News

Oak Creek's Mark Heinert led start to finish in the 20-lap IRA Lightning Sprint Feature, his first main win of the year. "I have to thank my main mechanic, my family and everyone who supports me," said Heinert. Lightning Sprints 19 Entries A Feature 1 20 Laps | 00:09:17.236 55H-Mark Heinert[1]; 2. 19-Ion Stear[7]; 3. 18-Nick Petska[5]; 4. 16-Mike Neau[6]; 5. 13-CJ Malueg[4]; 6. 6-Jeff Schmidt[3]; 7. 42-Adam Schroeder[8]; 8. 87R-Josh Rehberg[10]; 9. 67-Kevin Frederiksen[2]; 10. 59-John...more

Nick Petska of Spring Grove, IL won his second 20-lap IRA Lightning Sprints feature of the season at Wilmot. Petska overtook early race leader Nick Sheridan of Fox Lake, IL on the restart following a caution with 11 laps to go. Pleasant Prarie's Mike Neau, starting tenth, came on strong at the finish to take runner-up. Ron Brannam of Barrington, IL was third. C.J. Malleug of Johnsburg, IL fourth. Oak Creek's Mark Heinert fifth. "Nick (Sheridan) was strong in his first night out," said...more

The IRA Lightning Sprints made their first appearance of the season to Sycamore Speedway on Independence Day Weekend where we saw just 14 cars make the tow down on a hot Saturday afternoon. Qualifying was led by Ron Brannam in the 01 with quick time and then followed by Tim Brannam in the 74 and Mike Neau in the 16 rounded out the top 3. In heat race action, the 18 of Nick Petska continued his winning ways as he led all 8 laps in Heat 1 and would go on to win his series leading 5th heat race...more

The closest finish of the night came in the 20-lap IRA Lightning Sprint feature. Sifting through lapped traffic coming for the checkered flag, Oak Creek's Mark Heinert nipped C.J. Malueg of Johnsburg, IL by less than one foot at the checkered flag. For the second Wilmot main win in a row, it was Heinert the winner and Malueg second. Ion Stear of Hebron, IL was third. Nick Petska of Spring Grove, IL fourth. Pleasant Prarie's Mike Neau fifth. "The scoreboard said the same thing this week as it...more

C.J. Malueg of Johnsburg, IL overtook Nick Petska of Spring Grove, IL coming for the white flag lap of the 20-lap IRA Lightning Sprints feature. Malueg ended up taking the victory, his second of the season at Wilmot, with Petska second. Pleasant Prairie's Mike Neau was third. Bristol's Adam Schroeder fourth. Early race leader Max Brannam of Holiday Hills, IL finished fifth. "We've been coming and finally I saw the spot and went for it," said Malueg, who had a pair of second place finishes in...more

C.J. Malueg of Johnsburg, IL scored his third 20-lap IRA Lightning Sprints feature win of the season at Wilmot, and second in a row. Malueg held the lead start to finish, but not without a late race challenge. Pleasant Prairie's Mike Neau caught up with Malueg out of turn four coming for the checkered flag. At the finish it was Malueg with the victory with Neau second by less than a car length as the pair crossed side by side. Tim Brannam of Holiday Hills, IL was third. Nick Petska of Spring...more

Nick Petska continued his winning ways as the IRA Lightning Sprints returned to Sycamore Speedway to race the small track for the first time since August of 2011. The 13 of CJ Malueg was able to take command on the opening lap from his outside of row 2 starting position and lead the first 22 laps of the 25 lap main event. A restart with 4 to go bunched the field back up an allowed Petska to sneak by on the high side going through turns 1 and 2 on lap 23 and go on to win. That marks Petska’s...more

John Kirk of Johnsburg, Ill. became the fifth different IRA Lightning Sprints feature winner at Wilmot this season taking top honors in the 20-lap main. Early race leader Mitchell Reich of Waukegan, IL spun in turn one three laps into the main. Ron Brannam of Barrington, IL took over the top spot on the restart. Two laps later, with 15-laps remaining, Kirk shot to the inside in turn one to take the lead. Kirk pulled away to the finish for the victory. Derek Fortier of Franksville was...more

After a Dodge Country Fair Grounds rain out on Friday night, all three series under the Interstate Racing Association banner, the Bumper to Bumper winged 410s, the Auto Meter Wisconsin wingLESS series and then IRA Lightning Sprints all defended upon the Plymouth Dirt Track for the 4th annual Wisconsin Sprint Car Championships. The lightning sprints Mike Neau Set quick time over John Kirk and Nick Petska. Mark Heinert and Tim Brannam claimed victory in the heat races. Mark Heinert took the...more

The IRA Lightning Sprints have posted their 2022 schedule. The season will again include 16 races across 5 different race tracks with the series being anchored at Wilmot Raceway for 10 of those nights. We are privileged to share the track with Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions, the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars (twice), The Dirt Kings Late Models, and several dates with IRA Outlaw Sprints and Wisconsin wingLESS Sprints. Just like last year, all shows shared with the All Stars or...more