OUTLAW PITTMAN SWEEPS IRA AT 34 RACEWAY
By Paul Pittman

West Burlington, IA 5/9    Daryn Pittman made the most of a rain out, as the World of Outlaw star changed his initial plans for the night and headed towards southeastern Iowa's 34 Raceway which was hosting the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series. Thirty-five cars, including six World of Outlaw regulars tackled the well manicured venue in IRA's first ever sanctioned event on the banked three-eighths. Pittman made his decision payoff as he claimed the win in the ultra-exciting 30 lap headliner in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Pittman piloted his familiar Titan Garage #21 to a clean sweep over a very solid field.
 
   IRA veteran Dave Uttech jumped out to the initial lead over pole sitter Ricky Logan and quickly opened up nearly a straight-a-way margin by lap four, only to jump the cushion exiting the fourth turn and bounce off the concrete allowing Logan to grab the top spot. The early action was fierce as Danny Lasoski, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Mike Reinke, and Daryn Pittman quickly joined the fray chasing Logan and Uttech. Logan would hold the lead thru lap twelve with the action behind him extremely hot and heavy as every inch of the wide speed bowl was being put to use. Lasoski and 11th starting Hafertepe would contend for the lead with Lasoski grabbing the position from Logan on the thirteenth go-round.
 
  With three-wide racing galore throughout the field the first of only two cautions would fly on lap seventeen as tenth running Kaley Gharst plowed the infield tire barrier in turn four damaging his front-end. Lasoski would lead Pittman, Hafertepe, Logan, Lucas Wolfe, and Terry McCarl on the restart. Numerous battles for position throughout the field had the fans screaming with Pittman grabbing the lead from Lasoski on lap twenty-two, while Hafertepe, McCarl, and Wolfe waged war for third. Logan, Reinke, Billy Balog, Skip Jackson, and John Haeni held on to the top ten positions with the bulk of the field all still on the lead lap.
 
   Twelveth running Ryan Irwin spun ending his strong 08 debut on lap twenty-five setting the stage for a five lap dash to the checkered. Pittman would be too much on this night however as he held off the challenges of Lasoski aboard Guy Forbrook's #5 for the win. McCarl would come on strong at the end to claim third over fellow WoO driver's Hafertepe and Wolfe. Knoxville Raceway weekly competitor Ricky Logan came home a very strong sixth over IRA star's Billy Balog and Mike Reinke, while Knoxville's Jackson just edged IRA's Scotty Neitzel at the flag for tenth. Fifteen cars were still on the lead lap in this two-caution only affair. IRA point leader Steve Meyer came home eleventh.
 
   A jubilant Pittman was all smiles as he picked up his first win of the season, and though not a World of Outlaws event, the team was very pleased as they knew they just swept the night's program over a very competitive field. Pittman established a new track record in qualifying, topping the thirty-five car field with a lap of 12.461.               
    
   Heat wins went to Pittman as he made a last corner pass for the win, Jackson, Gharst, and McCarl. Hafertepe came back from heat race woes to claim the B-main. Scott Boles survived a scary looking hot laps crash as his throttle stuck, while Lynton Jeffrey and Chad Hillier executed a double-flip while trying to catch the transfer cars during heat race action.
 
   IRA is an ASA affiliated series.
 
A-Main Finish; 1. Daryn Pittman, Danny Lasoski, Terry McCarl, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Lucas Wolfe, Ricky Logan, Billy Balog, Mike Reinke, Skip Jackson, Scotty Neitzel, Steve Meyer, John Haeni, Scott Uttech, Kim Mock, Ryan Irwin, Josh Schneiderman, Dave Uttech, Mike Moore, Kaley Gharst, Billy Alley, Bobby Mincer, Matt Rogerson
 
   The annual IRA/Knoxville 410 Shootout scheduled for the following night at Knoxville Raceway fell victim to rain just as the 48 car field began to take to the track for hot laps.
 
   TOP 10 IRA POINT STANDINGS
1. Steve Meyer    323
2. Scotty Neitzel 315
3. Billy Balog      313
4. Mike Reinke    281
5. Bill Wirth         276
6. Kim Mock       271
7. John Haeni      270
8. Dave Uttech     264
9. Andy Hunt       248
10. Scott Uttech  247