From Justin Zoch
Last September at the Northern Nationals, Bill Balog finally broke through at Amsoil Speedway in Superior, Wisconsin, and scored his first IRA feature win there after several years of trying. This year, Balog came ready to defend his title and drove to victory in the 30-lap feature after an early duel with Mike Kertscher.
Balog was scheduled to start sixth in the feature event but moved up a row before the initial start when fourth-starting Scott Biertzer looped his car in turn four, requiring an extra push and sending him to the tail. At the green, front row starters Travis Whitney and Mike Kertscher diced for the lead with Kertscher taking it down the backstretch. Kertscher, making his first appearance in Superior in over five years, led until Balog made a bold move in lapped traffic to secure the top spot.
The feature’s only red flag flew on lap 14 when third-running Davey Heksin, who finished second in this event last year, flipped violently but without injury in turn four. From that point forward Balog set a blistering pace as the race finished without incident. The win was Balog’s 11th of the season with the IRA and came over Kertscher and 10th starting Mike Reinke, who stole third from Bill Warren on the final lap. The fifth spot went to B-main winner Scott Neitzel, who started in 11th.
The three heat races were won by Travis Whitney, in the Dewall 16, John Sernett and Russel Borland. Bill Balog set quick time during Osborne and Sons Trucking Qualifications with a lap of 13.182 over the 25 car field. Brandon Thone crashed hard in his heat race and was finished for the evening.
30-Lap Rick Gondik Law Offices Northern Nationals: 1. Bill Balog, 2. Mike Kertscher, 3. Mike Reinke, 4. Bill Warren, 5. Scott Neitzel, 6. Travis Whitney, 7. Todd King, 8. Scott Uttech, 9. Phillip Mock, 10. Scott Biertzer, 11. Matt Vandervere, 12. Dave Uttech, 13. Bill Wirth, 14. John Sernett, 15. Wayne Modjeski, 16. Kris Spitz, 17. TJ Luedtke, 18. Ty Bartz, 19. Michael Decker, 20. Andy Hunt (DNF) 21. Davey Heskin (DNF) 22. Russel Borland (DNF)
Behling Racing Products B-main: 1. Scott Neitzel, 2. Scott Uttech, 3. Andy Hunt, 4. Kris Spitz, 5. Matt Vandervere, 6. Bill Wirth, 7. Michael Decker / 8. Tyler Nicholl, 9. Duane Olson, 10. Brandon Thone (DNS)
Weld Racing Heat 1: Travis Whitney, 2. Bill Balog, 3. Todd King, 4. Wayne Modjeski, 5. Scott Biertzer / 6. Scott Uttech, 7. Andy Hunt, 8. Michael Decker, 9. Tyler Nicholl
Lane Automotive Heat 2: 1. John Sernett, 2. Dave Uttech, 3. Davey Heskin, 4. Ty Bartz, 5. Bill Warren / 6. Kris Spitz, 7. Matt Vandervere (DNF), 8. Brandon Thone (DNF)
DMI/King Racing Products Heat 3: 1. Russel Borland, 2. Mike Reinke, 3. Phillip Mock, 4. Mike Kertscher, 5. TJ Luedtke / 6. Bill Wirth, 7. Duane Olson 8. Scott Neitzel (DNF)