29 cars signed in to compete in the season opener for the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association at 34 Raceway. In qualifying Austin McCarl, now behind the wheel of the 2KS machine, set quick time followed by Bill Balog and Iowa's, Josh Schneiderman. Tim Keading and Lynton Jeffery would round out the top 5.
Heat race 1 saw pole sitter Jordan Goldesberry pull in early sacrificing the lead to eventual winner Jim Moughan, followed by McCarl and Keading. Heat 2 was dominated by pole sitter Paul Nienhiser followed by Brad Loyet and Lynton Jeffery. Heat 3 would see the only caution during heat race action as series rookie and 2016 Upper Midwest Sprint Series champion, Ryan Bowers, spun at the same time Dave Uttech had his own issues and went to the pits. Defending series champion Jeremy Schultz would pick up the win followed by Schneiderman and Scotty Thiel.
B main action was eventful, as lap 6 would see race leader Goldesberry lose power and come to a stop relinquishing the lead to Dave Uttech who would have trouble of his own, spinning in turns 1 and 2 on the restart. Bowers would come home with the win followed by Scott Uttech and a hard charging Blake Nimee.
The A main got off to a frantic start as Nienhiser and Jeffery battled for the lead. Just 3 laps in the first red flag of the season would fly as Kris Spitz took a nasty ride in his 4k car. The yellow would come out just a few laps later as Scotty Neitzel would come to a stop. Lap 17 would see 3rd place Schultz lose power and collect Balog whom he was battling with bringing the yellow flag back out, taking away Nienhiser’s nearly half lap lead on Jeffery in 2nd place. 3rd running Schultz would go to the work area moving Jake Blackhurst into the final podium position. After the restart, Jeffery would slip back, giving second place to Blackburst and 3rd to Keading. With just 3 laps to go Matt Vandervere would come to a stop in turn 4, once again bringing the yellow flag out, and setting up a 3 lap dash to the finish. Nienhiser continued to dominate the A main on the restart as he jumped back out to the lead. He would hold that lead for the closing laps to bring home his first career IRA A-main win. Blackhurst and Keading would join Nienhiser on the podium, finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.
- Kim Tennyson on Apr 09, 2017
- Article Date: 4/9/2017 by Gared Tennyson