Wimmer Motorsports is adding another driver to its stable this season as Sammy Smith joins the team to pilot the Wimmer Motorsports Pro Late Model house car.
Wimmer Motorsports and Smith will join forces for eight races this year including a handful of JEGS/CRA events, the Canadian Short Track Nationals and other major Pro Late Model events.
“Wimmer Motorsports has great success and history,” Smith said. “I’ve heard many great things about Chris and watched the success he’s had with various drivers. I’m honored to get to drive for Wimmer Motorsports and look forward to the education I will get working with Chris.”
“We are really excited to have this partnership with Sammy,” said Wimmer Motorsports team operator and crew chief Chris Wimmer. “I think we put together a great schedule of races that will benefit him early in his career and we are just really looking forward to working with him this year.”
Smith’s Late Model experience is limited, but successful. His first time behind the wheel of one was at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway in February, where he notched two wins and the championship and never finished outside of the top-five.
“I’m really excited to get back into a Pro Late Model and pick up where we left off,” Smith stated. “Speedweeks was my first time in a Late Model and I learned a lot. I still have an awful lot to learn, but I feel like we made great gains during the week and left there with a lot of confidence that I can carry over to the 2019 season.”
“Watching Sammy race down at Speedweeks I was very impressed,” Wimmer said. “For that to be his first time in a Late Model and to race as though he had years of experience was fun to see. He was in an Anthony Campi car at Speedweeks, a car built by Wimmer Motorsports, so I really think his experience down there will help the transition to our Pro Late Model be seamless. I think Sammy has a lot of talent and potential and I’m excited to see it grow throughout the season.”
While Smith hasn’t been in a Pro Late Model since February, he has three Late Model Stock Car races under his belt with the CARS Tour. The 15-year-old driver has picked up two third-place finishes and one ninth-place finish.
“Driving for three different teams is teaching me to adapt to each team’s style and culture and continues to remind me to focus on my communication with each crew chief and crew member,” Smith said. “I really like the opportunity to get to race on several different tracks in 2019. It’s teaching me discipline, how to prepare for different types of tracks, and increasing my knowledge. Overall, I’m confident it will make me a better driver and well-prepared for each team.”
Smith’s first race with Wimmer Motorsports will come this Saturday, June 29at Anderson Speedway with the JEGS/CRA Series. That race will be streamed live on Speed51.com’s Summer Thunder TV.