BLONDE WINS FILSKOV MEMORIAL, BALOG IRA CHAMPION
9/27 Plymouth, WI Chad Blonde made his tow from Michigan to Wisconsin pay off as he captured one of the biggest race's on the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprints schedule,
the 12th annual Frank Filskov Memorial Fall Classic. Blonde overtook Todd Hepfner and Billy Balog to score his second carreer IRA A-main win. "I wish I could race in Wisconsin all the time, there's lots of great tracks here. This is my third time running in this event, I like this place and running with these guys," stated the victor from Sheboygan County Fair Park victory lane. Blonde piloted his family operated 5B to the 27 lap, $2700 pay-day in the event run in the memory of long time IRA supporter Frank Filskov whose sprinter carried the number 27F. And while Blonde scored the race win, it was Balog who claimed the IRA season championship, winning the title by a slim 27 point margin over past 2-time IRA Champion Scotty Neitzel.
Hepfner and Brian Kristan shared the front row on tight third-mile, aggressively taking turns leading a handful of laps each before the two would touch resulting in Kristan destroying his J&J Powdercoating/Weiland Racing Maxim in a series of nasty tumbles on top of the front-chute concrete. Kristan would escape unijured. Hepfner would continue to lead on the restart under extreme pressure from Balog. The fourth and fifth running duo of Donny Goeden and Billy Hafemann, who made earlier contact trying to avoid the flipping Kristan, would force each other high on the restart losing several positions each. Balog hoping to put an exclamation point on his championship would take the lead shortly after returning to green. Sixth starting Blonde would also get by Hepfner and follow Balog as the leaders hit lapped traffic. Blonde was able to slip under Balog in heavy traffic to take the top spot, however Balog would try and immediately counter, though his outside pass attempt would result in Balog climbing the right rear of Blonde's machine and crashing the newly crowned champion into the fourth turn concrete ending his strong run. Blonde would lead on the restart and keep a comfortable few car length margin over Hepfner. 12th starting Neitzel was on the move and challanged Hepfner on the outside only to his valiant late attempt denied. At the checkerd it would be Blonde over Hepfner and Neitzel, with Goeden rebounding after losing several position's to come home fourth. Robbie Pribnow put in a fine effort to claim fifth over 13th starting Steve Meyer, Kris Spitz, 21st starting Mike Reinke, with Wayne Modjeski completing the top ten.
Balog led Neitzel by 65 points entering the event. Neitzel's bid for a third career IRA title took a major blow early as after setting 9th quick time on his first qualifying lap the R&H Enterprises Maxim would suffer driveline issues severe enough to force Neitzel to watch his heat from the sidelines as his crew made major repairs. Meanwhile Balog did what he had too, qualifying well and transferring to the A-main through his heat. Neitzel would rebound with a B-main win and finished his season with an impressive third place run, while Balog watched the conclusion anxiously next to his ailing Buesser Concrete Gaerte powered Maxim. At the end though it would be Balog, who was the 2005 IRA Rookie of the Year, claiming his first IRA Championship over perennial IRA top runner Neitzel by a mere 27 points.
Goeden out-qualified the big 43 car field, with heat wins going to Kristan, Dave Uttech, Spitz, and Blonde. Neitzel and Bill Wirth would capture win's the twin B's. Reinke was the night's hard charger.
IRA is a ASA affiliated series with additional support from United Trailers, Osborn & Son Trucking, Bar's Leaks, Rislone, Hoosier, TW Metals, Arctic Cat, Mechanix Wear, and Miller Brewing.
A-Main Finish, the 12th annual Frank Filskov Memorial IRA Fall Classic presented by Outerwears, Master Lock, and Super Clean at Sheboygan County Fair Park.
1. Chad Blonde, Todd Hepfner, Scotty Neitzel, Donny Goeden, Robbie Pribnow, Steve Meyer, Scott Biertzer, Kris Spitz, Mike Reinke, Wayne Modjeski, Bill Warren, Bill Wirth, Russel Borland, Joe Symoens, Dave Uttech, Jeff Ferkin, Billy Balog, Billy Hafemann, Brian Kristan, Jim Melis, Tommy Sexton, Mike Dubbs
FINAL 2008 IRA Top 10 POINT STANDINGS
1. Billy Balog 2940
2. Scotty Neitzel 2913
3. Mike Reinke 2840
4. Donny Goeden 2788
5. Steve Meyer 2736
6. Brian Kristan 2622
7. Scott Biertzer 2475
8. Billy Hafemann 2387
9. Scott Uttech 2326
10 Kim Mock 2127