8/1/2019
IRA SPRINTS BILL KLEIN TRIBUTE/FOUNDERS NIGHT AUGUST 3; ERICKSON TAKES JULY 27 CARLTON FEATURE
(Wilmot, Wis.)--The original home of the Interstate Racing Association(IRA) Wilmot Raceway will host a doubleheader event Saturday, August 3.
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints, which began 52 years ago at Wilmot, will be featured in the Bill Klein Tribute. The winner will have their name added to the IRA Founders Trophy recognizing the three men who originated the organization, Ray Toft, Whitey Harris and the late Junior Dodd. The trophy, sponsored by the Southeastern Wisconsin Racing Hall of Fame, is displayed throughout the year at the museum in Hartford.
Previous winners include Dale Blaney, Bill Balog and Jake Blackhurst.
Bill Klein, who passed away earlier this year, was the original president of the IRA.
In addition to the winged sprint cars, the AutoMeter Wisconsin WingLess Sprints, the IRA Lightning Sprints and the Modifieds are on the program.
Grandstands open at 5 p.m. with on track activity at 6:00 p.m. and racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $20.00 for ages 12 and over, $5.00 ages 7-11, with ages 6 and under admitted free.
On Sunday, August 4 the Kenny Wallace Driving Experience school comes to Wilmot Raceway. For additional information check the Wilmot Raceway web site wilmotraceway.com.
Cody Erickson of Algonquin, Illinois took the lead four laps from the finish to take top honors in the 18-Lap Dennis Carlton Tribute Street Stock Feature presented by Don's Garage of Trevor highlighting the Saturday, July 27 Military Appreciation Night at Wilmot Raceway.
"I didn't race with Dennis(Carlton) but have heard a lot about him," said Erickson after his first feature win of the season joined by Dennis wife, Cathy, in victory lane. "Josh (Gehrig) gave me just enough room in turn four as the track was tricky causing his line to change so I went for it and it worked. I have to thank my Dad (Dave Erickson) who has really worked on the car to get me out here."
The special 18-lap feature signifying the late Dennis Carlton's number 18 he sported on his race cars honored the former area driver who owned Don's Garage, a supporter of Wilmot, when he suddenly passed away last summer. His family and wife, along with Don's Garage, began the tribute last year making it an annual event.
Pleasant Prairie's Josh Gehrig of jumped in front from his front row starting spot, heading the field throughout the non-stop feature. Four laps from the finish, Erickson worked his Station Wagon Potter Race Car Bodies machine to the lead coming out of turn four, diving to the inside as Gehrig drifted from his previous groove.
At the checkered it was Erickson first, Gehrig second, Muskego's Courtney Atkinson third, Kenosha's Craig Kreuser fourth and Rob Maule of Hebron, IL fifth.
Greg Olsen of Round Lake Heights, IL held off a late charge from Jimmy Sivia of Winthrop Harbor, IL to win his first ever feature in the 20-lap AutoMeter Wisconsin WingLess Sprint main.
"I gunned it and was able to keep Jimmy (Sivia) behind me at the finish," said Olsen after his first feature win of any kind in his sophomore season of racing. "I have to thank my family who help in the pits or are backing me in the stands. This is awesome."
Four cautions in the first half of the feature slowed Olsen's progress erasing his advantages keeping the field in close pursuit. Sivia pulled wheel to wheel a couple of times during the final circuits, giving one final charge out of turn four heading for the checkered. Olsen held off second place Sivia for the win by less than a car length. Trevor's Chris Dodd was third. Tim Cox of Park City, IL fourth. Derek Crane of Waukegan, IL fifth.
Ion Stear of Hebron, Illinois finally broke into the main event win column in 2019 as the reigning Lightning Sprint Champion won his initial 20-lap feature of the season. "It's been a rough year and this makes it worth it," said an emotional Stear. "Sometimes someone's misfortune is another's good luck. That happened for me."
C.J. Maleug of Johnsburg, IL lead through two caution periods including the final one four laps from the finish. On the restart, coming out of turn two in front of the hard charging field, Maleug's mount suddenly came to a virtual stop sending cars scrambling to avoid. A problem with the chain coming off the motorcycle-engine powered machine was the cause with Maleug able to safely come to the infield keeping the race under green.
Stear, who was running in the top five on the restart, found a path through the pack down the backstretch going on to the victory. Waukesha's Mark Heinert was third. Kenosha's Mike Neau fourth. Kinser Medler of West Salem, IL in his first ever Wilmot start fifth.
Joe Huenefeld of Cedarville, Illinois scored his third 20-lap modified feature win of the year. "Beating the Simons brothers (Nick and Mike) and the rest of these guys, it's not easy," Huenefeld said. "Each win has been tough, but we're going to keep trying."
Genoa City's Nick Simons lead the first 13 circuits, until Huenefeld overtook the point down the front straightaway just prior to the final caution six laps from the finish. Huenefeld maintained the lead to the finish with a fast closing Mike Simons II of Genoa City ending up runner-up. Nick Simons of Genoa City finished third after a side by side battle with his brother. Kansasville's Ryan Marshall fourth. Tichigan's Mike Wittenburg fifth.
Salem's Ryan Johnson prevented a Land of Lincoln feature sweep as he won his second 15-lap Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Car main of the season representing the track home state of Wisconsin. "The car ran super and thanks to my sponsors, my girlfriend, car owner Brad Becker and his little one who was my inspiration to win," Johnson said.
Johnson, in his second season, overtook Milwaukee's Tony Barron on lap seven just prior to a red flag for an engine fire in a car exiting the track. Johnson pulled away to the win with Union Grove's Dale Ehleiter second. Barron third. Lyons' Scott Ludtke fourth. Williams Bay's Rob Wachsmuth fifth.
Pre-race activities and ceremony's included William Curtis of Oklahoma, a Viet Nam War Army Veteran first time attendee at Wilmot Raceway, along with the Wisconsin Army National Guard contingent representing active military joining Cathy Landgren for the National Anthem trackside as the U.S. Coast Guard Lake Michigan Color Guard presented the colors.
Displays from the National Guard, Historic Military Impressions which had uniforms and other memorabilia, the Milwaukee area USO and the Real Deal Sprint Car Driving School which is coming to Wilmot Raceway October 12 had displays and giveaways including drawings.
Several modified driver teams donated ten bicycles including Huenefeld, Mike and Nick Simons, Jeremy Johnson and the David and Jason Wirth teams which went to lucky children in attendance. CK Contractors gave checkered flags and Dennis Spitz Race Team American Flags. Maule race team gave juice boxes.
Grand Foundation gave Frisbees which went to the crowd, mainly to children, during intermission.
Article Credit: Michael H. Babicz
