WILMOT RACEWAY INAUGURAL FALL CLASSIC NIGHT THREE AND WEEKEND SUMMARY SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2024
(Wilmot, Wis., Saturday, September 21, 2024)–The final night of the Inaugural Fall Classic for Wilmot Raceway had a little bit of everything as the facility on the Kenosha County Fairgrounds wrapped up its 74th season on Saturday, September 21.
Blake Nimee of Yorkville, IL earned his first ever 410 Winged Outlaw Sprint Car Championship by capping the Wilmot series off with a victory in the 25-lap feature which was completed in a light shower.
“This is very special,” said Nimee, noting he had been racing sprint cars for about 16 years, with a couple years off here and there and some shortened schedules, including the Fall Classic race being just his 17th time out this year. “I always wanted to win a championship here at Wilmot after seeing all of the great drivers who have won it, and all of the history surrounding this place with it being the birth place of sprint car racing in Wisconsin and where the Interstate Racing Association started.”
“I have to thank my team, which is new this year, and my dad, crew, all of our sponsors, these great fans,” Nimee said, noting he had to work his regular job and got to the track just in time for the driver’s meeting. “They had the car set up for me and it ran super.”
“It’s very special,” said Nimee, overcome with emotion, then receiving a huge hug from his dad. Nimee took the lead on lap 9, coming from ninth starting spot, overtaking early pacesetter Travis Arenz of Sheboygan Falls. A red flew with four laps remaining as Joey Moughan of Springfield, IL got upside down in turn two, landing on all four wheels and walking away.
With a lite drizzle falling, the race restarted with Nimee going on to win for just the second time at Wilmot where he won his very first 410 winged sprint car feature. Arenz held on for second. Jake Blackhurst of Hanna City, IL took third. Riley Goodno of Knoxville, IA was fourth. The drive of the night came from Matt Vandervere of Burlington who finished fifth after starting last in the 22-car field driving his 604 Crate engine powered car which he ran in that division earlier.
Vandervere, racing with a heavy heart after having his father pass away Friday morning, won had a 410 car which he won the second heat with to earn a dash starting spot. Coming for the green in the dash Vandervere’s car climbed completely over fast qualifier Van Gurley Jr.’s car, with damage eliminating Vanderver’s 410 for the night while Gurley Jr. was able to continue.
In the Lift Pro powered by Gandrud Chevrolet Hepfner Racing Products Wings Series Winged 604-Sprints 20-lap feature, Wilmot 2024 Champion Tommy Sexton of Twin Lakes secured a one-month wedding anniversary by parking it in victory lane.
It was not easy as fellow front row starter by virtue of combined points from the previous two nights, Vandervere, jumped in front and maintained the lead until three laps from the checkered. Sexton pulled a final slide job pass for the lead in turns three and four going on to the win. Vandervere finished second. Ion Stear of Hebron, IL was third. Kenosha’s Kevin Hinich fourth. C.J. Malueg of Johnsburg, IL was fifth.
“She asked me to give her a good race for our one month anniversary, so I guess winning it was hopefully a good enough present,” said Sexton, acknowledging his wife, Rhonda’s request, whom he married at the track in August.
Ryan Johnson, 2024 Wilmot track champion, closed out the B&L Office Furniture powered by American Tire & Auto Repair Bandit 4-cylinder and final race of the night, by scoring a trifecta on the weekend. Johnson led every lap of the 20-lap main with the lone caution coming six laps in erasing a large lead. David McKellips of Mt. Pleasant ended up second. Salem’s Austin Orth, Johnson’s brother, was third. South Milwaukee’s Jay Orr fourth. Rick Zifko of Aurora, IL fifth.
“We did it,” said Johnson, whose nickname is “Tiny Horse” because of the stuffed animal which he has mounted to the front roof of his car. “This is a great way to close out the season here at our home track.”
Following with the track champion theme, Kenosha’s Craig Kreuser, 2024 Wilmot Unified street stock champion, won the final 20-lap feature for that division, his fourth win of the year, coming up from fifth starting spot. B. Kreuser took the lead four laps from the finish after the final yellow for the event. Big Bend’s Mark Baker had a strong showing coming from seventh to end up second, overtaking third finisher Rob Olson of Lindenhurst, IL in a tight battle in the closing laps. Troy Hensley of Lake Villa, IL recovered from a early race incident which relegated him to finished fourth. Dustin Holland of Town of Norway, who was involved in a different incident and restarted toward the read, came back to finish fifth.
