7/4/2015
IRA Interstate Racing Association
REINKE’S LATE RACE PASS STOPS SCHMIDT SWEEP IN BUMPER TO BUMPER IRA SPRINT ACTION AT MANITOWOC!
CAPACITY CROWED WITNESSES RETURN OF 410 SPRINTS AFTER 13 YEAR ABSCENCE!
July 3, 2015; Manitowoc, WI – In 2002, seven-time IRA champion Joe Roe accepted the checkered flag at Manitowoc Speedway. It would be a long absence of 13 years before fans would witness the return of 410 sprint racing to the banked third-mile clay oval.
The return came in spectacular fashion as the 30 lap A-main was completed in just under 8 minutes, running from green to checker without incident in front of a capacity crowd.
Mike Reinke became the sixth different winner in nine IRA events held thus far in 2015. In taking the victory Reinke prevented current series point leader Ben Schmidt from sweeping the program. Schmidt established the fastest qualifying time of the evening and later dominated his heat race. In the main event Schmidt held the lead in the waning laps when a lapped car briefly slowed him. Reinke, who had been doing battle with Schmidt for the lead swept past and motored away for a convincing win on a smooth and slick racing surface.
“Ben (Schmidt) got by us on the start. I was going to save the tires a bit. I wasn’t sure if the track was going to rubber up I wanted to make sure there was something left for the end”, noted Reinke. “ We got in a group of lapped cars there, and I was able to capitalize, it surprised me, and I’m happy to be here” (in victory lane), concluded Reinke.
In addition to $2,500 for winning the event, Reinke also netted a bonus of $500 from Hagar’s Half-Pound Cookies which was awarded as a unique bonus.
Scotty Thiel challenged Schmidt for runner-up honors during the final laps, with the pair swapping the spot before Schmidt surged back ahead on the final circuit to earn second.
“I have a lot of laps around this place and I really love coming here. I wish we came here ten times a year. It was awesome”, exclaimed Schmidt! “I had to get out front right away, and I knew he (Reinke) would be dogging me the whole race. I saw him four or five times, and he finally got me but it was a great night”, Schmidt concluded.
Thiel, whose promotional group, Six Four Promotions was responsible for creating tonight’s show settled for third his first podium run of the season.
The 24 car A-main rolled trackside with Rookie of the Year challenger Josh Walter on the pole and seasoned veteran Steve Meyer to his outside. Midget standout Jake Blackhurst from Mapleton, IL started in the second row next to Reinke.
At the drop of the green flag Walter surprised Meyer as he blasted into the lead. Meyer attempted to fight back past Walter but drifted high on the track losing several spots as Reinke moved into second with Schmidt in tow.
Schmidt surprised Reinke powering around the rim of the track to reach second, and he soon reeled in Walter. Walter hugging the low line ran wing to wing with Schmidt for the top spot who preferred to keep his ride on the high side, just inches from the guardrail on the backstretch.
Walter was able to officially lead the first seven laps, often by a matter of inches before Schmidt finally gained the upper hand. On lap nine Reinke dropped Walter back to third as he took over runner-up honors.
Thiel meanwhile had climbed to the fourth spot, and began to close in on the leaders.
Schmidt reached lapped traffic by lap 12, and Reinke continued to apply the pressure awaiting a slip by Schmidt who continued to drive the high groove with ferocity. With prior championships at the track to his credit in the 360 sprint ranks, Schmidt was comfortable running the extreme high side of the track to make his way through lapped cars.
By the halfway point Thiel advanced to the third spot, and slowly closed in on the lead duo. The trio of Schmidt, Reinke and Thiel were nose to tail with 10 laps to go. Two laps later Schmidt temporarily had his progress hindered by a lapped car and that was all it took for Reinke to make his move, surging ahead down the backstretch on lap 23.
Over the final circuits Reinke was able to open a small margin on his rivals, helped somewhat as Schmidt and Thiel became engaged in battle for second. Thiel briefly was able to maneuver past Schmidt with two laps to go, but Schmidt rallied to sail back past Thiel as the white flag flew.
Reinke’s lead grew to eight car lengths and he paced the final circuit unchallenged to score the win, his first since taking top honors at the Sheboygan County Fairpark last September.
Schmidt crossed the line a car length ahead of Thiel topping a solid night in second. It was the fourth time this season Schmidt had finished in the second spot. Thiel netted a comfortable third.
Walter held on for fourth, his best career performance in IRA action. Jeremy Schultz, another former 360 sprint champion at Manitowoc nailed down fifth.
Kris Spitz quietly worked his way forward all evening from his 16th place starting spot to take sixth. Bill Rose earned seventh followed by Blackhurst. Kurt Davis scored his first top ten run of the year in IRA competition taking home ninth. Blake Nimee completed the top ten runners.
12 cars were on the lead lap at the finish, and only one driver dropped out of the contest leaving 23 cars on track at the checkered.
In earlier action Rose outran Scott Uttech in the B-main. Scott Biertzer, Michael Decker, Byron Walters and Allen Hafford were transfer cars by comprising the top six spots.
Heat race victories were captured by Schmidt, Reinke and Davis.
31 cars had signed into the pit area, and so far this year only a single show had less than 30 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints in attendance.
Schmidt was the fastest qualifier of the evening with a lap of 12.948 seconds. Scotty Neitzel who had won the most recent IRA race which was held at Angell Park Speedway turned the second fastest lap with a 13.206 second effort. Biertzer was third quick with a run of 13.377 seconds.
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints make their next appearance this coming Friday evening, July 10th, at the Dodge County Fairgrounds located in located just east of Beaver Dam, WI. The big half-mile track is among the fastest on the IRA circuit.
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.
2015 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints Upcoming Events:
7/10/2015 Dodge County Fairgrounds – Beaver Dam, WI
7/18/2015 Eagle Valley Speedway – Jim Falls, WI
7/19/2015 Angell Park Speedway – Sun Prairie, WI
7/24/2015 Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway – Oshkosh, WI
7/25/2015 Wilmot Raceway – Wilmot, WI
Submitted By: Jeffrey Sachse
