(Wilmot, Wis., Saturday, September 11, 2021)--A power outage brought the 4th Annual Jim "Wildman" Watson Classic to a premature conclusion Saturday, September 11 at Wilmot Raceway.
Following a pair of early race cautions four laps into the Dirt King Late Model Tour 30-lap feature, power went out to a majority of track lights. Despite efforts by track personnel to make unsuccessful repairs, the remainder of the race program was reluctantly cancelled as well as the street stock feature.
Caledonia's Chris Carlson, 4-time Wilmot champion including 2021, won his 12th 20-lap Wilmot modified feature matching his car number. Genoa City's Mike Simons, who led the initial nine circuits, and Carlson battled throughout the final half of the main with the pair coming side by side several times. At the finish it was Carlson, Simons second, Eagle's Steve Mueller third, Milwaukee's Don Scheffler fourth and Tony Izzo of Capron, IL fifth.
"The track was super and the car, as it has been all year, was a rocket," said Carlson. "I knew Mike(Simons) was there and we had a great battle which I hope the fans enjoyed. It was fun."
Kansasville's Ryan Marshall won his second Wilmot 20-lap AutoMeter/Brewington Electric Wisconsin wingLESS Sprints feature of the season. Oconomowoc's Ryan Zielski, who won the Wilmot regular season championship a week earlier, was second. Burlington's Rusty Egan third. Jimmy Sivia of Winthrop Harbor, IL fourth. In his final Wilmot start as he announced his retiring from regular racing, Trevor's Chris Dodd was fifth.
"It was one of those things last week, but we'll take this win," said Marshall, referring to his being eliminated from title contention on Championship Night with his car damaged in an early feature incident. "The crew did a great job putting everything back together. We're focusing on the IRA overall series championship now."
South Milwaukee's Jake Balk won his first 20-lap Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Car feature of the season at Wilmot. Balk took the lead at around the midway point, overtaking Salem's Ryan Johnson. At the finish it was Balk, Johnson second, Rick Zifko of Aurora, IL third and Balk's brother, South Milwaukee's Jay Orr, fourth.
Prior to the evening's race program, a 9/11 Tribute was done by Dave Kamholtz, former track announcer at Lake Geneva Raceway. Drivers and crews lined the track berm during the ceremony. Nashville Recording Artist Jeanette King performed the National Anthem. Antioch VFW Post handed out miniature U.S. Flags to youth.
A record total of over 150 donated bikes were given away to youngsters in attendance.
Event sponsors included GLP Automotive of Lake Geneva, Extreme Specialized Transportation, JR's Wrecker Services of Waukegan, IL, MLS Auto Clinic and Pratt's Chimney Services. Mike Watson, brother of the late Jim Watson, coordinated special bonuses for all five divisions.
Wilmot Raceway will conclude its 2021 season on Saturday, September 18 with the Bumper to Bumper Interstates Racing Association(IRA) Winged Outlaw Sprints plus non-points programs for the Autometer/Brewington Electric Wingless Sprints, Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Cars and IRA Lightning Sprints. Grandstands open at 5 p.m. with hot laps/qualifying at 6 p.m. and racing slated to get underway around 6:45 p.m.
Grandstand admission is $25.00 for ages 12 & over; $5.00 ages 7-11; with ages 6 & under admitted free. Pits will open at 3 p.m. with pit passes $30.00.
For updates phone trackside raceline 262-862-2090, check the track website wilmotraceway.com or the official Raceway Facebook Page.
Submitted by Michael H. Babicz(262-206-5465)