6/12/2023
Wilmot Raceway
Zielski Rolls to Victory Lane
Oconomowoc's Ryan Zielski scored a back to back 20-lap CK Contractors/AutoMeter Wisconsin Wingless Sprints feature win in a hotly contested battle Saturday, June 10.
Zielski took the lead with two laps to go after a caution flew three laps from the finish. Zielski overtook Clayton Rossmann of Wadsworth, IL who had held the point from the opening green flag including a caution at the halfway point. At the checkered, Zielski shot high coming out of turn four with Rossmann sticking to the low side for one final attempt. The two crossed side by side with Zielski scoring the win by less than half a car length. Rossmann finished second. Racine's Derek Crane, who briefly took the lead on the restart with three laps to go, but overshot the berm on the high side coming out of turn two allowing Rossmann and Zielski to roar past, ended up third. Kansasville's Ryan Marshall was fourth. Brown Deer's John Fahl fifth.
"My crew had some late nights all week to put this car back together after we trashed it at Angel Park last Sunday," said Zielski, who won the Wilmot feature Memorial Day weekend as well. "Clayton was running a good groove and I almost overshot my mark coming for the checkered. I didn't need that yellow to get me out of my rhythm, so I am fortunate I was able to keep in front to the finish."
Eagle's Steve Mueller captured his second consecutive 20-lap Modified feature win at Wilmot, also having won Memorial Day weekend. Mueller held the lead from the first caution two laps into the main. Two additional yellows slowed the progress in the early going and then a red flew when Elkhorn's Jason Wirth flipped coming out of turn four, bouncing off the restraining grandstand fence, landing upside down in the middle of the track. The safety team worked to right the car and assist J. Wirth as he was able to walk to the ambulance to get checked out.
When another yellow flew, the checkered also came out due to time limit. Mueller was first holding off several challenges from Genoa City's Nick Simons who took second. Union Grove's Joel Crowbridge was third. Sheboygan's Joel Seegert fourth. West Allis' Bart Sievert fifth.
"Nick raced me clean and it was a challenge, but a lot of fun," said Mueller. "I am also donating all of my winnings to Jason to hopefully help him get back out soon."
Pell Lake's Cody Potter took the lead from Rob Maule of Hebron, IL on the inside of the front straightaway five laps into the main. Maule had just taken the lead two laps earlier breaking through a fourway battle for the front spot. Three additional cautions for various incidents kept the frontrunners close. At the checkered it was Potter with the win. Salem's Brandon Mertes was second. Kenosha's Blake Kreuser third. Big Bend's Mark Baker was fourth. Maule, who spun while running third with three laps to go, recovered to come from the back on the restart and finish fifth.
"My dad and my crew do a great job giving me a a super car to drive," said Potter, noting he has won five features with the car thus far this season although this was the first in two outings at Wilmot with the other being a second place finish to Maule. "It's a lot of fun and I hope it continues."
Salem's Ryan Johnson took the lead in the early going of the 15-lap Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Car feature and went on to take the victory despite encountering a lot of traffic. Scott Ellis of Lake Villa, IL finished second. Salem's Austin Orth was third. Pleasant Prairie's Steve Ellis fourth. Trevor's William Jackson fifth.
"The track was tricky and working the lapped cars made it even more challenging," said Johnson, who became the second different Bandit feature winner at Wilmot this season. "I have to thank my sposnors and family who support me. This is fun."
Father's Day weekend will see Wilmot Raceway offering twin nights of action. On Friday, June 16, will be a truck & tractor pull along with a combine demolition derby. Grandstands open at 5 p.m. with grandstand admission $10.00 for everyone ages 10 and over, $1.00 for ages 3-9, and free for ages 2 and under. Friday pit passes are $15.00 for everyone over age 5, and $5.00 for ages 5 and under.
On Saturday, June 17, Father's Day Family Night features action on the 3/8-mile clay oval with the AutoMeter/CK Contractors Wisconsin Wingless Sprints, Pfeiffer Trailer Sales IRA Lightning Sprints, Modifieds and Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Cars. Grandstands open at 5 p.m. with on track activity starting at 5:30 p.m. and racing slated for 6:45 p.m. Saturday grandstand admission is $15.00 for everyone ages 12 & over, while everyone ages 11 & under will be admitted free. The pits open at 3 p.m. with all pit passes being $30.00.
Coming up on Saturday, June 24 is the first appearance at Wilmot in at least 15 years of the United States Auto Club(USAC) National Sprint Cars non-winged machines. The AutoMeter/CK Contractors Wisconsin Wingless Sprints are also on the program as is a feature only for the regular modifieds which compete at Wilmot.
For advance tickets and updated information, check the trackside raceline 262-206-2090, the official track website at wilmotraceway.com or the official track Facebook page.
Article Credit: Mike Babicz
Submitted By: Dakoda Tennyson
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