Wilmot Championship Night 9-4-21
(Wilmot, Wis., Saturday, September 4, 2021)–Three repeat champions and a pair of first time title holders concluded the Labor Day weekend 2021 Wilmot Raceway Season Championship Night events Saturday, September 4. Scott Ellis of Lake Villa, IL captured his first ever championship in his fourth season of racing in the Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Cars. Ellis title came by 3-points over second place Ryan Johnson in the tighest points battle of the season out of the six divisions which competed at Wilmot.. “It’s a tough division and a lot of fun to run in,” said Ellis, who finished eighth in the 20-lap feature. “It feels good to finally win one. I have to thank my sponsors, my dad(Steve, who finished 7th in the main) and everyone who supported me.” Johnson, of Salem, the 2019 champion, won the feature leading wire to wire. Ryan Andrews of Woodstock, IL was second. Ernie Herlt of Grayslake, IL third. Mt. Pleasant’s David McKellips fourth. John Cole of McHenry, IL fifth. “We did everything we could,” said Johnson, regarding coming up just short of the title. Johnson won the third heat race with Ellis finished second. “I congratulate Scott. Finishing second in this class is a great accomplishment. We’ll take it.” Oconomowoc’s Ryan Zielski had to take the hard road to his first ever AutoMeter/Brewington Electric Wisconsin WingLess Sprints Wilmot championship. Zielski had to come through the “B” Main, which he won, to make the feature after finishing out of a transfer spot in the heat race due to a late race spin. Zielski came from 21st starting spot in the 24-car feature field to finish sixth which was good enough to regain the points lead and win the title by less than 20 points. It was Zielski’s third season in the WingLess cars and on dirt, having raced 20 years total with a majroity previously on asphalt. “I have to thank my team and everyone for all of their support,” said Zielski. “If I hadn’t finished the feature where I did, Tim (Cox) would have won the championship.”
Cox of Park City, IL won his second 20-lap WingLess feature, but it was not easy. Cox overtook Tate Hensley of Trevor on lap four, just prior to a caution. As laps wound down, Bristol’s Mike Klemko, Cox and Salem’s Daniel Graumenz got into a three-way battle. Klemko took the lead just prior to a final caution three laps from the finish. On the restart, Cox retook the lead down the backstretch and went on to the win. Chris Klemko ended up second. Graumenz third. Rookie of the Year Clayton Rossmann of Wadsworth, IL fourth. Hensley fifth. Kansasville’s Ryan Marshall, who held a 7-point lead for the title going into the feature, got caught up in opening lap tangle involving several cars in turn one ending his night and title hopes with a 23rd place finish. “I am not saying I am retiring,” said Cox in victory lane. “I told my wife Cheryl that as long as I could compete, I would keep racing. During the last yellow I pulled my belts a little tighter and said to myself, either go for it or wreck doing it. I am glad I was able to get the win.” Leading the list of winning multiple championships was Caledonia’s Chris Carlson, taking his fifth Wilmot modified crown. Carlson, who clinched prior to taking a lap, won his 11th 20-lap feature of the season in 14 starts to close out the Wilmot points. Second was Genoa City’s Mike Simons. Genoa City’s Nick Simons was third. Nick Simons had motor problems retire him while leading third heat race. Milwaukee’s Don Scheffler was fourth. Bristol’s John Dost fifth. Nick Simons had motor problems retire him while leading third heat race. Simons jumped into Lee Tibbitts car, started at the rear of the “B” Main, finishing third to transfer to the main. Milwaukee’s Don Scheffler was fourth in the feature. “I knew I could hear Mike(Simons) coming,” said Carlson of the feature battle. “My car was a rocket. The track was fantastic and you could run anywhere. I thank my crew, sponsors, family. We’re not done yet. We will be back next week here at Wilmot, and we have some other year end races we want to hit.”
Nick Petska of Spring Grove, IL secured his third Wilmot Interstates Racing Association(IRA) Lightning Sprints season championship by putting an explanation point on it with his third main event win of the season. Pleasant Prarie’s Mike Neau, Dreamchaser race teammate to Petska, finished second and runnerup in points. Oak Creek’s Mark Heinert was third in the feature. Ron Brannam of Barrington, IL fourth. C.J. Malueg of Johnsburg, IL fifth.
“It’s great to win the championship and the feature, but that is the last time I will be racing at Wilmot as I am announcing my retirement at the end of this season,” said an emotional Petska, joined by car owner Larry Neau in victory lane. “After 18 years of racing, I’ve been doing it long enough. I have to thank Larry and Mike(Neau) for giving me the opportunity. Winning the Wilmot title is great. Now we have a couple more IRA series events left at other tracks and would like to close out with that championship too.”
The final championship of the night saw the winner towed into victory lane for the group photograph. Rob Maule of Hebron, IL, while battling in the top five, spun in turn two sustaining reared damage ending his night with 8 laps to go in the 20-lap feature. Maule had accumulated enough points so his 13th place finish did not prevent him from his fourth Wilmot championship. “Definitely not the way I wanted to finish it,” said Maule. “Winning a championship against the drivers we have in this division is always rewarding. Have to thank my family and sponsors for all of their support. We will be back next week for the special.”
Cody Erickson of Algonquin, IL won his fourth street stock feature of the season, securing a second place finish in the points. Rounding out the top five in the main were second place Blake Kreuser of Kenosha, third place Courtney Atkinson of Muskego, fourth place Brandon Mertes of Antioch, IL and fifth place Craig Mertes of Antioch. “Finishing second to Rob I will take any day,” Erickson said. “It was a great battle out there. Thanks to my dad(Dave), my sponsors, everyone who supports us. We’re looking forward to next Saturday(September 11). Jake Blackhurst of Hanna City, IL won his first ever Wilmot 410-winged sprint car series championship on August 21.
Wilmot Raceway is scheduled to conclude its 2021 season with the Annual Jim “Wildman” Watson Classic featuring the Dirt King Late Model Tour on Saturday, September 11. WingLess Sprints and Modifieds, both competing for $1,000 to win features, plus street stocks and Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Cars going for $500 to win, are on the program as well. In addition, over 150 bikes are expected to be given away to youngsters ages 16 and under in attendance. The bikes have been sponsored by businesses, race teams, track staff and fans. Grandstands open at 5 p.m.with registration for the bike giveaway beginning then and continuing until the pre-race ceremonies scheduled for around 6:45 p.m. Antioch VFW Post 4551 will be giving free Miniature U.S. Flags while the supply lasts. A special commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the events of 9/11 is planned as part of the pre-race ceremonies.
Grandstands open at 5 p.m., hot laps at 6 p.m., racing planned for 6:45 p.m. Grandstand adult admission for ages 12 and over is $25.00; ages 7-11 $5.00; ages 6 & under admitted free.
Pit gates are scheduled to open at 3 p.m. with all pit passes $30.00.
For updates phone the trackside raceline 262-862-2090, check the Raceway website wilmotraceway.com or the official track Facebook page.
Submitted by Michael H. Babicz
