6/19/2019
Thiel Survives Wilmot to Claim 1st Victory of 2019
Jeremy Schultz, behind the wheel of the Captain Jim’s Yacht Sales 10w, would lead the early portion of the Raymond Neeve Memorial Feature. Scotty Thiel and Bill Balog charged through the field into second and third and began to chase down the Bob Hood owned 10w. A red flag for Matt Vandervere 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. As the race was in the final ten 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. Russel Borland would bring his 23 car home in third followed by Todd Daun and Scotty Neitzel.
With 23 Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association(IRA) 410 sprint car teams on hand at Wilmot 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 just 12.407 seconds. Russel Borland was second quick followed by current points leader Bill Balog. Jeremy Schultz and Scotty Thiel rounded out the top five.
Heat race number one saw Joey Moughan in the 73AF lead all 10 laps en-route to the win ahead of Jeremy Schultz and Scotty Neitzel. Jake Blackhurst brought the Kitchen Cooked 25 across the line in fourth over Dave Uttech.
The second heat was interesting before the green even waved as Scotty Thiel who was scheduled to start from the thirrd position had to go to the work area. Thiel would repair that car and start at the tail. Former Wilmot Champion Todd Daun would take the win, but the excitement was behind him as Thiel charged to the second position by the time the checkered flag flew. Russel Borland would finish in third while Jereme Schroeder and Scott Biertzer rounded out the top five.
The third and final heat race was claimed by Bill Balog. Defending Wilmot sprint car champion Matt Vandervere was second followed by “Mojo” Wayne Modjeski. Ben Schmidt would bring the Oz Motorsports 73 home in fourth and Jim Fifield was fifth.
Article Credit: Gared Tennyson
