By Bill W
November 11, 2010 – A pair of career highlights made the 2010 racing season a successful one for sprint car ace Brandon Wimmer. The Fairmount, Indiana driver was able to qualify for his first Knoxville Nationals, finished fifth in his first ever trip to the Short Track Nationals, and was able to be competitive night in an night out. In Indiana, he took Rick Ferkel’s #0 to a win at the famous Bloomington Speedway in August.
The year started out slow with a few shows in Florida and didn’t really get into swing until the weather got warmer. Picking up with Ferkel, Brandon ran select shows with the All Stars and in Ohio in preparation for Ohio Speedweek. “I never really got started with Rick until May,” he says. “Once we go rolling, Ohio Speedweek went really well for us. At Sharon we were second, at K-C, we were third, and we came from 19th to 6th at Hilltop. Overall, that was a really good week for us.”
Brandon’s strong finishes in Ohio were not limited to Speedweek, as the #0 team found time to run Attica and Fremont with success. “Rick puts everything he can into the deal for us,” says Brandon. “It’s tough going out there, but when things go right, it is really special. Overall, we did well in Ohio. We had some tough nights, but most of them, we were up front. Other teams had to watch out for us. People compare the Outlaws to this, or PA to that, but for anyone to come into Ohio and run well is tough.”
The crowning achievement for Brandon came in August at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa when he qualified for the 50th Annual Knoxville Nationals driving Alan Barton’s #7TW. “Making the first Knoxville Nationals with Alan Barton was really special,” he says. “Most people don’t realize how tough it is to make that race. You can’t have one bad outing when you hit the track, or you’re done for the week.”
Brandon and the team were able to finish sixth in their prelim, and 17th in the championship event. “It was really special for all of us,” he says. “That was probably the best achievement of the whole year for us. Also, it was the 50th Annual Knoxville Nationals, so that made it even better. It’s right up there with winning the Skagit Dirt Cup (2007). Every year, there are some great drivers who have to sit out and watch the A main at the Nationals. You have to be on top of your game, and we were able to do that.”
Back in the #0, a win followed with the Midwest All Stars at Bloomington. “The confidence was high after the Nationals, and it was great to get back in the home state and win at Bloomington,” says Brandon. “It’s always good to come back home. You don’t get to race here with the wing on very often.”
In September, a successful trip west saw Rick and Brandon finish with two top fives at the “Shaheen’s Blast from the Past” at Jacksonville (IL) Speedway and at the “Queen’s Royale” at the St. Francois County Raceway near Farmington, Missouri.
A motor from Gaerte Engines was dropped in the #7TW for October’s Short Track Nationals in Little Rock, and Brandon showed well, finishing second in his prelim, and finishing fifth in the finale with a slug of cars gathered. “That was great,” he says. “We couldn’t have done it without Alan, Gary Beck and of course, Gaerte. Altogether that was a great week. Getting a top five with 126 cars was good, and I thought we had a real chance to win our prelim feature.”
Brandon looks back with pride on 2010, and is positive going into 2011. “Overall, I thought the year was great,” he says. “Every year has its ups and downs, but we definitely had some great highlights. I’m not really sure about next year yet. The big show at Indy (International Motorsports Industry Show) will be a good way to talk to some sponsors. Rick and Alan will be racing, it’s just a matter of where they decide to do it.”
A life changing event will also happen for the 24 year old when he marries Iowan Chantel Palmer in January. “That will definitely be a special day for Chantel and I,” he says.
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.