(Plymouth, Wis., Saturday, September 27, 2025)-- For Mike Neau of Pleasant Prairie, the 11-75 Sports Complex & Eatery IRA Lightning Sprints season finale was somewhat of a repeat as he scored the feature win for the second year in a row, part of the Wisconsin Sprint Championships at Plymouth Dirt Track on Saturday, September 27.
"Last year when I won, I didn't know if I was going to retire or not," admitted Neau, who ran a limited schedule this season. "Winning here again, coming out of retirement pretty much to do it, is great."
"Running with all of these young guys who have come into the class makes it that much harder," admitted Neau. "Thanks to the fans and everyone who make this night so special. Thanks to especially my dad, and family, for all of their support, and our sponsors who allow me to keep doing this. As for retirement, we'll have to wait and see."
The start of the lightning sprint feature was thwarted as Mayville's Matthew Gifford got upside down in turn one bring out a red flag setting up a rerack.
Neau, who started outside of row one, shot into the lead eventually working his way through lapped traffic as the main stayed green to finish.
In the closing laps, Brian Strane Jr. of Paris, the 2025 Lightning Sprints Champion, shot into contention challenging Neau briefly down the backstretch.
"I knew Brian was there because I saw his front wing for a second, but just kept hitting my marks," Neau admitted. "I want to congratulate Brian and his team, along with 13-year-old Colin Sivia, the rookie of the year, and all of the young drivers because they are the future of this division and of our sport we love to do so much."
Neau held off second place Strane by less than a half-second for the win. Big Bend's Chad Stouthamer was third by inches over fourth place Jacob Irwin of Genoa City. Waukesha's Mark Heinert earned the Behling Race Equipment hard charger improving eight positions from 13th to finish fifth.
"The finish was good, and we had a much better year this year, but I would have liked to have gotten one spot higher," admitted Strane who turned 16 during the season. "I have to thank my dad, family, everyone who has supported me. It's been a lot of fun running with some of the same guys who I competed with in go-karts. I thank everyone who has helped out along the way."
Irwin won the Fox Lake Harbor/All Star Performance presents Behling Race Equipment 1st heat.
Nick Petska of Spring Grove, IL won the Game Day Men's Health/BR Motorsports presents King Race Products 2nd heat.
Strane posted Body Craft fast qualifying honors clocking a :13.950 seconds lap.
Tyler Kuxhouse of Antioch, IL gave his mother Darlene a special birthday present by taking top honors in the 20-lap AutoMeter powered by Gandrud Performance Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints season championship feature.
"This is special because it's mom's birthday and sister, Kendall, surprised me from Kansas City," admitted Kuxhouse following his third WingLESS feature win of the season. "All around it was a great night."
Starting third, Kuxhouse worked his way to the high side while a majority of the field including race leading Allen Hafford of Beach Park, IL were sticking to the bottom. A caution seven laps from the finish closed the field for a sprint to the finish.
Kuxhouse shot to the inside on the restart to take the lead prior to a final yellow with six laps to go. Kuxhouse pulled away to the win.
Hafford came across second holding off a fast finishing third place Ryan Zielski of Oconomowoc, who picked up the Behling Race Equipment Hard Charger improving 11 positions after starting 14th.
Tim Cox of Park City, IL was fourth edging out fifth place 2025 Wisconsin WingLESS Champion Adam Taylor of Whitfield, IN by less than a car length.
Taylor, completing his first full season with the traveling Wisconsin WingLESS series, was appreciative of the support of his family, sponsors and especially the fans. "I really like this place(Plymouth)," Taylor said. "The drivers in this series are really a great group. The fans we met, especially here, have been outstanding."
Hartland's Seth Johnson scored an impressive win in the Fox Lake Harbor/All Star Performance/Game Day Men's Health/BR Motorsports/King Race Products presented by Behling Race Equipment 12-lap non-qualifiers heat race which filled out the field behind the top 10 in points on hard who were locked into the final point main of the season for the WingLESS.
The AutoMeter powered by Gandrud Performance Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints have been invited for a non-point show to be the support class for the NOS Energy World of Outlaws Sprint Cars at LaSalle Speedway in Illinois on Saturday, October 18.
Submitted by Mike Babicz of IRA
Photos by Dave Olson, Donny Knoblach, JW'S Car & Racing Photos, Victory Imagery Media, RC Custom Design
- Michael Babicz on Oct 01, 2025
- Article Date: 9/27/2025 by Michael Babicz