2/9/2010
Sprint Source
Brandon Wimmer – New Season Begins in Florida!
[i (Bill W) February 8, 2010 –]
Brandon Wimmer and Owner, Rick Ferkel’s #0 team have their season underway with the All Star Circuit of Champions in Florida. The pair was able to qualify for the main event on the first night at Volusia Speedway Park last Wednesday. They came out of the two-night show with a comfortable feel for their new J&J chassis sprinter with Goodyear tires.
The All Stars were joined by many from the World of Outlaws as is always the case in Volusia. Despite the stout field, Brandon qualified 18th out of the 40 cars assembled. “I thought we qualified pretty well considering the class of cars that were there,” he says. “We had a new J&J purchased from Sam Hafertepe Jr. Between that and the tires, we were trying to figure out what worked for me on the racetrack.”
Starting outside row one in the heat, the Fairmount, Indiana driver finished third to qualify for the main event. “We were kind of out-motored there by the Kasey Kahne cars,” says Brandon. “(Cody) Darrah got us on the start, and Joey (Saldana) was able to get by us. It was good to get transferred to the feature.”
A gamble left the car tight and Brandon called it a night early on. “We thought the track would slick up, but the humidity was high enough that it brought the moisture out,” he says. “It got tackier and we just missed the setup big time. We about wrecked once, so I pulled it in before we tore it up.”
On Thursday, thing were over for all practical purposes after time trials. “We just messed up qualifying (37th out of 41),” says Brandon. “The tires don’t make a lot of difference, but you do have to make some adjustments. We’re still figuring that out. We were in the back of the heat, and then in the B, we were up to ninth or tenth. That’s when the left rear went flat.”
The resurgence in the B gave Brandon some confidence. “The track slicked up, and we were able to find the setup for the car,” he says of the B main. “It was a learning week for us.”
Brandon offered up his take on the Goodyear tires being run this year. They are mandatory on the left and right rears. Though the team used Goodyears on three corners last year, this version of the rubber is different. “It’s a completely different tire this year,” says Brandon. “The blocks on the tire are different. The compound is a little harder than what we ran last year. The left rear was a little softer. They aren’t the same as last year, but it’s nothing major. Like Rick says, we have to adjust the shocks and other stuff on the car to make them work for the tires. After the first week, I’d say it went well for everyone with the new tires.”
The Florida tour will cap off at East Bay Raceway Park this Thursday through Saturday. “I’m looking forward to East Bay,” says Brandon. “The configuration of the track is smaller than Volusia, and more racy. I’m excited about getting out there.”
Brandon and Rick Ferkel would like to thank the following sponsors for all their help: Shorty’s Truck Repair, Smith’s Farm, Goodyear Tires, Griff’s Engines, Kear’s Speed Shop, Huggins Cams, BRODIX Heads, Barnes Oil Pumps, Prism Lubricants, Zeis Land Development, Butlerbuilt, Simpson, Winning With Wellness and WRT Web Designs.
Team Mannatech
Brandon has realized that a driver not only needs good equipment on the racetrack, but needs to also be in the best physical shape to be a success. That's why Brandon has added a wellness program to his daily routine, which includes adding a line of scientifically validated nutritional products from Mannatech. Mannatech, Incorporation is a leading developer and provider of proprietary nutritional supplements, weight management products and skin care solutions. Athletes around the world rely on Mannatech products because they are formulated from high quality, natural plant sources and are formulated without any substances banned by major worldwide anti-doping agencies.
Brandon has been invited to serve on an elite team of athletes called Team Mannatech because of the results he has had with the products and will be working to share his experience with drivers, crews and fans. With more than 200 athletes representing countries around the globe, Team Mannatech members have been drawn from the exclusive ranks of sports legends, the everyday athlete and young enthusiasts destined to become superstars. They inspire action and attract passionate wellness champions and are all role models for their sport, committed to helping people of all ages lead a healthy, active lifestyle.
[u Photo - Brandon is racing in Florida (Hosehead Photo)]
Submitted By: Bill Wright
