May 16, 2012; Beaver Dam, WI - The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Car Series continues its 2012 racing season this Saturday evening, May 19th with a trip to Beaver Dam Raceway. The event will mark the first of four appearances for the 410 outlaw sprints at the third-mile clay oval.

Two races are in the books so far for the 900 horsepower open-wheeled machines and Billy Balog appears to have his sights set on another series title. Balog the four-time and defending series champion has captured both events run so far this year taking victories at both 141 Speedway and Wilmot Raceway.

He currently leads the standings by a slim margin over Mike Reinke. Reinke is hoping to make his way to victory lane having finished in the runner-up position at the season opening event and then turning in a sixth place performance at the most recent IRA event.

Other contenders should include Mike Kertscher who scored a runner-up finish at the IRA event held this past Saturday. Kertscher has a proven record at Beaver Dam Raceway where he scored one of his three victories last season.

Other IRA regulars expected to attend the event include local favorite Scotty Neitzel, Russel Borland, Brandon Thone, Dave Uttech, Phillip Mock, Bill Wirth, Scott Uttech and Bill Warren.

Top rookie of the year contenders Robbie Pribnow and Blake Nimee are also expected to be on hand.

In addition to the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints fans will see Modifieds, Legends and Badger 600 Micro Series Sprints as part of a full evening of racing action.

May 12, 2012; Wilmot, WI - The intensity of the 2012 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint season ramped up as fans were treated to some frenzied late race action in the 30 lap A-main. During the final eight laps of the contest a pair of restarts would showcase a classic duel between four-time and defending IRA Sprint champion Bill Balog and Mike Kertscher who was seeking his first feature win of 2012.

May 5, 2012; Wilmot, WI - It took hot acting on the track to keep fans warm on a cool and damp evening for those attending the Wilmot Raceway season opening racing event at the Kenosha County Fairgrounds. Those in attendance were treated to a show with well over 100 cars taking to the third-mile clay oval as part of the five division program.

Defending 410 Sprint champion Tommy Sexton would hold off Mike Kertscher for the victory as he seeks to repeat the title in 2012. Scott Kuxhouse came away with the Modified feature victory after a fierce battle with Mike Simons Jr. In the Mini-Sprints is was Nick Scanlon taking the first feature checkered of the year. Rob Maule would dominate the non-stop Hobby Stock feature for the victory, while in the combined 4 cylinder main event Jake Greensley topped the Pro 4 class and Scott Redden notched the victory in the Bandits.

Three times was the charm, to start things off in a rather unsettled start of the 410 Sprint feature contest.

A field of 20 Sprint cars were unleashed on the third-mile clay oval but the caution flew for a spin by Phillip Mock as he looped his machine in turn two and was expertly avoided by the field.

The second attempt to get underway resulted quick flip by Jeremy Schultz after he and the machines of Jereme Schroeder and Scott Uttech all tried to grab the same piece of real estate in turn one. Schroeder and Scott Uttech were able to continue, while Schultz was done for the evening with front suspension damage.

The third try to get action underway was the charm as defending Wilmot Raceway champion Tommy Sexton launched from his pole starting position into the lead with outside front row starter Dave Uttech giving chase. Brian Kristan and Scott Uttech settled into the third and fourth slots while Mike Kertscher reached the top five by lap three.

Vetting, Koehler and Liegois sweep sportmods, street stock and sport four classes

by Joe Verdegan and Chris Janda
(FRANCIS CREEK, WI) April 21 – Defending Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw sprint car champion Billy Balog of Eau Claire led all 30 laps and sifted his way through lapped cars en route to the series season opening feature at 141 Speedway Saturday night.

Winged Warriors season opener at the third-mile, clay oval

by Joe Verdegan
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series brings their 900 horsepower thunder to the picturesque 141 Speedway in Francis Creek on Saturday night April 21st. The date marks the area's 2012 Sprint Car season opener. The IRA is the upper-Midwest's premier Sprint Car series. The winged/410 cubic inch open wheel rockets are the fastest type of machines in dirt track racing, and the IRA teams have taken well to the tricky 141 oval.

"The facility itself is extremely fan friendly with some of the best viewing lines and amenities found anywhere," stated long time IRA President Steve Sinclair. "From the competition standpoint, it's truly a driver's track as corners are drastically different. Turns 1 & 2 are high banked sweepers that carry extremely high speeds, while turns 3 & 4 are much sharper and have significantly less banking", Sinclair added. “The track has multi-grooves, and the driver that figures out the best line on each end of the speedway will be the one we find in victory lane counting his money."

And IRA's best have indeed figured it out. 4-time and defending IRA series champion Bill Balog (Waukesha via Alaska) won both 2011 events at 141. Series points runner up Mike Reinke (Howards Grove) captured IRA's inaugural 141 Sprint event back in 2010 and his rim-riding style around turns 1 & 2 make him a crowd favorite. Past 2-time IRA Champion Scotty Neitzel (Beaver Dam) is the track record holder, actually setting the speed mark at IRA's first ever 141 appearance, and lowering it even more since.

Throw in other top Wisconsin Sprint car pilots like Bill Warren, Mike Kertscher, Scott Biertzer, Phillip Mock, Todd King, the Uttech cousins Dave & Scott, Russell Borland, Bill Wirth, Andy Hunt, TJ Luedke, Kris Spitz, Brandon Thone, and Micheal Decker, plus Illinois hot shoes Matt Vandervere, Tommy Sexton, and Brian Kristan into the mix and you've got one of the best regional fields in the country.

by Jeff Sachse
Checking in with 800 horsepower coming from 410 cubic inch engines. Held to the racing surface with some of the widest tires seen on racing machines which are up to 18 inches wide and a pair of wings for incredible down force, these 1400 pound racing machines navigate the third-mile clay oval at Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway at speeds of nearly 120 mph.