Zimmer takes stock of stock cars

Once upon a time, Gonzaga Prep’s Andrew Zimmer dreamed of following in the footsteps of 25-year-old American Scott Speed, who started in go-karts and made it to the world’s top racing class – Formula One.

Speed’s stay in the elite racing world was short and he has since found his way back to the United States where he runs in the ARCA ReMax Series, a feeder group to NASCAR’s top three racing divisions.

For Speed, it took time to learn that NASCAR is this country’s most popular form of racing. Zimmer picked up the desire in just 12 short months.

Just last year the 17-year-old was running go-karts across the country, aiming for a chance to break into IndyCars. That culminated with a ride in F2000, a midtier series with teams that have recommended drivers to the likes of Paul Newman, David Letterman and other IndyCar owners.

Zimmer won an F2000 race last fall and felt that his chances were good to continue following an open-wheel path similar to Speed – until a fateful phone call to test for former Sprint Cup driver Trevor Boys.

The Canadian was in Las Vegas last November wrapping up a race at the Las Vegas Bullring and invited Zimmer to test in his modified racer.

Zimmer was so impressive that he was signed to drive for Boys this year in a Canadian modified series, a late model stock car, and will be racing against Speed this fall as he prepares for an opportunity to run full time next year in an ARCA Chevrolet.

The whole experience has been a whirlwind, he said.

“I wasn’t really looking to get into stock cars. Every karter wants to get to F1 or IndyCars, but when one of our sponsors urged us to talk with Trevor and take that test in Vegas, it has really given me a chance to realize that making it to NASCAR as a career is the way to go.

“Next year I can see myself being ready to run ARCA full time and if all goes well use it as a stepping stone (to NASCAR).”

While Boys’ team and Zimmer needed time to learn each other’s set-up and driving styles, that adjustment period was short, the senior-to-be said.

“By our third run in the modified, I was comfortable. They were very encouraging and we’ve been going ever since. F1 is the top series in the world and has a great driver list, but I feel that going with Trevor’s team is the best way to get up the NASCAR ranks and realize my dream of a full-time driving career.”

Not that open-wheel and road racing have been excluded from Zimmer’s 2008 schedule. He has run several road races at Portland International Raceway to go with a start in the INSSA season opener for his debut in stock cars.

Going back and forth this year in four different racing machines has not been that challenging, Zimmer said.

“It hasn’t been that hard to adjust to the different cars,” he said. “In karting it’s all about consistency in lap times, and all of the cars I’m running are the same way for approach. You have to be consistent with your lap times and know it’s all about throttle control.”

While racing is important, Zimmer said he has maintained a strong focus on school, thanks to supportive teachers and parents.

Zimmer debuts in Boys’ modified next weekend in an IMCA event in Calgary, Alberta. The high school junior returns to stock cars June 14 at Stateline Speedway driving the Windermere Chevrolet for Spokane’s Jack Morse.