Joe Huenefeld of Freeport, IL made it back to back wins in the 20-lap IMCA-style modified feature which was slowed five times due to cautions. Huenefeld was up to the challenge each time as he scored the win. Milwaukee’s Don Scheffler was second. Wilmot 2024 Champion Joel Crowbridge of Union Grove was third. Eagle’s Steve Mueller fourth. Sheboygan’s Joel Seegert fifth.
The four feature winners each picked up the Fall Classic Championship award for their respective divisions which had competed in each of the three nights, Sexton in the 604 Winged Sprints, Johnson in the Bandits, Kreuser in the street stocks and Huenefeld in the modifieds.
Earlier in the week, Wilmot Raceway inaugural Fall Classic Night One Thursday, September 19 feature winners were Tyler Kuxhouse of Antioch in AutoMeter powered by Gandrud Performance Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints. Kuxhouse took the lead on a restart with seven laps to go in the 20-lapper, going on to his fourth win of the season at Wilmot. Zach Raidart of Gurnee, IL was second. Jimmy Sivia of Winthrop Harbor, IL came from 11th starting spot to take third. Racine’s Derek Crane went from eighth to fourth. Brown Deer’s John Fahl took fifth.
Matt Vandervere of Burlington won his second LiftPro powered by Gandrud Chevrolet-Hepfner Racing Products Wings Series 604 Winged Sprints feature of the season. Vandervere overtook early leader Ion Stear on the second lap, going on to the win. Ironically, during the “make sure” lap as some drivers refer to it following the checkered, Vandervere was collected in a tangle in turn three nearly getting upside down. The car ended up with broken steering and had to be towed into the pits. While safety crews were tending to his machine, Vandervere walked to victory lane to receive the feature honors. “The car was strong and I have to thank all of my sponsors, crew, everybody who sets it up so I can come and drive it. I also dedicate the win to my dad, whose health isn’t so good,” Vandervere said. Ironically, Vandervere’s father, Larry, a long time racer at Wilmot win modifieds, winged sprint cars, and with the IRA, and a great promoter of the track and sport, passed away less than 12 hours later. The next night’s opening ceremony was begun with a tribute to Larry Vandervere, and a special four-wide ceremonial formation was held with M. Vandervere leadng the field alone in front.
Rob Olson of Lindenhurst, IL won the Unified Street Stocks feature, his second victory of the season, with his son, Robby, who normally would have been racing relegated to crew chief status due to not being able to get off work earlier enough to make it to the track. The elder Olson took the lead with six laps to go, working past Salem’s Brandon Mertes after the pair battled several laps. Olson scored the victory with Blake Kreuser taking second. Pleasant Prairie’s Josh Gehrig was third. Kenosh’a Craig Kreuser, Blake’s dad, was fourth. Mertes came back from a spin with three laps to go while running third and having to restart at the back, to take fifth.
Jason Hyerdall of Shakopee, MN, in his first time back at Wilmot in eight years after moving out of state, scored the win in the IMCA-style Modifieds. “I came back to race for my dad, who is here, and had never gotten to see me race,” said Hyerdall, who led every lap of the 20-lapper despite progress being slowed by five caution periods. “I hope he likes that I did a pretty good job for him by winning.”
Monroe’s Trent Wyssbrod in his first time at Wilmot this season was second. Huenefeld, who started 15th, charged through the field to finish third. Schefler came from 14th to fourth. Crowbridge was the leader of the local regular Wilmot runners as the track champion was fifth.
The final race of the opening night produced the closest finish as Salem’s Ryan Johnson scoring a last lap, final turn victory by 0.222 seconds over South Milwaukee’s Jay Orr. Orr had held the lead every lap and all but about the last two feet coming for the checkered. Orth finished third. McKellips fourth. Pleasant Prairie’s Scott Carpenter had what turned out to be his best showing of the weekend in fifth.
