KERTSCHER TAKES FILSKOV MEMORIAL, BALOG IRA CHAMP

9/26 Plymouth, WI Mike Kertscher stole the win from Tommy Sexton with a last corner pass to claim the 13th annual Frank Filskov Memorial Fall Classic at Sheboygan County Fair Park. The race sanctioned by the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series is tradionally the final event of the IRA point season. Kertscher put down an absolute perfect lap rim-riding his way around Sexton and winning the drag race to checkerd. Kertscher piloted the Jim Bell / Chris Hartnell Captain Jim's Yacht Sales Kistler/JEI to the $2700 win. It was Kertcher's second IRA wi of the season, and also his second Filskov Memorial victory. Bill Balog was crowned IRA series champion for the second consecutive season. Donny Goeden led the early going, however fifth starting Sexton powered his way to past Billy Hafemann, Kertscher, and Mike Reinke before taking command as the first 14 laps went green. Veteran Joe Symoens stopped the action with a high altitude back-chute tumble. Sexton would lead Goeden, Kertscher, Scotty Neitzel, Bill Balog, Hafemann, and Reinke on the restart. Neitzel's strong run would end a few laps later with driveline woes, and then Balog became a spin victim initiated by a Ty Bartz - Bill Wirth incident. Sexton would lead Goeden, Kertscher , Hafemann, and Reinke at the restart. Kertscher was able to get by Goeden and began his pursuit of Sexton. Sexton was strong dispite fighting obvious overheating issues, though on the last lap Kertscher agressively pounded the cushion and won the drag to the checkered over Sexton by just a few feet. Goeden would come home third while Reinke edeged Hafemann for fourth. John Haeni, hard charger Todd Hepfner, Scott Uttech, and veterans Jim Melis, and Darrell Dodd completed the top ten.

Hafemannset fast time over the 36 car field, while heat wins went to Sexton, Balog, Dodd, and Reinke. Neitzel edged Haeni, and Symoens in a very entertainng B-Main.

Scott Biertzer came into the event in third place behind Balog, and Neitzel in the point standings, however a sub-standard qualifying time but Biertzer in the B-main, and Biertzer was eliminated in a turn two incident. Haeni, with a solid 6th place A-main run was able to gain enough points to grab third in the final point standings with Biertzer dropping to fourth. Second generation racer Phillip Mock captured IRA Rookie of the Year honors, though father Kim substitued by for his son so the youngster could attend his High School Homecoming activities. A-main Finish: 1. Mike Kertscher, Tommy Sexton, Donny Goeden, Mike Reinke, Billy Hafemann, John Haeni, Todd Hepfner, Scott Uttech, Jim Melis, Darrell Dodd, Jerome Schroeder, Steve Meyer, Kim Mock, Todd Daun, Bill Warren, Bill Balog, Ty Bartz, Jimmy Sivia, Bill Wirth, Scotty Neitzel, Joe Symoens, Wayne Modjeski