8/1/2015
IRA Interstate Racing Association
WHITNEY EXTENDS NO REPEAT WINNER STREAK, TAKING BUMPER TO BUMPER IRA SPRINT MAIN AT LANGLAND COUNTY SPEEDWAY IN ANTIGO!
WEATHER THREAT DOESN’T STOP IRA ACTION AT LANGLADE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS!
July 31, 2015; Antigo, WI – A little bit of patience was required, but the dedicated staff of the Langlade County Fairgrounds put forth the effort to make the annual appearance of the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints a reality in spite of Mother Nature’s best effort to halt the show. Rain showers hit the track just as hot laps were set to begin.
After an hour, and a half delay and some hard work by track officials, the track was ready to host the 900 horsepower Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw sprints. The fans were treated to an incredibly fast track with the drivers approaching 130 mph on the tacky 5/8 mile racing surface.
Former two-time series champion Travis Whitney of Coon Rapids, MN, who now runs the series on a limited basis since his title efforts, dominated the last half of the A-main on his way to victory. The win was his first in IRA since June of 2012 when he topped the event held at Jackson Speedway in his home state of Minnesota. Whitney finished a full straightway ahead of early race leader Scotty Neitzel.
The win by Whitney extended the no repeat winners streak in Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint series action to nine. There have been no repeat winners since seven-time series champion Bill Balog won two races back to back in late May.
“The track was just fast! I knew we had to get around these guys early as I knew the track was going to be narrow and tough to pass”, Whitney stated accepting the applause of the crowd. “I was getting a little bit worried as my engine was heating up and blowing oil out. Hopefully we’re good for tomorrow night”, noted Whitney who intends to participate in all three events the series will hold this weekend.
“I love this place, me and this track gel really well. I think this is my favorite track that I enjoy coming too”, Whitney added as another round of applause came from the crowd.
Neitzel was satisfied with his run. “Travis had a good car, he’s really tough to beat on these big tracks”, noted Neitzel. “We have no excuses, we had a good car I just didn’t run the car hard enough. He did a heck of a job and deserved the win”, stated Neitzel showing his sportsmanship.
“I’m not really worrying about the point real much, we’ve been fortunate to win a couple championships. We’re just here to race, if that it all comes together it does, if it doesn’t it’s just part of the deal”, stated Neitzel.
While Whitney was impressive on the ultra tacky racing surface, the track proved challenging to several competitors who suffered mechanical ills throughout the night. Engine issues claimed the cars of Scott Biertzer, Russel Borland, Kurt Davis, Byron Walters, and Robbie Pribnow who was piloting a car normally driven by Brandon Thone.
When the A-main took to the track 21 starters accepted the green flag.
Neitzel took the opening lead of the 25 contest. In the thick of the title chase Neitzel has been showing the tenacity that earned him two previous series titles. Heading into the tonight Neitzel had already scored a victory in 2015, and has been chasing point leaders Bill Rose and Ben Schmidt narrowing the gap in recent weeks.
Once out front Neitzel began to pull away from his rivals. Ben Schmidt, another challenger for the 2015 season title sailed into the second spot with Whitney making a daring opening lap charge to advance from sixth on the starting grid up to third.
Neitzel’s lead began to shrink as he approached lapped traffic on lap seven, and Schmidt began to reel in the leader.
At the same time Whitney began his charge. Using the combination of raw speed, and finding ways around lapped machines without breaking momentum, he was able to sail past Schmidt for second, and on lap eight he roared past Neitzel to grab the top spot.
Schmidt in his second season with the Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprints has been tossing the point lead back and forth with Plainsfield, Indiana native Bill Rose. Rose the point leader heading into the night worked his way past Schmidt for the third position on lap nine.
Whitney’s pace allowed him to pull out to a full straightaway lead over Neitzel when the only slowdown of the event occurred on lap 15. Phillip Mock was doing battle for position had clipped a lapped car causing a flat tire. As a result Mock came to a halt of the backstretch forcing the slowdown. After some fast work by his team Mock was able to rejoin the field for the final ten laps of the event.
Underway again Whitney, the evening’s fastest qualifier, simply stood on the gas leaving the field in his wake. This left the main battle for the second spot, and Neitzel was busy trying to fend off Rose to maintain the position.
On lap 19, Rose had his car begin to show signs of smoke, and going down the backstretch he suddenly veered into the infield. After the event is was found that the oil filter had come loose on the machine of Rose, and that fortunately he did not add his name to the list of expired engines this evening.
As a result of Rose’s issues Neitzel got a reprieve on his battle for second, and the third position now fell into the hands of Schmidt who had seen his chief challenger in the point battle drop from the contest.
Over the final laps Whitney keep up his pace comfortably taking the win. Neitzel had held fast to the runner-up spot with Schmidt making the podium for the sixth time this season with his third place performance.
Scotty Thiel was the big mover of the event having gained nine positions charging from his 13th place starting spot up to fourth. His bid for a podium came up just a couple car lengths short as he had his sights on Schmidt as the checkered flag fell.
Mike Reinke completed the top five finishers after a solid run.
