Wiltrout a Two-Time Motordrome Champ
62-Race Winner Wants To Increase Total In 2014
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Garry Wiltrout’s priority is winning races. He’d rather chase race wins than points.
Wiltrout won his second NASCAR Late Model track championship at Motordrome Speedway in 2013. With 62 career Motordrome feature wins, he’s ready to continue his quest to increase that total.
“I’m out to win every race we can,” Wiltrout said. “That’s hard to do if you’re point racing.”
Wiltrout, 49, of Somerset, Pa., is a mainstay at the half-mile paved oval in Smithton, Pa. He won his first title there in 2002.
“We’re always good enough to race for championships,” Wiltrout said. “We’ve been in the hunt for 10 years. Sometimes you just can’t catch a break. One bad night can take you out of it because it’s hard to make up those points.”
Since joining the R&R Motorsports team a dozen years ago, Wiltrout has always been a top-10 finisher in Motordrome’s late model points race. He placed third in the 2012 standings behind Neil Brown and Barry Awtey, and won the 2013 championship over Awtey.
Wiltrout won the late model championship at Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway in 2004. The R&R team expanded to a two-car effort in 2005 and added veteran driver Bobby Henry to their roster. Henry won Motordrome’s 2007 late model championship over Wiltrout.
“Me and Bobby probably race each other harder than anyone else, but we’re still good friends,” Wiltrout said.
Wiltrout was attending races with friends years ago when he decided buy a street stock and give competition a try.
“It was a pretty rough learning experience,” Wiltrout said. “I raced street stocks for two years and improved. Then I bought a late model. That was another learning curve, but I started winning races.”
The R&R Motorsports team is owned by Rich and Joan Pologruto. Wiltrout also works for the Pologruto’s business, Speclin Emergency Vehicle Sales & Service, in Scottdale, Pa. Wiltrout’s car is a Ford Fusion based on a Port City Chassis. Rob VanFleet is his crew chief with Greg Rushenburg and Bob VanFleet also team members. Stone & Company is the primary sponsor along with support from Meegan Ford, P.A.I. and Scottdale Lumber.
Motordrome Speedway’s weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program operates on Friday nights and the 2014 schedule opens on May 2 with new ownership. Todd and Melissa Melfi now own, manage and promote the facility.
Sources: Paul Schaefer/NASCAR PR