(Wilmot, Wis., Saturday, May 20, 2023)--Four new winners made their way to the Wilmot Raceway victory lane for the first time in the 2023 on Armed Forces Night Saturday, May 20.
Oconomowoc's Ryan Zielski took the lead on a restart three laps into the CK Contractors/AutoMeter Wisconsin wingLESS Sprints 20-lap main event. Zielski, who overtook early race leader Chris Dodd of Trevor, went on to the victory. Dodd ended up second. Clayton Rossmann of Wadsworth, IL, who won the first two wingLESS features of the season at Wilmot, was third. C.J. Malueg of Johnsburg, IL was fourth. Racine's Derek Crane took fifth.
"I don't know what they did to this track during the off season, but it's a lot different and really fast," said Zielski. "I have to thank my family, sponsors, and everyone who gets the car to the track. It ran super."
Eagle's Steve Mueller led wire to wire in the 20-lap modified feature for his first Wilmot win in over a year. A caution three laps from the finish erased a sizeable lead Mueller had built. Genoa City's Nick Simons got alongside Mueller briefly, but Mueller was up to the challenge taking the checkered flag by less than a car length. N. Simons was second. Milwaukee's David Wirth third. Sheboygan's Joel Seegert fourth. Elkhorn's Jason Wirth fifth.
"I knew Nick was there and had to try to hit my spot just right," said Mueller. "It worked. I love running here. It's a lot of fun running with these guys and before these fans. It's really great."
Oak Creek's Mark Heinert took the lead from early pacesetter Andrew Kiedrowski of Union Grove on lap 8, and went on to lap the entire field with the exception of the top three finishers. Kiedrowski ended up second. Nick Petska of Spring Grove, IL third, the last car on the lead lap. Tim Brannam of Holiday Hills, IL was fourth with his dad, Ron Brannam of Barrington, IL, fifth.
"I thank Larry (Neau) for giving me this Dream Chaser Racing Team ride," said Heinert. "The car ran super. I have to thank my dad, my wife, kids, everybody who makes up our team. We didn't get a feature win last season, but we got one now."
Rob Maule of Hebron, IL, took the lead three laps into the 20-lap feature. Maule went on to score the win despite a couple of cautions in the closing laps. Pell Lake's Cody Potter took runner-up in a tight three-way battle for second through fifth. Craig Mertes of Antioch, IL was third. Kenosha's Blake Kreuser fourth. David Jones of North Chicago, IL fifth.
"This is a big win for us," said Maule, joined in victory lane by his wife, two daughters and several other youngsters who race go-karts against his daughter during the week. "It's a good way to start off the season."
Next up for Wilmot Raceway on the Kenosha County Fairgrounds is the Memorial Weekend Open Wheel Spectacular on Saturday, May 27 featuring the Bumper to Bumper Interstates Racing Association(IRA) Winged Outlaw Sprints, BADGER Midgets and Midwest Sprint Association(MSA) 360 Sprints.
Grandstands open at 5 p.m. with on track activity getting underway at 5:30 p.m. and racing slated for approximately 7 p.m. Grandstand admission is $25.00 for everyone ages 12 and over; $5.00 for ages 7-11; with ages 6 & under admitted free. The pits will open at 3 p.m. with all pit passes being $35.00.
Advance tickets are available on the Raceway website at wilmotraceway.com. Additional updates are available by phoning the trackside raceline 262-862-2090 or check the official Wilmot Raceway Facebook page.
Coming up on Saturday and Sunday, June 3 & 4, will be the annual Monster Truck show. Saturday grandstands open at 4 p.m. with track party from 5 until 6:30 p.m. and the show getting underway at 7 p.m. On Sunday, grandstands open at 2 p.m. with track party from 2 until 3:30 p.m. and the show starting at 4 p.m. For all information and advance tickets for the Monster Truck Show, contact the show promoters at monstertruckthrowdown.com.