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Reinke Raids Dodge
Beaver Dam, WI (Sept 18, 2004): It was a night filled with emotion
as the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series visited the Dodge County
Fairgrounds for the final time in 2004 as the Beaver Dam Ford Dealers “Bad
to the Bone” series concluded. The cool fall temperatures lived up to
their expectations and provided a heavy racing surface all night long,
keeping the action as fast paced as the cars themselves.
Thirty-Five cars went after Travis Whitney’s long standing track record
which fell soon after time trials started when Scott Young shaved over a tenth
off the old record, however, Young’s new record would be short lived as
Travis Whitney would drop yet another tenth of a second, establishing the new
track record at 16.239 seconds (110.8 mph). Heat races were won by Todd
King, Scott Young, Scott Neitzel, Mike Reinke with John Sernett picking up the
B-Main.
The 25 lap A-Main event began with a tribute to long time IRA starter Richard
“Dick” Witt as the 24 car field performed the “Missing Man” formation
with pole sitter Steve Meyer pulling up alongside Lynda Witt, driving the pace
truck. Once the green flag fell on the A Main, Travis Whitney used the
outside line of turn #2 to take the early lead. The yellow would fly
early twice as Mike Kertscher struggled with an ill handling machine,
ultimately forced pitside to watch. Mike Reinke would move up to the second
spot when the red flag flew for an incident involving Jason Johnson, Dave
Uttech and Ty Bartz. Johnson, who’s #44 ended upside down, was able to
effect quick repairs and return to action along with Uttech. Bartz’s
#75 would be sidelined for the remainder of the event.
On the restart, Whitney lead the field to the green, but in doing so, his #9
pulled the front wheel off the ground and opened up the bottom for Reinke to
slip under entering turn #1. Reinke would then begin setting a torrid
pace with Whitney following and a battle developing between 3rd place Scott
Young and a charging Scott Neitzel. As the leaders negotiated traffic,
Neitzel looked under Young entering turn #1. As the pair worked under
the lapped car of Mike Stefka, the trio came together sending Stefka (who was
on the outside) into the outside retaining wall and brining out the
caution. On the restart, Whitney made a charge at the cone to try and
best Reinke into one, but Reinke was up to the challenge and maintained the
top spot. Reinke continued his blistering pace in anticipation of an
equally hot Whitney being close behind, and would go on to pick up his 4th IRA
win of the season.
In victory lane, an elated Reinke stated that he thought Whitney was right
behind him all the way. “We got slowed up by a lapped car and I
thought sure that he (Whitney) would be gone. I didn’t see him so I
stayed on it but I figured he was right there. I thought I saw him
coming under me a couple times but I guess now they’re saying it must have
been someone else. I really didn’t know where he was”.
OFFICIAL RESULTS:
All American Caps & Accessories/TW Metals Time Trials (35 cars):
Travis Whitney (Whitney Racing #9) 16.239 seconds (NTR)
Weld Racing Heat: Todd King (Gibbsville Cheese/Pits Stop
Pizza #97)
MPD Race Products Heat: Scott Young (BRAL Restoration/Konen
Enterprises #22)
Lane Automotive Heat: Scott Neitzel (R&H Enterprises
#2W)
VMAC Racing Heat: Mike Reinke (Mike’s Construction #02)
Behling Circle Track Products B-Main: John Sernett (Sernett
Racing #91)
United Trailers/J&L Oil A-Main (25 laps): Mike Reinke (Mike’s
Construction/Pit Stop Pizza #02), Travis Whitney, Scott Neitzel, Scott Young,
Todd Hepfner, Kim Mock, Steve Meyer, Scott Beirtzer, John Sernett, Todd King,
John Haeni, Scott Hatton, Scott Uttech, Al Schmidt, Dave Enders, Ryan Irwin,
Jim Melis, Jason Johnson, Ken J. Fiedler, Joe Roe, Mike Stefka, Dave Uttech,
Ty Bartz, Mike Kertscher
DMI Hard Charger: Scott Uttech (Trinity Racing #7) + 11
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