Earning season championship honors were Beaver Dam's Jeremy Schultz in the winged sprint cars and Genoa City's Todd Lehr in the Meyer Valves and Vacs wingLESS Sprints presented by the IRA closing out the 2016 Wilmot Raceway Season Championship Night Two on Saturday, September 24. "We have a super crew and Meyer along with all of our sponsors give us great support," said Lehr after taking the title for the wingLESS sprints in the second year for the division. "I have to thank my wife, Debbie, and everybody who has backed us. This division is a lot of fun to run in and the competition is getting better and better."
Some of that improvement was shown in the 20-lap season championship feature with Derek Crane of Waukegan, IL leading wire to wire, but not without some heavy challenges. During the final five laps, Crane and Lehr went wheel to wheel several times with each holding the point at least momentarily. Coming for the checkered flag out of turn four, Crane shot low while Lehr got caught on the high side behind a lapped car. Crane scored his third feature win in his rookie season. Lehr was second. Fast qualifier James Giossi of New Richmond in his first time ever at Wilmot took third. Jake Kouba of Minneapolis, Minnesota was fourth. Cottage Grove's Doug Schenck was fifth.
"I knew he was coming, but I just stuck with my groove," said D. Crane of his battle with Lehr. "This is a great way to close out a great season for us."
MEYER VALVES AND VACS wingLESS SPRINT SERIES PRESENTED BY THE IRA: 20-LAP FEATURE: 1. Derek Crane, Waukegan, IL; 2. Todd Lehr, Genoa City; 3. James Giossi, New Richmond; 4. Jake Kouba, Minneapolis, Minnesota; 5. Doug Schenck, Cottage Grove; 6. Chris Klemko, Bristol; 7. Allen Hafford, Beach Park; 8. Matt White, Kenosha; 9. Craig Campton, Pardeeville; 10. Mike Sullivan, Burlington; 11. James Walldan, Winthrop Harbor; 12. Dan Wade, Pleasant Prairie; 13. Nathan Crane, Waukegan; 14. George Gaertner Jr., Salem.
HEAT WINNERS: Lehr; D. Crane.
FAST QUALIFIER: Giossi(:15.429 seconds).
SEASON CHAMPION: Lehr.