FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. – It took Johnny Whitman 13 years to win the Clash at the Creek once.
He became a two-time and back-to-back winner of the rich 141 Speedway special Thursday night while earning a Friesen Performance IMCA Modified career-best $10,500 payday.
“It’s sweet. This makes having won the first one even better,” said Whitman. “I think Wisconsin has got the best Modified competition. (Runner-up) Jared Siefert was the IMCA national champion in 2007 and (third-place finisher) Mike Mullen always runs good at money shows. Racing guys like that makes me a better driver.”
The 12th-place starting Whitman raced his way into the top four 15 laps into the 50-lap main event, following Cody Laney to the top side and dropping down as the track went away.
He’d make his move to the front following a restart with 12 laps to go.
“The top was open,” Whitman said. “I knew I was getting lucky and had one more opportunity to get it done.”
Siefert and Mullen started second and third, respectively, and ended in the same positions after racing back and forth searching for the fastest line while pursuing Whitman.
Wyatt Block motored from ninth as Badger State drivers filled the top four finishing spots and California hotshoe Laney was fifth.
Shawn Kilgore advanced 13th places to sixth while hard charger Jordan Grabouski started last in the field of 24 and finished seventh.
“It went through my head that I hadn’t started 12th for a long time, maybe four or five years, so it was cool to win,” Whitman said. “You don’t see that happen very often with that stout of competition.”
The six-time track champion at Francis Creek was already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, having won the Frosty Tip Shootout at 141 on June 4.
Sixty-four IMCA Modifieds were among the 145 entries for the 14th annual Clash at the Creek, shortened to a one-day special after inclement weather washed out the Wednesday program.
Benji LaCrosse raced from 10th starting to win the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature and $2,700. Tim Sheppard’s Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod checkers were good for $1,700.