Labor Day Weekend Wilmot Raceway action saw a variety of 2024 Season accomplishments. Waukesha's Mark Heinert scored his fifth Wilmot 11-75 Sports Complex IRA Lightning Sprints championship due to a bizarre series of events in the closing laps of the 25-lap feature.
Pleasant Prairie's Mike Neau took the initial lead, holding the top spot until the closing laps. Brian Strane Jr., 15-year-old who held the point lead going into the night, appeared headed toward his story book ending taking the lead from Neau with four laps to go as the pair worked lapped traffic. Strane's journey from ninth starting spot appeared complete until suddenly with three laps to go he coasted off the track in turn one exiting to the pits with what turned out to be a broken clutch.
Neau retook the top spot and went on to become the third different main event winner for the Lightning Sprints in four outings due to rain cancelling a bulk of their season. Genoa City's Jacob Irwin scored a career best second place finish with a quick closing Heinert taking third after starting seventh. Big Bend's Chad Stouthamer, who earlier won his first career heat race at Wilmot, had a best ever fourth place finish. Nick Petska of Spring Grove, IL, who earlier posted quick time of the 23-car field, came from tenth to finish fifth. Petska ended up second in the final Wilmot points. Strane dropped from the lead to third in the final tallies.
"I didn't know what happened to Brian," said Neau, referring to losing the lead as the pair maneuvered traffic. "I was concentrating on the lapped cars and almost didn't notice him go off. It's a big win for our team. We had several of our sponsors here for an appreciation night and it's fun winning with them here. My wife is recovering from surgery and the boys are at home with her, but this win and the trophy will be nice to bring them home. Looking forward to being back here for the Fall Festival on Friday, September 20."
"Congratulations to Mark (Heinert) on the championship, and tough break for Brian," said Neau as Heinert pulled into victory lane as well. "They both had great years."
"I never would have thought when I was sitting in the stands that I would have five (Wilmot championships) of these," said Heinert, showing a little emotion. "I didn't see Brian leave at first, so I didn't know what was going on when I pulled into the pits. I have to thank my wife, my girls who cheer me on from the stands, my crew and sponsors, everyone who puts this all together so we can run here at Wilmot, and to the Kenosha County Fair Association for having us. It's really special with everyone who has been a part. It means a lot."
Rob Olson of Lindenhurst, IL scored his first main event win at Wilmot since 2000 ending a 24-year drought by taking the checkered flag in the 20-lap Unified Street Stock feature. Tim Calanca of Lake Villa, IL took the initial lead, then spun in turn two in front of the field while leading on lap three. Rob Olson inherited the lead on the restart after narrowly missing Calanca's spinning machine. A yellow seven laps into the main kept the field close with the top five to six battling back and forth.
A final yellow with seven laps to go set up one last charge. Rob Olson was up to the challenge and scored the victory. Dustin Holland of Town of Norway came across second edging out third place finisher and point leader Kenosha's Blake Kreuser. Pleasant Prairie's Josh Gehrig came from eighth starting spot to take fourth. Robby Olson of Lindenhurst, IL, Rob's son, was fifth.
"That was a lot of fun," said Rob Olson. "It's been a long time since I've been in this victory lane. I just missed Calanca because I was running high at the time and was able to get around him. Dustin was right on me running me hard, which was fun. The track was great and we could run anywhere. I have to thank my wife, Tammy, who let me come back and race. My son, Robby, who does a lot of the work on both cars. My daughters, son-in-laws, grandkids, everyone who supports me and lets me do this. I have to thank all of our sponsors. Midwest Motorcoach, which I own, which has the honor of being involved with the Lake County Honor Flight. If anyone has never seen their welcome home escort, they need to see it. It's really amazing and well deserved for the veterans.(Next one is Sunday, October 13 from Mitchell Airport about 8 p.m.) We're going to celebrate for a while."
Tommy "Mr. Excitement" Sexton of Twin Lakes overtook early leader Dan Wade of Salem-Lakes in the 20-lap LiftPro Powered by Gandrud Chevrolet Hepfner Racing Products Wings feature using the high line on lap five. A trio of cautions in the final ten laps slowed Sexton's progress and kept erasing his at times full straightaway advantage. Burlington's Matt Vandervere, who started sixth, gave one final try to get past Sexton on the restart after the final yellow with three laps to go. Sexton was up to the challenge going on to his first win since getting married one week earlier in the same Wilmot victory lane. Vandervere took runner-up. Brian Kristan of Zion, IL was third. Greg Olson of Round Lake Heights, IL came from ninth to take fourth. Trevor's Ellie Hensley was fifth.
"That was a lot of fun," said Sexton, joined by his wife, Rhonda, who had just gotten to the track in time to watch the win, coming from a friend's wedding. "On the last restart I new Matt would try a slide job, so I stuck to my line and it worked. I have to thank my crew who does all of the work getting this car ready so I can come out here and have fun. They make it easier for this 58-year-old guy to drive it."
In the 20-lap IMCA Modified main, Genoa City's Morgan Sheppard, who was behind the wheel of his grandfather, Lee Tibbitts, familiar #03T, took the initial lead from his pole-starting spot. A yellow with 13 laps remaining closed the field up on Sheppard. Two laps after the restart, Eagle's Steve Mueller, who started ninth, shot to the outside in turn four to take the lead. A final yellow four laps from the finish set up a scramble behind Mueller. At the checkered it was Mueller taking his second feature of the season at Wilmot, following up on a win at Chilton the night prior where he has already clinched the track championship. Union Grove's Joel Crowbridge, who started alongside Muller in 10th spot, finished a distant second. West Allis' Bart Sievert was third. Sheppard ended up fourth. Burlington's Jason Condrad fifth.
"This was a lot of fun running with these guys here at Wilmot," said Muller, who is in contention with pointleader J. Crowbridge for the track championship with two point nights remaining. "It would be nice to have two championships this year, and the second one be here at Wilmot which is my favorite race track. The track prep crew did an awesome job and this track surface was great. It would be nice to win a title here, but if I can't, it would be great to see my friend Joel get it. I have to thank all of my sponsors, my family, everyone who supports me. I want to remind everyone that with God, there's nothing that's not possible."
Next up for Wilmot Raceway's 74th season is the Unified Street Stocks track championship Saturday, September 7. The championship battle may come down to the final race, the feature, as Kreuser, Robby Olson, Holland, Brandon Mertes of Salem, along with the elder Olson sneaking into possible contention with the others. AutoMeter Powered By Gandrud Performance Catalyst Exhibits Wilmot Raceway WingLESS Sprints, LiftPro powered by Gandrud Chevrolet 604 Crate Winged Sprints and IMCA Modifieds round out the card.
Grandstands open at 5 p.m. with races slated for 6:45 p.m. Admission is $20.00 for everyone ages 13 & Over, ages 12 & under admitted free. Pits open at 3 p.m. with all pit passes $35.00.
For updated information phone trackside race line 262-862-2090, check the official Wilmot Raceway Facebook page and website wilmotraceway.com. Updated point standings will be available on the website.