(Wilmot, Wisconsin)--A special Tuesday night, July 2 United Midwest Promoters(UMP) Late Model Summer Nationals program is next up for Wilmot Raceway. Wilmot's Modifieds and Street Stocks join the traveling series.
On July 2 pits and registration open at 3:00 p.m., grandstands and ticket office 5:00 p.m., hot laps 6:30 p.m., qualifying 7:00 p.m, races 7:30 p.m. Zachary Raidart of Antioch, Illinois made it two 20-lap AutoMeter Wisconsin WingLess Sprint feature wins in a row highlighting Wilmot Raceway's First Responder Night Saturday, June 29. Raidart's win in the non-stop main came despite a leaking right-rear tire which went flat as he pulled into victory lane.
"I could tell it was going down, but just kept on the throttle," said Raidart after becoming the first duplicate WingLess feature winner in five Wilmot outings and eight overall series mains. Raidart led flag to flag in the non-stop main which proved to his advantage with the tire situation. Oconomowoc's Ryan Zielski had a season best second place. Brown Deer's Johnny Fahl third. Nick Petska of Spring Grove, Illinois despite a broken right-front shock fourth. Jimmy Sivia of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois fifth.
Mukwonago's Mike Knurr scored his initial 20-lap modified feature victory of 2019. "Zeke (Bishofberger) looked like he got loose and lost it," said a winded Knurr who brought a overheating car into victory lane. "The car's hot and I am too." Bishofberger paced the first 12 laps of the feature until looping in turn one bringing out the only caution. Knurr inherited top spot never being headed becoming the fourth different 2019 feature winner. A fast closing Chris Carlson of South Milwaukee finished runner-up. Jared Spalding of Milwaukee third. Eagle's Steve Mueller fourth. Joe Huenfeld of Cedarville, Illinois fifth.
Pleasant Prairie's Josh Gehrig in the 20-lap street stock main edged out Pell Lake's Cody Potter by less than a foot. "I knew Cody was coming and Courtney(Atkinson), too," said an ecstatic Gehrig after his first feature win ever in his sophomore year of racing. "I have to thank my family, the fans, the track crew that prepared a great surface for us to run on, my sponsors, the fans who came to watch us. This is a dream come true."
Gehrig took the initial lead from his front row starting spot. Successive cautions on laps eight and nine erased his advantage. On the final restart, Gehrig was hounded by Potter and Atkinson. Coming out of the final turn Potter came alongside and the two charged to the checkered side by side. Gehrig and Potter were followed by Atkinson of Muskego third. David Jones of North Chicago, Illinois fourth. Kenosha's Craig Kreuser fifth.
Salem's Ryan Johnson won his first ever 15-lap Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Car feature. "This is fantastic," said Johnson in his first fill season of racing. "I have to thank my girlfriend, Brad Becker who owns the car, sponsors, everybody here at Wilmot Raceway. The car ran perfectly and the track was super fast."
Milwaukee's Tony Barron was second. Scott Quarnstrom of Lake Villa, Illinois third. Waterford's David Rudzinski fourth. Trevor's Kody Molitor fifth.
Special First Responder Night ceremonies included American Legion Color Guard John Sutter, Kolleen Ruffino, Jim Schmitz, Crystal Carter; and fly-over by Kenosha's Tye Hammerle in 1940 PT-17 Army Trainer and Salem's Pete Spear in 1941 N2S-3 Navy Trainer. Salem Lakes Fire Department provided engine for fans to check out.
Next Saturday, July 6 features the BADGER Midgets in the Harry Turner Classic along with WingLess Sprints, Modifieds, Street Stocks and Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Cars for the first Military Appreciation Night. All military both active and former presenting a military ID at the ticket office will be admitted to the grandstand as guest of Wilmot Raceway and Kenosha County Fair. Grandstands open 5:00 p.m., Meet The Driver 5-5:30 p.m., on track activity around 5:45 p.m. with races to follow. Special displays and information on the military, USO and other organizations along with some equipment will be on hand.
Wilmot Raceway is participating in the Independence Day Festival Thursday, July 4 at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. The event is open free to the public. Chris and Natalie Klemko of Bristol along with Jordan Paulsen of Trevor will have their AutoMeter Wisconsin WingLess Sprint Cars on hand beginning at 3:00 p.m. doing "pit stop" demonstrations. Wilmot Raceway's Raymond Chevrolet Silverado Pace Truck will be there. Earlier in the day on July 4, Dream Chaser Racing's Lightning Sprint Car of Kenosha's Mike Neau will be in the Union Grove parade. The Wilmot Raceway pace truck along with street stocks of Burlington's Nick Smalley, Brandon Mertes of Antioch, Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Car John Cole of McHenry, Illinois and WingLess Sprint Car of Tom Eller of Zion, Illinois will be in the Antioch parade.