6/19/2019
THIEL, KRISTAN, MALUEG, MUELLER TOP WILMOT RACEWAY NEEVE MEMORIAL FATHER'S DAY TRIBUTE FEATURES
(Wilmot, Wis.)--Sheboygan's Scotty Thiel captured his first Wilmot Raceway 30-lap Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association(IRA) feature highlighting Raymond Neeve Tribute Night Saturday, June 15.
Beaver Dam's Jeremy Schultz behind the wheel of the Captain Jim’s Yacht Sales 10w would lead the early portion of the Raymond Neeve Memorial Feature. Thiel and Bill Balog of North Pole, Alaska charged through the field into second and third and began to chase down Schultz Bob Hood owned 10w.
A red flag for Matt Vandervere of Zion, Illinois who got upside down in turn one would put Thiel and Balog on Schultz's bumper. Schultz got a good restart but after a handful of laps Thiel was along side and battling for the lead. Racing contact between the 64 and 10w would result in Schultz flipping into turn one.
Thiel would inherit the lead, and prove he was the strongest car over the final laps. In the final 10 laps, Thiel bobbled on the cushion allowing Balog to get back to his bumper, but a rare mistake by Balog a lap later would result in the 17b stopped over the cushion of turn three. Thiel would hold the field off on the final restart to claim victory over Joey Moughan of Springfield, Illinois. Kewaskum's Russel Borland would bring his 23 car home in third followed by Pleasant Prairie''sTodd Daun fourth and Beaver Dam's Scotty Neitzel fifth.
"I hate that happened," said Thiel about the incident with Schultz. "We're really good friends and it certainly wasn't on purpose. I was holding my line. I feel really badly."
"The car was really strong," Thiel added. "We had a new motor in it and it ran super. It's a great tune up for the (July 13) World of Outlaws here."
With 23 IRA 410 winged outlaw sprint car teams on hand on a cool June night, fans were sure to be in for a treat on Father’s Day weekend. Osborn and Son Trucking qualifying saw Jake Blackhurst set a new track record, as he piloted his 25 machine around the 3/8th mile in 12.407 seconds. Borland was second quick followed by current points leader Balog. Schultz and Thiel rounding out the top five.
Heat race number one saw Moughan in the 73AF lead all 10 laps en-route to the win ahead of Schultz and Neitzel. Defending IRA Champion Blackhurst brought the Kitchen Cooked 25 across in fourth over fifth place Dave Uttech of Kenosha.
The second heat was interesting before the green even waved as Thiel who was scheduled to start from the third position had to go to the work area. Thiel's team repaired the car but he had to start at the tail. Daun, former Wilmot regular season champion, would take the win, but the excitement was behind him as Thiel charged to the second position by the time the checkered flag flew. Borland would finish in third while Jereme Schroeder of Lake Villa, Illinois fourth and West Bend's Scott Biertzer rounded out the top five.
The third and final heat race was claimed by Balog. Defending Wilmot sprint car season champion Vandervere was second followed by “Mojo” Wayne Modjesk of Oak Creek third. Howards Grove's Ben Schmidt would bring the Oz Motorsports 73 home in fourth and Jim Fifield of Hewitt, Illinois fifth.
Brian Kristan of Zion, Illinois closed out the Father's Day Weekend Special by scoring his first ever 20-lap AutoMeter Wisconsin WingLess Sprint main victory.
"My crew guys talked me into coming out of retirement," said Kristan, whose last feature win at Wilmot was in 2010 and last anywhere was in 2011 at 141 Speedway, both in winged outlaw sprint cars. "Driving this without the wing is a lot different. I dedicate this win to TJ(Brian's twin brother who passed away in 2018). It's great having Pops (former Wilmot and IRA driver Joe Kristan) and mom (Judie) here along with a lot of other friends. This feels great."
Kristan jumped into the lead from his second row starting spot enroute to the victory. Allen Hafford of Beach Park, Illinois, driving one of Kristan's former cars, finished second. Past Wilmot Champion Doug Schenck of Cottage Grove was third. Defending Wilmot and AutoMeter Series Champion Tim Cox of Park City, Illinois was fourth. Zach Raidart of Antioch, Illinois was fifth.
C.J. Maleug of Johnsburg, Illinois chalked up his second consecutive 20-lap IRA Lightning Sprints feature win in as many weeks.
"I had no idea who much of a lead I had," said a winded Maleug who was a full straightaway ahead of the field at the checkered. "I guess I need to work out more. The track was challenging and I just kept my foot on the gas not knowing where anyone was behind me. I thank the Neeve family for the support they gave the show."
Kenosha's Mike Neau charged from 10th starting spot to finish runner-up. Early leader Slinger's Jeff Schmidt was third. Tim Brannam of Holiday Hills, Illinois was fourth with Ron Brannam of Barrington, Illinois fifth.
Eagle's Steve Mueller ended a two-year drought taking the win in the 20-lap modified main. "It matches the number two on the car," quipped Mueller whose first ever Wilmot win came in 2017. "This makes Father's Day weekend special because I am giving the trophy to my daughter's best friend who has been waiting for me to win one."
Mueller jumped in front from the drop of the green, never looking back, but not without a heavy challenge in the closing laps. Second place and past Wilmot champion Chris Carlson and third place and current point leader Joe Huenfeld of Cedarville, Illinois came across the checkered in less than two car lengths while slicing through lapped traffic. Genoa City's Nick Simons was fourth. Tichigan's Mike Wittenburg fifth.
Wilmot Raceway Family Night and First Responders Night is next up Saturday, June 22 at the facility on the Kenosha County Fairgrounds.
First responders with identification cards present at the ticket office will be admitted to the grandstand as guests of Wilmot Raceway.
On the 1/3-mile clay oval will be the AutoMeter Wisconsin WingLess Sprints, modifieds, street stocks, Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Cars plus a special appearance by the Milwaukee Stock Car Vintage Racing Club.
Grandstands open at 5 p.m. with Meet The Driver 5-5:30 with on track activity at 5:45 and racing to follow. C.K. Contractors is sponsoring a giveaway of checkered flags to early arriving youngsters. Grandstand admission is $15.00 for everyone ages 12 & over, with ages 11 & under admitted free.
For updates check wilmotraceway.com or the official Wilmot Raceway Facebook Page.
Article Credit: Michael H. Babicz
