Defending Champion Bill Balog Eyes Third Straight Series Victory!
June 5, 2014; Appleton, WI. – To three or not to three that is the question! Well it’s the question both Phillip Mock and Bill Balog look to answer this Saturday Night June 7th, as the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint series returns to action at Beaver Dam Raceway. Both are seeking their third victory of the 2014 racing season and continuing win streaks.
After a double washout last weekend the series looks to resume the balance of its race season with the third trip of the year to the banked third-mile clay oval on Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
In the first two appearances by the series the hard charging youngster Phillip Mock of Pleasant Prairie, WI has shown why the Beaver Dam Raceway is becoming his favorite track on the circuit. In the first stop this season, Mock powered to a career first series win by outgunning former World of Outlaws regular Bill Rose for the victory. During the next trip to the track Mock outran Mike Reinke and six time series champion Bill Balog to score the win.
So far this season Mock has led 57 of the 60 laps in A-main competition at the track and backed that up with two victories. He seeks his third straight at the raceway Saturday night.
Balog also looks for a three-peat this weekend.
After a relatively slow start to the year Balog dominated racing action over the Memorial Day weekend taking a pair of wins by besting the field at both Wilmot Raceway and 141 Speedway. A win at Beaver Dam would be his third straight Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series victory.
His previous efforts at Beaver Dam in 2014 have netted a fourth place run at the season opener and a third place effort in his most recent appearance at the track.
While Mock and Balog are surely considered favorites this weekend, there are several drivers hungry for a win after runner up finishes this year.
Reinke as notched a pair of runner-up performances and a third place effort in his four runs this far in 2014 and has proven the speed to win. It’s more a matter of when, than if, Reinke’s familiar yellow #02 machine makes its way to victory lane.
Rose too has shown signs that is performances will result with a mark in the win column having visited the podium twice with both a second and a third place run under his belt thus far this season.
Two other drivers notched runner-up performances. Springfield native Jordan Goldesberry netted a second place run at Wilmot, while Steve Meyer, who is celebrating his 25th season in racing earned a second place run at Oshkosh.
One other driver to keep an eye on is 2014 Rookie of the Year contender Scotty Thiel. Thiel has chalked up three top five finishes in the five contests held this far and is the only driver besides current point leader Balog to have finished in the top ten in every race held this season.
The June 7th race program will see the pit gates opening at 3:30 pm and the grandstand will open at 4:30 pm. Racing action is set to get underway at 6:30 pm.
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints should have nearly 30 of the best 410 sprint drivers in the Midwest on hand. The IRA sprints will be joined by the tracks own Sport Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Legends divisions.
General admission is $20 for adults, with a youth ticket being sold for $10 to fans ages 6 through 11. Children ages 5 and under are admitted FREE with a paid adult.
Event information can be found on the Beaver Dam Raceway website at www.wismotorsports.net or by calling the track at (920) 887-1600. Beaver Dam Raceway is located on Racetrack Road just east of the intersection of Hwy 151 and 33 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
A field of nearly 30 entries is expected for the event this coming Saturday night.
The 2014 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series season will consist of 30 shows to be held at 15 different area tracks.
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, Cedar Creek Motorsports, 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 Jun 05, 2014
- Article Date: 6/5/2014