From Bill W, photo courtesy of Max Dolder
Brandon Wimmer accomplished what most drivers couldn’t at the World Finals at the Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last weekend with the World of Outlaws. He made both sprint car main events. The accomplishment was made all the more impressive when you factor in that he was teaming with Miles Hill and his #07x team for the very first time.
Thursday was reserved for qualifying. Two sessions set up Friday and Saturday lineups. “It was definitely slick that night,” says Brandon. “In the first session, we came out 56th out of 57, and really missed the setup (timing in 31st). We had it hooked up better for the second set, came out mid-pack and hit 15th quick.”
The odds were long for Brandon in Friday’s heat race. He lined up outside of row four and had to make the top five to qualify for the feature, but qualify he did. “I would just have to say, I got a great jump in the heat race,” the Fairmount, Indiana driver says. “We were fifth by turn two, and we held on from there.”
A choppy track awaited the 24-car field that took the green. The result was plenty of carnage. “Every night, they would run us (sprints), then the late models, then redo the track,” says Brandon. “They were running late on Friday, so they didn’t work the track before our feature, and it was rough with those narrow late model tires before us. I think ten cars finished.”
Brandon’s luck was up at the midway point. “We were up to fifteenth or so,” he says. “We just got into one of the wrecks. (Jac) Haudenschild and Steve Kinser got together, and I was tailing Daryn Pittman. He got sideways to avoid the wreck, and I rode over his front end. It wasn’t a hard rollover, and all we had to change for Saturday was the wings.”
Brandon’s good qualifying effort for Saturday put him up front in the heat. “We started on the pole of the heat, and the first start was good for us,” he says of the race seen by TV audiences. “We jumped out to a lead. They called that one back after we had made a full lap, and we didn’t get as good a start as we had before. Then we had a motor break, and we were running on seven cylinders. We were lucky to hang on to fifth.”
Quick repairs were made to the car. “We actually had to pull the motor out of the #07x, pull (teammate) Glenn’s (Styres) motor out of his car, and put his in the car I was driving,” says Brandon. “The team did a great job getting that changed. I can’t say enough about them.”
With little time for setup, Brandon took to the track and ended up with a 22nd place finish. “The feature was just rubber-down and we missed the setup, so that didn’t help,” he says. “We went backwards.”
All in all, it was a solid weekend considering the accident, and the new team. “The track was definitely different every night,” says Brandon. “It was definitely a good feeling to make the shows, because there were plenty of drivers on the sidelines who didn’t, but you always hope to finish up front. I’d just like to really thank Miles Hill, Glenn Styres and their whole teams for the opportunity to go down there. They have a great group of people, and it was definitely fun.”
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.