From Jeremy Sasche
Plymouth, WI — (August 30, 2013) — A festival atmosphere was in play as the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints made their annual appearance during the Sheboygan County Fair.
The Friday night show held at the tight third-mile clay oval provided both thrills and spills for fans in attendance. Those who watch the weekly racing program also had cause to celebrate as two of the weekly competitors, Ben Schmidt and Kurt Davis turned in outstanding performances with the pair both winding up in the top four.
At the conclusion of 30 hard fought laps, Bill Balog was standing in victory lane having captured his 14th win of the season in dramatic fashion. Balog was one of 10 cars caught in an opening lap incident. After some quick repairs in the work area Balog restarted the event in 14th place and then charged through the field taking the lead from multi-time Plymouth champion Schmidt just before the halfway point. Balog then set sail notching his 59th victory in IRA competition. With that victory he now stands just two shy of tying the all-time win mark set by nine-time IRA champion Joe Roe who had collected 61 wins in his storied career.
Schmidt’s run to second illustrated the driving talent to come from the Plymouth track the past couple seasons. Current IRA rookie of the year point leader and second place point man Jeremy Schultz can track his roots back to weekly events at Plymouth. For Schmidt it was just his second time sitting behind of a 410 powered sprint in IRA competition, though he has in the past joined IRA events with his 360. If Friday nights second place showing is any indication, Schmidt could have a major impact in IRA should he join the series in 2014.
Another weekly racer, Kurt Davis opted to run his 360 powered machine with great success. After capturing an A-main a couple weeks ago at Plymouth in the tracks weekly race program, Davis managed to run with IRA’s best in an underpowered machine and perform solidly claiming fourth this evening behind Tommy Sexton who grabbed the final podium spot.
The 30 lap A-main started off with a bang … as a field of cars came together in turn one creating “the big one”. The turn one and two area became the gathering point of no less than 10 cars which got together. Fortunately all cars were able to be fixed prior to resuming the race.
8 of the 10 drivers involved were pushed off to the work area among those current series point leader Balog whose crew completed repairs allowing him to rejoin the field in the 14th spot.
The second start of the contest went much smoother with Schmidt taking the point ahead of Wayne Modjeski while Nick Alden and Matt Vandervere joined the battle at the front of the back.
Deep in the field Balog began picking off cars joining the battle near the lead group.
Schmidt was still out front with Vandervere up to the second spot when things became very chaotic as the leaders worked through back markers. Running hard for position Balog and Modjeski made contact with Modjeski looping his ride. Phillip Mock who had been running just behind they fray would hit Modjeski’s machine and the caution appeared to haul both battered machines from the racing surface.
The incident was the last appearance of the yellow flag as the final 21 laps went without interruption.
With the green flag in the air Schmidt went back to showing the way while Balog put on a passing exhibition. After restarting in the fifth spot Balog passed one car one each successive lap before slipping by Schmidt for the top spot as the crossed flags showing the halfway point were shown.
Once out front Balog began to negotiate lapped machines while pulling away. Schmidt would briefly turn over the second spot to Vandervere when he slowed to negotiate lapped cars before charging back into the second spot on lap 18.
Balog paced the remaining distance to grab the win with Schmidt showcasing his talent with a second place run. Vandervere lost speed as the race wore on losing several positions as the race wound down. 2011 Wilmot Raceway champion Sexton would move forward to finish third, his second straight podium finish at Plymouth in IRA competition this season.
Davis started the main event in the 19th spot and avoided that opening lap crash. He then methodically marched forward all race long to finish the contest in fourth. Mike Kertscher completed the top five finishers.
Scott Neitzel earned sixth followed by Schultz in seventh as the pair continue wage battle in the point chase and on the racing surface. Nick Alden, Vandervere and Blake Nimee completed the top ten runners.
In earlier action the evening fastest qualifier Mike Reinke topped the B-main. Reinke was hindered by mechanical ills as he lost power in his heat race dropping from the contest and forcing him to run the B-main. Reinke outdistanced Mock, Alden, Davis, Dennis Wiesner, Michael Decker and Nimee who were the transfer cars into the main event. Only a single caution for a spin by Josh Walter slowed the contest.
Heat race victories were captured by Balog, Schultz and Sexton.
Misfortune plagued a pair of drivers this evening and bad luck was especially fixated on Darrell Dodd. Dodd had clipped the wall in his heat race but crews were able to make repairs to his machine for the B-main. Bad luck struck once again as a blown tire would result in him getting his ride upside down ending his evening.
Steve Meyer who had turned in solid runs of late had that string go awry when he tagged the wall in qualifying. Meyer’s crew got his car back together in time to run the heat race where he finished third to make the main event.
