Midnight Oil Burns as Teams Prepare for 2014 Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprint Tour.
By Jeffrey Sachse
April 5, 2014; Appleton, WI - Slowly uncovered by a spring thaw, Wisconsin’s short tracks emerge from the frozen tundra. Soon some 15 different race facilities will be visited by the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints as teams prepare for the upcoming season.
While some teams have been able to whip together their new creations, others are burning the midnight oil, building, tweaking and tuning, in preparation for the year ahead.
So far all but a pair of drivers, who had run 75% or more of the shows last season, have applied for memberships this year. In fact, it is expected that over two dozen teams will be attempting to qualify for end of season awards. Memberships are in hand for Bryon Walters, Brandon Thone, Steve Meyer, Jereme Schroeder, Scott Uttech, Jeremy Schultz, Dave Uttech, Bill Wirth, Blake Nimee as well as rookies Jason Tostenson, Ben Schmidt and Scott Thiel. They have joined veterans Mike Reinke, Kris Spitz, Dennis Spitz, Allen Hafford, Michael Decker, Darrell Dodd, Wayne Modjeski, Andy Hunt, Phillip Mock, Scotty Neitzel, and Russell Borland in filing paperwork for the upcoming year along with sophomore competitor Lance Fassbender.
One of the more recent memberships has been filed by dedicated veteran Darrell Dodd who will again attempt to run a majority of the 30 race schedule after mechanical ills cut his season short last year. Likewise sophomore driver Bryon Walters, whose rookie season was curtailed by engine woes, expects to be back for a full season of action. Lance Fassbender will be rebounding from a late season injury last year during his rookie season. Fassbender was running well within the top ten in points and had been nearing his first podium finish when a mechanical failure at Beaver Dam Raceway caused an injury which resulted in his abbreviated season.
One driver looking to ramp up his efforts for 2014 will be Jereme Schroeder who will be running over 75% of the shows to partake in post season awards. Schroeder’s uniquely colored machine has undergone some tweaks in the paint department and will stand out even more on the track this season.
Allen Hafford is also back on board with the Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprints. The former drag racer is looking to run as many shows as possible in his Precisions Paving & Construction, Dave American Muffler, Silt Fencing Midwest and Bubba’s Excavating sponsored machine.
Brandon Thone was among the first drivers to complete his 2014 ride and he has been patiently waiting for the season to start. Thone, who is sponsored by Mikes Utilities Construction, Hepfner Racing Products and RC Custom Designs has already taken to the track having competed in both All-Star Circuit of Champions and World of Outlaw sanctioned events in Florida in February.
Thone has indicated he’s looking for 100% participation with IRA this season as well as trying his hand in some additional World of Outlaw events when they travel to the area.
While Thone may be relaxing up until opening day, Dave Uttech will be hard at work putting in some late nights as he attempts to whip his ride together in time for the season opening show in Mid-April. Uttech will be fielding a new Maxim chassis based ride with Wesmar power. Uttech is dedicated to running all the IRA events in addition to three extra 410 sprint shows at the Wilmot Raceway. If that weren’t enough his Uttech Auto Repair, Lucas Oil, X-WrapsRace Graphics, Chutes and Ladders Pub, Greenville Auto sponsored car will also be seen at a pair of local World of Outlaw events.
Kurt Davis has spent the past several seasons collecting feature wins in Eastern Wisconsin with his 360ci powered ride. While Davis doesn’t know if he’ll have a 410 available for his IRA efforts he does intend to run a half dozen events looking at races held at Plymouth, 141, Oshkosh and perhaps Sun Prairie. While at a horsepower disadvantage, Davis has shown, under the right conditions he can still run up front. His Culver’s, Benkowski Properties, Stone Mountain Access and Kristine Hartmann Reality sponsored ride managed an impressive 4th place finish at the Sheboygan County Fair race while wielding a 360ci engine.
A couple new names testing the waters this season in IRA competition include Jason Tostenson and Steve Muth. Muth, who ran a limited number of shows the past couple seasons should be hitting the IRA circuit in early May hoping to run as many shows as possible, dedicating his season to his father who is currently battling stage 4 cancer. Muth, a former runner-up in MSA rookie points in 2006 has also raced vintage modifieds. His IRA ride is sponsored by Muth Custom Welding and Fabrication, Premier Auto Body and CarQuest Auto Parts.
Tostenson has been racing 360 and occasional 410 sprint cars in his home state of Minnesota and Iowa and will drive for Rhys Layton. Tostenson will likely appear at the Northern IRA shows and is planning to attend the Sun Prairie event in June.
Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint action can be seen at 15 different tracks this year. Beaver Dam and Wilmot Raceway's will play a major role as each will host 5 dates including the Jim Wipperfurth Memorial at Beaver Dam Raceway, and the Kenosha Co Fair doubleheader at Wilmot.
Sheboygan County Fair Park's Plymouth Dirt Track will host 3 shows, all of which, including the Sheboygan County Fair date, will be shared with the PDTR/MSA 360 Sprints.
Angell Park, Cedar Lake, Dodge Co, Oshkosh, and 141 will each have 2 events, while single visits will be contested at ABC, Amsoil Speedway (Superior), Eagle Valley, Langlade, LaSalle, Rice Lake, and Seymour.
IRA proudly moves into 2014 backed by its long time supporting series partners, led by title sponsor Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts & Service Centers, and associate series partners Osborn & Son Trucking, TW Metals, Hoosier Tire, Cummins Onan, and Carriage Auto Body.
2014 action goes green on April 19th at Oshkosh Speedzone and the final checkered waves September 27th at Dodge County Fairgrounds.
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 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints are also a featured member of Racetext.net which presents local short track news and highlights over a four state area. The site can be found at www.racetext.net
- Jeffrey Sachse on Apr 04, 2014
- Article Date: 4/4/2014 by Jeffrey Sachse