From IRA
Antigo, WI — The once a year trip for the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints to the Langlade County Fairgrounds Speedway had a familiar feel in the closing stages of the shows main event. Out front was veteran racer Steve Meyer, celebrating his 25th season of racing, and giving chase was six-time and defending IRA champ Bill Balog.
Meyer had been driving a flawless race to keep Balog following in his tracks just like the series last appearance one year ago. During that event, Balog managed to power by Meyer late in the race following a restart an go on to victory. On this evening, Meyer had already successfully defended the lead on a pair of restarts and appeared to have the pace to win the contest.
Heading for the final lap of the race the duo encountered a lapped car, Meyer opted for the low line, and cleanly made the pass, Balog chose a higher groove. The pair came out of turn four side by side, with Balog using the momentum of the high line to pull ahead reaching the white flag first.
Over the final lap Meyer gave chase but he was unable to find a way back to the lead. He would have to settle for a second place performance, for the second straight year, while Balog and his team celebrated his sixth win of the 2014 season. Mike Reinke, who was in contention for the victory throughout the contest finished in the third spot six car lengths behind the lead pair. It was the second straight podium finish for Reinke who claimed runner-up honors at Angell Park Speedway one week ago.
Balog noted how tricky the last lap pass around lapped traffic was. “We both made a risky decision, we ended up getting it (the win). Meyer was doing a great job, it was a lot of fun tonight racing him”, stated Balog on the victory. “It was a lot of fun tonight racing here and flying around this big half-mile”, noted Balog.
For Meyer, the evening was extra special as his daughter had celebrated her 21st birthday at the track. Earlier in the evening Meyer had collected a victory in his heat race taking the lead in that race on the final lap, and his second place run in the feature made for a solid start of the three-day race weekend for Meyer.
Meyer appeared happy with second but had hoped for something better. When he was informed he had lead the most laps the past two races at the track, Meyer noted with a grin, “I led the most, I’ve just not led the most important one,” he exclaimed. “I’ve always run well on the half-miles. I actually put on exhibition laps here back in 1994 before we actually raced here”, Meyer noted his daughter’s birthday. “The birthday deal is nice, but second place sure sucks”, Meyer quipped jokingly.
A field of 25 cars would accept the green flag for the start of the 20 lap A-main event with second heat winner Scott Biertzer starting on the pole and Meyer to his outside. Once action began Meyer immediately showed the speed of his #85m machine, charging to the top spot. Biertzer meanwhile slipped back in the inside groove allowing Ben Schmidt and the evening’s fastest qualifier Travis Whitney to scramble past into second and third. Balog placed himself in the fourth spot by the third trip around the big-half mile oval.
Whitney’s night suffered a major setback on lap eight as he came to a halt in turn two. He was pushed off to the pit area where his crew made effective repairs and allowed Whitney to rejoin the contest from the tail of the field.
The race resumed with Meyer again showing the way. On lap eight Balog maneuvered around Schmidt for runner-up honors and on the next circuit Reinke dropped Schmidt back another position. Meyer’s lead grew each passing lap as Balog and Reinke fought hard over the second position.
The second and final caution appeared on lap 12 when Dennis Weisner spun harmlessly into the infield off turn two. This brought the field together for the final eight lap dash to the finish.
Meyer again mastered the restart, while Balog had his hands full with Reinke in his efforts to hold second. Reinke made a successful inside pass on the next circuit when Balog hopped the cushion in turn two. Reinke scrambled to get away and began to open up some ground when he too jumped the cushion, as he came into turn four. Balog took advantage of the situation, and retook the second spot with five laps to go.
Out front Meyer now saw his lead slowly shrink, and to make things even more challenging lapped cars would come into play before the finish. With two laps to go Balog had placed himself in position to challenge for the lead. Coming toward the white flag the pair split a lapped car. While Meyer was first to put a lap on the back marker, Balog was able to use the momentum of a higher line to sail past into the top spot.
Meyer tried to rally but Balog’s pace was too tough to match with Balog scoring the win. Meyer would settle for second followed by Reinke. Schmidt would be the highest finishing rookie in the race with a solid fourth place run. Bill Rose quietly finished in the top five.
Scotty Neitzel recorded a sixth place finish coming out ahead of a race long battle with Jordan Goldesberry who claimed seventh. Scotty Biertzer, Tommy Sexton and Whitney comprised the top ten finishers.
Earlier in the night Lance Fassbender, Biertzer and Meyer recorded heat race victories, with Meyer’s win occurring after a last lap pass of Dennis Spitz.
Kris Spitz captured the B-main this evening besting Brandon Thone, Scotty Thiel, Ken Jay Fielder and Bryon Walters.
The series now packs up to finish off it’s weekend with two more events. On Saturday night July 26th. ABC Raceway, located just south of Ashland, Wisconsin, is a banked one-time mile oval. High speeds in close quarters will be the name of the game at the series takes to the red clay surface of ABC Raceway.
Balog has scored wins in the last two appearances at the track. The 2013 event was rained out, making it two years since fans have had opportunity to witness the sheer speed of the 410 sprints that will showcase triple digit speeds.
