June 9, 2012; Wilmot, WI -  For a time it appeared four-time and defending Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprint champion Bill Balog had lost his mojo.  It seemed that unquantifiable "racing luck" had turned his back on him as he suffered a string of flips, blown engines and other assorted misfortune.   The tide began to turn in favor of a little good fortune last week when he captured the main event at Eagle Valley Speedway.   But what would happen at Wilmot Raceway?

His fellow competitors found out that Balog is back.  On a hot Saturday evening on Wilmot Raceway's third-mile clay oval he once again turned in a performance showing why he has four series titles.  After setting fast time with a lap of 13.457 seconds, he would be forced to run the B-main after not making it to a transfer spot in his heat race.  In that event he handedly won the contest, earning an 11th place stating spot on the grid for the feature.

Putting on a passing exhibition Balog charged to the front, snaring the lead from young Phillip Mock after a restart and proceeding to keep his nearest rival Mike Kertscher behind him to earn his fifth IRA main event of the 2012 season.  The victory also placed Balog back atop the 2012 season standings by 10 points over Mike Reinke in the series title chase.

The evenings race program started out with 33 competitors checking into the pit area equaling the season high mark set a few weeks earlier at 141 Speedway.

The main event would push off with Nick Alden sitting on the pole of the 30 lap contest and Phillip Mock sitting to his outside.  Playing out in front of the largest crowd of the year at Wilmot Raceway, the field successfully negotiated the close quarters racing in the opening laps on the tight Wilmot Raceway oval and Alden would take the point with Mock and Reinke giving chase.

Three drivers were notable in their progress through the field in the opening laps, as Brian Kristan, Balog and Kertscher were all picking off cars on their way toward the front of the pack.   On lap six Kristan sliced past Reinke for third and set out after Mock.  Two laps later Kristan would work past Mock for the runner-up position and he now set his sights on Alden.

The lead pair of Alden and Kristan both would bobble on lap nine as a result Kristan would lose several positions and Alden gave up his narrow lead and would be forced to contend with Mock who was now challenging him for the top spot.

Alden's time at the front of the pack came to an end moments later when he looped his machine and stalled in turn two giving the top spot to Mock.  He was fortunate however to have been missed by the pack and was able to rejoin the contest from the tail of the field.

The field came back to the green flag Mock showing the way being chased by Bill Warren, Reinke, Kristan and Balog holding down the top five slots.

Warren turning in his best performance so far in 2012 made several attempts to try and find a way past Mock before Mock found his racing groove and began to check out on the field.  Balog meanwhile was wasting no time moving forward eclipsing Kristan, Reinke and Warren in rapid succession to reach second just past the halfway point of the contest.

Moments later the second caution appeared when Kristan's top five performance came to an end with a spin in turn two on lap 17. 

Action was quick to resume with Mock, Balog, Warren, Reinke and Kertscher holding down the top five.   Mock and Balog would swap the lead on several occasions before Mock proved his speed continuing to set the pace.

On lap 21 Balog would execute a flawless slide job to surpass Mock for the top spot.  Once out front Balog began to check out on the field.    Kertscher, trying to equal Balog's pace was able to split both Reinke and Warren to slip into third as the laps would down.

The third and final caution appeared when Patrick Haynes making his first IRA run of the season spun in turn two. 

This setup a dash to the finish.   Balog would charge back into the lead while Kertscher was able to work past Mock into the second position.   Although it appeared Kertscher was closing the gap on Balog, time would run out with Balog taking the victory.  Kertscher would settle for the second position for the third time in Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprint action at Wilmot this season.    Mock's strong effort was rewarded with a third place finish his best run of the year so far.  Warren nailed down the fourth spot followed by Reinke in fifth.

Scott Neitzel, 2011 Wilmot Raceway champion Tommy Sexton, Mike Hess, Wayne Modjeski and Jordan Goldsberry completed the top ten.  20 of the 22 starters were still running at the finish.