Jeremy Schultz earned the sixth spot just ahead of top rookie performer Kyle Marten who had crossed the line in seventh. Blake Nimee was eighth at the line this evening. Ninth went to veteran racer Steve Meyer. Meyer had paced the most laps since the IRA sprints had returned to Langlade County Speedway two years ago, and had come into the night with back to back second place finishes.
Scott Uttech, a winner last week at Oshkosh Speedzone completed tonight’s top ten finishers.
Attrition had whittled the field down from 21 starters to 13 finishers.
Three heat races were held this evening with wins going to Uttech, Marten and Schultz.
Whitney, the night’s fastest qualifier set the time to beat at 17.035 seconds. Biertzer earned the second fastest time with a lap of 17.336. Unfortunately for Biertzer his engine gave way while running his heat race. Reinke was third quick this evening with a lap of 17.399 seconds.
The series now heads to the Sheboygan County Fairpark on Saturday night for the annual running of the Frank Filskov Memorial race. The main event will be contested at 27 laps in honor of Filskov.
The Brian Portschy Memorial will be held for the local PDTR 360 Sprints and Badger 600cc Micro Sprints will also be on the program for an all-open wheeled show.
Pits will open at 3:00pm, Grandstands 4:30pm and cars will take to the racing surface starting at 6:00pm. Adult tickets are just $20, kids 6-12 years only $5, and children 5 & under are FREE.
Additional information on the event can be found at www.plymouthdtr.com
The triple header weekend will conclude on Sunday with at stop at Seymour Speedway located on the Outagamie County Fairgrounds.
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.
Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 16-Travis Whitney[6]; 2. 2W-Scott Neitzel[1]; 3. 35-Ben Schmidt[3]; 4. 64-Scotty Thiel[13]; 5. 02-Mike Reinke[5]; 6. 5J-Jeremy Schultz[7]; 7. 99-Kyle Marten[8]; 8. 79-Blake Nimee[11]; 9. 85M-Steve Meyer[16]; 10. 7-Scott Uttech[9]; 11. 68-Dave Uttech[14]; 12. 1M-Phillip Mock[2]; 13. 11K-Rick Kelsey[19]; 14. (DNF) 6-Bill Rose[4]; 15. (DNF) 41-Dennis Spitz[15]; 16. (DNF) 12W-Josh Walter[17]; 17. (DNF) 12-Michael Decker[21]; 18. (DNF) 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski[10]; 19. (DNF) 53W-Bill Wirth[12]; 20. (DNF) 4K-Kris Spitz[20]; 21. (DNF) 6K-Kurt Davis[18]
Weld Racing Products Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 7-Scott Uttech[2]; 2. 68-Dave Uttech[1]; 3. 2W-Scott Neitzel[4]; 4. 16-Travis Whitney[6]; 5. 79-Blake Nimee[3]; 6. 6-Bill Rose[5]; 7. 11K-Rick Kelsey[7]; 8. 12-Michael Decker[8]; DNS 5-Bryon Walters
All Star Performance Products Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 99-Kyle Marten[2]; 2. 41-Dennis Spitz[1]; 3. 35-Ben Schmidt[5]; 4. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski[4]; 5. 53W-Bill Wirth[3]; 6. 6K-Kurt Davis[8]; 7. (DNF) 4B-Scott Biertzer[6]; 8. (DNF) 4K-Kris Spitz[7]
DMI Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 5J-Jeremy Schultz[2]; 2. 85M-Steve Meyer[1]; 3. 64-Scotty Thiel[3]; 4. 02-Mike Reinke[6]; 5. 1M-Phillip Mock[5]; 6. 12W-Josh Walter[7]; 7. (DNF) 94-Rob Pribnow[4]; DNS 23-Russell Borland
Osborn & Son Trucking Qualifying 1: 1. 16-Travis Whitney[19]; 2. 4B-Scott Biertzer[20]; 3. 02-Mike Reinke[21]; 4. 6-Bill Rose[1]; 5. 35-Ben Schmidt[22]; 6. 1M-Phillip Mock[23]; 7. 2W-Scott Neitzel[6]; 8. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski[25]; 9. 94-Rob Pribnow[16]; 10. 79-Blake Nimee[13]; 11. 53W-Bill Wirth[24]; 12. 64-Scotty Thiel[9]; 13. 7-Scott Uttech[3]; 14. 99-Kyle Marten[10]; 15. 5J-Jeremy Schultz[15]; 16. 68-Dave Uttech[2]; 17. 41-Dennis Spitz[7]; 18. 85M-Steve Meyer[17]; 19. 11K-Rick Kelsey[14]; 20. 4K-Kris Spitz[5]; 21. 12W-Josh Walter[8]; 22. 12-Michael Decker[11]; 23. 6K-Kurt Davis[12]; 24. 23-Russell Borland[18]; DNS 5-Bryon Walters
2015 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints Upcoming Events:
8/1/2015 Sheboygan County Fairgrounds – Plymouth, WI
8/2/2015 Seymour Speedway – Seymour, WI
8/7/2015 Dodge County Fairgrounds – Beaver Dam, WI
8/21/2015 Wilmot Raceway – Wilmot, WI
8/22/2015 Wilmot Raceway – Wilmot, WI
8/23/2015 Angell Park Speedway – Sun Prairie, WI
Submitted By: Jeffrey Sachse
