Veteran Racer Attempts to Find Funding for 2014 IRA Title Chase!
May 1, 2014; Appleton, WI. – Bill Rose of Plainfield, Indiana is no stranger to travel. Having completed three full seasons on the World of Outlaws tour, the 35 year racing veteran has logged many miles to experience the thrill of competing in Winged and non-winged sprints through out the United States.
The typical World of Outlaws tour consists of over 80 events each season, stretching from coast to coast and for three years Rose had finished in the top 15 in series points. For this season he’s opting for something a bit closer to home, that plan is to try and compete in the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint tour and perhaps dethrone six-time and defending IRA champion Bill Balog.
Rose noted the expense of travel as one of the reasons for opting to run a bit closer to home this season. “To run with the World of Outlaws for a season you will spend close to $200,000 if you do it on a budget and I nickeled, and dimed everything. What does help is you did get a bit of tow money to show up as they had a big corporate sponsor. But I did spend almost $30,000 just in diesel fuel”, exclaimed Rose!
While the cost of travel has made Rose race a bit closer to home he still enjoys hitting the road to get to a racetrack. “I really do enjoy the traveling part of it, and now I have friends all over the country. You learn a lot by traveling and racing with different guys too”, he stated.
Over the years Rose has had opportunity to compete in a variety of different classes while staying on dirt tracks. One thing for sure is he’s not lacking on experience as Rose alluded to the time spent in the sport.
“I actually built my first race car when I was 15 and I’ll be 50 this year. I started racing stock car and later late models, finally ending up in non-winged sprint cars. I did that for years running USAC and things like that and I got an opportunity to run a winged car on night. I said to myself you know this is fun.
Then I went and ran the All-stars for a couple years and later the World of Outlaws”, said Rose.
The appeal of running a winged 410 sprint and doing a little traveling still hold major appeal for Rose. “I can actually run three nights a week in non-winged cars within an hour of my house, but that’s just not what I want to do right now. I like running the winged stuff and I had a great time running with the IRA so that’s what I’d like to do if I can do it”, he noted.
Rose looks at the potential IRA chase as a goal for the 2014 season. “If I could do it I’d like to run for points with the IRA. I had a great time and it’s a good series. It actually works out scheduling wise, I build houses during the week and I have my business up and running again. The scheduling works out really nice they don’t run a ton of races but still have enough for a nice schedule,” noted Rose.
While Rose looks forward to the challenge the IRA series presents the biggest hurdle might be financial. “It took $500 in fuel to go back and forth (to the first IRA event) and that’s the hard part for someone who doesn't have any sponsors.” As he indicated the cost might present the biggest challenge. “You won’t get rich running this stuff what you try to do is run well enough to counter the expenses”, said Rose. “When it comes to sponsorships every bit helps, it doesn't matter if it’s diesel fuel or tires or whatever even the smallest bit helps offset the costs.”
Finding funding will determine if Rose is able to complete the entire IRA schedule but his plans are to continue as long as it’s economically feasible.
Rose now heads to the second race on the IRA schedule with the point lead and some confidence from opening night. “It definitely helped out confidence wise, all night long the car was good. I know it will be a challenge. There is some really good competitors up there. I did have an advantage by running a few times already this year. I ran down south and also ran some non-wing races”, claimed Rose.
As for the type of track Rose prefers, he just mainly wants to race. “It really doesn't matter what type of track I race on as long as it’s a good track. The other night at Beaver Dam was a very good track, I heard they added new dirt on it, whatever they did it was an excellent job”, he stated. It was a second place performance in that contest and a solid qualifying and heat race effort that placed Rose atop the early season standings.
For now the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint series has yet another hard charger on its talented 2014 season roster and as long as his performances help offset the costs the Indiana native will continue to haul several extra hours and the majority of the drivers on the IRA tour to enjoy the thrill of tossing a winged 410 sprint around Wisconsin’s clay oval.
Rose will be in attendance at the next Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw series event scheduled for this Sunday afternoon May 4th. The show will see pit gates will open at noon, grandstands at 2:00pm, hot laps and qualifying start at 4:00pm with racing at 5:00pm.
Ticket prices are $20.00 for adults while students ages 11-15 are admitted for $10.00. Children ages 10 and under are free. Supporting divisions will be the Outlaw Chassis Grand Nationals, Gold Star Racing Supplies Street Stocks and the Ellington Mutual Insurance Dirt Devils. It is a points night for the Grand Nationals and Dirt Devils.
Fans and drivers can find additional details on the contest by visiting the track website at www.oshkoshspeedzone.net . 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.
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.
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints are a featured member of Racetext.net a website dedicated to bringing fans the best possible coverage of local short track racing.
For more information on the IRA Outlaw Sprints check out the tour website at www.irasprints.com or by logging onto the series Facebook page at www.facebook.com/irasprints the series is also on twitter at #IRA_sprints.
- Jeffrey Sachse on May 04, 2014
- Article Date: 5/4/2014