WILMOT RACEWAY MAY 18, 2024 RESULTS
(Wilmot, Wis., Saturday, May 18, 2024)–A first feature win in over 13 years, a follow-up win to last year’s final night and two mains that saw mechanical woes send race leaders to the pits highlighted Family Night Checkered Flag Giveaway Saturday, May 18 at Wilmot(Wis.) Raceway.
“It’s been a long time,” said Tommy Sexton of Twin Lakes, a five-time Wilmot champion in various classes including mini-modified, Modified Racing Association(MRA) Modified and 3x Wilmot sprint car champion. “That was fun, but it was a elbows up kind of track and a heat race like feature as far as competition goes. I have to thank all of my crew, sponsors, my fiance Rhonda Bell and we’re getting married here at the race track (8-24-24). Next week I am coming as a fan, as a spectator, to see what’s going to be a great show.”
Dan Wade of Salem Lakes jumped out into the lead of the 20-lap Liftpro powered by Gandrud Chevrolet/Hepfner Racing Products Wings Wilmot 604 Crate Engine Winged Sprint Car track series feature. The only caution came on lap two. Sexton powered to the outside on the backstretch coming out of turn two on the fifth circuit, using the high side cushion to take the lead.
Sexton pulled away to the victory. Ion Stear of Hebron, IL came on strong at the end to take second in a tight battle with third place finisher Wade. Bristol’s Chris Klemko was fourth. Trevor’s Ellie Hensley had a career best fifth place finish.
“I hated to see my brother (Jacob Balk) pull off so close to the finish,” admitted South Milwaukee’s Jay Orr following his victory in the season debut of the B&L Office Furniture powered by American Tire & Auto Repair Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Car Wilmot season series. “I was thrashing on this car all of the way including when we got here, in the pits, mounting the seat, getting the belts secured properly, checking everything to make sure it would stay in place. I am planning to be back June 8 and looking forward to running as many 4-cylinder races as I can, but not enduros. This was fun, but I would have liked to have battled my brother to the end.”
Orr’s brother, Jacob Balk of South Milwaukee, took the lead from the drop of the green for the 20-lap main, getting through an early race yellow one lap in. Orr and Balk battled back and forth as they worked heavy lapped traffic with a long green flag run. A final yellow coming for the initial white flag attempt set up overtime with a green-white-checkered.
During the caution Balk’s car stalled in turn three and could not refire even with a push, which would have relegated him to the rear anyway because 4-cylinders are required to be self-starting. Orr inherited the lead as he watched his brother helplessly pushed into the pits. Orr went on to take advantage of the open track in front of him the final two circuits scoring his first checkered flag victory at Wilmot in over two years. Salem’s Austin Orth finished a strong second holding off fast charging third place Ryan Andrews of Woodstock, IL. Kenosha’s Craig Kreuser came from ninth starting spot to finish fourth. Salem’s Ryan Johnson, defending Wilmot champion, was fifth.
The 20-lap Unified Street Stock main had a little bit of everything. Pleasant Prairie’s Josh Gehrig took the lead at the drop of the green and appeared headed for a back to back win. Following a caution at the halfway point, Gehrig’s mount lost power and died coming out of turn four for the green creating a scramble of field behind him.
Gehrig coasted into the infield out of harms way, but not far enough off the track so another yellow flew. Gehrig’s night was over as he was pushed into the pits. Salem’s Brandon Mertes, who started in the last row of the field, took over the lead on the restart moving up from second place at the time of the yellow.
A red flag came out with five laps to go as Terry Hilgendorf of McHenry, IL had a fire break out in his engine compartment which was quickly extinguished by the Nielsen Enterprises and Twin Lakes Marina Wilmot Raceway Fire/Safety teams. Hilgendorf was uninjured and eventually drove his car from the infield to the pits after the feature ended.
