Kristan Honors Fallen Filskov With IRA Sprint Win at Plymouth

video by Jeff Fischer
Plymouth, WI | Sept. 17, 2011 - An emotional Brian Kristan claimed the biggest win in his racing career by winning the 15th annual Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series sanctioned Frank Filskov Memorial Fall Classic at Sheboygan County Fair Parks' Plymouth Dirt Track. Kristan's father Joe competed against the late Filskov for several years, and Brian himself was at Hartford Speedway on the fateful day back in October of 1996 when Filskov lost his life. "I was at Hartford back when Frankie lost his life. He was driving a blue & white Weiland Racing Enterprises sponsored car, so it's really cool that I can bring a blue and white Weiland Racing Enterprises car to victory lane tonight."


Kristan has come very close to winning this event several times in the past, leading many laps but somehow not closing the deal. Tonight he certainly earned the win. Kristan jumped out to the lead in the 27 lap headliner in honor of Filskov and his familiar #27F. Tommy Sexton joined Kristan upfront and two raced side by side for numerous laps on a very fast but extremely narrow surface. The two swapped the lead multiple times, many times on the same lap. While Kristan and Sexton fought with a rough cushion and the tall curb that developed, Bill Warren snuck up on the bottom and raced side by side with Sexton for second late in the race as the lead trio caught up with the back of the pack. At the checkered however it was Kristan followed by Sexton, Warren, polesitter Dave Uttech, and Wayne Modjeski completing the top five. 13th starting Scotty Neitzel charged to 6th, with Bill Balog, Mike Kertscher, Mike Reinke, and TJ Leudke rounding out the top ten.

15th Annual IRA Frank Filskov Memorial A-main finish; 1. Brian Kristan, Tommy Sexton, Bill Warren, Dave Uttech, Wayne Modjeski, Scotty Neitzel, Bill Balog, Mike Kertscher, Mike Reinke, TJ Leudke, Phillip Mock, John Haeni, Kris Spitz, Donny Goeden, KenJay Feidler, Ty Bartz, Jim Melis, Russel Borland, Bill Wirth, Matt Vandervere, Scott Biertzer, Todd King.


Kertscher set Osborn & Son Trucking Fast Time over the 28 car field.
Uttech captured the Weld Racing heat, Warren the All Star Performance back heat, and Kristan the DMI 3rd heat. Phillip Mock won the Behling Racing Equipment B-main, while Neitzel was the HRP Hard Charger.

IRA's final two events of the 2011 season are the Fall Festival of Speed at Wilmot Raceway on Sept. 24th, and the Dick Witt Checkered Classic / Thiel Memorial at the Dodge County Fairgrounds on October 1st. Both events are dual Sprint Car shows as the MSA 360's also compete.

IRA is supported by Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts & Service Centers, Osborn & Son Trucking, Goodyear, TW Metals, Cummins Onan, DNA Energy Drink & Snacks, MPT Industries, UltraLube, Big Game Treestands, Carriage Auto Body, and Polaris DEFENSE.