The B-main had a huge field of 17 starters which Balog kept firmly in control from start to finish in spite of a generous number of caution flags.  Scott Uttech, Goldsberry, Ryan Irwin Jr. , Modjeski and Jereme Schroeder earned the transfer spots by finishing in the top six. 

Incidents were minor this evening and the only machine to leave it's wheels happened in a heat race when Destini Clark, making her first Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprint Car appearance gently tipped onto her side while avoiding a car which spun in front of her.   Much to the delight of the crowd she returned to run the B-main and finished 11th.

In qualifying Balog topped the timing charts with a lap of 13.547 seconds followed by Uttech who turned in a lap of 13.594 seconds.  Kertscher was third with a 13.607 second lap.  A total of seven drivers eclipsed the 14 second barrier.

Next week The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series makes a return trip to Beaver Dam Raceway.  The banked third-mile oval last played host to the series on May 19th, an event captured by Balog.

In addition to the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints support divisions will include Modifieds, a Legends National Qualifier and Badger Micro 600's which are scheduled to appear.  Cerfus Project will perform live music from 4:00pm till 6:00pm  Gates will open early 3:00pm.

Adult admission is just $20.00. Students ages  6 through 12  are admitted for $10.00 and children 5 and under are admitted free.  For additional information consult the track website at www.wismotorsports.net

For more information on the IRA Outlaw Sprints check out the tour website at www.irasprints.com The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints can also be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/irasprints and the series is also on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ira_sprints

The IRA Outlaw Sprint Series is proudly supported by Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts & Service Centers, Osborn & Son Trucking, Goodyear, TW Metals, Cummins Onan, DNA Energy Drink& Snacks, MPT Industries, UltraLube, Big Game Treestands, Carriage Auto Body, Otis Gun, Mother's Polishes and Waxes and Polaris DEFENSE. The office of the IRA Sprints can be reached at 815-759-9269 or by e-mail at [email protected]

BOX SCORE:

Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints:

A-Main: 1.) Bill Balog; 2.) Mike Kertscher; 3.) Phillip Mock; 4.) Bill Warren; 5.) Mike Reinke; 6.) Scott Neitzel; 7.) Tommy Sexton; 8.) Mike Hess; 9.) Wayne Modjeski; 10.) Jordan Goldsberry; 11.) Brian Kristan; 12.) Russel Borland; 13.) Scott Uttech; 14.) Kris Spitz; 15.) Robbie Pribnow; 16.) Ryan Irwin Jr.; 17.) Dave Uttech; 18.) Nick Alden; 19.) Kenny Haynes; 20.) Patrick Haynes; 21.) Jereme Schroeder; 22.) Bill Wirth

B-Main (Top 10): 1.) Balog;  2.) S. Uttech; 3.) Goldsberry; 4.) Irwin Jr.; 5.) K. Haynes; 6.) Schroeder; 7.) Brandon Thone; 8.) Chad Tessman; 9.) Tim Vandervere; 10.) Allen Hafford

Heat 1: 1.) Reinke; 2.) Warren; 3.) Sexton; 4.) P. Haynes
Heat 2: 1.) Mock; 2.) Borland; 3.) Neitzel; 4.) Pribnow
Heat 3: 1.) Kristan; 2.) K. Spitz; 3.) Kertscher; 4.) D. Uttech
Heat 4: 1.) Alden; 2.) Wirth; 3.) Hess; 4.) Modjeski

Qualifying:  1.) Balog, 13.547 Seconds; 2.) S. Uttech, 13.594 secs; 3.) Kertscher, 13.607 secs; 4.) Raymond Hensley 13.856; 5.) Sexton, 13.940; 6.) Schroeder, 13.956; 7.) Goldsberry, 13.994; 8.) Hess, 14.004; 9.) Rusty Egan, 14.093; 10.) Neitzel, 14.146.