WILMOT, Wis. — Four Wilmot Raceway track champions were crowned for the track’s 74th season on the D.Wells Automotive of Gurnee, IL/Antioch NAPA Auto Parts Championship Night Saturday, with fours being wild.
Joel Crowbridge captured his first ever Wilmot crown by six points with a fifth place finish in the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature.
Steve Mueller captured a class leading fourth 20-lap feature win of the season by 0.040 seconds catching Dan Jung as the pair caught a lapped car coming out of turn four for the checkered flag.
Jung had held the lead from the opening lap until the final half a car length at the finish. Bart Sievert was third. Don Scheffler fourth. Crowbridge needed to finish fifth or better if Mueller won the race to take the title.
“I don’t usually worry about points,” said Mueller, who came from tenth starting spot along side Crowbridge, for the win. “If I’m not going to win the championship, then I would just as soon have Joel win it. He bought his first race car from me 19 years ago, so it’s great to see him win the title. The race was awesome and I caught just the right spot battling Dan coming from turn four. There was just enough room for me to squeeze through. Can’t wait to be here for all three days (of the Fall Classic, September 19-21.) That’s the plan.”
“I knew where I needed to finish if Steve won,” said Crowbridge, who started alongside Mueller in 10th spot in the starting grid. “I have to thank my wife and son who are in the pits, everyone who sponsors me and the great fans. I knew when the track went to the IMCA rules, it would take Steve a little bit of time to get the new crate motor sorted out. Once he did, I knew he’d be tough.
“He has helped me a lot and to end up beating him out for the championship is awesome.”
Tyler Kuxhouse scored his third 20-lap Wisconsin AutoMeter powered by Gandrud Performance Wilmot Raceway Catalyst Exhibits WingLESS Sprints feature of the season. A fifth-place finish for Chris Klemko after starting 10th secured his second Wilmot track championship.
Ion Stear overtook Allen Hafford on the second circuit of the 20-lap Lift Pro Powered by Gandrud Chevrolet Hepfner Racing Products Wings Series 604 Crate Winged Sprints feature. It was Stear’s second main win in nine starts, fourth top five and seventh top 10 in nine starts.
Tommy Sexton finished fourth, which allowed him to secure a sixth Wilmot championship.
The final championship of the night was decided in the last feature, the 20-lapper for the B&L Office Furniture Powered by American Tire & Auto Repair of Lindenhurst and Kenosha 4-Cylinder Bandits.
A final caution with two laps remaining saw David McKellips up to the challenge going on to score his second main win of the season. Ryan “Tiny Horse” Johnson finished third to secure his third Wilmot Bandit championship and second in a row.