30 LAP CONTEST GOES GREEN TO CHECKERED IN LESS THAN 7 MINUTES!
August 17, 2014; Seymour, WI - Though the start of the program at Seymour Speedway was slightly delayed as the track staff worked to create ideal racing conditions. Fans were rewarded with that effort by being able to witness two amazing achievements. First off, the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw sprints lowered the track's all-time record for the fastest lap on the third-mile banked oval, and later came back to run the 30 lap main event which ran without interruption from green to checkered in less than seven minutes.
Fans also saw, six-time series champion Bill Balog put on a passing clinic. First he would work his way to the front of the pack, taking the lead from talented rookie Scotty Thiel. He then skillfully worked his way past lapped cars, seemingly unhindered, to outrun the field, and collect the victory. It was his ninth win of the 2014 season.
Balog explained his proficiency in the lapped traffic. "It's always pretty much survival. You have to make a concrete decision (on the pass) and don't change it. You also kind of look where the leader is and go where he isn't, to stay out of his dirty air", explained Balog.
"The track was nice, I knew after the heat race that we were fast. The car was awesome", Balog concluded.
Thiel's runner-up performance this evening was somewhat bittersweet. Though a big improvement over his efforts at Wilmot, it was obvious he felt he had a shot at the victory this evening.
"Seymour is a fun racetrack, I think we had the thing won but lapped cars sucked tonight", exclaimed Thiel. "But you have to race them all. Bill (Balog) got lucky, unfortunately I got pinched behind a lapper. It was kind of frustrating", Thiel noted. Still the second place effort was an obvious improvement on an otherwise frustrating weekend for the young charger who had difficulties at Wilmot the prior two evenings, which had resulted in DNF's. "Hopefully we can capitalize next weekend", Thiel concluded.
Knoxville Speedway regular Ryan Bunton, of Morton, Illinois sat on the pole as the 22 car field rolled trackside to accept the green flag. Scott Uttech sat to his outside as the green flag fell to start the event. Little did anyone know not a single caution would stop the furious pace set by the 410 outlaw sprints.
Bunton took command of the contest at the drop of the green flag running the cushion while Scotty Thiel, who had started in the third slot held tight to the innermost groove to advance.
With each passing lap Thiel reeled in Bunton, and on lap four Thiel nosed ahead to establish a lead. He then began to pull away from the field.
Further back Jeremy Schultz was leading Balog through the pack, and the pair found fourth, and fifth respectively by lap five. Balog continued to press forward picking off Schultz, and then moments later Bunton hopped the cushion which allowed Balog to slip past into the second spot.
At the halfway point of the contest Thiel had established a straightaway lead on Balog, and had placed several lapped cars between them. Schultz meanwhile continued to test the high side of the raceway holding fast onto the third spot.
Fans of the IRA series are familiar with Balog's passing proficiency, and it was no surprise that once lapped traffic came into play that Balog would begin to slice into Thiel's lead. In a matter of five laps Thiel's advantage disappeared as Balog drew up on Thiel's rear nerf bar. Once in striking distance, Balog was quick to react upon reaching the next set of back markers, and soared past Thiel into the lead on lap 18.
Once out front Balog managed to establish a lead, which swelled to a dozen car lengths, while Thiel attempted to follow in his tire tracks. Over the final circuits attention focused on the battle developing for third between Schultz, and Mike Reinke. Both drivers had scored victories at Wilmot Raceway the prior evenings with Schultz taking the Friday night show, and Reinke hauling home top honors last night. Reinke made several attempts to pass Schultz, which were successfully repelled. Coming off the final turn Reinke, and Schultz engaged in a drag race to the checker with Reinke being awarded the position by the slimmest of margins.
Out front Balog had taken the victory over Thiel. Reinke earned his second podium of the weekend with a third place effort. Schultz settled for fourth followed by Steve Meyer who comprised the top five.
Scott Uttech ran sixth followed by Scotty Neitzel, and Jordan Goldesberry in seventh, and eighth respectively. Bill Rose, and Bunton comprised the top ten finishers.
20 of the 22 starters were still on the racing surface at the finish, with 12 cars on the lead lap.
26 cars had checked into the pit area, including some teams that worked non-stop overnight to repair their rides after misfortune at Wilmot Raceway. Both Jordan Goldesberry, and Jeremy Schultz had flipped their rides but with dedicated crews they were able to make repairs to appear at Seymour Speedway. Additionally Dave Uttech and Bill Wirth overcame mechanical difficulties to make an appearance at Seymour.
