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ROOKIE SCHULTZ OUTLASTS SCHMIDT FOR 141 SPEEDWAY IRA VICTORY!

Robbie Pribnow returns to action, collects podium finish!

Francis Creek, WI, September 1, 2013 – The first of three consecutive double header weekends went in the books as the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints contested a pair of events in Eastern Wisconsin bullrings.

Looking at the results list from both events one can see the potential of future IRA stars as there were a wide variety of seasoned veterans and hopeful newcomers among the top of the results list.

Tonight’s main event at 141 Speedway demonstrated the unpredictable nature of 410 sprint racing. The featured race had two facets. First, a melee at the start of the contest, which saw three drivers take a wild tumble down the front stretch. The machines of Mike Reinke, Mike Kertscher and Dave Uttech were collected in a grinding crash as the green flag waved. From there, however, the next 30 laps clicked off without a single slowdown in seven minutes.

When the contest reached its conclusion Jeremy Schultz was atop the leader board for the second time this season. The rookie sensation celebrated his victory from atop the wing of his ride after he came out on top of a hard fought battle with Ben Schmidt. Schmidt at one point appeared to be headed for his first career IRA victory even though he has only a handful of starts with the series. Both Schmidt and Schultz had turned in numerous laps together while doing battle for championships at the nearby Plymouth and Manitowoc race tracks.

When all was said in done it was Schultz celebrating in victory lane before a cheering crowd. Schmidt’s fortunes didn’t go as well having to drop from the contest while in a podium position with a few laps to go. This placed Phillip Mock in the second spot matching his career best finish, a position he has reached a couple times this year serving notice that the second generation racer is getting ever closer to his first victory celebration.

Third place went to Robbie Pribnow. The 2012 Bumper to Bumper IRA Rookie of the Year showcased the talent he has when a little good fortune is on his side. Pribnow had a horrendous start to the 2013 season with flips at three consecutive events. Taking some time to rebuild his racing program Pribnow was back in the limelight tonight with a solid third place showing.

On a well groomed racing surface, the field of 22 was set to take Jim Barr’s green flag for the 30 lap A-main with Schultz and Steve Meyer making up the front row. As the field came up to speed Meyer slipped in the high line sliding sideways across the front of the oncoming herd toward the infield. As drivers attempted to miss him a chain reaction incident began to take place with Mike Reinke, Mike Kertscher and Dave Uttech all tumbling down the front stretch simultaneously. Kertscher appeared to have the most violent flip nearly ending up nearly in turn one. None of the drivers were injured but none of those getting upside down were able to resume the event.

19 cars were left for the next attempt at the green flag and once the flag waved this time fans buckled in for 30 laps of non-stop action.

Schultz was quick to secure the lead with Schmidt filtering into the second spot. Behind the lead pair Mock worked into position to run third in the opening laps.

Schultz’s lead was a precarious one as Schmidt began to reel in the hard charging rookie. Though Schmidt has only had limited runs behind the wheel of a 410 sprint, his name is well known in eastern Wisconsin having won multiple 360 titles at area tracks.

Knowing each other’s driving style allowed Schultz and Schmidt to battle in close quarters and Schmidt gained the upper hand on lap eight.

Once out front Schmidt began to build a small lead on Schultz as the pair weaved through lapped traffic. Mock meanwhile attempted to close on Schultz for the second spot but seemed unable to make any progress in doing so.

At the halfway point Schmidt’s car had a noticeable glow to its exhaust perhaps an early indication that something was amiss and he began to lose some speed. Schultz was able to reel back in his rival and after a brief battle on lap 18, Schultz shot back out front.

With ten laps to go Schultz, Schmidt, Mock, Scott Neitzel and Robbie Pribnow made up the top five spots. With Schultz sailing out front the shake-up was happening behind him. On lap 21, Pribnow who had started mid-pack worked his way by Neitzel for the fourth spot. Two circuits later Schmidt’s problems began to worsen and Mock took advantage of the situation to snare second.

Schmidt’s ailing machine continued to lose speed and he pulled off the track on lap 24 turning third over to Pribnow.

Out front Schultz now saw his lead begin to shrink as Mock began to reel in the leader. Schultz would have the speed to reach the finish line first to score the win with Mock unable to reach Schultz before the checker. Mock matched his career best performance once again with a second place showing while Pribnow flashed past the finish line in third.

Neitzel who had battled an ill-handling car due to wing damage on the opening lap accident, lost control in the final turn giving up the fourth spot. Kris Spitz was the benefactor of Neitzel’s spin actually advancing from sixth to fourth on the final trip around the quarter-mile oval his best performance of the 2013 season. Bill Warren completed the top five which was also his season’s best finish.

Meyer crossed the line in sixth after charging through the pack from the tail of the field as a result of his trip to the work area on the opening lap. Wayne Modjeski, Russel Borland, Ken Jay Fiedler and Nick Alden completed the top ten runners.

Neitzel was credited with 11th, the last car on the lead lap. 16 cars were still on the track at the finish.

