(Beaver Dam, Wis., Saturday, August 30, 2025)--Nick Petska of Spring Grove, IL possibly closed out the 11-75 Sports Complex & Eatery's final appearance ever at Beaver Dam Raceway by scoring the victory in the Harry Nietzel/Jim Wipperfurth Memorial Tribute 20-lap feature Saturday, August 30, 2025.
"It's kind of nice if this turns out the lights on the lightning sprints here at Beaver Dam Raceway, but it's sad, too, that it could be going away," Petska commented following his sixth feature win at the historic oval, which is possibly closing its doors for ever at the end of the season. "It's a special place for me and if this is truly lights out, it will mean a lot that we won the last race."
Brian Strane Jr. of Paris, Lightning Sprints series pointleader, jumped out in front at the drop of the green and began powering around the third-mile. Coming up on a lapped car, Strane got into the rear end of the slower machine breaking his front wing allowing Petska to close up.
Two laps later lap 13 proved to be unlucky for Strane, but lucky for Petska as Tucker Richards rolled his mount in turn four resulting in a red flag and closing the field for the restart.
Petska worked into the point on the restart going on to a 2-second victory at Starter Todd Booker's possible final lightning sprints checkered ever at Beaver Dam. Strane came across second in a tight battle with third finishing Chad Stouthamer of Big Bend. Max Brannam of Holiday Hills, IL was fourth. Genoa City's Jacob Irwin fifth.
Tim Brannam of Holiday Hills, IL earned the Behling Race Equipment Hard Charger honor by improving five spots to finish sixth after starting 11th.
Irwin won the Fox Lake Harbor presents All Star Performance 1st Heat. John Kirk of Johnsburg, IL won the Game Day Men's Health presents Rod End Supply 2nd Heat.
Petska posted a track record mark of :13.970 seconds in Body Craft Qualifying.
Next up for Lightning Sprints is the Wilmot Raceway 75th Anniversary Season track championship final on Saturday, September 6. Wilmot's Winged 604 Sprints and Street Stocks are closing out their track point championship seasons as well. Modifieds are listed to close out the card.
The Lightning Sprints continue their series season on Saturday, September 13 as part of Wilmot's Fall Classic finale.
On Saturday, September 27 the Lightning Sprints conclude their series championship as part of the Wisconsin Sprints Championships at Plymouth Dirt Track along with Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprints, MSA 360 Sprints and AutoMeter powered by Gandrud Performance Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints.
Submitted by Mike Babicz of IRA
Photos by Dave Olson and Petska Racing