8/19/2022
Wilmot Raceway
Stock Cars Kick off Kenosha County Fair Week
Kenosha County Fair 2022 Opening Night was memorable for four different drivers at Wilmot Raceway on Wednesday, August 17.
Genoa City's Nick Simons celebrated his 42nd birthday a day early by winning his third 20-lap Gerber Collision & Glass Modified Feature of the season.
N. Simons, who earlier captured his perfect eight for eight victory in the first heat race, took the lead on lap three prior to a pair of caution periods on laps 4 and 8 slowing the pace briefly. N. Simons, with a new engine, went on to the victory. Elkhorn's Jason Wirth edged out Nick's older brother and division point leader, Genoa City's Mike Simons, for second as the two crossed the finish line wheel to wheel. Eagle's Steve Mueller was fourth. Milwaukee's David Wirth fifth.
"I have to thank Ted Richter of JR's Wrecker Service for always being there to help out and all of my sponsors who helped me get the new engine," said N. Simons after winning his second fair night feature of his career. "I've been doing this 26 years and eight of them have seen me finish second in the points. With one night left, we'll race for the win and see what happens."
The Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Cars had twin features. The first was the opening race of the night which was a makeup of a curfew postponed main event with extra payout on the line from July 30. Scott Ellis of Lake Villa, IL broke through a 4-wide opening lap first turn to take the lead, maintaining it despite being hotly contested by several drivers as the race stayed green non-stop. With seven laps to go, South Milwaukee's Jay Orr, who started 11th, shot to the inside of turn four to overtake the top spot. Orr had Union Grove's Terry Kiedrowski closing as the laps wound down. On the white flag final lap, Kiedrowski worked past Orr in turns three and four coming for the checkered to score his first ever 4-Cylinder Stock Car feature win. Orr held on to second. Scott Ellis ended up third. Salem's Ryan Johnson fourth. John Cole of McHenry, IL fifth.
"Thanks to all of the sponsors who put up the extra money," said Kiedrowski, noting in victory lane he had just purchased the car and it was his first ever 4-Cylinder Stock Car feature start. "I saw the spot and went for it against Jay(Orr). To win on fair night is awesome."
In the second Bandit feature, which concluded the evening's program, Scott Ellis of Lake Villa, IL, the reigning Wilmot champion, took the lead from Salem's Austin Orth, a 16-year-old high school student, who had held the top spot until the seventh lap completed. A caution at the halfway point saw Orth retire to the pits with mechanical problems. Scott Ellis went on to become the fifth different feature winner of the season as he scored his first main win of 2022. Salem's Chris Abel was second. Rick Zifko of Aurora, IL, who advanced through winning the "B" Main starting 17th in the field, took third. John Cole of McHenry, IL, who also advanced through the "B" starting 18th, was fourth. Salem's Ryan Johnson started 10th to finish fifth. The second through fifth place cars finished less than three car lengths apart in a super tight ending.
"The track started getting a little slick so I had to go on the defense," said Scott Ellis. "It's great to win on fair night and now we are in a battle heading into championship night on Labor Day weekend. I have to thank my family and sponsors for sticking with me and the great fair fans for coming out."
Cody Erickson of Algonquin, IL became the fifth different Wilmot Mountain 20-lap Street Stock Feature winner of the season, but not without a battle. Craig Mertes of Antioch, IL took the lead from the pole, holding it through a pair of early race cautions. The final 15 laps went non-stop with Erickson working in front three laps from the finish. Pell Lake's Cody Potter came on at the end to take second. Rob Maule of Hebron, IL finished third. C. Mertes ended up fourth. Pleasant Prairie's Josh Gehrig fifth as the top five finished less than a quarter straightaway apart.
"This is a big win for us," said Erickson, who is the point leader and finally won a feature this season. "The point championship has been a goal, and now we have one night left(September 3). I have to thank my mother and dad, and all of my sponsors, for the support they have given me."
Wilmot Raceway hosts IRA Founders Night on Saturday, August 27, featuring the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association(IRA) 410 Outlaw Winged Sprints, MSA 360 Sprints and BADGER Midgets. Wilmot will crown its 410 Winged Sprint Car 2022 Track Series Champion that night.
The season championship for Wilmot's five regular classes, AutoMeter/Brewington Electric Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints, Gerber Collision & Glass Modifieds, Wilmot Mountain Street Stocks, Pfeiffer Trailer Sales IRA Lightning Sprints and Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Cars will all be on Labor Day weekend, Saturday, September 3.
Wilmot closes its 2022 campaign on Saturday, September 10, with the Dirt King Late Models Jim "Wildman" Watson Tribute, a point show for the IRA Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints Series, Modifieds, Street Stocks, Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Cars plus a planned 150 bike giveaway.
For updates check the Raceway trackside race line 262-862-2090, the track website wilmotraceway.com, or the official track Facebook page.
The Wilmot Raceway concludes its 2022 Kenosha County Fair Schedule on Saturday, August 20, featuring the Bumper to Bumper IRA 410 Winged Outlaw Sprints in the 36-lap Roger Iles Tribute, the AutoMeter/Brewington Electric Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints in the 5th Annual Bill Grogan Memorial, plus the Pfeiffer Trailer Sales IRA Lightning Sprints. Grandstand tickets for August 20 are $10 for everyone ages 12 & over, in addition to the fair admission ticket. Grandstands open at 5:00 p.m. with on track activity at about 5:30 and racing slated for 6:45 p.m.
Article Credit: Mike Babicz
Submitted By: Dakoda Tennyson
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