Earlier in the evening Kris Spitz handedly won the B-main event over Modjeski. Borland, Fiedler, Kurt Davis and Michael Decker. The seventh and final transfer spot went to Nick Alden. Alden had suffered mechanical difficulties while dominating the event near the midway point. Heading to the work area for quick repairs Alden rejoined the contest at the tail of the field and charged his way back through the pack. In the final turn Alden swept to the outside of Dennis Wiesner to steal the seventh and final transfer spot in the last 50 feet of the race.

Meyer, Schultz and Bill Wirth collected heat race wins.

Qualifying saw a new name atop the results list. Todd Hepfner making his first run in nearly three years utilized the ride of Brandon Thone and set the fastest time of the evening blazing around the track in 10.999 seconds. Neitzel was second quick with an 11.010 second effort and Schmidt was third fast with a clocking of 11.037 seconds.

The top 22 of the 29 cars on hand all qualified within one second of the fastest time set by Hepfner.

The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints now prepare to head to the extreme northern Wisconsin regions for their next double-header weekend.

On Friday night September 7th, the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints head to Ams-Oil Speedway in Superior for the running of the Northern Nationals.

The following evening, teams pack up and head back south to participate in the 13th Annual Jerry Richert Memorial race to be held at Cedar Lake Speedway.

For more information on the IRA Outlaw Sprints check out the tour website at www.irasprints.com or logging onto the series Facebook page at www.facebook.com/irasprints

The IRA Outlaw Sprint Series is proudly supported by Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts & Service Centers, Hoosier Tire, Osborn & Son Trucking, TW Metals, Onan, Carriage Auto Body, Polaris DEFENSE, and Mother's Polishes and Waxes. The office of the IRA Sprints can be reached at 815-759-9269 or by e-mail at steve@irasprints.com

BOX SCORE:

Event: #20 – 141 Speedway – Francis Creek, WI – September 1, 2013

Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Cars

A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 5J-Jeremy Schultz[1]; 2. 1M-Phillip Mock[11]; 3. 20R-Rob Pribnow[12]; 4. 4K-Kris Spitz[13]; 5. 95-Bill Warren[15]; 6. 85M-Steve Meyer[2]; 7. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski[17]; 8. 23-Russell Borland[18]; 9. 95A-Ken Jay Fiedler[19]; 10. 8A-Nick Alden[22]; 11. 2W-Scott Neitzel[9]; 12. 12-Michael Decker[21]; 13. 94-Todd Hepfner[10]; 14. 6K-Kurt Davis[20]; 15. 7-Scott Uttech[6]; 16. 79-Blake Nimee[14]; DNF 35-Ben Schmidt[8]; DNF 53W-Bill Wirth[3]; DNF 11K-Rick Kelsey[16]; DNF 02-Mike Reinke[4]; DNF 68-Dave Uttech[5]; DNF 80K-Mike Kertscher[7]

B Feature (15 Laps): 1. 4K-Kris Spitz[1]; 2. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski[4]; 3. 23-Russell Borland[5]; 4. 95A-Ken Jay Fiedler[6]; 5. 6K-Kurt Davis[9]; 6. 12-Michael Decker[11]; 7. 8A-Nick Alden[2]; 8. 73-Dennis Weisner[3]; 9. 4-Paul Pokorski[7]; 10. 38-Allen Hafford[12]; 11. 21H-Tim Haddy[10]; 12. 71-Chad Tessman[13]; DNF 5H-Patrick Haynes[8]; DNS 41-Dennis Spitz

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 85M-Steve Meyer[2]; 2. 95-Bill Warren[1]; 3. 02-Mike Reinke[4]; 4. 80K-Mike Kertscher[5]; 5. 94-Todd Hepfner[6]; 6. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski[7]; 7. 21H-Tim Haddy[9]; 8. 4-Paul Pokorski[8]; 9. 4K-Kris Spitz[3]; 10. 71-Chad Tessman[10]

Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 5J-Jeremy Schultz[2]; 2. 11K-Rick Kelsey[1]; 3. 1M-Phillip Mock[4]; 4. 7-Scott Uttech[5]; 5. 2W-Scott Neitzel[6]; 6. 8A-Nick Alden[3]; 7. 23-Russell Borland[7]; 8. 12-Michael Decker[9]; DNF 5H-Patrick Haynes[8]; DNS 41-Dennis Spitz

Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 53W-Bill Wirth[3]; 2. 35-Ben Schmidt[6]; 3. 20R-Rob Pribnow[4]; 4. 68-Dave Uttech[5]; 5. 79-Blake Nimee[2]; 6. 6K-Kurt Davis[8]; 7. 38-Allen Hafford[9]; 8. 73-Dennis Weisner[1]; DNF 95A-Ken Jay Fiedler[7]

Qualifying: 1. 94-Todd Hepfner; 2. 2W-Scott Neitzel; 3. 35-Ben Schmidt; 4. 80K-Mike Kertscher; 5. 7-Scott Uttech; 6. 68-Dave Uttech; 7. 02-Mike Reinke; 8. 1M-Phillip Mock; 9. 20R-Rob Pribnow; 10. 4K-Kris Spitz

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