(Wilmot, Wis., Saturday, July 17, 2021)--It was a true Family Night at Wilmot Raceway with feature wins following the CK Contractors Candy Drop starting the night off for the children after the National Anthem.
Burlington's Rusty Egan won his first ever 20-lap AutoMeter/Brewington Electric Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint feature at Wilmot Raceway on an emotional Family Night on Saturday, July 17. "This is so special because it's my first feature win at the race track I used to sell checkered flags at when I was growing up," said Egan, joined by his family including his dad, Russ Egan, who was celebrating his birthday, in victory lane. "The cautions helped me because I don't know if I could have made it through the lapped traffic."
Egan, who won a Wisconsin wingLESS Series feature at 141 Speedway before, led every lap of the main weathering cautions at the halfway point and with three laps remaining. Salem's George Gaertner Jr. had a career best second place finish. Trevor's Jordan Paulsen was third. Kansasville's Ryan Marshall fourth. Jimmy Sivia of Winthrop Harbor, IL fifth.
Genoa City's Mike Simons captured his first 20-lap modified feature win of the season. M. Simons, three-time track champion, had four caution periods erase sizeable leads throughout the feature. The last with five laps remaining set up a battle with Caledonia's Chris Carlson with the two getting side by side a couple of times during the closing laps. At the finish it was M. Simons with the win. Carlson was second. Eagle's Steve Mueller third. Waterford's Mike Wittenburg fourth. Genoa City's Nick Simons, Mike's younger brother, fifth.
"I have to thank my wife, my daughter, my parents, all of our sponsors for the support they've given me," said M. Simons, who was joined by the family in victory lane. "I knew Chris was there and just stuck to my line."
The closest finish of the night came in the 20-lap IRA Lightning Sprint feature. Sifting through lapped traffic coming for the checkered flag, Oak Creek's Mark Heinert nipped C.J. Malueg of Johnsburg, IL by less than one foot at the checkered flag. For the second Wilmot main win in a row, it was Heinert the winner and Malueg second. Ion Stear of Hebron, IL was third. Nick Petska of Spring Grove, IL fourth. Pleasant Prarie's Mike Neau fifth.
"The scoreboard said the same thing this week as it did last week," said Heinert, who won his second in a row at Wilmot. "The car was a little tight, but I was able to make it just enough. I knew C.J. was coming. I have to thank my wife and family for all of their support, especially on Family Night."
Cody Erickson of Algonquin, IL won his third feature overall, and second points main event of the season at Wilmot by taking the victory in the 20-lap street stock headliner. Erickson led flag to flag, with a final caution coming nine laps from the finish. Rob Maule of Hebron was second. Brandon Mertes of Antioch, IL finished third in a tight battle with fourth place David Jones of North Chicago, IL and fifth place Big Bend's Mark Baker.
"This is a fun car to drive because it's an Outlaw Chassis with a Coil Engine and my dad does a lot of the set up on the car," said Erickson, who was joined by his dad, Dave, in the final victory lane of Family Night. "The caution came at just the right time because I admit, I needed a little breather."
Wilmot Raceway hosts First Responder Night on Saturday, July 24 featuring Wingless Sprints, Modifieds, Street Stocks and Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Cars. All first responders (EMT, Fire, Police) will be admitted to the grandstands free as guests of Wilmot Raceway. The evening's race program is sponsored by The Grand Foundation. Grandstand admission is $15.00 for adults ages 12 and over; $5.00 ages 7-11; with 6 & under admitted free.
The grandstands open at 5 p.m. with on track hot laps at about 5:45 p.m. and racing at 6:30 p.m. The National Anthem will feature Cheryl McCrary, Mrs. Wisconsin Elite Royalty International.
A Corn Hole Tournament and Dunk Tank to benefit the Shield 23 Foundation which helps first responders and their families. Starting time is 1:00 p.m. with check-in between noon and 12:30 p.m. at the Kenosha County Fairgrounds Commercial Building located on the southeast end of the fairgrounds. For details contact Jessica Sivia 847-596-0348.
For updates on Wilmot Raceway check the trackside raceline 262-862-2090, track website wilmotraceway.com or the official track Facebook page.
Submitted by Michael H. Babicz (262-206-5465)