Brian Kristan of Zion, IL became the fifth different 20-lap feature winner for the Lift Pro powered by Gandrud Chevrolet – Hepfner Racing Products Wings 604 Winged Sprints on Wilmot Raceway’s Second Night of the inaugural Fall Classic Friday, September 20.
Kristan’s victory was dedicated to the memory of former Wilmot, Modified Racing Association and Interstate Racing Association driver Larry Vandervere who passed away earlier in the day. The elder Vandervere’s son, Matt Vandervere of Burlington chose to compete in honor of his father. A special pre-race tribute by drivers, fans and officials, along with Vandervere leading the field alone in front as they did their four-wide salute prior to the feature. After finishing second to Kristan, Vandervere, who earlier posted fast time and qualifying and won his heat, joined him in victory lane. Tommy Sexton was third. Ion Stear came from eighth to take fourth. Greg Olsen of Round Lake Heights, IL was fifth.
Nick Petska of Spring Grove, IL became the fourth different 11-75 Sports Park IRA Lightning Sprints feature winner of the season at Wilmot. For the second main event in a row, Brian Strane Jr. of Paris had the lead until a broken clutch forced him to an early exit eight laps from the checkered. The same mechanical problem cost Strane the track championship less than a week earlier while he was leading also. Petska took over the lead at that point, going on to the win in the 25-lapper. Big Bend’s Chad Stouthamer had a career best Wilmot finish in second. Pleasant Prairie’s Mike Neau was third. John Kirk of Johnsburg, IL was fourth. Jordan Funderburk of Wadsworth, IL was fifth.
In their only Wilmot appearance of the season, Cascade’s Brandon Berth had just enough fuel to make it to the infield after taking the checkered flag in the 25-lap feature. Berth’s win was not easy following four lengthy caution periods. Berth’s win came after inheriting the lead when Boltonville’s Bill Taylor had his car bog down while taking the initial white flag with unavoidable contact from Berth. “I ran out of fuel just after the checkered, that’s why I had to turn into the infield right away,” admitted Berth after being pushed into victory lane. Taylor had held top spot from the opening lap through four caution periods added onto aborted starts of the feature three times prior to it finally receiving an initial full green.
Plymouth’s Ben Schmidt came from sixth starting spot to second. South Milwaukee’s Kurt Davis scored an impressive run coming from 11th at the start to take third. West Bend’s Kevin Kamitz came from 12th to fourth. West Bend’s Alex Polorski took fifth.
“Racer Joe” Huenefeld of Freeport, 2019 Wilmot modified champion, made his second start of the season worthwhile by taking the win in the 20 lap main event. Huenefeld took the lead three laps from the finish. Joel Seegert came from eighth to take second. Joel Crowbridge seventh to third. Jason Hyerdall fourth. Don Scheffler fifth.
“The crew spent a lot of time on the car today, and it worked as we got it figured out,” said Huenefeld. “It’s fun to be back in victory lane here.”
Salem’s Brandon Mertes won his third 20-lap Unified Street Stock feature of the season, taking the lead with five laps remaining. Josh Gehrig ended up second. Troy Hensley improved from ninth to third. Rob Olson was fourth. Bristol’s Keith Stich fifth.
“It’s great to finally get one with my wife and both of our children here, even though the youngest is in mom’s arms asleep in victory lane,” said Mertes.
Salem’s Ryan Johnson followed up his close win on Classic opening night by dominating to a 20-lap B&L Office Furniture powered by American Tire and Auto Repair 4-cylinder Bandits by winning with a margin of over five seconds leading every lap. David McKellips was second. Austin Orth came from seventh to third. Jay Orr fourth. Bristol’s Jennifer Rooney, Johnson’s girlfriend, was fifth.
“I didn’t want it as close as last night,” admitted Johnson. “I had no idea how close anyone was so I kept running the car as hard as I could. It worked.”
The Fall Classic concluded the 74th season for Wilmot Raceway. Appreciation is extended to all of the fans, crews, drivers, season marketing partners, Fall Classic and other special event supporters, staff, officials, visiting series and the Kenosha County Fair Board. Plans are underway for a special 75th Anniversary Season-long celebration. Check the Wilmot Raceway website wilmotraceway.com or the track’s official Facebook page for 2025 season schedule and other information.
(Submitted by Michael H. Babicz)
