(Plymouth, WI, Saturday, August 2, 2025)--Brian Strane Jr. of Paris offered to sell his winning machine on the spot following an impressive win in the 20-lap 11-75 Sports Complex & Eatery IRA Lightning Sprints feature Saturday, August 2 at Plymouth Dirt Track.
"My parents, our sponsors, grandpa, everyone that helps on this car give me a great machine to run," said Strane after his fifth victory out of his last six starts, competing in his ninth feature with the series this season. "If someone wants to get into a car that can win right away, come see me."
Strane, at age 15, is competing regularly in Badger midgets and has run in a Wisconsin WingLESS Sprint as well.
The feature began with a scary start as Max Brannam of Holiday Hills, IL, starting next to his grandfather in the front row, got upside down. The younger Brannam walked from the mangled machine.
On the restart, almost not to be outdone, Tim Brannam, Max father and Ron's son, got upside down as well. Tim was checked out by the track ambulance crew after walking away.
Strane, who started 10th in the field, worked his way toward the front as some green flag laps finally began to be run together.
Ron Brannam of Barrington, IL kept the point on the restart when the race officially completed a lap. Chad Stouthamer of Big Bend worked into the lead on the second circuit, maintaining the point for the next six laps until Strane powered into contention.
After the two battled side by side, Strane pulled away to a nearly straightaway victory by over 3.5 seconds and earning the Behling Race Equipment Hard Charger by improving nine spots. Stouthamer was second. Pleasant Prairie's Mike Neau, two-time series champion, took third. Bristol's Tucker Richards fourth. Nick Petska, four-time series champion, of Spring Grove, IL came across fifth.
Petska scored the win in the Fox Lake Harbor presents All Star Performance 1st Heat following posting quick time with a :13.504 seconds Body Craft qualifying lap.
Richards captured the Game Day Men's Health presents Behling Race Equipment 2nd Heat.
Next up for the Lightning Sprints is returning to their home track of Wilmot Raceway for the Roger Iles Tribute on Saturday, August 16 as part of the Kenosha County Fair and Wilmot's 75th Anniversary Season. The Lightning Sprints class originated 35 seasons ago at Wilmot, starting out as the Wisconsin-Illinois Mini-Sprints. The Bumper to Bumper IRA 410 Winged Sprints, which also began at the "old track" on the Kenosha County Fairgrounds and Wilmot nearly 60 years ago, headline the fair card. The AutoMeter powered by Gandrud Performance Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints complete the trio of divisions competing under the IRA banner run mainly with Wilmot serving as their home base. The WingLESS are in their 11th season having started out at Wilmot as well.
Submitted by Mike Babicz of the IRA
Photos by Mike Neau
- Michael Babicz on Aug 03, 2025
- Article Date: 8/2/2025 by Michael Babicz