|
IRA Celebrates Outstanding 2005 Season
by Paul Pittman
Lomira, WI The Bumper to Bumper / United Trailers IRA Outlaw
Sprint Series celebrated their 2005 season in style Saturday night as they
presented their 46th annual Awards Banquet, held this year again at Lomira
Wisconsin's Golf Club @ Camelot. A large gathering was on hand the recognize
the twenty-three point fund eligible teams, based on participation
requirements, for their outstanding 2005 accomplishments.
Paul Pittman started out the evening with a music video highlighting the 2005
season, before he handed the microphone over to IRA President Steve Sinclair
who praised the support of long time series sponsors Bumper to Bumper Auto
Parts, and United Trailers. Larry Gardner represented Bumper to Bumper, and
Mike Barber representing United, in accepting Appreciation Awards both stated
their companies support of IRA, and the fact that they will be back again with
IRA in 2006. Sinclair stated the 2005 point fund was the largest in IRA
history, and that 2006 would be higher yet.
Scotty Neitzel was honored for a very deserving series championship. Neitzel
out-dueled Scott Young in a season long points battle giving him his second
consecutive IRA crown.
Neitzel combined four feature wins with consistent top five drives, scoring
triumphs at Wilmot,
Cedar Lake's Masters, Dodge County, and Superior's Northern Nationals. Neitzel
and his R&H
Enterprises team grabbed the Frank Filskov Memorial IRA Championship Trophy
and $10,000 of the $60,000 plus cash point fund. Neitzel additionally earned
$500 from Miller Beer Distributor CJW for being top point earner at IRA's
three visits made to the Wilmot Speedway, edging Todd Hepfner by just two
points. Neitzel's crew chief Rick Lemanski completed the teams terrific year
as he too was honored with his second consecutive All-Star Performance
Mechanic of the Year Award.
Twenty-two other teams were also honored, with even the 23rd place team going
home with over $2000 worth of cash & contingency awards. Young, Joe Roe,
Mike Kertscher, Steve Meyer, Kim Mock, Scott Uttech, Scott Biertzer, Ty Bartz,
and Billy Balog completed IRA's top ten in points. All twenty-three teams were
present at the high spirited gala.
Young also earned an additional $500 for accumulating the most qualifying
points over the course of the season by winning the TW Metals Fast Timer
Award, and also $100 from All American Caps N Liners for earning the most heat
race points as well.
The late Jim Bartz was honored with the Rick Schmidt Memorial IRA Member of
the Year Award. Bartz who passed away October 23rd had his award accepted by
his two sons, Ty & Tim, who received a thunderous standing ovation.
Billy Balog topped a very talented rookie crop earning himself and his Coleman
Racing entry Rookie of the Year honors. Balog picked up an additional $1000,
plus a new drivers suit courtesy of Awesome Racewear and R & H
Enterprises, and a $500 certificate from Arizona Race Mart.
Veteran Owner/Driver Fred Ebler was honored with a Dedication Award for his
long time support of the series.
Bill Wirth, who finished 20th in points, picked up a trio of honors as the
youngster was awarded a custom driving suit from Design 500 Racewear as
recipient of the traditional Under Dog Award. Plus in an emotional ceremony,
he was honored by Tim & Ty Bartz as they presented Bill with the first
annual James R. Bartz Memorial Most Improved Driver of the Year Award, in
memory of their father Jim. Additionally Bill received the Behling Racing
Equipment B-Main Award.
Wayne Modjeski's MMZ Motorsports Team grabbed Best Appearing Car honors, while
John Haeni's Kix-X Motorsports Team earned the Midwest Saftey Team's Perseverance
Award and a $500 check.
Bumper to Bumper presented jackets to the top ten in points, plus all the
officials. The Midwest Saftey Team was also honored with jackets and received
a well deserved standing ovation from the group for their tireless efforts.
IRA is extremely proud of their contingency product program, club President
Sinclair stating he believes it to be the best in all of sprint car racing.
All 23 teams receive equal opportunity to receive these awards, and in fact
all 23 teams share in them. The two big winners however were, 4th place driver
Mike Kertscher, and 22nd place owner/driver Jason Johnson as they both picked
up new race cars, courtesy of Maxim Chassis and Gleason
Equipment.
Don Taft of Taft Video played the new IRA promotional video he created to open
the second half of the evening to much applause. In addition IRA sponsors, TW
Metals, McCroskey Chevrolet, and All American Caps N Liners were also
recognized with Appreciation Awards.
In IRA tradition, the night concluded sometime in the AM, following hours of
partying and dancing, and good times by this close racing fraternity.
|
|
|