Five drivers broke the track record during the evening, including the first car to hit the racing surface. Bill Rose was first on the track to qualify and immediately lowered the mark to 12.526 seconds. Travis Whitney had established the previous record when he recorded a lap of 12.672 seconds on September 2, 2007. By the time qualifying was done Mike Reinke had established the fastest lap in track history when he blazed around the raceway in 12.265 seconds, lowering the old standard by nearly one-half second.
With the strong field on hand a B-main was necessary and Rose handedly won the race. Dave Uttech, Scott Biertzer, Ben Schmidt, Blake Nimee, Paul Pokorski and Byron Walters made the main event by finishing first through seventh respectively.
Heat races were captured by Scott Uttech, Knoxville speedway regular Ryan Bunton, and Balog.
After a hectic three event weekend, teams have a single shot next week with the running of the 5th annual Bill Waite Jr., Memorial show at LaSalle Speedway on Saturday night August 23rd. That event will pay $4,000 to win and $500 to start. The show will feature the top drivers from both the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series and the Midwest Open Wheel Association. A field of nearly 40, winged 410 outlaw sprints, are expected for the program.
IRA proudly moves continues it's 2014 season 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.
IRA Sprint Cars - IRA Interstate Racing Association
Event #17 - Seymour Speedway - Seymour, WI - August 17, 2014
IRA Sprint Cars | IRA Interstate Racing Association
Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 17b-Bill Balog; 2. 64-Scotty Thiel; 3. 02-Mike Reinke; 4. 5j-Jeremy Schultz; 5. 85m-Steve Meyer; 6. 7-Scott Uttech; 7. 2w-Scotty Neitzel; 8. 65-Jordan Goldesberry; 9. 6-Bill Rose; 10. 6r-Ryan Bunton; 11. 14aj-Wayne Modjeski; 12. 68-Dave Uttech; 13. 4k-Kris Spitz; 14. 35-Ben Schmidt; 15. 79-Blake Nimee; 16. 4b-Scott Biertzer; 17. 41-Dennis Spitz; 18. 23-Russel Borland; 19. 95a-Ken Jay Fiedler; 20. 1-Paul Pokorski; 21. 53w-Bill Wirth; 22. 5w-Byron Walters
Behling Circle Track B Feature (12 Laps): 1. 6-Bill Rose; 2. 68-Dave Uttech; 3. 4b-Scott Biertzer; 4. 35-Ben Schmidt; 5. 79-Blake Nimee; 6. 1-Paul Pokorski; 7. 5w-Byron Walters; 8. 43-Jereme Schroeder; 9. 41-Dennis Spitz; 10. 73-Dennis Weiser
Weld Racing Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 7-Scott Uttech; 2. 02-Mike Reinke; 3. 5j-Jeremy Schultz; 4. 85-Steve Meyer; 5. 23-Russel Borland; 6. 6-Bill Rose; 7. 1-Paul Pokorski; 8. 5w-Byron Walters; 9. 73-Dennis Weisner
Diversified Machine Inc. Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 6r-Bill Rose; 2. 48h-Sheldon Haudenschild; 3. 64-Scotty Thiel; 4. 53w-Bill Wirth; 5. 2w-Scotty Neitzel; 6. 68-Dave Uttech;7. 79-Blake Nimee; 8. 43-Jereme Schroeder; 9. 7f-Lance Fassbender (dns)
All Star Performance Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 17b-Bill Balog; 2. 4k-Kris Spitz; 3. 65-Jordan Goldesberry; 4. 14aj-Wayne Modjeski; 5. 95a-Ken Jay Fiedler; 6. 41-Dennis Spitz; 7. 4b-Scott Biertzer; 8. 35 Ben Schmidt
Osborn & Son Qualifying (Top 10) 1. 02-Mike Reinke, 12.265; 2. 2w-Scotty Neitzel, 12.481; 3. 17b-Bill Balog, 12.505; 4. 6-Bill Rose, 12.526; 5. 48h-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.584; 6. 35-Ben Schmidt, 12,783; 7. 5j-Jeremy Schultz, 12.791; 8. 68-Dave Uttech, 12.791; 9. 14aj-Wayne Modjeski, 12.843; 10. 85m-Steve Meyer, 12.855
- Jeffrey Sachse on Aug 18, 2014
- Article Date: 8/18/2014