WILMOT, Wis. – Bill Balog scored a clean sweep of the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Ass’n Founders Night program at Wilmot Raceway on Saturday.
Balog led green to checkered for his third Founders Night win, having previously won the event in 2017 and 2018. This year’s event was the seventh annual.
Russel Borland was second, with Mike Reinke third.
Posting fast time, winning the heat race, the dash and feature made Balog’s birthday most memorable.
In other action, Nathan Crane won his first Autometer/Brewington Electric Wisconsin Wingless Sprint feature of the season. Crane held the lead flag to flag for his first main event win since July of 2018.
Ryan Marshall was second. Balog, doing double duty, took third and edged out Chris Dodd at the checkered flag.
Nick Simons made it back to back modified feature wins in a wild final lap. Simons charged past Steve Mueller through turns three and four as the pair battled side by side coming for the checkered.
Going into the final lap, Nick’s brother Mike Simons – who had worked his way from the back of the field due to an earlier flat tire – had taken the lead from Mueller going into turn one.
But suddenly, Mike Simons got airborne on the high side, nearly flipping, setting up the battle between Mueller and Nick Simons.
At the finish it was Nick Simons over Muller, with Terry Kiedrowski third. Mike Simons saved the car and eventually finished seventh.
C.J. Malueg overcame mechanical gremlins to score his first IRA Lightning Sprints feature win at Wilmot this season.
Nick Petska was second. Mike Neau finished third.
The finish:
1. 17B-Bill Balog [2]; 2. 23-Russel Borland [3]; 3. 10W-Mike Reinke [5]; 4. 5J-Jeremy Schultz [4]; 5. 4B-Scott Biertzer [9]; 6. 2W-Scott Neitzel [12]; 7. 20R-Rob Pribnow [16]; 8. 4K-Kris Spitz [13]; 9. 19-Todd Daun [11]; 10. 25-Danny Schlafer [17]; 11. 43-Jereme Schroeder [15]; 12. 77-Wayne Modjeski [20]; 13. 14R-Sean Rayhall [18]; 14. 55-Austin Deblauw [21]; 15. 29-Hunter Custer [19]; 16. 12-Mike Decker [23]; 17. 51-Chris Larson [24]; 18. 0-John Fahl [14]; 19. 29L-Brayton Lynch [8]; 20. 73-Jake Blackhurst [6]; 21. 47-Todd King [10]; 22. 79-Blake Nimee [7]; 23. 68-Dave Uttech [1]; 24. 70-Chris Klemko [22].