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Racing at the Fair

(Wilmot, Wis., Friday, August 20, 2021)--Pleasant Prarie's Josh Gehrig scored a last lap final turn pass to become the third different 20-lap street stock feature winner at Wilmot Raceway to highlight the Friday, August 20 portion of the 100th Anniversary of the Kenosha County Fair.
Muskego's Courtney Atkinson weathered a pair of cautions as the defending division champion had led the entire way. The final yellow with six laps to go set up a charge for Gehrig to have one shot at the win. The two went side by side coming out of the final turn with Gehrig scoring the win by less than a car length. Atkinson was second. Pell Lake's Cody Potter third. Current point leader Rob Maule of Hebron, IL fourth. Cody Erickson of Algonquin, IL fifth.
"This win is great," said Gehrig, joined by family both in the stands and victory lane. "I wanted to race hard, but clean. Courtney ran a great race. I'm glad I got the win and can thank my father and everybody for their support."
In the modifieds, Caledonia's Chris Carlson captured his tenth 20-lap feature win in 13 Wilmot starts. Carlson took the lead six laps into the main, shooting to second on the initial lap from his sixth starting spot. Several cautions in the closing laps failed to faze Carlson as he maintained command up front. Genoa City's Nick Simons was second, coming from 10th in the original lineup. Milwaukee's David Wirth was third. Elkhorn's Jason Wirth fourth. Bristol's John Dost moved up from 14th starting spot to take fifth.
"I don't know how I made the move on the first lap to get up to second so quickly with all of those good cars up there," admitted Carlson, who is closing in on his fifth career Wilmot track championship. "This car is set up perfectly and runs strong. We appreciate the fans coming out and look forward to seeing them next week."
South Milwaukee's Jay Orr made it three for three starts in 20-lap Bandit 4-Cylinder Stock Car features at Wilmot this season. Orr took the lead from Sheboygan's Brody Rivest in the closing laps after the two tangled while battling for top spot. Rivest inherited the lead when Orr's brother, Jacob Balk of South Milwaukee, pulled out with front end damage after leading the initial 11 laps. At the finish it was Orr, who originally started 13th in the field, with the win. Rivest was second. Rick Zifko of Aurora, IL third. Scott Ellis of Lake Villa, IL, who was second by two points going into the night, finished fourth. Mt. Pleasant's David McKellips fifth.
"Free ice cream and trophies for the kids in the pits by our car," said Orr in victory lane, adding he will be back on the final night of Wilmot's 2021 season for the Jim Wildman Watson Tribute Saturday, September 11, for a non-points show, part of the annual bike giveaway to the youngsters. "I don't know what happened with us and Brody(Rivest). I like racing with him. I knew I had a tough starting spot because we had trouble in the heat race. It's always fun racing here."
A Monster Truck Demonstration by 19-year-old nursing student Makayla from Kewanee, Wis. was part of the fair events with a huge fireworks display closing out the program following the racing action.
The Bandits are off until Wilmot's 2021 season championship night for all five regular divisions on Labor Day weekend, Saturday, September 4.

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