(Wilmot, Wisconsin, Saturday, May 4, 2019)–Beaver Dam’s Jeremy Schultz ended a feature less winning drought by taking the 30-lap Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association(IRA) Wilmot Raceway 2019 opening night feature win. Pardeeville’s Craig Campton captured his first ever 20-lap AutoMeter Wisconsin WingLess Sprints feature. Waukesha’s Mark Heinert led wire to wire for the win in the 20-lap Lightning Sprints presented by the IRA main Joe Huenefeld of Cedarville,
IL won his first ever Wilmot 20-lap modified feature. “I got my first ever 410(winged sprint car) feature win here, and to get Bob and Dawn Hood their first IRA win is awesome,” said a jubilant Schultz, noting his previous success at the Kenosha County Fair located 1/3-mile clay oval, the original home of the IRA 52 years ago. “Not having a win in over a year and getting it holding off Bill (Balog) and Rico (Abreu) is fantastic. The team set the car up super. I can’t wait until we come back (Friday, May 17 for All Star-IRA Sprint Challenge).” “I congratulate Jeremy on a great race,” said Balog of North Pole, Alaska, 7-time IRA Champion. “We came up just a little short.” “This is a different track for us, so it took a while to get the car set up,” said Abreu, of Rutherford, California, who made a last minute decision to come to Wilmot after a rain out at his previously planned event. “I like this track. I look forward to coming back.” Schultz jumped out in front at the drop of the green in the main. In the closing laps a caution cleared some lapped traffic giving the past Wilmot regular season Winged Sprint Champion clear sailing, but not without a hard challenge from Balog and Abreu. The yellow came out as Balog and Brandon Wimmer of Jonesboro, Indiana came together while battling for position in turn four. Wimmer’s car was not damaged but restarted at the tail.
Balog was able to continue, taking over second on the restart. The top three of Schultz, Balog and Abreu were followed by Paul Nienhiser of Chapin, IL fourth with defending IRA Champion Jake Blackhurst of Hanna City, IL fifth. “Finally we get a win,” said Campton, who works on world championship snowmobiles. “I have to thank Doug Schenck for getting me to do this. It was fun finishing ahead of him in our other team car. I dedicate this win to Carl Wagener (engine builder who recently passed away). Trevor’s Jordan Paulsen, in his second season, headed the field until lap 13 when he spun in turn two bringing out a caution. Kenosha’s B.G. Wood, who battled Paulsen much of the early going, took top spot on the restart. Campton took the point after the two battled wheel to wheel for several laps. Schenck, of Cottage Grove, followed his teammate getting around Wood for second. Campton was up to the challenges from his mentor for the win. Schenck took second, Wood third, Trevor’s Chris Dodd fourth and Oconomowoc’s Ryan Zielski fifth. “This is a great win for us,” said Heinert after the Lightning Sprints win, 3-time Wilmot champion. “I have to thank my wife, Michelle, my daughters, for all of their support and everyone who plays a part in our team from our marketing partners to the crew members.” Heinert was followed by C.J. Malueg of Johnsburg, IL second, John Kirk of Johnsburg third, defending Wilmot champion Ion Stear of Harvard, IL fourth and Sun Prairie’s Kevin Douglas fifth. “Last year we were on the last lap and broke while leading,” said Huenefeld, who tows nearly two hours one way to race. “We finally got a win. My family, sponsors, everyone who supports us and the great fans who stick around even though it’s cold to watch us race. Thank you all.” Tichigan’s Michael Wittenburg led the early going. Huenefeld went side by side with Wittenburg until the midway point when he took top spot.
One lap later the red flag came out when Tony Izzo, who was not injured, got upside down landing on his roof in turn two. Huenefeld kept in front to the finish. Eagle’s Steve Mueller took second in a hotly contested battle with Genoa City’s Simons brothers, Nick who took third and 2-time defending champion Mike II fourth. Past Wilmot Champion Chris Carlson of South Milwaukee was fifth.
Family Night comes to Wilmot Raceway Saturday, May 11 featuring AutoMeter Wisconsin WingLess Sprints, Lightning Sprints presented by the IRA, Modifieds along with the season debuts of the street stocks and Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Cars. Grandstands open at 5:00 p.m. with on track activity at 5:45 and racing to follow. Meet The Driver will begin with select drivers and cars from each competing division invited to be on the grandstand concourse between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. allowing fans an up close look. May 11 Grandstand Admission is $15.00 for everyone ages 12 and over, with ages 11 and under admitted free.
