8/5/2024
IRA Lightning Sprints
Petska Conquers Plymouth!
15 cars signed in to the Plymouth Dirt Track for race #6 of the 2024 season. Quick time honors were captured by the #16 of Mike Neau. In heat race action, Mark Heinert and Mike Neau pulled away for a 2 car battle but then tangled on the last lap. Both were able to drive away and maintain their 1-2 running spots but the yellow was thrown and they were both moved to the tail for a GWC finish. In the end, 3rd starting Tim Brannam brought home the victory in Allstar Performance Heat #1. Nick Petska would jump to the lead from his fourth place starting spot on the opening lap and would claim Rod End Supply Heat #2 - his 5th heat win of the season in as many starts. The number 2 pill was drawn for the feature putting undefeated Brian Strane Jr. on the pole – looking for his 6th consecutive win with the series. However, Strane would clip the infield tires on the opening lap, sending his car flipping in front of the field. Strane was uninjured, but would retire for the evening. The entire field was able to navigate past the wreck unscathed. The ensuing complete restart saw Nick Petska assume the pole position and he would go on to lead every lap for his first victory of the season and snapping Strane’s winning streak at 5 races. A great early battle for second developed between second starting Tim Brannam and 2nd row starters Heinert and Neau. At halfway it would be Petska, Heinert, Neau and Brannam with the leaders in heavy lapped traffic. A late caution for a spinning Max Brannam right in front of Petska would group the field back up and take the lappers out of play, however Petska was too strong going on to his first win at the track since 2011. Heinert and Neau would round out the podium and rookie contender Chad Stouthamer would finish 6th and grab the Weld Racing Hard Charger at +7.
The ILS will be back in action at Wilmot Raceway during the Kenosha County Fair for an all IRA show with the Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprint Cars as well as the Wisconsin wingLESS on Saturday, August 17th.
8/3/2024 at Plymouth Dirt Track
A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 18-Nick Petska[3]; 2. 55H-Mark Heinert[5]; 3. 16-Mike Neau[4]; 4. 74-Tim Brannam[2]; 5. 01-Ron Brannam[9]; 6. 5S-Chad Stouthamer[13]; 7. 14-Nate Kirchner[7]; 8. 9-John Kirk[6]; 9. 17-Jordan Funderburk[11]; 10. 74M-Max Brannam[8]; 11. 6-Jeff Schmidt[12]; 12. 63-Jacob Irwin[10]; 13. 13-Tucker Richards[14]; 14. 23-Dominick Swierad[15]; 15. (DNF) 22S-Brian Strane Jr[1]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 74-Tim Brannam[3]; 2. 14-Nate Kirchner[1]; 3. 01-Ron Brannam[5]; 4. 55H-Mark Heinert[2]; 5. 16-Mike Neau[4]; 6. 6-Jeff Schmidt[6]; 7. 13-Tucker Richards[7]; 8. 23-Dominick Swierad[8]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 18-Nick Petska[4]; 2. 74M-Max Brannam[1]; 3. 22S-Brian Strane Jr[3]; 4. 9-John Kirk[2]; 5. 63-Jacob Irwin[6]; 6. 5S-Chad Stouthamer[7]; 7. 17-Jordan Funderburk[5]
Qualifying 1: 1. 16-Mike Neau, 00:13.966[5]; 2. 18-Nick Petska, 00:14.116[8]; 3. 74-Tim Brannam, 00:14.134[9]; 4. 22S-Brian Strane Jr, 00:14.335[3]; 5. 55H-Mark Heinert, 00:14.348[7]; 6. 9-John Kirk, 00:14.365[12]; 7. 14-Nate Kirchner, 00:14.386[6]; 8. 74M-Max Brannam, 00:14.542[15]; 9. 01-Ron Brannam, 00:14.606[2]; 10. 17-Jordan Funderburk, 00:14.636[13]; 11. 6-Jeff Schmidt, 00:14.654[4]; 12. 63-Jacob Irwin, 00:14.665[1]; 13. 13-Tucker Richards, 00:14.721[10]; 14. 5S-Chad Stouthamer, 00:14.929[14]; 15. 23-Dominick Swierad, 00:15.135[11]
Submitted By: Mike Neau