First Appearance of 2013 for the IRA Sprints at “The Zone!”
June 18, 2013; Oshkosh, WI – Speed …. It’s the endless pursuit of speed that draws fans and drivers to their local race tracks every weekend. It’s the sights and sounds of drivers pushing their cars to the ragged edge that’s at the heart of every short track racing event.
The roar of engines is the music to for the racing fans and this weekend we turn up that music and crank those amps to eleven!
Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway will be hosting the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints this Friday Night June 21st. The event will showcase the 900 horsepower winged 410 sprints which approach speed of up to 130mph on Oshkosh Speedzone’s third-mile clay oval. A field of nearly 30 cars is expected for the program. The tracks weekly IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Northern Sport Modifieds are also a part of the program.
The show will mark the first appearance of the IRA Sprint Cars at the track this season. The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints will are fresh off an amazing program last weekend when NASCAR star Tony Stewart edged out 5-time and defending IRA champion Bill Balog by a car length to score the victory at the Plymouth Dirt Track.
In that event Stewart and Balog tossed the lead back and forth over the final laps as Stewart fought for all he was worth to fend off the challenges of Balog.
Balog has had a stranglehold on victory lane at Oshkosh Speedzone having won the A-main in both appearances at the track last season, it’s a trend he would like to continue this Friday Night.
Expect Balog to be challenged by the series top drivers including Mike Kertscher who has already chalked up two wins this season. Scott Neitzel and Mike Reinke should also figure into the mix as both drivers have turned many laps at the front of the pack in events held on the semi-banked third-mile clay oval. The wide sweeping turns tends to favor drivers who opt to run the highside and which should appeal to racers like Tommy Sexton fresh off a third place finish this past weekend at Plymouth, where he reached the podium while rim-riding the raceway, he simply drives flat-out… every lap.
While the veteran’s and stars of the Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprints will leave there impression, everyone is currently chasing leading rookie of the year candidate Jeremy Schultz who sits atop the series point standings having finished every main event so far in 2013 in the top ten.
Schultz is currently challenged for the rookie title by Lance Fassbender a former champion in the 360 Sprints and Bryon Walters who graduated from the midget ranks.
Other standout performers who should appear include Russel Borland, “Wild Bill” Wirth, Nick Alden, Todd King, Phillip Mock, Kris and Dennis Spitz, Scott and Dave Uttech, Wayne “Mojo” Modjeski and Michael Decker.
In addition to the stars of the Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprints work continues to try and bring Kyle Larson to the track. Larson one of the up and coming racers in the NASCAR ranks finished second in the Nationwide Series race at Michigan this past weekend and his exploits on dirt are extremely impressive with numerous victories including last year when he won the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway, winning in all three types of USAC cars in a single night.
Larson’s participation is dependent upon sponsorship obligations on the day of the race at Oshkosh Speedzone, should he appear he will be wheeling a 410 sprint during the evening.
Want more star power? Kenny Schrader is guaranteed to appear as he intends to complete is his IMCA Modified throughout eastern Wisconsin this coming weekend starting with a stop at Oshkosh Speedzone.
Known as “Wisconsin’s Modified Action Track” Schrader will face some of the stiffest competition in the Midwest where as many as 40 of the best weekly racers have appeared for the Friday Night events at the track. Schrader who now focuses on short track racing competes in as many as 100 races per year barnstorming around the country racing anything with wheels.
Admission for the special event is $20 for adults with young fans ages 11 through 15 admitted for just $10. Children ages 10 and under are admitted FREE with a paid adult.
Pit gates will open at 4:00pm with the grandstands opening at 5:00pm. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to get the best possible seating for this event. Hot laps for the Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprints are set to get underway at 5:30pm and qualifying will follow. The first race of the night is set to get the green flag at 7:00pm.
Fans are encouraged to seek out the track website at www.oshkoshspeedzone.net to find additional information on this exciting racing event. Oshkosh Speedzone can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thespeedzone
Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway is a 1/3 mile semi-banked clay oval located at the Sunnyview Expo Center which resides near the intersection of Highways 76 and County Trunk Y in Oshkosh.
For more information on the IRA Outlaw Sprints check out the tour website at www.irasprints.com or logging onto the series Facebook page at www.facebook.com/irasprints
The IRA Outlaw Sprint Series is proudly supported by Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts & Service Centers, Hoosier Tire, Osborn & Son Trucking, TW Metals, Onan, Carriage Auto Body, Polaris DEFENSE, and Mother's Polishes and Waxes. The office of the IRA Sprints can be reached at 815-759-9269 or by e-mail at steve@irasprints.com
- Jeffrey Sachse on Jun 18, 2013
- Article Date: 6/18/2013 by Jeffrey Sachse