In addition to the IRA sprints FastLane Motorsports and Custom Powdercoating will present its annual “Super Stock Challenge,” with the track’s Six-Cylinder and Pure Stock classes adding to the program. Adult admission is $20, fans ages 6-12 get in for $5, and kids under age 6 are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Hot laps are set for 6:15 pm, followed by sprint car time trials. Racing is scheduled to start at 7.
The ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For raceday information call (715) 682-4990. The track website can be found at www.abcraceway.com
The weekend wraps up as the teams then head southwest to Eagle Valley Speedway in Jim Falls, Wisconsin on Sunday evening July 27th. The track is a large three-eights mile oval with a unique layout. The high-banked turns are ideal for the Winged Outlaw sprints, which barely have to use the brakes in the corners. The raceway is also unique in the fact that the front stretch goes slightly downhill, while the backstretch is slightly uphill.
Balog has captured the last three contests held at the track including last year’s show where he made a late race pass on Brooke Tatnell for the victory.
Midwest Modifieds, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks will be joining the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw sprints providing fans with a variety of high speed action.
Pit gates are to open at 4:00pm for this year’s show with the spectator gates opening at 4:30pm. Hot laps are to get underway at 5:30pm with racing set to begin at 6:00pm.
For ticket pricing information please call the raceway at: 715-382-5367 or consult the track website at www.eaglevalleyspeedway.net
Eagle Valley Speedway is located just north of Jim Falls, WI just off Highway 178. Head north out of town of Highway 178 and turn west (left) onto 150th Avenue.
IRA proudly moves continues it’s 2014 season backed by its long time supporting series partners led by title sponsor Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts & Service Centers, and associate series partners Osborn & Son Trucking, TW Metals, Hoosier Tire, Cedar Creek Motorsports, Cummins Onan, and Carriage Auto Body.
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints are a featured member of Racetext.net a website dedicated to bringing fans the best possible coverage of local short track racing.
For more information on the IRA Outlaw Sprints check out the tour website at www.irasprints.com or by logging onto the series Facebook page at www.facebook.com/irasprints the series is also on twitter at #IRA_sprints.
IRA Sprint Cars – IRA Interstate Racing Association
Event #11 – Langlade County Speedway – Antigo, WI – July 25, 2014
IRA Sprint Cars | IRA Interstate Racing Association
Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts A Feature (20 Laps): 1. 17b-Bill Balog; 2. #85m-Steve Meyer; 3. #02-Mike Reinke; 4. 35-Ben Schmidt; 5. 6r-Bill Rose; 6. 2w-Scotty Neitzel; 7. 65-Jordan Goldesberry; 8. 4b-Scott Biertzer; 9. 83-Tommy Sexron; 10. 16-Travis Whitney; 11. 64-Scotty Thiel; 12. 7f-Lance Fassbender; 13. 7-Scott Uttech; 14. 68-Dave Uttech; 15. 23-Russel Borland; 16. 94-Brandon Thone; 17. 44-Jason Johnson; 18. 95a-Ken Jay Fiedler; 19. 4k-Kris Spitz; 20. 41-Dennis Spitz; 21. 95b-Ty Bartz; 22. 73-Dennis Wiesner; 23. 5w-Bryon Walters; 24. 79-Blake Nimee; 25. 71-Chad Tessman
Behling Racing Products B Feature (8 Laps): 1. 4k-Kris Spitz; 2. 94-Brandon Thone; 3. 64-Scotty Thiel; 4. 95a-Ken Jay Fiedler; 5. 5w-Bryon Walters; 6. 79-Blake Nimee; 7. 73-Dennis Wiesner; 8. 71-Chad Tessman
Weld Racing Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 7f-Lance Fassbender; 2. 44-Jason Johnson; 3. 83-Tommy Sexton; 4. 17b-Bill Balog; 5. 65-Jordan Goldesberry; 6. 7-Scott Uttech; 7. 64-Scotty Thiel; 8. 95b-Ty Bartz; 9. 5w-Byron Walters
Diversified Machine Inc. Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 4b-Scott Biertzer; 2. 35-Ben Schmidt; 3. 02-Mike Reinke; 4. 95a-Ken Jay Fiedler; 5. 14aj-Wayne Modjeski; 6. 73-Dennis Wiesner; 7. 4k-Kris Spitz; 8. 79-Blake Nimee
All Star Performance Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 85m-Steve Meyer; 41-Dennis Spitz; 3. 2w-Scotty Neitzel; 4. 16-Travis Whitney; 5. 23-Russel Borland; 6. 6r-Bill Rose; 7. 94-Brandon Thone; 71-Chad Tessman; 8.-Scotty Thiel
Osborn & Son Qualifying: 1. Travis Whitney; 2. Mike Reinke; 3. Bill Balog; 4. Bill Rose; 5. Ben Schmidt; 6. Jordan Goldesnberry; 7. Steve Meyer; 8. Scott Bietrzer; 9. Scott Uttech; 10. Scott Neitzel; 11. Dave Uttech; 12. Tommy Sexton