WILMOT, Wisc. — Families started out the night helping youngsters gather up goodies in the Candy Drop and then families were a major theme in victory lanes on Wilmot Raceway’s Family Candy Drop Night on Saturday.
The closest main event of the night came in the Wisconsin Auto Meter Powered By Gandrud Performance Wilmot Raceway Catalyst Exhibits 20-lap feature.
History was made as 20-year-old Trinity Uttech became the first female driver to win a feature in the WingLESS at Wilmot or in the overall traveling Wisconsin WingLESS Series. In addition, the college student was joined in victory lane by her father, Scott, and grandfather, Jim.
“I knew I had the car, but I just didn’t know if I had it in me,” said the youngest of the Uttech racing family which stretches eight different drivers back to the 1950s at the old Wilmot track behind the high school. “I have to thank my dad, my mom, my grandpa, our sponsors, everyone that helps support me with this car. It’s unbelievable to beat the drivers I did who race in this great division … The car felt really good winning the heat, too, so I just knew it was going to be up to me to get the most out of it in the feature.”
“She’s come a long way,” said her dad, Scott. “This is a great division with some talented drivers. She’s worked her way up and I hope the fans enjoyed watching her race the talented field of drivers as much as I enjoyed proudly watching her.”
“I’m just speechless,” said a choked-up Jim Uttech, her grandfather. “It was so much fun watching her. I am just really emotional.”
Bryce Andrews took a brief initial lead in the main, with Jimmy Sivia swapping in front officially after lap one. Andrews shot back in front on lap two with Kansasville’s Ryan Marshall making it a three-way battle in which Uttech was working her way up from the ninth starting spot.
Following a caution before the midway point, which put Andrews had the top spot, Marshall and Sivia touched wheels battling for second coming out of turn 4 with Marshall flipping. Marshall was able to walk from the car.
Uttech powered in front as the green reappeared with a final caution four laps from the finish setting up a wild scramble for the top spot over the closing laps.
At the checkered, it was Uttech, ironically becoming the seventh different WingLESS feature winner this season at Wilmot in her No. 7 car. The veteran Tim Cox was a fast closing second by 0.153 seconds, having started 12th. Andrews took third. Zach Raidart came across fourth. Chris Klemko took fifth as the top five came across three and four wide finishing less than four-tenths of a second apart.
A pair of early cautions on laps 6 and 8 kept erasing leads Brian Kristan had built up in the LiftPro/Hepfner Racing Products Wings Series 604 Crate Engine Winged Sprints feature. Tommy Sexton worked in front after battling Kristan for a couple of laps. Sexton went on to his second win of the season. Kristan was second. Greg Olsen took third. CJ Malueg fourth. Klemko fifth.
“I have always like racing with Brian,” said Sexton as he kept with the family theme of the night being joined by his fiance Rhonda Bell, who noted they will be getting married in three weeks. “I really have to thank my crew who do so much to prepare this car and have it ready for me. I can’t wait for the next time we run on opening night of the (Kenosha County) Fair (Wednesday, August 14).”
Ryan Andrews of Woodstock led from flag to flag in the 20-lap B&L Office Furniture powered by American Tire & Auto Repair of Kenosha and Lindenhurst, IL 4-Cylinder Bandit Stock Cars main. The win was not easy with a momentary stoppage just past the mid-way point. During the break Andrews commented on the PA, “I will use whatever line I have to so I can win.”
The strategy worked as Andrews became the fifth different feature winner of the season in as many starts. Ryan Johnson finished second by less than a car length, coming from an opening lap aborted start which relegated him to the back of the 20-car field. David McKellips, who was put to the rear for involvement in the same opening lap skirmish, finished third. Austin Orth was fourth. Steve Ellis took fifth after starting 12th.
“I said I would use whatever line would work to win it, and I guess I chose the correct one,” said Andrews, joined by his little daughter Rylee, son Jake and wife Alicia in the win, with his children presenting him the trophy. “My family has been really supportive so this really means a lot. I can’t wait to get back here on Fair Night.”
Eagle’s Steve Mueller became the third different 20-lap IMCA Modified feature winner this season at Wilmot, but not without a close call nearly the wrong choice on a restart.
Consecutive yellow flags on laps five and six allowed Mueller to change his mind on which groove to use. The first Mueller took the inside, with Jason Wirth using the outside. The next time, with Mueller narrowly missing a slowly exiting car in turn 1, Mueller went to the outside.
It worked as Mueller shot into the lead using the outside at the halfway point. Two more cautions kept erasing Mueller’s leads, but each time he was up to the challenge. At the finish it was Mueller taking the checkered followed by Joel Seegert coming from tenth to take second. Joel Crowbridge was third. Jason Wirth fourth. Mike Wittenburg fifth.
“I always race looking ahead of the front hood pins of my car,” Mueller, whose win was his first at Wilmot this season, but sixth overall adding one at Beaver Dam Raceway and four at Gravity Park. “I like this track, and the fans. The track surface was really good and my car was hooked up. I have to thank all of my supporters and especially my family.”