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.

Dan Lewis Photo - danlewisphoto.netby Joe Verdegan
De Pere’s Johnny “Hitman” Whitman passed Oconto Falls’ Lance Arneson for the lead with five laps to go to win the IMCA modified feature at Luxemburg Speedway Friday night.

120 Cars turned up to compete, including 28 IMCA modifieds, 25 stock cars, 36 northern sportmods, 17 hobby stocks, nine street stocks and 14 sport fours.

Whitman started eighth in the field and began picking off a car every few laps until he reached second by lap 12. Whitman began working on the leader Arneson and ducked underneath him for the lead on lap 15. Whitman held on to post his second feature flag here of the season. Arneson took second, followed by hometown driver Dave Zeitler, Seymour’s Brian Mullen and Green Bay’s Benji LaCrosse.

New Franken’s Brad Lautenbach passed Abrams’ Scott Boyea for the lead on lap seven and survived two cautions and went on to win his third IMCA northern sportmod feature here of the year. With the win Lautenbach took over the points lead. Oconto Falls’ Eric Arneson took the runnerup spot. Kewaunee’s Brian Bruechert, Boyea and Sturgeon Bay’s Randy LeMieux Jr. rounded out the top five finishers.

Hometown driver Dave De Grave swept action in the IMCA stock car class, winning his heat and the feature. Ellisville’s Bob Waechter, Oconto’s Dustin Loberger, Rod Snellenberger of Pulaski and Shawano’s Shawn Wagner rounded out the top five. Wagner charged through the field from 16th after battling his way into the main by winning the last chance race.

Greenville’s Danny Gracyalny passed Brillion’s Randy Rahn for the lead with three laps to go to win the street stock feature. Rahn settled for second, followed by Kewaunee’s Ed Anschutz, Freedom’s Travis Springstroh and Green Bay’s Nick Everard.

by Nick Gima
With lightning flashing in the southern skies, Billy Balog of Brookfield scooted through and around traffic and then outran the field to win the first-ever A-feature at the ABC Raceway for the touring Interstate Racing Association Outlaw Sprint Series on Saturday night.

Series points leader Bill Balog of Brookfield, WI, will lead upwards of 20 IRA Outlaw Sprint Series driver into battle at the ABC Raceway on Saturday, as the popular Midwestern touring sprint-car series makes its first-ever appearance at the northern Wisconsin track. (submitted / IRA file photo)by Nick Gima
In what has become the most anticipated racing event in the Northland this summer, the ABC Raceway will host its first-ever visit by the Bumper-to-Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series on Saturday, July 30.

The northern Illinois-based Midwestern regional touring series features 410-cubic-inch, 800-plus-horsepower winged sprint cars that are sure to turn record-setting laps on the three-eighths-mile red-clay oval, as part of a program to be presented by Wagner’s Ashland Shell and Arby’s Restaurant.

The IRA tours throughout the middle of the country, with events scattered throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois making up their 2011 schedule. In addition, many of the Series’ stars often compete with World of Outlaws drivers at several prestigious national sprint car events, such as the storied Knoxville Nationals in Iowa.

Heading up the field of over 20 outlaw sprinters expected to make this very special trip up north is three-time and defending IRA champion Billy Balog, a native Alaskan who now calls Brookfield, WI, his home. Balog has been on a recent tear of the Series’ schedule, having won seven of the IRA’s last ten events, including one stretch of five straight from late May until mid-June at five different race tracks.

Balog currently leads the Series’ points standings after 13 completed events, and after Saturday’s show here there will only be 12 more scheduled races remaining, making this a very important night of racing for the IRA travelers in their overall championship hunt.

Among those scheduled to join Balog for the long trek north are former IRA Series champs Scotty Neitzel and John Haeni, Midwest Sprint Association titlists Wayne Modjeski and TJ Leudke, and former Knoxville track record holder Mike Reinke, a veteran IRA multi-feature winner who currently sits second in Series points. It’s estimated that most if not all of the top 20 in the current IRA points standings will be in town to take on a track that none of them have ever seen before, much less raced on.

The IRA Outlaw Sprint Series makes a return trip to the Northland on Friday, September 9, as part of the Northern Nationals weekend at the AmsOil Speedway in Superior.

by Joe Verdegan
Eau Claire’s Billy Balog pass Kewauskum’s Donnie Goeden for the lead on a lap nine restart and survived three late caution periods to win the 30 lap Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw sprint car feature in Gandrud Chevrolet night at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek Sunday.

by Dodge County Media PR
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series head to the half-mile Dodge County Fairgrounds this Friday night July 1st for the annual Rick Schmidt Memorial. The Dodge County Fair track is located just east of Beaver Dam, WI on Hwy 33. The venue lost both its' April scheduled IRA events to weather so this show will kick off the 2011 racing season at the popular highspeed facility. IRA will highlight the show by running 2 feature events this Friday night. A good field of Vintage Modifieds will entertain the crowd both on display and on the track throughout the night. A driver can take home $3500 Friday by virtue of winning the $2000 to win 24 car 20 lap first main event, and $1500 for the 20 car 15 lap follow up portion. Pits Open at 3, Grandstand Gates 5 pm, Hot Laps at 6, Opening Ceremonies at 7. Adults $18, children 6-12 yrs old $5, kids 5 & under are FREE.