WILMOT, Wis. — The ninth annual Interstate Racing Ass’n Founders Night Open Wheel Spectacular saw three first time winners end up in victory lane along with a first time Wilmot Raceway season champion.
The 25-lap Founders Night IRA Feature victory went to Gibson’s Danny Schlafer.
“I’ve been coming to Wilmot a long time with my dad and now driving a 410 winged sprint car myself, and finally I put it in victory lane,” said Schlafer, a second generation driver who was joined by his dad Al, and the family and friends, for the historic victory lane. “It means a lot to win on a night like this. I especially have to thank my dad.”
Schlafer jumped out in front from the front row of the main and was never headed. A complete restart was called when the red flag flew as Scott Neitzel hit the wall in turn three nearly flipping the car.
Yellows seven, nine and 11 laps kept closing the field. The last caution flew as Jake Blackhurst and Jeremy Schultz, who were battling for fourth place at the time, both spun in turn four.
Schlafer was up to the challenge each time going on to his first Wilmot win and third IRA victory. Travis Arenz scored a career best second place. Blake Nimee was third, ahead of Jake Neuman and Jordan Goldesberry.
Goldesberry’s late race charge ended up earning the 2022 Wilmot Raceway 410 Winged Sprint Car Season Championship by three points over Nimee.
“It always means a lot to win a track championship of any kind, even though we had our struggles,” said Goldesberry. “We only ended up with two full point shows here due to the weather, and ending up joining the list of previous champions at this historic place means a lot. We look forward to next year and, hopefully, Mother Nature will allow us to get more shows in.”
Brandon McMullen made it three MSA 360 Sprint Car features in a row by winning his first at Wilmot. McMullen shot to the outside in turn two on the restart following a pair of mid-race cautions, overtaking the lead from early pacesetter Will Gerrits eight laps from the finish. McMullen powered to the win pulling away. Travis Arenz, doing double duty, matched his second place IRA feature win by getting the runner-up spot in the closing circuits of the third-mile clay oval. Gerrits finished a close third.
The Badger Midget 25-lap feature saw another first-time winner with Derek Doerr scoring his initial Badger and Wilmot victory.