sea of boos however, as the packed grandstand showed its dissatisfaction with how the end of the race unfolded. Wimmer’s win in Placerville marked the second weekend in a row that a first time winner visited victory lane and made it five different winners in the first five GSC races of the ‘07 season.
Day rebounded after getting set back on the first start of the race to drive forward and finish second in the Ridgeline Framing, Elite Landscaping, Primerica Financial No. 1. It was the 2000 King of California’s first night working with new crew chief Brian Cannon and their first night together would have to be deemed a success. The runner-up finish was Day’s first top five of the year after suffering two dnf’s and one dnq in the first four races. GSC goes to Thunderbowl Raceway next weekend, which is arguably Day’s best track so it will be a good opportunity for the 48-year-old to break his winless streak that dates back to July of 2005.
Finishing third and unofficially taking over the point lead was 2005 King of California Sean Becker of Oroville. The driver known as the "Shark" drove the Fisher/Main Motorsports, Cherry St. Mini Storage, Rolling Hills Reality No. 35m to his GSC leading fourth top-five finish of the season. He suffered damage on the front end of his car just after the midway point of the 30 lap feature following contact from another competitor, and it ended up hampering him late in the going. Even with that he was able to bring home his second consecutive podium finish and to the delight of everybody’s ears, he and the Fisher/Main Motorsports team stated that it looks like they’ll be in Tulare next weekend.
Ending up fourth was the Al’s Roofing Supply, Kaeding Performance, Selco Heating & Air No. 69 of Campbell’s Brent Kaeding. The 12 time King of California started seventh in the feature and stayed out of trouble to pick up his third top five finish of the season.
Rounding out the top five and scoring his best finish of the year was "Double Down" Willie Croft of Sacramento. Croft, the 2004 Mini Gold Cup champion, began the night setting fast time in the Holy Smokes BBQ, LRB Inc, Amerikote High Temp Coatings No. 29. It was a strong evening of competition for the gasser from Sac Town following a rough two night’s at Kings Speedway last weekend.
Finishing sixth through tenth it was Jason Statler in the Tom Rolfe Trucking No. 10, Bud Kaeding in the Wright One Construction No. 35, Brad Sweet in the GP Development No. 6, Jim Skinner in the WB Equipment No. 73 and Jonathan Allard in the GT Trends No. 0.
Chico’s Brett Miller won the B-main ahead of Sweet, Evan Suggs, Jon Maiwald, Andy Forsberg, Justin Johnson and Pat Harvey.
The dash was dominated by Day who won easily ahead of Gregg, Becker, Allard, Wimmer, Croft, Brent Kaeding and Skinner.
Three 10 lap heat races were contested and they were picked off Kyle Hirst, Bud Kaeding and Billy Sellers.
Croft’s fast time was well ahead of everyone else at a 10.361.
Full results are available at http://www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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