Three new 2023 feature winners went into Wilmot Raceway's victory lane on Saturday, June 24.
Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, OK captured his 49th career USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series main event win becoming the fourth different victor for the series at Wilmot. Bacon battled Emerson Axsom of Franklin, IN back and forth until Bacon jumped out in front for the final time nine laps from the finish. A caution for s spin three laps from the checkered closed the ranks one last time, but Bacon was up to the challenge taking the checkered after the 30 laps. Axsom finished second. Robert Ballou of Rocklin, CA, who also was in the early race battle for the lead, ended up with the final podium spot in third. Logan Seavey of Sutter, CA was fourth. Fast qualifier and new one lap track record holder Jake Swanson of Anaheim, CA was fifth.
Swanson, the first qualifier on the night, turned a :13.980 seconds clocking for the 3/8-mile clay oval, eclipsing the old mark of :14.665 seconds set by Kevin Thomas on June 23, 2012, the last time USAC ran at Wilmot. Previous Wilmot appearances were Danny Lasoski and Jack Hewitt each winning in 1990, Hewitt again in 1995 and Jon Stanbrough in 2012.
"The car was really hooked up and we took a liking to this track more and more as the night went on," said Bacon. "It was great to get a win here."
Jimmy Sivia of Winthrop Harbor, IL captured his first win of the season in the 20-lap CK Contractors/AutoMeter Wisconsin Wingless Sprints feature. Sivia worked into the lead on lap 13, overtaking Allen Hafford of Beach Park, IL who had been in front from the drop of the green flag until that point. A pair of cautions with 8 and 4 laps remaining kept the field close. A red flew with two laps left when Trevor's Chris Dodd got airborne twice, but did not go over, just off the track in turn one.
Sivia was able to maintain the lead and go on to the win. Tim Cox of Park City, IL finished second. Hafford third. Clayton Rossmann of Wadsworth, IL was fourth. Bristol's Chris Klemko fifth.
"I saw the number 40 (Cox)on the scoreboard and knew I had to keep the low side covered," said Sivia. "We've had our share of bad luck this year, but finally put it all together. I have to thank my family, sponsors, and crew, who have stuck with me. It's awesome to get a win on USAC night, too."
Chris Carlson of Racine, past multi-Wilmot champion, took the lead just prior to the halfway mark of the 20-lap modified feature. Joel Crowbridge of Union Grove and Steve Mueller of Eagle, along with Genoa City's Nick Simons, had been in a four-way battle much of the first half of the main. Carlson began to pull away, but the race was red flagged with two laps to go when Genoa City's Mike Simons barrel-rolled in turn one landing on all four wheels. M. Simons was not injured and drove the mangled car to his hauler in the pits.
Carlson kept the lead on the restart going on to the win. N. Simons finished second. Muller took third. Crowbridge fourth. Sheboygan's Joel Seegert fifth.
"It's great to bring a car which I built to victory lane," said Carlson. "It was a lot of fun battling Nick, Steve and Joel Crowbridge up there. The track was excellently prepared and gave us a lot of grooves to run. It was fun."
Next up for Wilmot Raceway is the Independence Celebration Carload and Fireworks Night on Saturday, July 1. CK Contractors/AutoMeter Wisconsin Wingless Sprints, Modifieds, Street Stocks and Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Cars are on the schedule. Grandstands open at 5 p.m. with on track activity getting underway at 5:30 and racing flated for about 6:30 p.m. Admission is $30.00 per car load with each passenger required to have a seatbelt. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. with all pit passes being $30.00. For the latest information phone the trackside raceline 262-862-2090, check the official track website wilmotraceway.com or the official track Facebook page.
The 2nd Annual Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40 for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars is Saturday, July 8, with CK Contractors/AutoMeter Wingless Sprints and Pfeifer Trailer Sales IRA Lightning Sprints on the program. For advance tickets or information contact SLSpromotions.com. Wilmot Raceway does not handle any ticket sales for the July 8 event.
Submitted by Michael Babicz.