SCOTT UTTECH WINS IRA FINALE, WHITNEY CHAMPION
9/29 Plymouth, WI Scott Uttech edged Donny Goeden in a last lap thriller to capture the 11th annual Frank Filskov Memorial Fall Classic contested at Sheboygan County Fair Park. Uttech earned his first ever Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints feature win in style, by taking the lead on the final lap and steering the Klootwyk Maxim to victory in one of IRA's most prestigeous events. Filskov, a long time IRA competitor, always drove his familiar no. 27f, thus the race was 27 laps in distance and paid $2700 to win. Ironically, Uttech's father Jim competed against Filskov many a night prior to Filskov's tragic passing in 1996. While Uttech was all smiles in victory lane, celebration's were also going on for Travis Whitney who scored his second consecutive IRA series championship, and for Billy Hafemann who took Rookie of the Year honors. A forty-seven car field filled the pits as IRA paid tribute to one of its' own.
Seventh place point man Scott Biertzer was eliminated on the first lap after contact with Todd Hepfner. As action got underway, Kurt Davis powered to the front with Scotty Neitzel, and Donny Goeden in tow. The lead trio pulled away slightly on the small third-mile, though a yellow for a Chad Blonde spin would tighten up the field. Davis would again take control, Goeden and sixth starting Uttech would move under Neitzel for second and third just prior to Hepfner and Neitzel getting together with both bringing out a caution.
Davis would lead Goeden, Uttech, Billy Balog, and Brian Kristan on the restart. Goeden would overtake Davis on the high side and take the lead. Meanwhile Mike Reinke and Chad Blonde were storming through the field on a fast drying cushion. A multi-car incident involving Hepfner, Tim Vandevere, Darrell Dodd, and Robbie Pribnow would eliminate the last two. Uttech would slip under Davis on the restart on begin to reel in Goeden. Blonde was on the charge and back contending well inside the top ten as it was action galore. Kristan and John Haeni got together while racing for fourth with Kristan bringing out the race's only red.
Shortly after the restart Blonde and Steve Meyer got together with both getting well into the infield bringing out the final caution. The remaining several laps went green with Uttech running a patient bottom and leader Goeden the middle to high side. Uttech was able to pull alongside Goeden on exit of the corners only to have Goeden gain an advantage down the straights. This scenario repeated itself for three laps before Uttech was able outdrag the series winningest 2007 driver in Goeden, out the final corner to take the win by less than a car length. Balog would come home third, Haeni fourth, and a charging Reinke fifth. Davis slipped to sixth, while Rick Kelsey, Ty Bartz, hardcharger Bill Warren, and Joe Symoens completed the top ten.
Whitney, who brought a somewhat comfortable point lead into the event, ended up needing it, as shockingly he and newly crowned and Rookie of the Year Hafemann got together while running first and second in the first B-main eliminating both from transferring.
The IRA does not utilize provisionals. Whitney needed the point cushion, though despite a strong A-main run by runnerup Reinke, who too had to come through the B-main, Whitney was able to win his second IRA Championship by a 60 point margin.
Second and third generation drivers were abundent throughout the large field who attended. The lead pair family names of Uttech and Goeden are two of the biggest in Wisconsin dirt racing. Bill Warren, Todd Hepfner, Tommy Sexton, Tim Vandevere, Brian Kristan, Darrell Dodd, and Scott Biertzer are all additional second and third generation racers who competed in the A-main during the 11th running of the IRA Frank Filskov event.
IRA is an ASA affiliated series.
Meyer outqualified the 47 car field, while heat wins went to Neitzel, Goeden, Biertzer, and Davis. Bartz and Pribnow captured the twin B-mains.
A-Main Results, 11th annual IRA Frank Filskov Memorial Fall Classic;
1. Scott Uttech, Donny Goeden, Billy Balog, John Haeni, Mike Reinke, Kurt Davis, Rick Kelsey, Ty Bartz, Bill Warren, Joe Symoens, Todd Hepfner, Bill Wirth, Scotty Neitzel, Steve Meyer, Chad Blonde, Tommy Sexton, Johnny Fahl, Tim Vandevere, Brian Kristan, Darrell Dodd, Robbie Pribnow, Scott Biertzer
TOP 10, IRA FINAL POINT STANDINGS
1. Travis Whitney 3974
2. Mike Reinke 3914
3. Scotty Neitzel 3840
4. Steve Meyer 3725
5. Donny Goeden 3609
6. John Haeni 3592
7. Scott Biertzer 3359
8. Scott Uttech 3160
9. Brian Kristan 3072
10 Bill Warren 2878