Father's Day Weekend Family Night at Wilmot Raceway proved special for five main event winners on Saturday, June 17.
Clayton Rossmann of Wadsworth, IL captured his third 20-lap CK Contractors/AutoMeter Wisconsin Wingless Sprints feature win this season at Wilmot. Rossmann held the lead from the drop of the green through a red flag when Bryce Andrews of Kenosha got upside down in turn three. Rossmann and Kansasville's Ryan Marhsall, along with Zach Raidart of Gurnee, IL, were in a three-way battle going side by side several times with Rossmann and Marshall exchanging the lead. A final yellow with three laps to go had it Rossmann, Marshall and Raidart, which is the way they finished. Bristol's Chris Klemko had a late charge to take fourth. Racine's Derek Crane was fifth.
"I went over the high side once and decided that wasn't going to work," said 17-year-old Rossmann who will be a senior at Zion High School in the fall. "I saw the car was hooked up on the low side, so I decided to stay there and it worked. It's a nice win for my dad(Pat Rossmann), family and whole crew on Father's Day weekend. I am looking forward to running the John Hajduk 21H car next week with USAC here at Wilmot along with my regular car. I'm excited."
Sheboygan's Joel Seegert won his second ever 20-lap modified feature at Wilmot, and first in three years, but it was not easy. Genoa City's Mike Simons and Eagle's Steve Mueller battled along with Seegert through a series of six cautions which continually slowed the pace. With three laps to go, Seegert shot to the inside coming out of turn four to overtake M. Simons and go on to the win. M. Simons was second. Union Grove's Joel Crowbridge third. Genoa City's Nick Simons fourth. Milwaukee's David Wirth fifth.
"It was quite a battle with a lot of different grooves on the track," said Seegert. "It was fun to race and I hope the fans enjoyed it too. I am dedicating this win to my Grandmother who just got out of the hospital."
The Pfeifer Trailer Sales IRA Lightning Sprints had twin 20-lap features. Oak Creek's Mark Heinert won the first main, able to maintain the lead through a single caution with five laps to go. At the checkered it was Heinert winning his second feature of the season at Wilmot. Nick Petska of Spring Grove, IL was second. John Kirk of Johnsburg, IL third. Pleasant Prairie's Mike Neau fourth. Union Grove's Andrew Kiedrowski fifth.
"It's special to win on Father's Day and have my dad here in victory lane because he's been with me all 25 years I have been racing," said an emotional Heinert, admitting he did not know how he might fare in the second feature because he would start further back.
The second feature was red flagged twice, once on lap 2 when Brookfield's Shawn Steinpas got upside down in turn three and a second seven laps in when Ron Curasi of Fond Du Lac flipped coming out of turn two and Mitchell Reich of Waukegan, IL rolled onto his side to avoid the incident. Neither driver was injured with Reich able to restart.
Max Brannam of Holiday Hills, IL, a recent high school graduate, held the early lead. Adam Schroeder of Bristol overtook the top spot using the outside cushion in turn three four laps into the main. Schroeder maintained the lead through the second red flag period. With nine laps to go, Kiedrowski took the lead pulling away to the win. At the finish it was Kiedrowski with his first Wilmot win since 2018. Schroeder held on for second. M. Brannam third. Heinert came from 10th starting spot by virtue of his win in the early feature to finish fourth. Neau was fifth.
"My car ran strong in a number of spots on the track, so I kept working it," said Kiedrowski. "I have to thank my crew, sponors and family, along with the fans, who make this a lot of fun."
Josh Sipes of DeKalb, IL made his first ever trip to Wilmot worth it as he won his heat race and followed it up by leading every lap of the 20-lap Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Car feature. Two cautions failed to hamper Sipes drive for the victory. Scott Ellis of Lake Villa, IL was second. Mt. Pleasant's David McKellips third. Pleasant Prairie's Scott Carpenter fourth. Salem's Austin Orth fifth. The second through fifth place cars battled back and forth throughout the closing laps ending up within a couple of car lengths at the finish.
"I really like this track," said Sipes. "It's really has a lot of different grooves. The drivers are a lot of fun to race with and everyone here is really nice. I will definitely be back on July 1 for the fireworks night which is the next time the Bandits run."
Wilmot Raceway hosts the USAC Amsoil National Sprint Cars for the first time in over 15 years on Saturday, June 24. The CK Contractors/AutoMeter Wisconsin Wingless Sprints are on the program as well with a full point show. Modifieds will have a feature only.
Grandstands open at 4 p.m. with on track activity getting underway about 5:30 p.m. and racing slated to follow. A special fundraiser for the Kenosha County Fair Dairy Project will feature "Kiss A Cow" from 4 until 6 p.m. on the grandstand concourse.
Grandstand tickets are $30.00 for ages 12 & over, $5.00 ages 7-11, with ages 6 & under admitted free. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. with all pit passes being $35.00.
Advance tickets and latest information is available at the Raceway website wilmotraceway.com, or check the trackside raceline at 262-862-2090 or the official Raceway Facebook page. Tickets are also available on race night at the grandstand ticket office.
- Dakoda Tennyson on Jun 20, 2023
- Article Date: 6/19/2023 by Mike Babicz