Wausau, WI – Chris Wimmer brought home his highest finish in the ARCA Midwest Tour this season with a runner-up finish at Dells Raceway Park Saturday. Wimmer led much of the race, but Dan Fredrickson chased him down in the closing laps to take the win, while Wimmer held on for second. “I really wanted to win this one,” says Wimmer, “I had a pretty decent lead over Danny with about 12 to go and then it seemed like he just came out of nowhere. My Preval Chevy was good all day and it feels good to have a good run and be in a position to compete for the win.”
Wimmer qualified 6th for the Wisconsin Dells 100 and used the fast heat to work his way from his 7th starting position up to third, deciding where he would start the 100-lap feature.
When the green flag flew for the start of the Wisconsin Dells 100 Wimmer wasted little time working his way to the front. He used the inside line to get past Jason Weinkauf to take the top spot on lap 14. Wimmer held the top spot, but had Travis Sauter, Dan Fredrickon and Jonathan Eilen hot on his tail.
Wimmer held off the efforts of Sauter through two restarts, but with 49 to go Sauter was able to make the pass of the #52 to take the lead. A few cautions gave Wimmer a chance to try and take the lead back from Sauter, but every time Sauter was able to withstand the charge.
On lap 76 all of the sudden Sauter was off the pace and Wimmer, who was right there in second, took the lead back. Sauter pulled in to the pits and the caution flew, lining up Fredrickson right next to Wimmer. Wimmer held him off on the start and put some distance between himself and Fredrickson. But with just under ten laps to go, Fredrickson’s #36 came alive. He was able to chase down the #52 of Wimmer and clear for the lead with just seven laps reaming. Fredrickson won his second straight ARCA Midwest Tour event and Wimmer earned his highest finish of the year.
“I really thought I had it after I was able to put some distance on Dan on the restarts,” says Wimmer, “He’s been really good lately and his car was better today. It was a good day and we’ll get back to work and try and pick up that win soon.”
Next up for Wimmer is the Ropa’s Pizza Flip Merwin Memorial Race and round one of the Triple X Challenge at State Park Speedway on Thursday, June 20th and then it’s back to the ARCA Midwest circuit at Marshfield Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 29th.
