BALOG WINS 141 IRA GO – 7TH SERIES WIN ON THE YEAR
(MANITOWOC’S RHODE BECOMES FIRST REPEAT WINNER IN 9 WEEKS OF GRAND NATIONAL RACING)
By Joe Verdegan
(Francis Creek, WI) July 3 – Eau Claire’s Billy Balog passed 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.
Manitowoc Logan Rhode became the first repeat winner in nine weeks of racing in the Brian Peterson Grand Nationals, nipping Chilton’s Steve Schneider at the line for the 20 lap feature win.
A total of 72 cars showed up including 29 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw sprinters, 19 Brian Peterson Builders Grand Nationals, 14 sport fours and 10 Micro Sprints.
Kewauskum’s Donny Goeden sprinted into the lead at the drop of the green of the 30 lap contest. A caution on lap nine tightened the field and on the restart Balog slipped past Goeden for the lead. A red flag flew on lap 13 when Tommy Sexton flipped his mount in turn two. When racing resumed Balog kept his spot until a caution flew with six laps to go. With a six laps shootout to the finish, Balog kept his top spot and won his second feature of the year here and seventh on the season in series action. Beaver Dam’s Scott Neitzel took second while Zion, Illinois’ Matt Vandervere snuck past Goeden on the final lap to take third. Goeden took fourth with Salem’s Kris Spitz rounding out the top five finishers.
In the Brian Peterson Grand National feature Rhode rode in the runnerup spot for most of the event, challenging Chilton’s Steve Schneider for the lead. Rhode snuck underneath Schneider for the lead on a lap 14 restart, and hung on to seal the deal. Schneider took second at the checkers by less than a foot. Brothers Ben and Alex Stumpf took third and fourth, respectively with Milwaukee’s Don Sorce rounding out the top five finishers.
Oconto’s Ralph Liegois Jr. swept action in the sport four class.
Gladstone, Michigan’s Jordan Ives won the Micro sprint feature.
Next Saturday, July 9 S & B Trailers will sponsor the night’s activities, which get underway at 6 p.m.
141 Speedway is located 20 miles south of Green Bay on County Trunk “R” in Whitelaw. For more information call 920 863 3377. The track’s website is 141speedway.com.
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RACE SUMMARY
BUMPER TO BUMPER IRA OUTLAW SPRINT A MAIN – Billy Balog, Eau Claire; Todd King, Sheboygan Falls; Matt Vandevere, Zion, Il.; Donny Goeden, Kewauskum; Kris Spitz, Salem; Scotty Neitzel, Beaver Dam;
Mike Reinke, Howards Grove; Wayne Modjeski, Oak Creek; Brian Kristan, Zion, IL; Billy Wirth, Cudahy; Jeremy Schultz, Beaver Dam; Scotty Thiel, Sheboygan; Mike Kertscher, Fredonia; Russell Borland, Kewauskum; TJ Luedke, Plymouth; Phillip Mock, Pleasant Prairie; John Haeni, Lomira; Jim Moughan, Springfield, IL; Tommy Sexton, Antioch, Il; Scotty Biertzer, West Bend; Billy Warren, Beaver Dam; Johnny Fahl, Brown Deer
SEMI FEATURE – King
HEATS 1) Moughan; Fahl
2) Reinke; Kertscher
3) Biertzer; Balog
Fast Qualifier: Kristan, 11.508
BRIAN PETERSON BUILDERS GRAND NATIONAL FEATURE – Logan Rhode, Manitowoc; Steve Schneider, Chilton; Ben Stumpf, Brillion; Alex Stumpf, Brillion; Don Sorce, Milwaukee; TJ Smith, Menasha
HEATS 1) Brian Gilles, Plymouth; Ben Stumpf
2) Smith; Alex Stumpf
SPORT 4 FEATURE – Ralph Liegois Jr., Oconto; Matt Frisch, Sobieski; Adam Broehm, Stockbridge, Mike Zitzer, Sheboygan; Brandon Goeser, Chilton; Jessica Liegios, Oconto
HEATS 1) Mike Zitzer, Sheboygan; Tim Simon, St. Peter
2) Ralph Liegois Jr., Oconto; Adam Broehm, Stockbridge
MICRO SPRINT FEATURE –Jordan Ives, Gladstone, MI; Scott Degnen, Escanaba, MI Ben Ives, Gladstone, MI; Jason Kressin, Wilson, MI; Austin Cayer, Escanaba, MI
HEAT – Ben Ives, Gladstone, Michigan; Jim Cayer, Escanaba, MI
Posted on July 3rd, 2011
