News

Today we are pleased to announce 1175 Sports Park and Eatery has signed on to be the new Series title sponsor of the IRA Lightning Sprints in a multi-year agreement. The series will be known as the IRA Lightning Sprints presented by 1175 Sports Park & Eatery.. The 1000cc winged series has a 17 race slate will be contested at 4 venues throughout southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois. The series will compete at Wilmot Raceway (9), Plymouth Dirt Track (3), Sycamore Speedway (3), and 141...more

The IRA is extremely proud and humbled to be announced as a RPM Regional Promoter of the Year nominee, something very rare for a series as nominations traditionally go to individual race track operators. This is our 3rd consecutive nomination, the most of any series. There is only 1 other series nominated nationwide and it's the CARS pavement Late Model Tour which includes Dale Jr and Kevin Harvick in its ownership team, that is some pretty good company. Regional winners will be announced Feb...more

Many tracks have published their tentative schedules that include IRA Wisconsin wingLESS and IRA Lightning Sprint dates. We have a few i’s to dot and t’s to cross but we’re close to having both schedules ready for release. WL have multiple dates offered at Wilmot including dates with the World of Outlaws and the IRA 410’s, plus 3 at Angell Park, 4 at Plymouth, 2 at Joliet, 1 at Sycamore, and 1 at Beaver Dam, and a few other tracks have called recently too. LS have Wilmot, Plymouth, Sycamore,...more

The traditional green flag on the southeastern Wisconsin motorsports season is coming back to the town where it was born. The "Let's Go Racing Motorsports Show" presented by Babicz Auto Racing Services(BARS) will be held on Saturday, April 20 at the Waukegan Harbor Marina on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Waukegan, IL. The official joint announcement came from Mike Babicz of BARS and Robert Allan Kutzler of Waukegan Port District on a rainy Tuesday, September 19. The two used to work together...more

ILS added 4 more inductees to its Hall of Fame this past season. After receiving the nominations, the voting panel which consists of current HoF members along with the club historian and 2 board members agreed to elect Romy Baus, Nick Sheridan, Mike Neau, and Larry Neau to the ILS Hall of Fame – class of 2023. Jeff Wesell was gracious enough to act as emcee for the HoF induction ceremonies. Below are write-ups for the new inductees... Romy Baus: While current and past Inductees certainly have...more

On Saturday, December 2nd 2023, the IRA Lightning Sprints officially closed out the 2023 season at 1175 Sports Park and Eatery in Kansasville, WI. We distributed the point fund to eligible drivers and honored the top 5 in points plus the Rookie of the Year with trophies. Special award plaques were also handed out to a few individuals, and the 2nd hall of fame class was inducted. This year we saw Mark Heinert driving for Dream Chaser Racing finally get that elusive series championship after 13...more

On behalf of everyone from the IRA Sprint Car Series, we'd love to extend our congratulations to Dave Olson and Mike Babicz for their induction into the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame. Pictured in order: Mike Babicz is truly one of the best in the business when it comes to knowledge of our sport here in Wisconsin and announcing. Dave Olson's photos and other contributions to the Wisconsin racing scene are unmatched and known by many. Dick Colburn (inaugural class of 2009) is a...more

The 2023 ILS banquet is scheduled for Saturday, December 2nd at 1175 Sports Park & Eatery on the corners of Hwy 11 and Hwy 75 in Kansasville, WI at 6:30pm. The cost will stay the same as the last 2 years at $33 per person. Please respond to ira.lightning.sprints@gmail.com with how many in your party and mail a check written to IRA for the total amount and mail it to Mike Neau at the following address. We need a final tally on everyone coming and money received by Wednesday November...more

Wilmot Raceway crowned a five-time Street Stock Champion in Rob Maule of Hebron, IL. Four-time Pfeiffer Trailer Sales IRA Lightning Sprints Champion is Mark Heinert of Waukesha The 2022 IRA Wingless Series Champion and 2021 Wilmot and IRA Rookie of the Year Clayton Rossmann of Wadsworth, IL, 2021 Wilmot Rookie of the Year at age 15, took his first CK Contractors/AutoMeter Powered By Gandrud Performance Parts Wisconsin Wingless Sprints Championship at Wisconsin's home for sprint car...more

Hartford’s Bill Balog put the bookend on his second regular season Wilmot Raceway 410 Championship by scoring a thrilling victory in the Roger Iles Tribute for the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association(IRA) 30-lap feature at the Kenosha County Fair on Saturday, August 19, 2023. Balog’s last Wilmot title came in 2020. Balog, known as the North Pole Nightmare as he is originally from Anchorage, AK, took the lead on a slide move to overtake Joel Myers Jr. of Santa Rosa, CA. on a restart...more