Balog’s late move sends him to victory at PDTR

As multiple-time champions and the clear-cut favorites tried to add another title to their resumes in their respective divisions in 2020, nine-time Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association champion Bill Balog of Hartland and 2017 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing and three-time Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Car champion Brandon McMullen of Oshkosh put their considerable driving prowess on full display by picking up A-main victories during an all-Sprint Car program at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth last Saturday.
In the 30-lap IRA 410 Sprint Series headliner, Balog outdueled Josh Schneiderman of West Burlington, Iowa, in the closing laps to claim his 10th IRA A-main victory of the season.
Balog started on the pole of the 30-lap IRA main event and quickly outpowered outside front-row starter Scotty Thiel of Sheboygan to lead the opening circuit.
On lap three, Joey Moughan of Springfield, Ill., who started fifth, dipped under the high-riding Thiel to take second.
On lap six, Balog began to negotiate heavy lapped traffic on the multi-groove track surface, which allowed Moughan to slightly close the gap. On lap eight, Schneiderman, who started seventh, dove low to take third from Thiel before passing Moughan for second on lap 12.
Two laps later, 11th-starter Travis Arenz of Sheboygan, who was making his 410 Sprint Car debut driving for Ozzie Motorsports, flipped in turn four after clipping an infield tire. Arenz was uninjured but was unable to return to the race.
On the restart, Balog pulled away from Schneiderman before Moughan got sideways in turn four and collected Thiel, which resulted in both drivers flipping their machines hard on lap 15. Both were uninjured but done for the night.
Schneiderman closed the gap between him and Balog along the low groove on the ensuing restart, while Balog rode the cushion.
The race was slowed for the third time on lap 19 when a yellow flag was displayed for former IRA champion Jack Blackhurst of Hanna City, Ill., who stopped in turn four.
On the restart, Schneiderman stayed dedicated to the inside line, while Balog moved up high. On lap 23, Schneiderman used a big run along the low groove to wrestle the lead away from Balog exiting turn four.
Schneiderman maintained the top spot over the next six laps when lapped traffic became a factor. On lap 29, Balog dove low in turn three to sneak past Schneiderman in dense lapped traffic.
Sixth starter Scott Biertzer of West Bend followed Balog into second on lap 29 with Schneiderman dropping to third.
Balog then cruised over the final lap en route to his 10th IRA victory of the season, second IRA triumph of the season at The Plymouth Dirt Track and 123rd career IRA A-main victory.
Biertzer recorded a strong second-place finish. Schneiderman placed third, 15th-starter Jordan Goldesberry of Springfield, Ill., finished fourth and Mike Reinke of Howards Grove, who started fourth, placed fifth.
In victory lane, Balog said he was thankful to have the opportunity to regain the lead, after losing the top spot to Schneiderman with just seven laps to go.
“I think I went upstairs too early, but I felt I was slowing down on the bottom too long,’ Balog said. “The track was good and you really had to drive your car to find the right groove. I’m happy to get this win because for a while there it looked like we were going to get beat.”
Biertzer was thrilled with second.
“It feels awesome to be here with a second-place result tonight,” Biertzer said. “I have to thank my crew for giving me a good car as well as all my sponsors for their support. We couldn’t be here without them.”
Knoxville Raceway regular Schneiderman, who was making his first career appearance at The Plymouth Dirt Track, was dejected in victory lane, after falling from first to third in the span of two laps.
“I’m pretty disgusted with the result,” Schneiderman said. “I’m upset at myself. Bill is a great race car driver, but we came here to win. My crew worked hard to give us the chance to win after we encountered motor problems last night at Dodge County.”
In other races:
n In the 25-lap PDTR 360 Sprint Car headliner, McMullen snuck past early race leader Will Gerrits of Waupun at the mid-way point to claim his third PDTR A-main victory of the campaign and sixth overall MSA main event win of the season.
Justin Miller placed second, Gerrits wound up third, 2008 PDTR 360 Sprint Car champion Lance Fassbender, who started fourth, finished fourth and Jack Vanderboom of Dousman charged up from the 11th starting spot to place fifth.
n Ryan Ruhl of Coldwater, Mich. was the fastest IRA qualifier with a lap of 11.767 seconds around the third-mile clay oval.
Sean Rayhall of Woodstock, Ga., won the 15-lap IRA B main.
n Kevin Karnitz of West Bend claimed the 15-lap PDTR 360 Sprint Car B main.
The all-Sprint Car program, which featured a total of 59 cars, included 30 IRA 410 Sprint Cars and 29 PDTR 360 Sprint Cars.
The next event at The Plymouth Dirt Track is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, with the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars, Grand Nationals and B Mods, along with an appearance from the Badger Midgets. The event will be the final points event of the season for the PDTR Grand National and B Mod divisions.
Grandstand gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m.