Cedar Lake Soaked as Race Teams Prepare For Action
June 1, 2014; Appleton, WI. – The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints anticipated an exciting weekend of racing with major events at both Cedar Lake Speedway and Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, WI. Unfortunately sometimes in spite of the best planning something can go amiss. That something… was rain, and too much of it.
This weekend, for the first time since May 2011, the series suffered a complete weekend washout.
Teams had gathered Saturday evening at Cedar Lake Speedway when the track was hit by several downpours, the last of which occurred at 6:00pm forcing track officials to throw in the towel and cancel the show in spite of a valiant effort to complete the program. A full field of cars had gathered at the 3/8 mile banked clay oval.
The next currently scheduled event for the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints at the track will be Saturday night September 6th.
A dismal forecast and imminent rain threat also put a damper on the scheduled “1st Annual Norm Nelson Classic” at Angell Park Speedway. The show was to mark the return of the 410 sprints to the third-mile clay oval after an absence of 29 years. The return of 410 sprints to the track will now have to wait until July 20th.
Racing for the series will return next weekend with a trip to Beaver Dam Raceway for a Saturday Night show on June 7th.
The contest will mark the third appearance this season at the track and both prior events have seen tremendous on track action. The both those races have been won by Phillip Mock who seems to have a stranglehold on victory lane at the banked, third-mile clay oval.
Mock edged out former World of Outlaws regular Bill Rose for the victory in the first contest, while he managed to outrun a hard charging Mike Reinke in the second event.
Mock heads into the forthcoming Beaver Dam program second in the current standings behind Bill Balog. Balog, the six-time and defending series champion, swept the most recent weekend of racing claiming wins at Wilmot Raceway and 141 Speedway.
Scotty Thiel, a contender for the Rookie of the Year title this season, heads to the event third in points after scoring his first career podium finish at 141 Speedway last weekend.
Rose has turned in a pair of podium runs seeking to break into the win column. Traveling all the way from Indiana, Rose has made a dedicated effort to the series so far in 2014.
2013 Rookie of the Year, Jeremy Schultz has clawed his way back into the point chase currently sitting in fifth just ahead of two-time title holder Scotty Neitzel.
Mike Reinke was runner-up in his last two appearances and is surely due for an A-main victory. His on track performances have been so strong that he sits seventh in the standings in spite of missing an event.
Other drivers expected to show include Rookie of the Year challenger Ben Schmidt, Lance Fassbender, Russell Borland, Blake Nimee, Jereme Schroeder, Brandon Thone, Wayne Modjeski and Allen Hafford.
Veteran racer Steve Meyer will also be on hand celebrating his 25th year behind the wheel, Meyer has also been extremely close to victory this season having taken a second place finish to Craig Dollansky at Oshkosh.
The IRA racing families will also be back in action at Beaver Dam with cousins Scott and Dave Uttech joining the battle along with the father and son team of Dennis and Kris Spitz.
The June 8th race program will see the pit gates opening at 3:30 pm and the grandstand will open at 4:30 pm. Racing action is set to get underway at 6:30 pm.
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints should have nearly 30 of the best 410 sprint drivers in the Midwest on hand. The IRA sprints will be joined by the tracks own Sport Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Legends divisions.
General admission is $20 for adults, with a youth ticket being sold for $10 to fans ages 6 through 11. Children ages 5 and under are admitted FREE with a paid adult.
Event information can be found on the Beaver Dam Raceway website at www.wismotorsports.net or by calling the track at (920) 887-1600. Beaver Dam Raceway is located on Racetrack Road just east of the intersection of Hwy 151 and 33 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
The 2014 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series season will consist of 30 shows to be held at 15 different area tracks.
IRA proudly moves into 2014 backed by its long time supporting series partners 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.
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints are a featured member of Racetext.net a website dedicated to bringing fans the best possible coverage of local short track racing.
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.