7/17/2016
IRA Interstate Racing Association
BALOG TOPS BUMPER TO BUMPER IRA WINS AT WILMOT RACEWAY’S FOUNDERS NIGHT ACTION!
BALOG TOPS BUMPER TO BUMPER IRA WAIN AT WILMOT RACEWAY’S FOUNDERS NIGHT ACTION!
BALOG FENDS OFF LATE RACE CHARGE BY POINT LEADER THIEL FOR VICTORY AT WILMOT RACEWAY!
July 16, 2016, Wilmot, WI – Seven-time Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprint Series champion Bill Balog goes into the record books as the winner of Saturday Night’s event as Wilmot Raceway. What isn’t recorded in the tally is just how hard he had to work for the victory.
Balog had started in the eighth position and quickly had worked toward the front of the field. He had been attempting to work past Brandon Wimmer, when Wimmer bicycled his car slamming back onto it’s wheel breaking it’s suspension.
This gave the lead to Balog but the race was far from over. For the remaining distance current Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprint Series point leader Scotty Thiel harassed Balog endlessly.
A final restart with just eight laps to go gave Thiel one last shot to run down Balog, but Balog expertly worked lapped traffic over the final two laps to score his fifth series victory of the 2016 season.
Thiel had to settle for runner-up honors. It also continued his remarkable consistency having finished in the top five in 7 of the past 9 events.
Third place went to two-time Wilmot Raceway champ Jeremy Schultz. Schultz, victorious in 410 sprint action at the track one week ago spent the final half of the contest trying to run down the lead duo of Balog and Thiel. Just like Thiel, he has been remarkably consistent of late having recorded four top five finishes in the past five events.
Not surprisingly Schultz provides the biggest challenge to Thiel’s point lead.
The event started with Scott Uttech and Ryan Irwin making up the front row. Uttech gained the upper hand at the drop of the green and was pacing the field when the first caution flew for a spin by Jordan Goldesberry in turn two.
The field realigned with Uttech leading Irwin, Wimmer and Thiel back to the green flag.
The race resumed with Wimmer blasting past Uttech for the top spot while Balog rim-rode the track gaining positions in rapid succession.
On lap five Robbie Pribnow got upside down in turn two forcing a red flag. Pribnow emerged unhurt but his ride was done for the evening.
Wimmer powered away with the lead as racing got back underway while Balog made quick work of Uttech to garner second.
On lap eight Thiel rambled past Uttech to reach third.
The next circuit saw the yellow flag wave again, this time for a twin spin as both Todd Daun and Goldesberry got headed the wrong direction in turn four.
The race quickly got back full speed with Wimmer, Balog and Thiel leading the field around the semi-banked third-mile clay oval.
Wimmer’s time at the front lasted just two more laps when he bicycled his car in turn three, nearly flipping. Though he landed on his wheels, the suspension broke on his machine ending his night and thereby turning the lead over to Balog.
This left Balog, Thiel and Uttech in the top three spots as action again resumed.
While Balog had the lead he was unable to get much of a gap on Thiel who followed Balog’s every move.
The third position meanwhile became a test of wills between Uttech and Schultz who was working the high line.
Just before the halfway point the yellow flag waved yet again as Michael Decker and Trey Datweiler locked horns in turn four. Both were able to continue when the race went green yet again.
Balog and Thiel broke away from traffic with Schultz running a distant third when the final yellow flag flew on lap 22.
The final eight laps would go into the record books without further incident.
Balog got a great restart leaving a small gap on Thiel who ran eight car lengths behind. Over the final two circuits Balog again encountered lapped traffic. Though Thiel managed to close the gap, Balog made the correct moved and reached the finish line with a two car length advantage for the win.
Thiel had to settle for second spot. Schultz held fast to the final podium position in third.
Uttech’s fourth place finish was his best effort so far in 2016, Mike Reinke nailed down the final top five position.
Todd Hepfner, Raymond Hensley, Scotty Nietzel, Bill Wirth and Kris Spitz completed the top ten.
Due to mechanical difficulties for Blake Nimee and Rusty Egan which reduced the field no B-main was needed this evening.
Heat race victories were collected by Wirth, Thiel and Modjeski.
Balog paced the 27 car field this evening in qualifying with a lap of 13.382 seconds. Reinke turned in the second quickest lap at 13.44 seconds. Schultz was third quick at 13.502 seconds.
The top 25 cars in qualifying all timed within one second of the quickest lap turning in by Balog.
The series now heads Angell Park Speedway for the Norm Nelson Classic.
The Sunday evening show will feature the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints which will be joined by the Badger Midgets and Wisconsin Dirt Legends series.
All tickets and pit passes from the June 5th rain out at the track will be honored. You must bring your ticket and pit pass to redeem it for a new ticket/pit pass.
