Haeni Tops List of Honorees at IRA Awards Banquet
Steve Sinclair

  Lomira, WI 12/14   A gathering of just under four hundred jammed The Golf Club @ Camelot for the 36th annual Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints Awards Banquet. First time IRA Champion John Haeni and twenty-four of his fellow drivers were honored at the gala event emceed by recently announced National Sprint Car Poll 410 Promoter of the Year Steve Sinclair and IRA publicist Paul Pittman. Over $60,000 in cash awards were presented, plus another $30,000 in contingency product awards were distributed to the twenty-five teams which competed in at least 75% of the thirty scheduled events. The winged/410 series competed in five states throughout the upper midwest.
  Haeni and his Kin-X Motorsports Hoosier/Maxim proved consistency was their key element to winning the well deserved championship, as despite not winning an A-main, the team topped all other point categories including the most qualifying, heat, and A-main points earned. Haeni took home $9000 in cash awards plus numerous contingency awards. Haeni also claimed the TW Metals Fast Timer Award, and crew chief Chris Bachhuber claimed Hoosier Tire Midwest Mechanic of the Year honors completing the teams 2002 championship effort.
   Todd King was crowned the United Trailers/Pit Stop Pizza Rookie of the Year. King picked up $1000 for the honor plus numerous contingency awards including a new Extreme driving suit.
    Safety Director Gil Radtke won the prestigious Rick Schmidt Memorial/IRA Member of the Year Award presented by Schmidt's daughter-in-law Renae.
    Scott Neitzel claimed the All American Caps N' Liners Heat Race Award, for winning the most heat races during the season (8), while Steve Meyer for the third consecutive year captured the Behling Racing Equipment Award for winning the most B-mains throughout the season with 4.   Billy Warren picked up a new drivers suit for being named the Extreme Safety Products Most Improved Driver, plus an additional $500 from the Midwest Safety Team for their Perseverance Award.   Dave Uttech was awarded a custom driving suit for being selected the Midwest Underground/Design 500 Racewear Underdog, while series veteran Joe Symoens picked up an extra $500 from Midwest Underground for accumulating the most B-main points throughout the campaign. It was a big night for Symoens as he also won a new Maxim Chassis, courtesy of Maxim and Gleason Equipment, by winning a drawing among the seven series drivers who finished in the top ten in points who utilized a Maxim during 2002.   Travis Whitney picked up $100 from IRA fans Bob & Bonnie Nack in a drawing among all 25 teams.   Charley Osborn topped the popular product drawing, picking up a new Maxim, again courtesy of Maxim and Gleason Equipment. Osborn, who finished 25th in points, also was awarded $250 from United Trailers as their Hard Luck Award winner.
      IRA President Steve Sinclair present Appreciation Awards to Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts, J&L Oil, United Trailers, Midwest Underground, Tom Reilly Pontiac/GMC, Hoosier Tire Midwest, Weiland Racing Ent, R & H Ent, Behling Racing Equipment, and Peggy Irwin "The 50/50 Lady".   Sinclair also presented Dedication Awards to his entire staff of race day officials, thanking them for their tireless efforts.   Dick Symoens presented a twenty-minute visual/music presentation which has become a popular tradition at the past several awards banquets.   Weiland Racing Enterprises distributed ten $200 awards randomly in a drawing among the twenty-four eligible car owners.
        Bumper to Bumper representative Freddie Bunting Jr announced  that Bumper to Bumper would be back as title sponsor in 03, while Pat Ryan from J&L Oil, and Bruce Rasmussen from United Trailers both announced they would be returning as IRA series co-associate sponsors.
         IRA would like to sincerely thank all the companies which provided contingency awards, over thirty companies within the sprint car industry participated.
         The 2003 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series opens with a doubleheader weekend April 12-13, with events at Powercom Park WI, and Dubuque IA.