8/21/2016
IRA Interstate Racing Association
BALOG GOES BACK TO BACK, TAKES ROGER ILES MEMORIAL EVENT IN BUMPER TO BUMPER IRA SPRINT ACTION AT WILMOT RACEWAY!
BALOG GOES BACK TO BACK, TAKES ROGER ILES MEMORIAL EVENT IN BUMPER TO BUMPER IRA SPRINT ACTION AT WILMOT RACEWAY!
BALOG MASTERS TRAFFIC, MAKES MID-RACE PASS ON PARKER PRICE-MILLER TO TAKE WILMOT RACEWAY WEEKEND SWEEP!
August 20, 2016; Kenosha, WI – Fans who have followed the exploits of sevn-time series champion Bill Balog in the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint series race have come to know his mastery of traffic.
When the battle for the lead takes place amongst lapped cars Balog is relentless in his pursuit and quick to strike.
Parker Price-Miller is the latest driver to witness Balog’s proficiency as he was overtaken by Balog’s charge when he got temporarily caught behind a lapped car.
Once Balog made his move he was not to be denied, moving ahead to a comfortable margin to earn his seventh win in IRA sprint action this season. Tonight’s victory capped off a sweep of the two Kenosha County Fair races held at Wilmot Raceway. Balog also swept the night having also won his heat race and setting fast time to begin the program.
During the early portion of the contest it appeared Price-Miller who had won the season opening IRA event at LaSalle in April might have the speed to capture the event as Balog was mired in traffic, but as the race developed Balog found a groove to his liking and quickly picked off cars until only Price-Miller remained in front of him.
On lap 20 Balog maneuvered by a couple lapped cars surpassing Price-Miller in the process. Balog increased his lead to the checkered leaving Price-Miller to battle with Mike Kertscher, Kertscher had closed within striking distance of the second spot but eventually had to settle for the third position. It was Kertscher’s first podium since his victory at Seymour Speedway in July.
The 36 lap A-main boasting a first place prize of $3,600 saw a field of 24 of the Midwest’s finest 410 sprint pilots accept the green flag. Pole-sitter Bill Wirth who earlier in the evening captured his heat race took the opening lead after outrunning fellow front row starter Jordan Goldesberry.
Ben Schmidt, now sporting the number 59 on his Brandon Thone prepared machine powered past Wirth for the top spot before the completion of lap two.
Price-Miller wasted little time surging forward from his seventh place starting spot, earning the second position after a brief duel with Wirth.
Schmidt continued to work the high line around the third-mile paper-clip shaped raceway clinging precariously to his lead.
Price-Miller opted for the lower groove and slowly reeled in Schmidt. On lap eight Price-Miller executed the pass for the top spot.
A spin by Kris Spitz on lap 13 coming off turn two created the first of just two slowdowns in the event.
Price-Miller led Schmidt, Phillip Mock, Balog and Scotty Thiel as the race resumed.
Balog wasted no time surpassing Mock for third and soon began to pressure Schmidt for the second position. Balog worked both the high and low grooves in an attempt to overtake Schmidt who managed to repel several challenges.
Out front Price-Miller began to reach the tail of the field.
On lap 17 Balog jumped to the high line and made his way by Schmidt, he then began to quickly close on Price-Miller whose pace was slowed by several lapped cars.
Balog was quick to take advantage of the situation and on lap 20 he roared past Price-Miller for the top spot.
A spin on the backstretch by heat race winner Blake Nimee on lap 23 drew the final caution and bunched the field.
With the green flag waving Balog again set sail pulling away from the pack while Price-Miller and Schmidt contested the second spot.
Further back Kertscher ramped up his pace cracking the top five with ten laps to go. Kertscher was relentless in his charge moving past Mock and Thiel before knocking Schmidt off the podium annexing third as the final few laps approached.
With Balog a full straightaway out front attention focused on Kertscher who made a brief attempt to garner second as the white flag flew.