Admission prices are $20 for adults, with Students ages 12 to 18 admitted for $15. Children under the age of 12 are admitted FREE with an adult.
Pit gates will open at 2:00pm, with spectator gates opening at 4:30pm. Hot laps begin at 6:00pm with racing to follow.
For more information, visit www.angellparkspeedway.net.
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.
Upcoming 2016 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series Events:
7/17/2016 – Angell Park Speedway – Sun Prairie, WI
7/22/2016 – Oshkosh Speedzone – Oshkosh, WI
7/23/2016 – Eagle Valley Speedway – Jim Falls, WI
7/29/2016 – Langlade County Speedway – Antigo, WI
8/6/2016 – Dodge County Fairgrounds – Beaver Dam, WI
Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts A Feature 1 (30 Laps): 1. 17B-Bill Balog[8]; 2. 64-Scotty Thiel[4]; 3. 5J-Jeremy Schultz[6]; 4. 7-Scott Uttech[2]; 5. 02-Mike Reinke[7]; 6. 1HRP-Todd Hepfner[13]; 7. 70-Raymond Hensley[18]; 8. 2W-Scott Neitzel[12]; 9. 53W-Bill Wirth[10]; 10. 4K-Kris Spitz[15]; 11. 11-Joey Moughan[20]; 12. 56-Ryan Irwin[1]; 13. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski[9]; 14. 41-Dennis Spitz[22]; 15. 10V-Matt Vandevere[21]; 16. 43-Jereme Schroeder[17]; 17. 23D-Trey Datweiler[24]; 18. 0-John Fahl[23]; 19. 99-Kyle Marten[5]; 20. 12-Michael Decker[25]; 21. (DNF) 1MM-Jim Moughan Jr[16]; 22. (DNF) 48-Brandon Wimmer[3]; 23. (DNF) 19-Todd Daun[19]; 24. (DNF) 65-Jordan Goldesberry[11]; 25. (DNF) 94R-Rob Pribnow[14]
Real Wheels Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 53W-Bill Wirth[2]; 2. 17B-Bill Balog[6]; 3. 2W-Scott Neitzel[3]; 4. 43-Jereme Schroeder[1]; 5. 7-Scott Uttech[4]; 6. 99-Kyle Marten[5]; 7. 19-Todd Daun[7]; 8. 12-Michael Decker[9]; 9. 41-Dennis Spitz[8]
DMI Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 64-Scotty Thiel[5]; 2. 4K-Kris Spitz[2]; 3. 1HRP-Todd Hepfner[3]; 4. 70-Raymond Hensley[1]; 5. 02-Mike Reinke[6]; 6. 56-Ryan Irwin[4]; 7. 0-John Fahl[8]; 8. (DNF) 11-Joey Moughan[7]; (DNS) 79-Blake Nimee
All Star Performance Products Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski[1]; 2. 1MM-Jim Moughan Jr[2]; 3. 65-Jordan Goldesberry[4]; 4. 94R-Rob Pribnow[3]; 5. 48-Brandon Wimmer[5]; 6. 5J-Jeremy Schultz[6]; 7. 10V-Matt Vandevere[7]; 8. 23D-Trey Datweiler[8]; (DNS) 50-Rusty Egan
Osborn & Son Qualifying 1: 1. 17B-Bill Balog, 13.382[22]; 2. 02-Mike Reinke, 13.444[24]; 3. 5J-Jeremy Schultz, 13.502[5]; 4. 99-Kyle Marten, 13.503[8]; 5. 64-Scotty Thiel, 13.525[11]; 6. 48-Brandon Wimmer, 13.539[15]; 7. 7-Scott Uttech, 13.540[13]; 8. 56-Ryan Irwin, 13.571[14]; 9. 79-Blake Nimee, 13.662[16]; 10. 65-Jordan Goldesberry, 13.671[23]; 11. 2W-Scott Neitzel, 13.681[3]; 12. 1HRP-Todd Hepfner, 13.763[17]; 13. 94R-Rob Pribnow, 13.780[10]; 14. 53W-Bill Wirth, 13.787[26]; 15. 4K-Kris Spitz, 13.805[7]; 16. 1MM-Jim Moughan Jr, 13.843[25]; 17. 43-Jereme Schroeder, 13.856[19]; 18. 70-Raymond Hensley, 13.889[12]; 19. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski, 13.901[9]; 20. 19-Todd Daun, 13.904[1]; 21. 11-Joey Moughan, 13.984[27]; 22. 10V-Matt Vandevere, 14.009[6]; 23. 41-Dennis Spitz, 14.032[2]; 24. 0-John Fahl, 14.318[21]; 25. 23D-Trey Datweiler, 14.368[20]; 26. 12-Michael Decker, 14.692[4]; (DNS) 50-Rusty Egan
Article Credit: Jeffrey Sachse
Submitted By: Kim Tennyson
