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Hepfner Regains Title As "Mr. Plymouth"
Plymouth, WI (July 2, 2005): It was one of those nights that
challenged everyone in the pit area in one way or another. In all,
Forty-Four outlaw sprinters showed up for those challenges when the Bumper to
Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series made their season debut at the Sheboygan
County Fair Park. Hot laps saw the red flag waving on two separate
occasions. Once when John Haeni got upside down entering turn #1 and
again for Michael Brecht in a later session. Brian Kristan also became a
victim in hot laps when his #5 slammed the turn one retaining wall very hard,
totaling his J&J chassis.
Ty Bartz would set the mark in time trials with a tour of the track in 11.566
seconds, claiming his second career IRA fast time award in front of a cheering
home town crowd. Things got interesting again however as Bartz, Bill
Wirth and Steve Meyer got together while setting the line up for the first
heat race. Wirth would end up on his head and all three cars would wait
for the B-Main to try and make the show. Heat race winners included Ohio
native Michael Brecht, Mike Kertscher, Scotty Neitzel and Kim Mock.
Steve Meyer recovered from his heat race incident to win his B-Main while
Billy Warren was able to keep Joe Roe at bay in the second B-Main, who was
charging from a last place starting spot because of drive train damage to the
#61 that kept him from turning a qualifying lap.
The 30 lap A-Main pushed off to the thunderous applause of the eastern
Wisconsin crowd, welcoming the series and its stars to it’s home.
Early in the 30 lap affair, Brecht’s woes continued as he got together with
Scott Biertzer, making a short race of it for both. Todd Hepfner took
early command of the event, taking advantage of his pole position starting
spot. Behind him, the racing for position between the remainder of the
field was fast and furious. While driver’s contested positions, Mike
Reinke and Scotty Neitzel slipped to the top side of the speedway and began
their march forward. At the mid-point of the event, the caution flag
would wave and Reinke found only one lapped car between himself and leader,
Todd Hepfner. On the restart, Reinke quickly disposed of the lapped
traffic and set his sights on Hepfner, pulling up along side him as laps began
to tick off. Hepfner, seeing Reinke’s move, was able to out-power
Reinke out of turn #2 and moved his line up in an effort to stave off
Reinke’s bid for victory. Behind them, Kurt Winker had his hands full,
with Donny Goeden, Scotty Neitzel and Scott Uttech were exchanging positions
each turn of every lap. The final lap saw Hepfner drop back to the
bottom of the speedway. Reinke, seeing his opportunity tried but came up
short as Hepfner would claim his first IRA win of the season, becoming the 9th
different driver to visit victory lane in the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw
Sprint Series in 2005. Following Reinke across the line were Winker,
Goeden, and Neitzel.
Official Results:
TW Metals/All American Caps & Accessories Time Trials (44 cars)
Ty Bartz (AC Signs/Heim Plumbing #75) 11.566 seconds
WELD Racing Heat: Michael Brecht (All-Star Plumbing & Heating #M20)
MPD Race Products Heat: Mike Kertscher (Osborn & Son Trucking #80K)
Lane Automotive Heat: Scotty Neitzel (R&H Enterprises #2W)
VMAC Racing Heat: Kim Mock (Osborn & Son Trucking #1M)
Behling Race Parts B-Mains:
1:) Steve Meyer (Steve Meyer Electric #85M )
2:) Billy Warren (Bob Warren Automotive #95)
United Trailers A-Main (30 laps): Todd Hepfner (Paul J. Schmidt Trucking
#28), Mike Reinke, Kurt Winker, Donny Goeden, Scotty Neitzel, Scott Uttech,
Scott Young, K.J. Skelton, Kim Mock, Billy Warren, Ty Bartz, Joe Roe, Steve
Meyer, Mike Stefka, Mike Kertscher, Matt Folstad, John Haeni, Andy Hunt, Rick
Kelsey, Joe Symoens, Micheal Brecht, Scott Biertzer
DMI Hard Charger: Steve Meyer (Steve Meyer Electric #85M +6)
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