Balog comfortably accepted the checkered flag after 36 laps surpassed. Price-Miller won the battle for second with Kertscher settling for third.
On the final lap World of Outlaw Series regular Greg Wilson who had began the contest in 17th made a successful pass of Schmidt to earn fourth.
Schmidt completed the top five.
Thiel was the highest finishing of the title contenders taking sixth just ahead of Jordan Goldesberry. Mock, Russel Borland and Wirth completed the top ten finishers.
Earlier in the night the B-main was hotly contested as Jeremy Schultz and Borland tossed the lead back and forth. Schultz gained the hand during the final laps to win the event with Borland having to settle for second. Borland faired best in the main event however as he was the highest finishing of the B-main cars.
Other transfer cars from the B-main included Johnny Fahl in third and Dave Uttech in fourth. Uttech earned the final transfer spot on the final circuit edging out Kyle Marten.
Balog, Dominic Scelzi, Nimee and Wirth captured heat race wins.
Balog was the quickest of the 31 cars checked into the pit area this evening in qualifying.
After two nights of racing at the Wilmot Raceway it’s time for an epic gathering of sprint car racing at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
For the first time ever the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint series will be joining forces with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Series. The event on Sunday, August 21st takes place during the annual Sweet Corn Festival, will be the Outlaws first ever appearance at the historic, 1/3-mile Angell Park.
The epic gathering is known as the Sun Prairie Sprint Car classic at the third-mile clay oval will feature not only the stars of the IRA sprints but sprint car standouts such as Donny Schatz, the seven-time and defending series champion who leads the way for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series. David Gravel, who was victorious last month in Wisconsin at Wilmot Raceway is second in points, followed by Brad Sweet, Daryn Pittman and Joey Saldana.
Shane Stewart, who won the opening night of the Knoxville Nationals on August 10, is currently sixth in points, with Jason Johnson seventh, Logan Schuchart eighth, Jason Sides ninth and Paul McMahan 10th.
The IRA Sprints will have the home field advantage for this contest and Scotty Thiel who had captured both IRA Sprint contests at the track this season has proven to be the man to catch on the unique third-mile clay oval.
The Badger Midgets will also be on hand adding to a great night of open-wheeled racing action.
Pit gates will open at 2:00pm with the grandstands opening at 4:00pm. The first cars will hit the track at 6:30pm and racing action is set to get underway at 7:30pm.
Tickets for the Sun Prairie Sprint Car Classic, featuring the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series and Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprint Cars at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on Sunday, August 21 can be purchased online at https://slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by phone at 815-344-2023.
For more information on tickets, visit https://slspromotions.ticketforce.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 Hoosier Tire, Osborn & Son Trucking, TW Metals, Cummins Onan, and Twin Lakes Marine.
BUMPER TO BUMPER INTERSTATE RACING ASSOCIATION
ROGER ILES MEMORIAL 36-LAP FEATURE: 1. Bill Balog; 2, Parker Price-Miller; 3. Mike Kertscher; 4. Greg Wilson; 5. Ben Schmidt; 6. Scotty Thiel; 7. Jordan Goldesberry; 8. Phillip Mock; 9. Russel Borland; 10. Bill Wirth; 11. Todd Hepfner; 12. Dominic Scelzi; 13. Johnny Fahl; 14. Scotty Neitzel; 15. Scott Uttech; 16. Jereme Schroeder; 17. Jeremy Schultz; 18. Raymond Hensley; 19. Matt Vandervere; 20. Blake Nimee; 21. Wayne Modjeski; 22. Dave Uttech; 23. Todd Daun; 24. Kris Spitz
Upcoming 2016 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series Events:
8/21/2016 – Angell Park Speedway – Sun Prairie, WI
8/27/2016 – LaSalle Speedway, LaSalle, IL
8/28/2016 – Angell Park Speedway – Sun Prairie, WI
9/2/2016 – Plymouth Dirt Track – Plymouth, WI
9/4/2016 – 141 Speedway – Francis Creek, WI
Submitted By: Jeffrey Sachse
