BLONDE WILMOT IRA WINNER, GOEDEN KING OF WISCONSIN
By Paul Pittman
7/7 Wilmot, WI Chad Blonde made the tow from Michigan payoff as he captured the thirty lap Bumper to Bumper IRA/ASA Outlaw Sprints headliner at the Wilmot Speedway. It was Blonde's first IRA appearance of 2007 and his first career series victory. While Blonde captured the night's race, Donny Goeden was crowned King Of Wisconsin for garnering the most points of the three IRA appearances at Wilmot this year to date. Including last night Goeden had two wins and then was runnerup to Blonde.
Kurt Winker led early from the pole, then got sideways in front of the field on the very first turn. Winker recovered though the pack was shuffled dramatically as many had to get on the binders to avoid wrecking, amazingly all made it through without the need of a yellow with Travis Whitney having the most damage as his nose wing was knocked loose which caused the defending series champion to struggle the remainder of the contest. John Haeni, Steve Meyer, and Blonde made bold moves through the first turn melee and came out second, third, and fourth behind Winker.
Haeni running the bottom overtook Winker and opened up a sizable lead before the first yellow flew as fifth running Tommy Sexton stopped with driveline woes. Wilmot fan favorite Dave Moulis would exit on this lap as well.
On the restart Blonde went directly to the cushion of the semi-banked third-mile and drove around both Winker, Meyer, and Haeni into the lead. From that point he never looked back as Blonde in only his second ever Wilmot visit powered his way to huge lead on the tricky track, opening a half lap margin over Haeni.
The action behind however was quite entertaining as positions throughout the top ten changed at every corner. Goeden entered the fray and too went high around Haeni while Kurt Davis and Scotty Neitzel progressed dramatically in the late stages on the high side too.
At the checkerd it was Blonde who had lapped up to tenth, taking the win by a little over a half lap. Goeden came home second, while Haeni edged the charging Davis for third at the line. Winker held on for fifth over Neitzel, Steve Meyer, Jason Johnson, Brian Kristan, with IRA point leader Mike Reinke completing the lead lap top ten.
Scott Young set quick time over the forty-three car field while heat wins went to Davis, Kristan, Whitney, and Bill Warren. Neitzel and Mike Kertscher took winning honors in the twin B-mains.
IRA's next event is Saturday July 14th at Charter Raceway Park in Beaver Dam, WI.
30 Lap IRA King Of Wisconsin A-main FINALE Finish; 1. Chad Blonde, Donny Goeden, John Haeni, Kurt Davis, Kurt Winker, Scotty Neitzel, Steve Meyer, Jason Johnson, Brian Kristan, Mike Reinke, Bill Warren, Scott Biertzer, Scott Young, Scott Semmelmen, Mike Kertscher, Rick Kelsey, Tim Vandevere, Dave Uttech, Mike Dubbs, Travis Whitney, Tommy Sexton, Dave Moulis.