WILMOT MAY 4 CANCELED – MAY SPECIALS COMING UP
(Wilmot, Wis., Saturday, May 4, 2024) – Mothers Day Weekend Saturday Night Thunder May 11 is now slated to be Wilmot Raceway’s 2024 74th Anniversary Season Opener.
Original May 4 opener was cancelled due to predicted rain and storms slated to come into the 1/3-mile clay oval facility located on the Kenosha County Fairgrounds in Wilmot, Wis. at about the time cars would be hitting the track.
WingLESS Sprint drivers will compete in double championship series at Wilmot Raceway in 2024. Wilmot will have its own Catalyst Exhibits Series for the season. Drivers will also accumulate points for the regional Interstates Racing Association(IRA) Autometer Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints Powered by Gandrud Performance. The Wilmot cancelation marked the second week in a row the IRA sanctioned WingLESS drivers had weather the main winner as they got qualifying and heats in at Plymouth Dirt Track on April 27, but the feature was washed out as cars were staged to be pushed off.
The third time will hopefully be the charm for the wingless drivers to complete a full program on May 11.
The LiftPro Winged 604 Crate Powered By Gandrud Performance series makes its 2024 debut on the card. The new division, which had some exhibition events in 2023, will have a full campaign and crown its first champion this season.
IMCA Modifieds are returning to Wilmot along with Unified Street Stocks slated for the Saturday NightTunder program.
Grandstands open at 5 p.m. with on track activity at 5:30 followed by racing slated for 6:45 p.m.
Adult grandstand admission is $15.00 with youngsters ages 12 & under admitted free. Pits open at 3 p.m. with all pit passes being $30.00.
For updates phone the trackside raceline 262-862-2090, check the official track website wilmotraceway.com or Facebook page.
The debut of a new series for 2024 was delayed until Saturday, May 18 as part of the Family Night Checkered Flag Giveaway. Two Kenosha businesses have joined to be the marketing partners for the B&L Office Furniture Powered By Great American Tire & Auto Repair Bandit Series for the entry level 4-cylinder stock car competitors.
Winged 604 Sprints, Unified Street Stocks and IMCA Modifieds are on the May 18 card as well.
Coming up Memorial Day weekend will be the 11th Annual Interstates Racing Association Founders Night all sprint car program presented by Body Craft of Antioch, IL Bumper to Bumper IRA 410 Outlaw Winged Sprints will make their first of three scheduled appearances at their original home track where the IRA was founded over 50 years ago. On the program as well will be the WingLESS Sprints plus the Wilmot season debut of the 1175 Sports Park Bar & Grill Lightning Sprints which were canceled on May 4.
The late Ray Toft and Junior Dodd, along with Whitey Harris, were the three original founding members of the IRA. A special perennial trophy sponsored by the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame is displayed at the Hall sporting all of the winners of the event. Winners have been Dale Blaney in 2014 & 2015 when the race was co-sanctioned with the All Star Circuit of Champions and the IRA, Bill Balog in 2016, 2017, 2020, Jake Blackhurst in 2018, Jeremy Schultz in 2019, Scott Nietzel in 2021, Danny Schlafer in 2022 and Brenham Crouch.
The evening will feature old style vintage IRA and other types of race cars, plus several former drivers, crew members and officials usually coming out.
Advance tickets for all of the May Wilmot events are available on the track website.
Longtime voice of Wilmot Raceway Mike Babicz is hosting a weekly Let’s Go Racing Motorsports Report livestreamed on 216TheNet and 216 Creator Studio 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays sponsored in part by Wilmot Raceway. Tune in live or check out recorded programs for interviews and information about drivers, upcoming events and the latest updates on motorsports at Wilmot, as well as local, regional and national events.
Submitted by Michael H. Babicz
