The Osborn/Mock Race Team is well on their way to success in 2003. To date the season is half over and the point standings are just starting to heat up. With Kim Mock leading the way in the over-all standings and Mike Kertscher sitting 7th in the standings, the team is priding themselves with consistency as they work towards the end of the season.

Kim Mock: Leading the point race at the half way point is nice. Doing so by the largest margin in years is even nicer. Kim Mock knows how to win championships though and you can rest assured that he will not claim the title until the checkered flag falls on the final race. At that point and then only will the season be over and he'll take some time to catch his breath. Until then, he'll be watching and racing as hard as ever. He's seen too many get away to let up early. At the mid-season break, Kim is the only driver to make every one of the IRA's A Main events, a big factor in the point difference right now. Adding to his 6th place average finish is his 5 heat race wins, 3 fast timer awards and 1 hard-charger award. Regardless of the outcome, you can bet that Kim and the entire Osborn & Son Trucking team are focused on title #3.

Mike Kertscher: Mike and the Osborn & Son Trucking #80K team had 1 goal in mind when 2003 started. Rookie of the Year. With the remaining participants for that title out of contention, it would appear that Mike can now focus on other business. Winning races. Picking up the title of “King of Wisconsin Sprint Car Racing” will certainly go a long way as he joins Travis Whitney and Matt Wasmund as rookies with victories in their rookie years. Another advantage is being teamed with a championship contender as the team effort looks to try and do something that has never been done, claim both the championship and the rookie titles in the same season.

As the Bumper-to-Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series gears up for the 2nd half of it's 2003 season, Kim Mock leads the way in the mid-season point standings with the largest point lead in recent history on the tour. In addition, teammate Mike Kertscher seems a sure thing for the 2003 "Rookie of the Year" title as all other contenders have fallen from the circuit for various reasons this season. While fighting with adverse weather conditions this season, the IRA has lost a total of 6 dates thus far to weather. No one has dominated victory lane in 2003, and the weather hasn't dampened the spirits of the participants as an average field of 40 plus cars have been jamming the pit areas at IRA events all over the Mid-West. A total of 12 different drivers have visited the J&L Oil/United Trailer Victory Lane including outsiders John Ivy, Jeff Mitrisin, Jake Peters, Kerry Madsen, Ricky Logan and Jerry Richert Jr. IRA regular winners include Kim Mock, Joe Roe, Travis Whitney, Darrell Dodd, Mike Kertscher and Todd Hepfner.

The 2nd half of the IRA season will see many special events such as the Pella Classic (Knoxville Raceway/August 1st and 2nd) and the Jerry Richert Sr Memorial (Cedar Lake Speedway/September 6th), capped off with the season ending Frank Filskov Memorial Fall Classic (Sheboygan County Fairgrounds/September 20th). For complete race information and schedules, check out the IRA's official website at www.IRAsprints.com

Next Race: You can catch the Interstate Racing Association at the Hales Corners Speedway in Franklin, Wisconsin this Saturday July 19th. Come out and watch Kim and Mike as they race for success in 2003. Time trials start at 6:30 pm with racing to follow. For more information or in case of inclement weather please contact the track office at 414-425-4700. See you there! For more information visit www.MSKRacing.com.