Scott Wimmer finished 27th in the Cup Series standings during his rookie season in 2004. He scored his first career Cup top-five finish (3rd) in the Daytona 500.
Before taking over the No. 22 in the Cup Series, Wimmer competed in three full seasons of Nationwide Series racing and 15 years of stock car racing.
Wimmer, a Wausau, Wis., native, has found success in every series he has ever competed in. He carved his mark on the short tracks around Wisconsin throughout the 1990’s and became recognized as a dominant force in racing around the Midwest, winning 17 times and claiming local and regional championships in a late model stock car between 1994 and 1996 before moving to Hooter’s Pro Cup Series. But, Wimmer really caught the eye of top NASCAR owners after he entered the American Speed Association (ASA) and claimed victories in the first two races he competed in.
Bill Davis, owner of Bill Davis Racing, signed Wimmer to a multi-year deal that put him in a Nationwide Series car and eventually into NASCAR’s top series. Wimmer tallied up two top-five and eight top-10 finishes in his rookie year that put him 11th in the championship standings. 2002 brought hopes of a Busch Series Championship. Wimmer posted strong finishes in the early part of the season, but hit his stride during the summer months when he posted four consecutive top-10 finishes in June. Wimmer scored his first Nationwide Series career win at the fall Dover race, and in the final seven races of the season posted wins at Memphis, Phoenix and Homestead. Wimmer finished the season up with four wins, 11 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes and a career high third in the championship standings.
Davis had considered moving Wimmer into Cup in 2003, but felt the team was slated to compete for a championship in the Nationwide Series. But, Wimmer’s Nationwide season was one of discontent. He scored a victory at Pikes Peak, and contended for others but Wimmer and his team fell short of expectations. Wimmer looks ahead to a new beginning in NASCAR’s premier series – the Cup Series.
