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WHITNEY, OTHERS, HONORED AT IRA BANQUET
Watertown, WI A large gathering came out to Turner Hall on a snowy Wisconsin night to honor Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series Champion Travis Whitney and nineteen of his fellow IRA competitors. For Whitney it was his second consecutive IRA series title as he took home $10,500 of the $70,000 in cash awards presented this night. The Minnesota driver was welcomed to the stage with a standing ovation as he accepted the IRA Frank Filskov Memorial Championship Trophy, and the TW Metals Fast Timer Award. Travis's Father and Car Owner Walt Whitney was also awarded his second consecutive VMAC Mechanic of the Year Award as the Don Ott powered #9 recorded twenty-seven top ten's in thirty starts, including five feature wins highlighted by capturing both rounds of Cedar Lake's Masters in front of his home crowd.
Popular second generation driver Billy Hafemann received Rookie of the Year accolades which included an additional $1250 above his point fund earnings, plus a custom driver's suit courtesy of R&H Enterprises & Awesome Racewear, a Bell helmet, Hoosier Tire jacket, and numerous other contingency awards.
In an emotional presentation long time IRA official Dick Symoens received the prestigious Rick Schmidt Memorial IRA Member of the Year Award for his professional and dedicated service to the series.
Fifth place points finisher Donny Goeden, and his car owner Bob Walldan had a big night as Goeden picked up a pair of additional $500 checks by claiming the Weld Wheels Winningest Driver Award as the team captured a series leading six feature events, and from CJW Distributors/Miller Beer for capturing King of Wisconsin honors by accumulating the most points at the four Wilmot Speedway events which included two wins and a pair of seconds. Todd Hepfner of HRP Wings then added another $600 in cash to the team's wallet, $100 for each win using his product.
Seventh place point man Scott Biertzer too had a huge night. The second generation driver was awarded as the James Bartz Memorial IRA Most Improved Driver, and also picked up an additional $500 as the Midwest Safety Team Perseverance Award winner. Biertzer also won the R&H Enterprises Heat Race Award for capturing the most heat race wins throughout the season (14) and was presented a pair of Winters Performance front hubs. The Biertzer-Kohl team's luck continued on as they drew the number one pill later on in the evening kicking off IRA's unique and popular contingency product drawing, selecting a prize package highlighted by a set of All-Pro cylinder heads.
Brian Kristan's #5 was awarded Best Appearing Car honors.
IRA Appreciation Awards were presented to Lyle Lundy of Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts & Service Centers for their long time title support of the series, and to Bill McCroskey of McCroskey Chevrolet/Pontiac/Cadillac/Buick, Trace Roy of TW Metals, Chad Anderson of Hoosier Tire, Harry Neitzel of R&H Enterprises, and Kim Mock accepted on behalf of CJW Distributors. Behling Racing Equipment, Gleason Equipment, Osborn & Son Trucking, and Jay Parrish of Fram/Autolite were also acknowledged for their tremendous support.
IRA President Steve Sinclair proudly announced that Bar's Leaks is coming on-board in a presenting role beginning in 2008. Bar's Leaks the official stop leak, and their Rislone brand as the official additive of the IRA.
IRA Dedication Awards were presented to the Midwest Safety Team, accepted by founder Gil Radtke, to official starter Jim Barr, and to the Meyer and Tennyson families for their tireless efforts behind the scenes.
A record amount of product was handed out as all twenty teams shared in the (Car Owner's) product drawing. While all the teams went home big winners, some of the prize winners included Dave Uttech and Kim Mock who both won Maxim Chassis, Tim Vandervere a package highlighted by a set of Brodix cylinder heads, Bill Warren a Design 500 Racewear driver's suit, Bill Modjeski a KSE steering box, Mike Reinke a Fuel Safe tail tank assembly, Billy Hafemann a complete brake kit courtesy of The Brake Man, etc, etc.... Numerous other prize packages were highlighted by products coutesy of Velocity, HRP, MSD, Sander, Bell, Afco, Wilwood, Impact, MPD, Real, and FSR. Numerous other companies provided product adding tremendously to the value of the prize packages.
The 2007 season which for the first time had IRA running in affiliation with ASA Racing, completed thirty events at eighteen different venues within a four state region. Additionally four events at yet two more additional facilities fell victim to weather.
Justin Zoch emceed the event. A musical slide presentation by Dick Symoens and photographer Jeff Arms, and a video tribute from Dave's Racing Video's warmed up the crowd on a wintery Wisconsin night. Music by Majeeda revved up the post awards party.
IRA's Top 10 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
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