5/31/2015
IRA Interstate Racing Association
BALOG REMAINS PERFECT IN IRA ACTION WITH VICTORY IN CEDAR LAKE TRIPLE CROWN VICTORY, POCKETS $3,000!
POINT LEADER BEN SCHMIDT SCORES THIRD CONSECUTIVE PODIUM FINISH!
May 30, 2015; New Richmond, WI – Back to back rainouts for the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints at 141 Speedway, and Oshkosh Speedzone had left Wisconsin fans hungry for the spectacle of Winged 410 sprint action. Finally on a cool, cool crisp Saturday Night at Cedar Lake Speedway, Mother Nature cooperated.
Seven-time series champ Bill Balog has been testing the waters this season in the National Sprint League, and Knoxville Raceway leaving a feeding frenzy atop the series standings. When Balog returns home to IRA action however he’s proven how those championships have been earned… through victory. This season Balog is three for three in his IRA efforts. His efforts tonight in the Triple Crown event at Cedar Lake Speedway left him $3,000 richer and kept intact his 100% win average in IRA competition in 2015.
Piloting a black number two machine owned by Hans Lein instead of his familiar #17b, Balog spent the majority of the contest chasing Ben Schmidt. Schmidt, who had his breakout victory earlier this month at Beaver Dam Raceway, has been on a roll. He led the majority of the contest this evening on the banked three-eights mile oval, eventually finishing second to Balog. It marked the third straight time Schmidt has reached the podium.
Two-time series champ Travis Whitney was also a factor throughout the contest going wing to wing with Scotty Theil for much of the race, before moving forward to hassle Schmidt in the closing laps in effort to gain second. Whitney would eventually settle for the third spot, but the effort marked his strongest run of 2015 so far.
The 30 lap main event took place on a well-groomed racing surface that the management of Cedar Lake Speedway worked on throughout the evening. With the track in excellent condition, and an elaborate fireworks display taking place during the 4-wide salute, the teams of the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints were poised for action.
Schmidt had started on the pole of the contest, with Rick Kelsey to his outside while hard charging Jordan Goldesberry, and Balog occupied the second row.
At the drop of the green flag Schmidt shot into the lead with Kelsey giving chase. Thiel, who had started in the third row made a bold move and powered past both Goldesberry and Balog to charge into the third spot.
Diving low in the turns Thiel soon caught, and motored past Kelsey for the runner-up position, and then charged forward to pressure Schmidt.
The frantic pace of the leaders allowed them to catch the tail of the field by lap eight while Schmidt saw his small lead disappear as he tiptoed through traffic. Behind him Thiel had his hands full trying to fend off Balog who began to march forward.
The furious action was halted on lap 11, when Goldesberry broke a wheel slamming the wall in turn two, and then a quick flip drawing the first red flag of the contest. The incident ended a strong effort for the Springfield, Illinois native who had been running solidly in the fourth spot. Goldesberry was unhurt but his car was seriously damaged.
On the restart a second red flag would fly when Scott Biertzer got upside down coming off turn four. Though it appeared Biertzer’s car was not too seriously damaged but his crew was unable to fix the car for a return to action.
Underway again Schmidt was able to keep Thiel at bay, while Balog continued to apply pressure from the third spot. On lap 16 Balog swept past Thiel into the second position just prior to a caution flag on the next circuit when Steve Meyer looped his ride in turn two.
On this restart Balog stayed tight to Schmidt’s tail tank, and when Schmidt struggled for grip coming off turn four on lap 19, Balog was able to surge past into the lead. Whitney meanwhile had dispatched Thiel for the third spot.
A final caution on lap 21 appeared when Russel Borland looped his ride and stalled in turn four. He had been inside the top ten at the time.
The final nine circuits went without interruption and Balog slowly pulled away from the field. Over the final circuits Schmidt was kept occupied with Whitney. After closing within striking distance Whitney made several attempts to overhaul Schmidt who hung tenaciously to the runner-up spot.
At the finish Balog had extended his lead to a full straightaway on Schmidt scoring the win in a comfortable manner. Schmidt reached the finish line in second with a once car length advantage on Whitney.
Thiel drove a solid race to garner fourth place, his first top five effort of the 2015 season for the hard charging racer. Bill Rose, who is locked in a battle with Schmidt for the season point lead again quietly, added another top five run. His fifth place effort was his fourth of the year. He only finished outside the top five once so far, with a ninth place effort at Wilmot Raceway.
Kyle Marten had pressured Rose late in the contest for the fifth spot eventually crossing the line in sixth. Marten, a candidate for Rookie of the Year honors methodically worked his way forward throughout the contest from his 16th place starting spot, passing the most cars of any driver in the 30 lap contest.
Jeremy Schultz, winner of the most recent IRA race held ay Wilmot Raceway two weeks ago finished seventh. Veteran racers Scotty Neitzel and Steve Meyer finished eighth and ninth respectively with Phillip Mock making a late race pass on Kelsey to secure the final top ten spot.
19 cars were still on the track at the finish.
Through 26 cars had timed in for the contest this evening, mechanical ills befell series regular Bill Wirth who expired a motor and 18 year old Trent Stengl from western Minnesota also encountered engine problems cutting short his evening in time trials.
With those two cars scratched the B-main was not needed.
Rose, Schmidt and Neitzel scored heat race wins. The victories taken by Neitzel and Schmidt came in in dominating fashion. While Rose and Goldesberry fought hard for the win in heat two in a contest that came down to the wire.
Whitney was the fastest qualifier of the evening with a lap of 12.355 seconds. Thiel showed his peed early with a second place qualifying effort turning a lap of 12.500 seconds. Balog netted third quick with a lap of 12.581.
The top twenty cars all timed within a second this evening.
A complete results summary from this event will be sent within the next 24 hours
The series is now rolling down the highway south to Angell Park Speedway for a Sunday evening contest. The legendary third-mile oval located in Sun Prairie, WI, held it’s first 410 sprint race after a 29 year absence last year. The event was topped by Sheldon Haudenschild.
The front gates will open at 4:30pm, and hot laps start at 6:00pm. Qualifying and racing will follow hot laps. General adult admission is $20, with student tickets $15 for those ages 12 to 18. Children under the age of 12 are free.
Badger Midgets, Micro Sprints and Legends are also on the card for a full night of racing action.
To reach the track, take the Highway 19 exit East off of Highway 151. Head through the town of Sun Prairie. On the east side of town take County Trunk N (Grove Street) south one block to Miller Drive. Turn onto Miller Drive and you will see the raceway.
Additional information can be found at www.angellparkspeedway.com
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.
The IRA Sprints are presented by its long time supporting series partners. The series support is 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.
2015 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints Upcoming Events:
5/31/2015 Angell Park Speedway - Sun Prairie, WI
6/6/2015 Wilmot Raceway – Wilmot, WI
6/13/2015 Sheboygan County Fairpark – Plymouth, WI
6/20/2015 ABC Raceway – Ashland, WI
6/21/2015 Angell Park Speedway – Sun Prairie, WI
Submitted By: Jeffrey Sachse
