10/4/2015
IRA Interstate Racing Association
KING TAKES THE NIGHT, ROSE CAPTURES THE CROWN IN BUMPER TO BUMPER IRA SPRINT SEASON FINALE AT PLYMOUTH!
SURVIVAL WAS THE KEY TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR ROSE AS HE CHASES TODD KING TO CHECKERS IN WILD SEASON FINALE FOR IRA SPRINTS!
October 3, 2015; Plymouth, WI – On a cool blustery evening a showdown for the 2015 championship for the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints took place on the challenging Plymouth Dirt Track. Bill Rose of Plainfield, Indiana, and local favorite Ben Schmidt came into the evening tied in points while third place Scotty Neitzel also was within striking distance of the top of the point heap.
Little did fans know that moments after the initial green flag fell in the main event, that the championship was all but decided. A grinding crash severely damaged the machine of Neitzel who had taken a wild tumble down the straight, and Schmidt had to head to the pit area to have work done on his car as he became entangled in the multi car crash. Schmidt then spent the balance of the evening trying to move forward in the pack. He could advance no further than 11th.
Rose came through unscathed solidifying a slim point lead he had built earlier in the evening.
Rose then avoided several more red flag incidents, and ran the distance in the A-main trying to catch Todd King. King running a limited schedule after a couple seasons off inherited the lead on lap one, and kept Rose at bay to earn his first main event victory since June of 2008. King’s victory marked the 20th different winner in IRA competition this season, he scored his last win at Beaver Dam Raceway after driving from deep in the field.
This evening he simply needed to avoid the opening race incidents, and then outrun Rose. It was no easy task, but King was up to the challenge scoring the victory by a car length.
The 30 lap main event rolled trackside 24 strong but the opening lap would vex the field as the red flag flew with abandon. On the initial green flag, Jeremy Schultz, and Raymond Hensley brushed which resulted in Hensley spinning in front of a charging field. Neitzel got upside down in the mad scramble to avoid Hensley and when the dust settled the rides of Schmidt, and Blake Nimee were also damaged.
Schmidt headed to the work area and returned before racing resumed tagging onto the tail of the field.
A second restart attempt resulted in Mike Reinke tumbling over the wheels of Bill Wirth and red flag number two shown as a result. The third red flag occurred on the next starting attempted when front row starters Schultz and 2015 IRA Rookie of the Year Kyle Marten locked horns with Schultz doing a quick flip in turn three as a result.
When action did finally get underway one lap went into the books when Robbie Pribnow spun. Paul Pokorski had nowhere to go tumbling over Pribnow, and collecting Russel Borland in the process. The resulting red flag was the final slowdown of the event.
With the distance of the race now cut to 25 laps, the final 24 orbits around the third-mile bullring went without further interruption.
King got the upper hand as the race resumed with Rose following in the second spot. Steve Meyer, who handedly won the B-main earlier in the evening, ran third.
On lap four a caution was nearly called as Wayne Modjeski lost power, and Scotty Thiel wound up tangling with Modjeski. The two cars became momentarily attached with Thiel finally able to break away while Modjeski’s car headed for the infield. Thiel rejoined the race the final car on the lead lap. He spent the rest of the contest putting on a brilliant charge to get back into contention.
At the halfway point King had a slim lead on Rose, and Meyer, while Dave Uttech, and Matt Vandervere held down the top five spots.
As the race drew close to it’s conclusion Rose began to apply the pressure to King, especially when King encountered lapped cars. King remained flawless in his line, and Rose was unable to find a way to the front. On the final lap Rose made a last ditch passing attempt on the high side but it fell short as King made his way under the checkered flag with a car length advantage. Rose finished second followed by Meyer.
Uttech finished fourth nearly matching his best run of the season. Vandervere earned the final top five spot by managing to hold of Thiel who may have had the fastest car on the track the last half of the race. Johnny Fahl scored seventh followed by Jimmy Sivia, Scott Uttech and Jason Johnson to fill out the top the finishers.
14 of the 24 starters were able to reach the finish.
Earlier in the night Meyer captured the B-main over Scott Uttech, Robbie Pribnow, Ken Jay Fielder and Sivia.
Heat race victories were captured by Hensley, Schultz and Nimee.
Rose set the fastest time of the evening, establishing a new track record in the process. His lap of 11.644 was the quickest of the 30 cars on hand. King has the second fastest lap of the night circling the oval in 11.658 seconds. Meyer was third quick with a lap of 11.660.
The 2015 season has now concluded for the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints and plans are already underway to provide a thrilling 2016 season schedule.
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.
Submitted By: Jeffrey Sachse
