WILMOT, Wis. — Nick Anvelink took another step toward a fifth WABAM Dirt Kings Late Model Championship by scoring his second win in the 5th Annual Jim “Wildman” Watson Classic on Saturday at Wilmot Raceway.
Anvelink powered into the lead seven laps from the finish, overtaking Taylor Scheffler on the backstretch. Scheffler had taken the top spot from early race leader Joel Bennett following a restart four laps into the main.
The race was red flagged when Scheffler and Justin Ritchie tangled in lapped traffic while battling for the top three spots. Both cars made solid contact into the turn three wall — the drivers were uninjured, but the cars were unable to restart.
At the checkered it was Anvelink first with Brad Mueller second, Ron Berna third and Troy Springborn coming from 14th starting spot to take fourth. Justin Schmidt took fifth after starting 12th in the 24-car field.
“I saw where Taylor was running and took my chance as we worked the traffic,” Anvelink said. “The track was a little tricky and the traffic made it challenging. It’s great to get a second win here at Wilmot. Hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate more next year so we can run here more than once.”
In the only other division that was racing for championship points, Ryan Marshall won his third 20-lap AutoMeter/Brewington Electric Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints feature of the season. Marshall took the lead from Scott Uttech, using the inside of the front straightaway on lap six after the two had gone wheel-to-wheel for several circuits.Â
The race stayed green until it’s only caution flew with eight laps remaining. Marshall was up for the challenge on his way to the win. Clayton Rossmann, who turned 17 the day before and also won a feature at Sycamore Speedway, finished a strong second.
While substitute driving for his daughter, Trinity, who is away at college, Uttech ended up third. Past champion Jimmy Sivia took fourth in his final start at Wilmot after announcing his retirement. Derek Crane was fifth.
“It was fun racing hard against Scott (Uttech),” said Marshall, who picked up some of the extra money added to the purse by his car owner Eddy Boyd of MLS Auto Clinic. “I shot past him once he slid up, then he did kind of the same thing, a payback, which is okay. It’s good, hard, elbows-up racing which is what these non-wing sprint cars produce. I thank my car owners, sponsors, and these great Wilmot fans for supporting the track so we can do what we like to do.”
Four-time Wilmot Modified Champion Mike Simons capped off his year at his home track by winning a hard fought 20-lap modified feature.
Simons worked his way alongside Chris Carlson as the two went wheel-to-wheel after a restart three laps from the finish. At the checkered it was Simons, using the high line, for the win. Carlson ended up second, while Steve Mueller finished third after starting 12th in the 20-car field.Â
Don Scheffler started 14th and ended up fourth. Mike Wittenburg started 10th, finishing fifth.
“I hope this crowd was entertained,” said Simons, sending thanks to his brother, Nick, who promoted the night’s event. “I said Championship Night I would be back, and here we are. It wasn’t easy on the high side, but the car ran strong up there so I went for it. It was fun.”
Cody Potter made it three wins in four Wilmot starts this season in the 20-lap street stock feature. A yellow on lap two set up three different leaders in less than three laps. Scott Quarnstrom headed the 21-car field from the start with Edward Anschutz taking the point on the restart.Â
Potter and Anschutz battled side by side several laps, including three additional yellow flag periods which slowed the pace. The final four laps went green with the two going side-by-side one final time as they headed for the white flag.Â
At the checkered, it was Potter by less than a car length for the win. Anschutz was second, Courtney Atkinson third, Brandon Mertes fourth and Blake Kreuser finished in fifth.
“Eddy is a good guy to run with,” said Potter. “I know he runs clean, because I’ve race him before. We will see what 2023 holds if we come here more often.”
Jay Orr put a book end on the Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Car season at Wilmot by becoming the sixth different feature winner of the year in the 20-lap main. Ironically, his brother, Jake Balk, won the first feature for the division back in May.
Orr took the lead from his second row starting spot, keeping it through cautions at lap three and 12, which kept erasing a strong advantage. The last eight laps stayed green with Orr maintaining top spot.
Scott Ellis finished second, Ryan Johnson was third, Roman Blank fourth and James Riske came in fifth.
“The cautions didn’t help, but I was able to find my groove and keep hitting it,” Orr said. “I thank my sponsors, everyone who put this event together.”