MEYER WINS THRILLER TO OPEN IRA SEASON

Beaver Dam, WI   The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints opened their 2007 campaign with the annual Rick Schmidt Memorial at the half-mile Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedeway and a show that'll have people talking for quite a while, as race leader Mike Kertscher ran out of fuel  just a 50 yards from victory, with 13th starting Steve Meyer roaring by for the win. Four others would squeeze by the coasting Kertscher as he coasted to a 6th place finish. Ironically the Kertscher machine was the only car to run out of fuel.
 
Meyer piloted his Meyer Electric / KW Electric / Competion Specialists J&J to the win, with defending IRA Champion Travis Whitney coming home second, over an impressive run by third place finishing Mike Reinke who roared back through the field after being involved in an early yellow. Brian Kristan, and fast qualifier John Haeni completed the top five.
 
Several mishaps eliminated many front runners including the race starting front row of Scott Biertzer and Tim Sernett. Tommy Sexton and Scotty Neitzel were also eliminated in seperate crashes, though each ran as high as second place.
 
Kertscher seemed to have the race in control as despite several restarts he would work his way to a comfortable margin. Kertscher led the entire race, except the final 50 yards.
 
Haeni topped the 32 car field in qualifying, with heat wins going to Biertzer, Kurt Davis (subbing for Wayne Modjeski), and Donny Goeden. Whitney captured the B.
 
IRA returns to Dodge Co. for their next week April 28th.
 
A-MAIN FINISH with car number & Starting position
1. 85m Steve Meyer (13) 
2. 9 Travis Whitney (12)
3. 02 Mike Reinke (6)
4. 5 Brian Kristan (4)
5. 21j John Haeni (8)
6. 80k Mike Kertscher (3)
7. 95 Bill Warren (20)
8. 97 Todd King (23)
9. 1M Kim Mock (15)
10. 91 John Sernett (18)
11. 77 Kurt Davis (10)
12. 1H Billy Balog (12)
13. 21G Howie Gleason (21)
14. 44 Jason Johnson (22)
15. 68 Dave Uttech (15)
16. 11 Donny Goeden (9)
17. 9a Andy Hunt (24) DNF
18. 2w Scotty Neitzel (5) DNF
19. 96 Joe Symoens (19) DNF
20. 83d Tommy Sexton (7) DNF
21. 3 Scott Young (14) DNF
22. 75 Ty Bartz (16) DNF
23. 91t Tim Sernett (2) DNF
24. 4b Scott Biertzer (1) DNF