The IRA-All Star Sprint Challenge comes to Wisconsin’s birthplace of sprint car racing in a special Friday race program, May 17. NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart will be competing along with a host of regional and national winged sprint car warriors. AutoMeter Wisconsin WingLess Sprints and Lightning Sprints round out the first major all open wheel sprint car program. For updated information phone trackside race line 262-862-2090, check wilmotraceway.com or official Wilmot Raceway Facebook Page. Wilmot Raceway and Kenosha County Fair sponsor 216thenet Facebook Live “Let’s Go Racing!” Radio Program hosted by Mike Babicz, “the Voice of Wilmot Raceway,” airing Mondays 5-6 p.m., replaying Thursdays 11 a.m.-noon, Saturdays 11 a.m.-noon and 11 p.m.-Midnight. SUMMARY – WILMOT RACEWAY, WILMOT, WISCONSIN – SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2019 BUMPER TO BUMPER INTERSTATE RACING ASSOCIATION 410 OUTLAW WINGED SPRINTS: 30-LAP FEATURE: 1. Jeremy Schultz, Beaver Dam; 2. Bill Balog, North Pole, Alaska; 3. Rico Abreu, Rutherford, CA; 4. Paul Nienhauser, Chapin, IL; 5. Jake Blackhurst, Hanna City, IL; 6. Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL; 7. Scotty Thiel, Sheboygan; 8. Steve Meyer, Sheboygan Falls; 9. Mike Reinke, Howards Grove; 10. Scott Biertzer, West Bend; 11. Todd Daun, Pleasant Prairie; 12. Scott Nietzel, Beaver Dam; 13. Austin Deblauw, Ventura, CA; 14. Brayton Lynch, Springfield, IL; 15. Dave Uttech, Kenosha; 16. Jim Fifield, Hewitt, IL; 17. Wayne Modjeski, Oak Creek; 18. Kelsey Ivy, Fremont, OH; 19. Russel Borland, Kewaskum; 20. Jereme Schroeder, Lake Villa, IL; 21. Hunter Custer, Chippewa Falls; 22. Ben Schmidt, Howards Grove; 23. Brandon Wimmer, Jonesboro, IN; 24. Kris Spitz, Salem. 12-LAP “B” MAIN: 1. Modjeski; 2. Fifield; 3. Lynch; 4. Deblauw; 5. K. Spitz; 6. Custer; 7. Nick Matuszewski, Antigo; 8. Matt Wiese, Lomira; 9. Brian Strane, Paris; 10. Keith Fellner, Sturtevant(Did Not Start). HEAT WINNERS: Nietzel; Reinke; Schmidt. FAST QUALIFIER: Balog(:13.315 seconds). AUTOMETER WISCONSIN WINGLESS SPRINTS: 20-LAP FEATURE: 1. Craig Campton, Pardeeville; 2. Doug Schenck, Cottage Grove; 3. B.G. Wood, Kenosha; 4. Chris Dodd, Trevor; 5. Ryan Zielski, Oconomowoc; 6. Nick Petska, Spring Grove, IL; 7. Natalie Klemko, Bristol; 8. Tim Cox, Park City, IL; 9. Jimmy Sivia, Winthrop Harbor, IL; 10. Greg Olsen, Round Lake Heights, IL; 11. Derek Crane, Waukegan, IL; 12. Randy Stanford, Kenosha; 13. Vince Bartolotta, Muskego; 14. Chris Klemko, Bristol; 15. Dennis Spitz, Lewisburg, KY; 16. Scott Grissom, Winthrop Harbor, IL; 17. Rusty Egan, Burlington; 18. Rod Colburn, New Berlin; 19. James Walldan, Winthrop Harbor; 20. Charles Spoonmore, Somonauk, IL; 21. Greg Alt, Delavan; 22. Jordan Paulsen, Trevor; 23. William Huck, Mukwonago; 24. Matt Vandervere, Zion, IL. 12-LAP “B” MAIN: 1. Cox; 2. Egan; 3. R. Colburn; 4. Huck; 5. Spoonmore; 6. Tom Eller, Zion, IL; 7. Shawn Swim, Zion; 8. Tommy Colburn, New Berlin; 9. Steve Clott, Madison; 10. Lance Walldan, Winthrop Harbor; 11. Zach Raidart, Gurnee, IL; 12. Jim Wehrman, Kenosha; 13. Paul Shaffer, Milwaukee; 14. Zach Hansen, New Berlin; 15. Garrett Deieso, Wadsworth, IL(DNS); 16. Allen Hafford, Beach Park, IL(DNS). HEAT WINNERS: Dodd; Paulsen; Olsen; Zielski. FAST QUALIFIER: Petska(:15.656 seconds). LIGHTNING SPRINTS PRESENTED BY IRA: 20-LAP FEATURE: 1. Mark Heinert, Waukesha; 2. C.J. Malueg, Johnsburg, IL; 3. John Kirk, Johnsburg; 4. Ion Stear, Hebron, IL; 5. Kevin Douglas, Sun Prairie; 6. Tim Brannam, Holiday Hills, IL; 7. Mike Neau, Kenosha; 8. Jeremy Douglas, McFarland; 9. Ron Brannam, Barrington, IL; 10. Kevin Frederiksen, Hales Corners; 11. Jeff Schmidt, Slinger; 12. Max Brannam, Holiday Hills; 13. Josh Rehberg, Franklin; 14. Tim Christensen, Winthrop Harbor; 15. Jonathon Smith, Spring Grove, IL; 16. Darren Ihrke, Hebron. HEAT WINNERS: Malueg; Heinert. FAST QUALIFIER: Neau(:15.317 seconds). MODIFIEDS: 20-LAP FEATURE: 1. Joe Huenefeld, Cedarville, IL; 2. Steve Mueller, Eagle; 3. Nick Simons, Genoa City; 4. Mike Simons II, Genoa City; 5. Chris Carlson, South Milwaukee; 6. Michael Wittenburg, Tichigan; 7. Danny Walter, Burlington; 8. Mike Conn, Big Bend; 9. John Dost, Bristol; 10. David Wirth, Milwaukee; 11. Donnie Paskiewicz, Ottawa, WI; 12. Terry Kiedrowski, Union Grove; 13. Tony Izzo, Capron, IL; 14. Jason Wirth, Elkhorn; 15. Morgan Sheppard, Hebron; 16. Lee Tibbitts, Hebron(DNS); 17. Jack Williams, Rockford, IL(DNS). HEAT WINNERS: Huenefeld; Wittenburg. FAST QUALIFIER: M. Simons II(:16.690 seconds).