8/6/2017
IRA Interstate Racing Association
Thiel Holds Off Balog for 4th Win This Season
26 Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association (IRA) Sprint teams signed in to Plymouth Dirt Track under threatening skies to honor the late Frank Filskov with the 21st running of the Frank Filskov Memorial. After a brief rain shower, group qualifying was utilized in an effort to speed the program up. Osborn and Son qualifying saw Bill Balog set quick time over Wayne Modjeski and Scotty Thiel. Blake Nimee would qualify in 4th and Mike Kertscher behind the wheel of the Thone Motorsports car was 5th.
Weld Wheels Heat Race 1 saw Balog charge from his 4th place starting position to the lead in just a couple of laps. Behind him Blake Nimee moved to 2nd and Russel Borland ran 3rd as the checkered flag fell. Todd King crossed the line in 4th followed by Trey Datweiler.
Allstar Performance Heat Race 2 would be claimed by a hard charging Kertscher. Kyle Marten would claim 2nd place over Ben Schmidt and Wayne Modjeski. Steve Meyer would round out the top 5 in his Meyer Electric 85m.
In DMI Racing/ R&H Enterprises Heat Race 3 Mike Reinke maneuvered around Scotty Neitzel to grab the lead, Reinke would hold the lead for all 10 laps to claim the victory over Neitzel. Thiel made many attempts to take 2nd away from the 2w of Neitzel but couldn't complete the pass and settled for 3rd. Cousins Scott and Dave Uttech would finish in 4th and 5th positions respectively.
The Behling Racing Products B main saw Bill Wirth lead all 10 laps in route to victory over Kris Spitz. Josh Walter would bring his 12w across in 3rd ahead of Chris Dodd’s 01. Dennis Spitz would bring his 41 car home in 5th.
The A main saw Scotty Thiel utilize his 2nd place starting position to get the early lead. Bill Balog would quickly work from his 5th starting spot up to 2nd as Thiel entered lapped traffic. Balog chased Thiel through lapped traffic but couldn't seem to find a line around the Professional Plating 64. Scotty Neitzel would loop his 2w machine around and bring out a yellow flag with just 10 laps remaining. The restart saw Thiel once again pull away from the field, Balog would catch him as they entered lapped traffic. With the white flag in the air Balog pulled his 17b back to the bumper of Thiel’s 64, as the pair entered turn 3 Balog took one last shot at the lead, and would pull along side of Thiel but at the line Thiel would be victorious. Balog would be forced to settle for 2nd over Wayne Modjeski. Blake Nimee would bring his 79 across in 4th followed by Dave Uttech.
The IRA will take next weekend off, but returns with a huge 3 day weekend August 18th, 19th and 20th. Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th sees the winged 410 sprint cars return to the Wilmot Raceway for the annual Kenosha County Fair. Sunday the 20th the series heads back to Angell Park for Corn Fest.
The IRA would like to thank our loyal sponsors, Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts, Osborn and Son Trucking, TW Metals, Carriage Auto Body, Cummins Onan, Hopf Farms, Hagar’s Half Pound Cookies and Hoosier Tire.
Submitted By: Kim Tennyson