On the restart a 3-wide, and even 4-wide at times battle ensued with Mertes overtaken by Kreuser. Kreuser and another second generation driver, Robby Olson of Lindenhurst, IL, battled side by side around the 3/8-mile banked clay oval. At the checkered it was Kreuser with his first win since August of last season. Robby Olson was second by less than a car length. Pell Lake’s Dustin Holland took third. Mertes faded to fourth finishing with a flat left-rear tire. Tim Calanca of Lake Villa, IL came back from his own tire woes which out him a lap down to the field to take fifth.
“Battling Robby (Olson) was fun, and if Brandon (Mertes) hadn’t had the tire go down, it would have been even more interesting,” said B. Kreuser as he took the top of his fire suit off in victory lane because he was so hot. “I have to thank my girlfriend, my dad (Craig Kreuser), all of my sponsors and crew. We just finished putting the wrap(outer covering) on the car late last night. I can’t wait until we’re back again (June 15).”
The 20-lap IMCA Modified feature saw a lot of three and sometimes even four-wide action. Eagle’s Steve Mueller took the initial lead with a caution coming on lap six. Four laps later at the halfway point, Waterford’s Mike Wittenburg shot to the inside down the front straightaway edging in front just prior to another yellow.
Four laps later, it was Mueller’s turn to go to the inside overtaking Wittenburg as the two battled wheel to wheel for several circuits. Another caution slowed the progress, this time with Wittenburg scored as the leader. Two laps later, opening night feature winner a week earlier, Union Grove’s Terry Kiedrowski who was in a three-way battle for third at the time, flipped in turn one landing on his roof bringing out a red flag. Kiedrowski was not injured and walked away after the car was righted.
On the restart, Crowbridge shot to the outside down the backstretch taking the lead, overtaking the two-way battle of Mueller and Wittenburg. Crowbridge, who won the modified season finale last fall, scored his third feature win in the past two seasons. Mueller took second by less than half-car length over third place Wittenburg. Defending champion Joel Seegert was fourth. West Allis’ Bart Sievert came from 12th to finish fifth.
“It didn’t matter to me what they did, because I knew they were sticking the to inside so I had a shot on the outside,” said Crowbridge of the restart winning move. “The car was hooked up and I could put it anywhere I wanted. I have to thank my wife,Kelly, all of my family, sponsors, and finally I win when my son Colton, who helps work on the car all of the time, is here to see it. That makes it even more special.”
Memorial Day weekend features an all open wheel spectacular highlighted by the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association(IRA) Outlaw Sprint Series Founders Night Presented By Body Craft of Antioch, IL. The IRA was originally founded at Wilmot over 50 years ago by Whitey Harris, and the late Ray Toft and Junior Dodd. This year marks the 11th Founders Night held at Wilmot commemorating where it all began. Past Founders Night feature winners include Dale Blaney in 2014 and 2015; Bill Balog in 2016, 2017 and 2020; Jake Blackhurst in 2018; Jeremy Schultz in 2019; Scott Nietzel in 2021; Danny Schlafer in 2022; and Brenham Crouch in 2023. Who will add their name to the perennial trophy sponsored by Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame and displayed at the Hall following the race each year?
AutoMeter Wisconsin WingLess Sprints Powered by Gandrud Performance competitors earn double points for the traveling IRA series as well as Wilmot’s Catalyst Exhibits WingLESS season championship.
The 11/75 Sports Complex IRA Lightning Sprints round out the all IRA and sprint car program.
Several former IRA competitors, crew members and officials, have indicated plans to attend the annual event. In addition, some actual cars which competed in some of the earlier IRA events are slated to be on display in the grandstand concourse area.
Grandstands open at 4 pm with all general admission grandstand tickets for everyone over age 12 being $25.00. Hot laps are scheduled for 5:45 p.m. with racing at 6:45 p.m. Pits open at 2 p.m. with all pit passes being $35.00. Advance grandstand tickets and pit passes are available at the track website wilmotraceway.com. For additional information check the track Facebook page or phone the trackside race line 262-862-2090. Persons with additional questions can contact Kenosha County Fairgrounds and Wilmot Raceway Manager Jennifer Hesse at 262-731-3592.
Submitted By Michael H. Babicz
