(Wilmot, Wis., Saturday, June 8, 2024)--Heading into mid-June, Mother Nature became a double winner at Wilmot Raceway during the 74th season for the 3/8-mile clay oval facility on the Kenosha County Fairgrounds thus far. Weather took the checkered flag for the second time this season when persistent afternoon rain showers forced officials to cancel the Saturday, June 8 Family Night Checkered Flag Giveaway program.
Next up is a return of the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association(IRA Winged Outlaw Sprint Cars headlining the Father's Day weekend special Saturday, June 15.
Ironically, the last completed race program was the IRA Founder's Night presented by Body Craft of Antioch, IL during the Memorial Day Weekend Open Wheel Spectacular May 25. Beaver Dam's Scotty Neitzel captured his 26th IRA career win at the track where he made his first ever IRA start driving for veteran Al Schlafer in the #26 car back in the 1980s. The emotional and popular victory for Neitzel ended a two-year IRA victory drought for the veteran winged warrior. It marked Neitzel's second Founder's Night win at Wilmot, having also taken the top spot in 2021.
Neitzel will lead the IRA traveling stars back into their original birthplace track where IRA began over 50 years ago. IRA was off the first weekend of June, with Neitzel battling the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series competitors at his hometown track Beaver Dam Raceway. After finishing 6th in his heat race and transfering through the last chance qualifier, Neitzel picked up the hard charger award in the JB Boyd Memorial preliminary night feature May 31. Rain washed out the IRA program at Plymouth Dirt Track on June 8.
Joining the IRA 410 sprints will be the Auto Meter Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints Powered by Gandrud Performance earning Catalyst Exhibits Wilmot points as well, plus B&L Office Furniture powered by Great American Tire & Auto Repair Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Cars and Unified Street Stocks.
The WingLESS sprints have gotten two nights in with Rusty Egan of Beach Park, IL and Tristen Furseth of Cambridge each taking feature wins. Furseth's was his first ever in a wingLESS or at Wilmot.
Two programs for the Street Stocks have found pointleader Blake Kreuser of Kenosha with a victory along with Josh Gehrig of Pleasant Prairie.
June 15 grandstands open at 4 pm with on track activity at 5:30 pm followed by racing at 6:45 pm. An open autograph session for drivers from all classes will be held in the grandstand concourse area from 4-4:45 p.m. Grandstand admission is $25.00 for everyone ages 13 & Over, ages 12 & under admitted free. Pits open at 2 pm with all pit passes $35.00. For updates phone track side race line 262-862-2090 or check official website wilmotraceway.com or track Facebook page.
Newly opened Culver's of Paddock Lake hosts a motorsports and street vehicle Cruisin' Night For Custard 4 p.m. until dark Wednesday, June 12. Youngsters are invited to bring the family, especially Dad and Grandpa, to see competitors from Wilmot Raceway and other area racing facilities display their machines allowing an up close and personal look.
Let's Go Racing Motorsports Report hosted by Mike Babicz will be broadcasting its podcast live from the show on 216TheNet and Let's Go Racing Facebook pages along with 216 Creator Studio You Tube.
Starting off a twinbill for on-track Father's Day weekend action Friday, June 14 is Badger Truck & Tractor Pull with Combine Demolition Derby. June 14 Grandstands open at 5 pm with pulls slated to begin at 6 pm. Grandstand admission Friday is $10 everyone ages 10 and above, $1 ages 3-9, and 2 & under admitted free.
USAC National Sprint Cars make their only appearance of the season at the historic Wilmot oval on Saturday, June 22. Wilmot/Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints along with IRA Lightning Sprints round out the one of a kind all sprint car spectacular program.
Saturday Night Thunder closes out the schedule for the month on June 29 featuring Lightning Sprints, IMCA Modifieds in their only scheduled appearance of the month, Street Stocks and Bandits
Carload and Fireworks Night is Wilmot's pre-Independence Day Holiday event Tuesday, July 2. Winged 604 Crate Powered Sprint Cars, WingLESS Sprints and Bandits provide the on track action. Racing Roundup hosted by Jim Tretow will have a live broadcast from the Raceway.
Wilmot Raceway's Body Craft M3 Custom Graphics Pace Truck will be in the traditional Village of Antioch July 4 Parade. Several other drivers can usually be found at other area celebrations and parades.
Featuring on and off track fun and excitement starts off with a pre-race event evening party with activities and music on Thursday, July 11 to get things going for the two-day NOS Energy World of Outlaw Sprints in the Larry Hillerud Classic which features the traveling national winged warriors Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13. WingLESS Sprints complete the card both nights.
Post-race Friday, July 12 will have activities and live music.
Anderson's Maple Syrup Pancake Breakfast starts things off Saturday, July 13 as 11-time IRA Champion and 2023 Wilmot regular season 410 Winged Sprint Car Championship winner Bill Balog, originally from Alaska now calling Wisconsin home, has his title marketing partner head up a great way to start the day. Mid-day activities and live music will get the fans and competitors ready for the night's action.
Following a week off, Saturday Night Thunder on July 27 features an all sprint car card with wingLESS, Winged 604 crate sprints and lightning sprints scheduled.
A first for Wilmot with the World of Outlaw Late Models coming into town on a special Monday program, July 29. IMCA modifieds wind out the card.
Current unofficial point leaders heading into June are Brian Strane Jr., 14-year-old IRA Lightning Sprints competitor. Second generation competitor Rusty Egan of Round Lake Beach, IL leads the WingLESS. Kenosha's Blake Kreuser heads up the Unified Street Stocks. Joel Crowbridge of Union Grove, Scott Neitzel of Beaver Dam, Austin Orth of Salem leads the Bandits.
For information and tickets to most Wilmot Raceway events check the official track website. The World of Outlaws Sprints tickets are available at SLS Promotions site exclusively as this is a leased event and Wilmot Raceway does not handle ticket sales.
Photo by KulasJr8 Racing Images
- Matt Myers on Jun 12, 2024
- Article Date: 6/8/2024 by Mike Babicz