Reinke showed the way in qualifying turning in a lap of 12.089 seconds besting the 31 drivers on hand. Mock was second quick with a lap of 12.357 seconds and Kertscher was third fast with a lap of 12.391 seconds. The top 24 cars all qualified within one second.
The second IRA event of the weekend will take place at the 141 Speedway, on Sunday evening September 1st. The race marks the final race of the year at the 141 Speedway located just north of Francis Creek, WI.
Gates open at 4 p.m. IRA warm ups begin at 6 p.m. with qualifying and racing to follow. 141 Speedway is located 15 minutes south of Green Bay on county trunk “R” in Francis Creek. You can follow the track at the website 141speedway.com or on Facebook. The track phone number is (920) 863 3377
For more information on the IRA Outlaw Sprints check out the tour website at www.irasprints.com or logging onto the series Facebook page at www.facebook.com/irasprints
The IRA Outlaw Sprint Series is proudly supported by Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts & Service Centers, Hoosier Tire, Osborn & Son Trucking, TW Metals, Onan, Carriage Auto Body, Polaris DEFENSE, and Mother’s Polishes and Waxes. The office of the IRA Sprints can be reached at 815-759-9269 or by e-mail at steve@irasprints.com
BOX SCORE:
Event: #19 – Plymouth Dirt Track – Plymouth, WI – August 30, 2013
Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Cars
A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 17B-Bill Balog[5]; 2. 35-Ben Schmidt[2]; 3. 83-Tommy Sexton[10]; 4. 6K-Kurt Davis[19]; 5. 80K-Mike Kertscher[6]; 6. 2W-Scott Neitzel[8]; 7. 5J-Jeremy Schultz[4]; 8. 8A-Nick Alden[18]; 9. 10V-Matt Vandevere[7]; 10. 79-Blake Nimee[22]; 11. 53W-Bill Wirth[1]; 12. 12-Michael Decker[21]; 13. 4K-Kris Spitz[9]; 14. 23-Russell Borland[13]; 15. 85M-Steve Meyer[17]; 16. 02-Mike Reinke[11]; 17. 38-Allen Hafford[14]; 18. 95A-Ken Jay Fiedler[16]; 19. 43-Jereme Schroeder[15]; 20. 73-Dennis Weisner[20]; DNF 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski[3]; DNF 1M-Phillip Mock[12]
B Feature (15 Laps): 1. 02-Mike Reinke[1]; 2. 1M-Phillip Mock[2]; 3. 8A-Nick Alden[3]; 4. 6K-Kurt Davis[9]; 5. 73-Dennis Weisner[6]; 6. 12-Michael Decker[12]; 7. 79-Blake Nimee[5]; 8. 68-Dave Uttech[4]; 9. 41-Dennis Spitz[7]; 10. 2C-Matt VanWyk[10]; 11. 12W-Josh Walters[11]; 12. 71-Chad Tessman[14]; DNF 72-Dave Maynard[13]; DNF 11-Darrell Dodd[8]
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 17B-Bill Balog[5]; 2. 4K-Kris Spitz[2]; 3. 23-Russell Borland[1]; 4. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski[4]; 5. 95A-Ken Jay Fiedler[7]; 6. 6K-Kurt Davis[9]; 7. 12W-Josh Walters[10]; 8. 79-Blake Nimee[3]; 9. 71-Chad Tessman[11]; DNF 02-Mike Reinke[6]; DNF 7-Scott Uttech[8]
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 5J-Jeremy Schultz[5]; 2. 2W-Scott Neitzel[2]; 3. 85M-Steve Meyer[8]; 4. 53W-Bill Wirth[3]; 5. 38-Allen Hafford[1]; 6. 1M-Phillip Mock[6]; 7. 68-Dave Uttech[4]; 8. 73-Dennis Weisner[7]; 9. 12-Michael Decker[9]; DNS 95-Bill Warren
Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 83-Tommy Sexton[3]; 2. 35-Ben Schmidt[4]; 3. 80K-Mike Kertscher[6]; 4. 10V-Matt Vandevere[2]; 5. 43-Jereme Schroeder[1]; 6. 41-Dennis Spitz[7]; 7. 8A-Nick Alden[5]; 8. 2C-Matt VanWyk[9]; DNF 11-Darrell Dodd[8]; DNF 72-Dave Maynard[10]
Qualifying: (Top 8) 1. 02-Mike Reinke; 2. 1M-Phillip Mock; 3. 80K-Mike Kertscher; 4. 17B-Bill Balog; 5. 5J-Jeremy Schultz; 6. 8A-Nick Alden; 7. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski; 8. 68-Dave Uttech