8/22/2022
IRA Interstate Racing Association
Blackhurst Wins A-maize-ing Race at Corn Fest
26 cars checked in to eat corn and battle at Corn Fest at Angell Park Speedway.
On top of the speed charts and picking up the extra $150 from lakehomeretreats.com was “The Lone Wolf” Danny Schlafer. Mooresville, IN native Zach Hampton second quick, followed by Kyle Schuett, Scotty Neitzel, snd Jake Blackhurst.
Heat race action began, Angell Park’s sweet corn gave Scotty Thiel, Jeremy Schultz, and Riley Goodno extra horsepower to win their individual heat races.
Dash one was won by the Hanna City Outlaw, Jake Blackhurst. Dash two was won by Wilmot Raceway feature winner Jordan Goldesberry locking them into the front row of the Bumper to Bumper feature.
Goldesberry and Blackhurst would lead the field to the green and Goldesberry would pick up where he left off from Wilmot. Goldesberry would hit lap traffic at Corn Fest four laps in. This is where Blackhurst and Schlafer would be able to close the door on race-leader Goldesberry. Schlafer and Blackhurst would start to make moves on Goldesberry through traffic. With 11 in, Blackhurst would cross the flag stand nose to nose with Goldesberry taking the lead, Schlafer would also be able to sneak under the 65 that time around with Blackhurst before the caution was thrown for Schultz pulling into the work area. With 13 in the books, Blackhurst would lead the field to the green with Schlafer and Goldesberry following close behind him. Schlafer quick on the restart challenged Blackhurst for the lead going down Angell Park Speedway’s backstretch and into turns three and four and leads lap 14 at the line. Blackhurst would take the lead back on the next lap. Goldesberry would be challenged by Neuman for 5th as we pulled out another caution for Goodno spun in 4. Restart with 39 in the lead with the 25, 35, 73, and the 3N behind him. Hampton in the 35 and Schlafer in the 25 both making moves to try to grab the lead from Blackhurst. Thiel also throws himself in the mix as well, sliding past both Hampton and Schlafer to hunt down Blackhurst. With five laps to go, Thiel passed for the lead when the caution flew for Austin Hartmann also bit by the turn 4 tractor tire. This puts Blackhurst, Thiel, and Schlafer all grouped next to each other for a 5 lap showdown for the Corn Fest win. We went back to green for one circuit before the 68T would fall victim next to turn 4. On the next restart, Hampton would pass Schlafer for third as the laps counted down as the battle to watch was for the win. White flag would fly as Blackhurst and Thiel would pass the line wing to wing heading into the turn. The battle heated up as both competitors went side by side down the backstretch and in a racing move, Thiel and Blackhurst made contact causing Thiel’s car to throw the caution-checkered on the night. Blackhurst would take the win, Hampton second, and Jake Neuman would round out the podium.
The racing action will continue for the Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprints next weekend at the Wilmot Raceway for an all sprint spectacular featuring the MSA Sprint Series and the Badger Midgets.
Photos by Emily Schwanke
Article Credit: Madeline "Chatty Madi" Schultz
Submitted By: Madeline Schultz
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