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

18 cars signed in to the Plymouth Dirt Track for race #3 of the 2024 season. Quick time honors were captured by the #16 of Mike Neau. In heat race action, Max Brannam held of an early charge from Neau and brought home the victory in Allstar Performance Heat #1. Josh Rehberg, after returning from a nasty last lap wreck in the previous outing at Wilmot Raceway, was able to lead early but could not hold off the blue and orange machine of Nick Petska as Petska would claim Rod End Supply Heat #3...more

(Wilmot, Wis., Sunday, June 2, 2024)--The unofficial start of summer has begun with Wilmot Raceway's 74th Season getting into full swing. A sun drenched crowd was treated to an outstanding performance by the Monster Truck Throwdown special event on a reset Sunday afternoon, June 2, after rains washed out the originally planned event on June 1. Action on the 3/8-mile banked oval resumes on Saturday, June 8 with Family Night Checkered Flag Giveaway featuring 11-75 IRA Lightning Sprints, Auto...more

After opening night rained out earlier this month, the IRA Lightning Sprints returned to Wilmot Raceway with a healthy field of 23 cars along with the Wisconsin wingless and IRA 410 sprints. In an effort to speed the show up the ILS ran only two heat races as opposed to a three heat format per our rules for 21-30 cars. Josh Rehberg was victorious in Allstar Performance Heat 1 and Nick Petska would capture Rod End Supply Heat 2. The feature invert would put previous feature winner Brian...more

(Wilmot, Wis., Saturday, May 25, 2024)--Beaver Dam's Scotty Neitzel captured his second Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association (IRA) Founders Night 30-lap feature highlighting the 11th Annual program Presented by Body Craft at IRA's original home track Wilmot Raceway on Saturday, May 25. Neitzel broke a dry spell during his IRA starts thus far this season with a victory at a track which, admittedly, was not initially one of his favorites. "I had my first sprint car start here at...more

16 cars signed in to the 2024 season opener at Sycamore Speedway in support of the IRA Sprint Cars and the Badger Midgets. 2 rookies, Chad Stouthamer and Nate Kirchner made their series debut as they will battle for Rookie of the Year honors along a few others who weren’t in attendance for the season opener. Quick time was set by the #18 machine of Nick Petska who is returning full time in 2024 for Dream Chaser Racing. In heat race action, Petska was able to drive from 4th and capture...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

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