7/28/2013
IRA Interstate Racing Association
Northwoods Doubleheader
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series successfully fended off Mother Nature Friday at the Langlade County Fairgrounds and though several showers forced a delay in the start of the program, when the 410 engines fired the stands filled and 24 teams that made the trek north for the Northwoods doubleheader treated the fans to some blistering speeds and some great side by side action on a awesomely fast race surface. While Bill Balog would win his 10th IRA feature of the year, this one like many others was a hard fought battle, as Steve Meyer gave 10th starting Balog all he could handle. Jeremy Schultz, Mike Reinke, and Tommy Sexton completed a awesomely fast top five. We'll never know if Meyer could have held off Balog if not for the late yellow when Scotty Neitzel who was battling throughout the top five spun as he and Tommy Sexton went for the same real estate while racing hard entering turn three. While Balog was charging at the time the yellow came out with no lapped cars between him and Meyer, the restart certainly brought him closer. Qualifying was scrapped because of the lateness due to the rain so a passing point format was utilized. The cars fired off and the stands filled on a cool damp night in Antigo and the big wide half-mile produced track record speeds all night. Dave Uttech grabbed heat one, and then the fans were treated to a very competitive second heat as front row mates Steve Meyer and Mike Reinke ran side by side, literally, for a few laps before Bill Balog would try and make a threesome. Reinke would nose ahead while Balog slid past Meyer. only to have Meyer regain the 2nd position at the finish. Reinke would earn enough points to be high point man after the heats. Jeremy Schultz dominated heat three though most eyes were on Alan Hafford as he held of numerous challenges and came home an impressive second. The ultra-tacky half-mile and cool moist air took its' toll on equipment though as Phillip Mock, Ken Jay Fiedler, and Mike Decker all suffered severe engine woes in their prelim events. An exciting night of racing was presented to a large Antigo fair crowd who braved the elements to support the successful return of the IRA. A special thanks to the track crew as their hard work paid off as they got it right. This could be a new annual event!
The surviving teams then towed as far north as one can go in Wisconsin to ABC Raceway in Ashland which sits on the shores of Lake Superior. The same weather front which hassled them in Antigo greeted the teams in Ashland, this time with no luck. The ABC crew had proved in the past that they could overcome mid-day rain in a previous IRA visit, so this had the teams hopeful and with 19 signed in it was an unfortunate persistant mist which greeted us just after unloading combined with yet another shower forcing the decision to send the racers on their long tow home and fans having to wait til next year. ABC is a awesome track in which both the teams and fans enjoy, and one of only a few that would merit the distance traveled. This northwoods trip purposely scheduled in July felt more like October with night time temps dipping into the 40's, feeling even colder with the dampness producing record lows even for this part of the state. Thanks to everyone involved, teams and track crews, for their support and tremendous efforts this weekend.
Congrats to past 2-time IRA champ Travis Whitney on his All-Star win at Jackson MN and special congrats to Whitney car owner and Jackson resident Doug DeWall as he was inducted to the Jackson Speedway Hall of Fame earlier in the evening. We can expect to see Travis and the #16 DeWall car at Beaver Dam Raceway this coming Saturday night as the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series will make their 4th appearance of the season. Balog topped Mike Kertscher by .009 seconds in the first go round while Kertscher dominated the second round, and Balog captured the third. Strong Beaver Dam runner Mike Reinke is expected to join the action this week too as IRA competes in its' final race before the traditional Knoxville Nationals break.
Article Credit: Steve Sinclair
Submitted By: Kim Tennyson
