Malueg, Krueser, Crane and Mueller Victorious

9/8/2024

Wilmot Raceway

Malueg, Krueser, Crane and Mueller Victorious

Kenosha's Blake Kreuser put an exclamation point on the 2024 Wilmot Raceway Unified Street Stock Championship season by winning the 20-lap feature securing his first ever title.
"It's been a long time coming," said Kreuser, joined by family, sponsors and crew in victory lane after his third feature win of the season, coincidentally coming from seventh starting spot to win on September 7. "We're worked hard and really wanted it. It's such a relief to finally win it, and to do it winning the feature to secure it makes it that much more special. We're looking forward to coming back for the three-day run (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, September 19-21 Fall Classic). I can't wait."
Robby Olson of Lindenhurst, IL, who along with Dustin Holland of Town of Norway trailed Kreuser by 9 points heading into the feature, took the initial lead breaking through a three-wide battle at the drop of the green. Robby Olson maintained the top spot through the first caution on lap 9. On the restart, Robby Olson was involved in a tangle at the front of the field ending up in the infield.
Kreuser escaped the carnage and inherited the top spot. Three laps from the finish another yellow slowed the pace. Two laps from the checkered a final yellow flew, but Kreuser was up to the challenge each time. Holland ended finish second in the feature after starting sixth, taking runner-up in the season point standings. Pell Lake's Cody Potter came from 10th to take third. Troy Hensley of Lake Villa, IL was fourth. Tim Calanca of Lake Villa was fifth.
The final feature of the night proved one of the most hotly contested despite the cool late summer air. Clayton Rossmann of Wadsworth, IL took the initial lead in the Wisconsin AutoMeter Powered by Gandrud Performance/Wilmot Raceway Catalyst Exhibits WingLESS Sprints 20-lap feature. Jimmy Sivia of Winthrop Harbor, IL, with a new power plant under the hood, took the lead just prior to a lap 8 caution. Following a final yellow one lap later, Sivia stuck to a high line.
With five laps to go, Racine's Derek Crane took the lead after the two swapped slide jobs for a lap. Crane went on to his first Wilmot win since May, 2021, with the last win in the car being August 23 at Circle City in Indiana. Sivia came across runner-up by half a second back. Rusty Egan of Round Lake Heights, IL was third. Rossmann ended up fourth. Allen Hafford of Beach Park, IL came from tenth starting spot to finish fifth.
"It's been a while and third is great to finally win here at Wilmot," said Crane, who became the ninth different WingLESS feature winner in ten mains at Wilmot this year. "It was a lot of fun racing and I know it was late and cold, but I hope the racing made it worth while for these great fans. The car was super and I was able to put it about anywhere. Delia, our foster puppy, was out good luck charm. She's fantastic and fun to have around. It's great to have my wife, Ashley, and our family, everyone here. This was fun."
C.J. Malueg of Johnsburg, IL captured his third 20-lap LifePro powered by Gandrud Chevrolet/Hepfner Racing Products Wings 604 Crate Winged Sprints feature of the season leading flag to flag. Malueg's win was not without interruption as the red flag flew five laps into the main when several cars tangled, and Trevor's Ellie Hensley's mount ended up on its side.
Malueg got into a rhythm after the restart, going on to sift through lapped traffic while keeping the field behind. Pointleader Tommy Sexton of Twin Lakes finished second holding off a late charge from third place Matt Vandervere of Burlington who came up from ninth in the original lineup. Greg Olsen of Round Lake Heights, IL was fourth. Ion Stear of Hebron, IL came back from an aborted initial start tangle which relegated him to a last row starting spot to take fifth.
"The car stuck where I wanted to put it thanks to my crew who set it up perfectly," said Malueg, dedicating the win to Glenn Hepfner, founder of Hepfner Racing Products, who passed away this past week and was remembered in pre-race ceremonies. "Thoughts and prayers are certainly with the Hepfner family. I have to thank my crew, sponsors, everyone who has a part in getting this car to the track. I know we have a fast car as reflected by the track record last week in qualifying. Just got to keep it going."
Eagle's Steve Mueller overtook early race leader Jason Wirth of Elkhorn shooting to the inside coming out of turn two to take the lead. A pair of cautions with eight and five laps remaining, along with a red flag three laps from the finish when Burlington's Jason Condrad flipped in turn two, kept erasing half lap leads for Mueller.
Mueller's third win in six starts at Wilmot, saw him come from eighth starting spot quickly through the field. Sheboygan's Joel Seegert scored an impressive second place finish coming all of the way from 19th and last starting spot in the field. J. Wirth finished third. Waterford's Mike Wittenburg was fourth. Pointleader Joel Crowbridge was fifth.
"I just kept hitting my marks and maintaining my line," said Mueller. "It's always nice to win here at Wilmot because I really like the fans and everybody here. It would be nice to get a second championship (won at Gravity Park in Chilton) this year, but if it's not meant to be and my friend Joel gets it, that will be great."
Biggie Paws based in Salem had a display with information about adopting, fostering, volunteering and getting involved with their organization. For additional information check biggiepawsrescue.org. Colin Sivia, a finalist in the Hoosier Hero Voting, was on hand with his Winged kart prior to the race program and announced his intentions to run in the 11-75 Sports Complex IRA Lightning Sprints in 2025. On line voting runs through September 11.
Next up is Wilmot Raceway Championship Night presented by D. Wells Automotive of Gurnee, IL featuring LiftPro powered by Gandrud Chevrolet/Hepfner Racing Products Wings Winged 604 Sprints, AutoMeter Wisconsin powered by Gandrud Performance Wilmot Raceway Catalyst Exhibits WingLESS Sprints, IMCA Modifieds and B&L Office Furniture of Kenosha powered by American Tire and Auto Repair of Lindenhurst, IL and Kenosha 4-Cylinder Stock Car Bandits.
Bristol's Chris Klemko leads the WingLESS aiming to duplicate his 2020 title. Sexton, leading the Winged 604 Sprints, has won previously at Wilmot in Mini-Modifieds(1995), Modified Racing Association(MRA) Modifieds (1996), and three times in Wilmot sprint cars in 1999, 2010 and 2011. Crowbridge is bidding for his first Wilmot IMCA Modified championship as is Mueller. Ryan Johnson of Salem is going for the trifecta having won in 2019 and last year, 2023, in the Bandits.
Off track Sleep In Heavenly Peace Bed Build will take place in the Open Class Building on the fairgrounds throughout the afternoon and donations of bedding supplies will be accepted at the track.
Wilmot Raceway closes out its 74th Season with a three-day Fall Classic. On Thursday, September 19 will be AutoMeter Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints powered by Gandrud Performance. Winged 604 Sprints, Street Stocks, Modifieds and 4-Cylinder Stock Car Bandits are on the card.
On Friday, September 20, the Midwest Sprint Association (MSA) 360 Sprints make their only appearance of the season at Wilmot. 11-75 Sports Complex IRA Lightning Sprints, Winged 604 Sprints, Street Stocks, Modifieds and Bandits complete the card.
Wilmot concludes its season on Saturday, September 21 featuring Open 410 Winged Sprint Cars in their final point program for the Wilmot track championship. Blake Nimee of Oswego, IL leads the points. Winged 604 Sprints, Street Stocks, Modifieds and Bandits are scheduled as well.
For updated point standings check wilmotraceway.com. For the latest track information phone the track side race line 262-862-2090 or contact Wilmot Raceway/Kenosha County Fair General Manager Jennifer Hesse 262-731-3592 or the Fair Office 262-862-6121.