LAKE VILLA, Ill. -- As the 2004 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series season gets set to take the green flag on April 10th at Oskaloosa (IA), teams make final preparations in what is shaping up to be a benchmark year. There are still a few team scrambling for those inevitable last minute “hang-ups” that seem to keep them behind the 8-ball, but challenges will make you a better person. (At least that’s what my boss always says…) Anyway, for the most part, everyone seems to be quietly enjoying the final weekend off before things get underway. The calm before the storm, so to speak.

Defending his title in 2004, Joe Roe has not lost a step and, as of this writing, is planning on rounding up his number of titles to an even ten. I wonder: Does anyone realize that in the history of the IRA, Joe Roe has claimed nearly a full quarter of the championship titles? There’s really only one other champion in that category and he races a winged sprint car too. Not bad company and if Steve Kinser’s opening record is any indication of the performance expected from veterans in 2004, confidence should be at an all-time high for the #61.

Speaking of veterans, despite off-season rumors and propaganda, expect Kim Mock to give Joe another run for the top spot and how can anyone count out Scott Neitzel. Another fact: Scott Neitzel has not finished out of the top five in season points since 1996. No, I am not picking him to win the title. I am not picking anyone this year. Just stating cold, hard facts! Facts that you can’t argue with. Nor can you count out Todd Hepfner. Todd’s 3 wins in 2003 served notice to everyone in the region that he had, in fact, stepped up his program and was more than ready for the next step. A Championship title! Then there’s John Haeni. He did it once and can certainly do it again. After winning the title in 2002, his goal was to get back to victory lane in 2003. He did that. Now it is merely a matter of putting the two together. Certainly Mike Kertscher and Scott Biertzer also have to be considered top contenders as well. The “Young Guns” are eager to prove themselves capable of taking over. Kertscher’s 5th place points title in his Rookie of the Year run in 2003 turned more than a few heads and Scott Biertzer has been working on 2004 probably longer than anyone realizes. Three new cars and some very potent power plants could spell trouble for those thinking they can count him out. Where’s Travis Whitney figure into this you ask? Although his current plans do not see him at every event, he will more than factor into the championship. His ability to set fast times, win races and make his presence know will undoubtedly shuffle points as the season wears on. Besides, you always have to question what if and the big “what if” here is, “What happens if the #9 finds itself in front?” That always changes things!

Then there’s everyone else. I started to try and separate them into classes, but in the end, what you have is a truckload of talent that on any given night, will end up in victory lane. Just like Whitney above, any of those nights will make a difference in the final outcome. In fact, the champion may quite probably come from one of those sleeper teams. That’s what makes the IRA Series so unique. Here, you will not find one or two teams that dominate a season or run away with a show. Every single car out on that race track has just as much of a chance of ending up in victory lane at the end of the night as anyone else. Even still, when the dust settles and the flashes burn out after victory lane, it really doesn’t matter too much. Yeah there’s a certain amount of honor that goes with winning a race, but in the end, just being a part of the show can make your evening just as exciting and worthwhile as winning. It’s all about the competition. It’s all about friendships. IT”S ALL ABOUT HAVING FUN!

The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series is proud to open up their 44th year of racing on April 10th at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa (IA) in the 2nd annual Searsboro Telephone “Spring Classic”. Pit gates will open at 3pm and grandstands at 5pm. The IRA will then head to the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam (WI) for the 4th Annual “Rick Schmidt Memorial” and round #1 of the Beaver Dam Ford “Bad to the Bone” series. Round #2 follows on May 1st at the ½ mile Beaver Dam facility. For complete information, please contact the track offices and for complete scheduling and rules, visit the IRA’s website at www.irasprints.com.