Under threatening skies, the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints returned to the Wilmot Raceway for the annual Founder's night, honoring the three men who had formed the series over 50 years ago.
Qualifying action saw Jake Blackhurst set quick time over Blake Nimee and Danny Schlafer. While heat race wins went to Jeremy Schultz, Russel Borland, and for the first time in his career, Hunter Custer. The dashes set the table for a rivalry we have seen all year, and Jake Blackhurst and Scotty Neitzel both claimed victories, placing them on the front row for the A main.
With lightning striking to the north, the field rolled onto the 3/8th mile oval for 30 laps of green flag action. As the field roared to life, Blackhurst piloting the Rhine Auto Machine took the early lead. Blackhurst held strong over Scotty Neitzel as the pair navigated the southern Wisconsin clay. The Rhine Auto car entered lapped traffic and Neitzel's orange 2w was close behind, if Neitzel hoped to claim his second victory of the year at Wilmot he would need to use his veteran knowledge in lapped traffic to work past Blackhurst. As Blackhurst caught the lapped car of Matt Wiese, he made the decision to enter turn 1 on the low side, while Neitzel took the cushion, Neitzel's choice prevailed and he was able to wrestle the lead away from the Hanna City, Illinois driver. Once out-front, Neitzel never looked back claiming his first ever Founder's night victory and his third win on the season. Blackhurst settled for second and Blake Nimee rounded out the podium.
The Bumper to Bumper IRA sprints will take the next weekend off as it is the Knoxvillle Nationals, but will return to action on Saturday August 21st right back at Wilmot for the Kenosha County fair, after that the series heads north on the 22nd for Corn Fest at Angel Park. Both Races will be streamed exclusively on Flo Racing if you cannot make it to the track!
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- Kim Tennyson on Aug 08, 2021
- Article Date: 8/8/2021 by Gared Tennyson