Wilmot Raceway Kenosha County Fair Opening Night Wednesday, August 14, 2024 Results
(Wilmot, Wis., Wednesday, August 14, 2024)–Opening night of the Kenosha County Fair saw a horse-drawn hitch lead the National Anthem ceremonial lap and a driver nicknamed “Tiny Horse” capture the final race of the evening as sprinkles began to fall at Wilmot Raceway on Wednesday, August 14.
Ryan “Tiny Horse” Johnson of Salem won his second 20-lap feature for the B&L Office Furniture powered by American Tire & Auto Repair of Kenosha and Lindenhurst Bandit 4-cylinder stock cars this season.
Oak Creek’s Terry Davis took the initial lead with Johnson working his way up quickly into second from eighth starting spot just prior to a red flag on the second circuit to check a driver who had hit the wall. On the restart, Johnson shot in front until a caution on lap five erased his lead. Watertown’s Devon Dixon appeared the class of the field coming from 12th starting spot to take the lead on the inside down the backstretch overtaking Johnson on the restart.
A caution with seven laps remaining saw a lot of scrambling in the middle of the field, but Dixon appeared to have it wrapped up until two laps to go when a lapped car broke his rhythm sending him way wide over the berm in turn one allowing a quick freight-train of cars to slip underneath. Johnson led the low line with Mt. Pleasant’s David McKellips in tow running second. Dixon recovered ending up third. Ryan Andrews of Woodstock, IL came on like being shot out of a cannon working all of the way from 25th in the last row of the field to finish fourth. Davis ended up fifth.
“I didn’t think there was any way I was going to catch Dixon,” admitted Johnson. “I saw him have to avoid the lapped car and it gave me the shot, so I took it. This is crazy but great to get the win. I have to thank all of my sponsors, my family, crew, everyone and these great fans coming out for the fair. This was fun.”
Burlington’s Matt Vandervere became the fourth different feature winner in the 20-lap Lift Pro Powered by Gandrud Chevrolet Hepfner Racing Products Wings 604 Winged Sprints headliner. Vandervere led flag to flag, but not until he stopped on the frontstretch following the 4-wide salute lap.
“I saw something on the track and Tommy Sexton hit it while we were going around too, so I stopped to tell the officials so they could get it,” Vandervere explained. “It’s been a long time since I have been in victory lane. Back in 2018 I won in a 410 winged sprinter. This is fantastic. I have to thank Eddy and Debbie Boyd, all of my sponsors, my family, everyone who has stuck with us. This is a big one for us. I can’t wait until I am back on Saturday(August 17) for the IRA 410 Sprints.”
Behind Vandervere, who had as much as a half straightaway lead, Brian Kristan of Zion, IL took second catching third place finishing Tommy Sexton of Twin Lakes in the final laps. C.J. Malueg of Johnsburg, IL was fourth after starting eighth with Greg Olsen of Round Lake Heights, IL finishing fifth coming up from tenth.
The hotly contested 20-lap Unified Street Stock feature win went to Kenosha’s Blake Kreuser who came up from sixth to take the win, but not until the final two laps. Troy Hensley of Lake Villa, IL led the first circuit with Rob Olson of Lindenhurst, IL taking the point on lap two. Cautions on laps four and nine kept interrupting the pace with Rob Olson and Salem’s Brandon Mertes, who started 12th, crossing side by side on the restart at the half-way mark.
Mertes kept fending off challenges until a final caution with four laps remaining. Kreuser shot to the outside on the backstretch taking the lead only to have it erased by a yellow appearing on the white flag lap setting up a green-white-checkered overtime. Kreuser held off a fast closing Robby Olson of Lindenhurst who ended up second. Mertes recovered for third. Muskego’s Courtney Atkinson came from eighth starting spot to finish fourth. Pell Lake’s Dustin Holland moved up to fifth from 11th starting spot.
“That was a lot of fun,” said Kreuser of his second feature win of the season. “Everyone was fun to race with, especially Brandon. He helps me a lot on my car and gave me a lot of ideas which we implemented during the off time we’ve had. The track was really fast in the middle and up high, so my car really hooked up there. I hope the fans enjoyed it as much as I did.”
Cameron Kuxhouse of Antioch took the initial lead in the 20-lap IMCA modified feature. On lap three, Kuxhouse shot too high in turn one going over the cushion, with Burlington’s Jason Conrad powering into the lead. On lap 6 following a yellow, Kuxhouse went to the inside of Conrad with the two going wheel to wheel.
Eagle’s Steve Mueller worked his way to the front after starting sixth on lap 9 and appeared heading for back to back wins. Suddenly with two laps to go Mueller got caught in traffic and was forced outside, nearly going down the track exit lane.
Defending champion Joel Seegert, who started eighth, came through the scramble to become the fourth different feature winner in as many starts for the modifieds this season. Union Grove’s Joel Crowbridge came from seventh to second. Mueller recovered to take third. Tim Hamburg of Dixon, IL moved up five spots from ninth to fourth. Waterford’s Mike Wittenburg was fifth.
“That was definitely not easy,” said Seegert. “I thought Steve had it until lapped traffic got in the way. It means a lot to win on fair night. It was definitely a scramble and we were lucky to make it through.”
Wilmot Raceway resumes oval track action on Saturday, August 17 with the Roger Iles Tribute featuring an all sprint car show highlighted by the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association (IRA) 410 Outlaw Winged Sprints in their final appearance of the season at the track where their series was born over 50 years ago. The Wisconsin AutoMeter Powered by Gandrud Performance Wilmot Raceway Catalyst Exhibits WingLESS Sprints, sister division to the IRA winged cars, along with the 11-75 Sports Complex IRA Lightning Sprints complete the program.
Grandstand tickets are $15 for everyone ages 12 & over with ages 11 & under admitted free. Advance tickets are available at wilmotraceway.com, with those ticket holders being admitted at 4 p.m. while all others will be allow in at 5 pm. Races are scheduled to get underway at 6:45 p.m.
Wilmot Raceway grandstand events on Thursday, August 15 feature Badger Truck & Tractor Pulls with combine demolition derby preliminary events. On Friday, August 16 will be PI Motorsports Truck & Tractor Pulls along with the combine demolition derby finals followed by fireworks. Both Thursday and Friday events begin at 6 p.m.
On Sunday, August 18 the fair closes out grandstand events with the ever popular International Demolition Derby beginning at 1 p.m.
Grandstand admission is free Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
For the latest information on the fair check kenoshacofair.com or for Wilmot Raceway wilmotraceway.com. For weather updates check the official fair Facebook page or the raceway Facebook page.
Submitted by Michael H. Babicz, Wilmot Raceway
