by Paul Pittman

CRESCO, Iowa (Sept. 2, 2001) - For the third time this season -- and the third year in a row -- Joe Roe captured the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Labor Day event at the Cresco (Iowa) Speedway on Sunday night. Thirty-eight outlaw sprinters packed the Cresco pit area, each with their own questions and ideas for running the newly remodeled track surface. The track, formerly a half-mile oval, had been cut away slightly and the banking increased in the past two months. The IRA event would be the track's debut and all expectations of the Howard County Fair Board would see great success on this night.

As John Sernett hit the track for the All-American Caps & Accessories qualifying session, it was obvious that the Cresco Speedway was now even faster then ever as he broke the old track record on his very first lap. The track record would be re-written two more times until Blake Feese (Contract Furnishings #1) established his second track record in as many days at a staggering 13.892 seconds.

Australia's Jamie Moyle (Clark Construction #10) became the first sprint driver to claim a checkered flag under the new configuration as he won the Weld Racing Products heat from flag to flag. Jim Melis (Sheboygan Chevrolet #51M) won the MPD Race Products heat, Scott Nietzel (R&H Enterprises #2W) came from a sixth-place starting spot to win the Lane Automotive heat while Wayne Modjeski (Barker's Reconditioning #77) won his second heat race of the weekend in the Hepfner Racing Products heat.

Due to the greatly increased speeds of the cars, IRA officials chose to run twin Behling's Racing Equipment "B" features to complete qualifications, with victories going to Larry Ball Jr. (MinuteMan Inc. #17) and Todd Hepfner (Hepfner Racing Products #28).

Officials watched nervously as the filled grandstand cheered the 22 starters to the green flag. Unfortunately, as the field entered turn 1, a momentary bobble caused the outside row of cars to check up, creating a chain reaction five-car pile-up, including the new track record holder Feese, who was unable to return to action.

As the field restarted the race, the front row cars of Sernett (Progressive Technologies #91) and Christi Passmore (GAP Roofing Inc #1A) tangled exiting turn 2, forcing some evasive action by the rest of the field. In the melee, Bill Warren found himself on his side, which forced a red flag situation.

Finally, the field took the green and for the first 12 laps, John Haeni (Kin-X Motorsports #21J) and Nietzel, who found themselves on the front row by virtue of restarts, waged a torrid battle for the top spot.

The yellow waved on lap 12 for a slowing Mark Toews in turn 4, allowing the field a short breather. On the re-start, Nietzel got a good jump but Haeni managed to reel Nietzel in. The two swapped the top spot for three laps when Haeni appeared to have the spot locked in exiting turn 2, when his motor expired.

Nietzel found himself now being challenged by Roe, who had moved up from his fifth-place starting spot. Meanwhile, Kim Mock (Osborn & Son Trucking #1M) was on the move, rebounding from his opening lap incident to the fifth spot.

On the restart, Nietzel dropped low, knowing Roe was coming behind him when Roe moved to the top of the track for the lead. Roe and Nietzel battled for the next few laps until Nietzel found himself now being challenged by Mock. As Roe took the white flag, Mock was able to get by Nietzel, but never had enough time to look for the leader as Roe motored under the checkered flags.

Nietzel held on to finish third while Hepfner and Jeff Mitrisin (Musco Lighting #5J) rounded out the top five.

The IRA returns to the Superior (Wis.) Speedway on Friday, Sept. 7, as part of the Northern Nationals and then travels to the Shawano (Wis.) Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 8, for that facilities season closer.

RESULTS

Fast Time: Feese, 13.892 sec. (new track record).

Heat #1: Moyle, Beckman, Passmore, Feese.

Heat #2: Melis, Mock, Roe, Sernett.

Heat #3: Neitzel, Warren, Chesak, Rockhold.

Heat #4: Modjeski, Daun, Mitrisin, Toews.

"B" Main #1: Ball, Haeni, Goeden.

"B" Main #2: Hepfner, Whitney, Ebler.

"A" Main (25 laps): Roe, Mock, Nietzel, Hepfner, Mitrisin, Sernett, Rockhold, Goeden, Daun, Passmore, Ball, Melis, Moyle, Modjeski, Chesak, Toews, Ebler, Haeni, Beckman, Warren, Whitney, Feese.