Wisconsin Opener on Tap for Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints
After a thrilling trip to Iowa, the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association (IRA) prepare for what could be called their home opener. On Saturday April 22nd the series makes its first of four visits to the Beaver Dam Raceway, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. This is a can't miss event for any Wisconsin sprint car fan as the Winged 410 sprint cars will be joined by the Wisconsin wingLESS series presented by the IRA, a third year series that has seen tremendous growth since its inception.
When the cars hit the track, series point leader Scotty Thiel will have his work cut out for him as he will have to compete against a strong field of cars including Brookfield, Wisconsin’s Bill Balog. Balog will look to continue his dominant ways as he has won on five out of his last six trips to the high banked 1/3rd mile oval. Four of those wins came in IRA action with the fifth being likely the biggest win in Balog’s career as he beat the World of Outlaws in front of a packed house of home state fans. Winning won't come easy for Balog though as he will have to contend with a duo of Beaver Dam natives, defending IRA champion Jeremy Schultz and two time IRA champion Scotty Neitzel. Schultz proved at 34 Raceway he has the speed to contend with Balog this year and brought home a top five finish on three of last years four IRA visits to Beaver Dam Raceway. Neitzel a stalwart of the IRA series and constant contender picked up wins on two different occasions last year and is always strong in front of his hometown crowd.
The grandstands will open at 4:30 with qualifying at 6 pm. Tickets will be $20 for adults, children 6-11 $10 and children 10 and younger free.
Also be sure to mark your calendars for two big upcoming IRA weekends, April 28th and 30th at Luxemburg Speedway and the Dodge County Fairgrounds, as well as May 5th and 6th at the Oshkosh Speedzone and Cedar Lake Speedway.
- Kim Tennyson on Apr 19, 2017
- Article Date: 4/19/2017 by Gared Tennyson