Two Tracks, Two Wins: Thiel's Unstoppable Weekend
Beaver Dam, WI – July 26, 2025 – Night two of the weekend's sprint car action at Beaver Dam Raceway delivered a "summer sizzler" for the 34 teams competing. The event showcased fierce competition, concluding in a dramatic feature race victory for the reigning IRA Champion, Scotty Thiel.
The evening began with Bryce Norris setting the pace in Box3 Media Hot Laps, while Scotty Thiel continued his dominant form by securing the Carbon Safety Technologies Qualifying award and the Hi-Plains Building Division Quicktime Award.
Heat race victories went to Jake Blackhurst in Fox Lake Harbor Presents Allstar Performance Heat #1, Bryce Norris in BodyCraft of Antioch presents Behling Racing Heat #2, Travis Arenz in Game Day Men’s Health presents Engler Machine & Tool Heat #3, and Scotty Neitzel in BR Motorsports presents King Racing Products Heat #4.
The Horizon Whiskey Dash Draw set the stage for the feature, with Jake Blackhurst and Matt Vandervere starting on the poles of their respective dashes. Jake Neuman claimed Optimum Electric Dash 1, and Scotty Neitzel won Dash 2, presented by Kristine Hartmann-Pleasant View Realty, securing the coveted front-row starting positions for the main event. The Behling Racing Equipment B-Main was won by Kris Spitz in the 4K, with the 99, 31, and GR8 cars also transferring to the A-Main.
The 30-lap feature race ignited with Scotty Neitzel seizing the early lead, thrilling the Beaver Dam faithfuls. Thiel quickly established himself in second, trailed by Norris and Julien, who rounded out the early podium contenders. Neitzel then extended his advantage, navigating lap traffic with impressive command.
As the race progressed past the ten-lap mark, Thiel began to close the gap, engaging in a captivating multi-lane battle with Neitzel for the lead. The first caution flag of the evening, presented by Honest Abe Roofing, was displayed for Bryce Norris on the backstretch with 18 laps remaining. The restart saw Neitzel, Thiel, and Neuman as the top three. As they passed the Gibbsville Cheese Restart Cone, the intense duel between the 51 of Thiel and the 2W of Neitzel resumed. Neitzel held his ground through turns one and two, but Thiel mounted relentless pressure in turns three and four. Meanwhile, Travis Arenz skillfully advanced to fifth.
In the closing laps, Thiel executed a masterful slider on Neitzel into turns three and four, snatching the lead at the flagstand. The two made contact on the front stretch entering turn one, while Neuman brought out another caution, drawing the action to a temporary halt.
The subsequent restart continued the fierce contest between Neitzel and Thiel. Nimee capitalized on the restart, surging into second place and earning the RT’s 5th Quarter Bar and Grill Hard Charger Award for advancing an impressive 14 positions. Capitalizing on Nimee's momentum, Matt Vandervere then executed a decisive move, sliding past both Julien and Neitzel to claim third. Ultimately, it was Scotty Thiel and the Big Wheel who parked the number 51 in the Real American Beer Victory Lane, capping off a memorable night of sprint car racing.
The Big Wheel’s streak would continue to the Angell Park speedway.
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Thiel’s unstoppable weekend continued at the Angell Park Speedway with 31 Sprint Cars entering the Speedway. Scotty Thiel was fastest in Box3 Media Hot Laps, Joel Myers Jr would return to the IRA Sprint Car Series going Fastest in Carbon Safety Technologies Qualifying securing the Hi-Plains Building Division Quicktime Award.
Heat race victories went to Blake Nimee in Fox Lake Harbor Presents Allstar Performance Heat #1, Kyle Schuett in BodyCraft of Antioch presents Behling Racing Heat #2, and Joe B Miller in Game Day Men’s Health presents Engler Machine & Tool Heat #3.
The Horizon Whiskey Dash Draw sat Blake Nimee and Kyle Schuett on the poles of the dashes. Nimee capitalized on the front row starting spot winning Optium Electric Dash one, while Scotty Thiel would win Kristine Hartmann Pleasant View Reality Dash two. The Behling Racing Equipment B-Main was won by Jordan Goldesberry and Corbin Gurley, Will Armitage, Dave Uttech, Josh Schneiderman, and TJ Haddy would transfer to the feature.
The 30 Lap feature would take the green flag, but trouble would arise early for the field as cars would tangle in turns one and two. Bryce Norris and Scotty Milan would safely walk away from the scene. Goldesberry and team would immediately get to work with the help of others to bring the 65 back out on the track after a broken front wing and shock tower. He would rejoin the field.
Nimee would lead the field once more to the green, and begin to run away from the Big Wheel. Thiel would make quick work of the gap between him and the 79, with Blackhurst moving quickly behind him. With 10 laps down, Nimee would hit lap traffic. Thiel would pass lap cars to try to close the growing gap between himself and Nimee. The action would be paused briefly for Guilford spinning in the apex of turns one and two. At the restart, Nimee would lead the way, but Thiel was right where he wanted to be.
Theil and Nimee would pick up where they left off the following night at the Beaver Dam Raceway exchanging sliders back and forth. This then became more challenging when lap cars would be thrown in. Nimee would lead the way until Thiel would take the lead with 10 laps to go. Nimee wouldn’t give the lead up so quickly, as they would battle until the line for the lead. Thiel would ultimately be victorious going three for three this weekend, two being with the IRA Sprint Car Series. Nimee second and Creed Kemenah would round out the podium on his debut weekend. Logan Juilien would take home the RT’s Fifth Quarter Hard Charger Award.
The Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprints will take a brief break so that competitors can run the Knoxville Nationals. We wish the best of luck to all of our teams heading out that way.
When the series returns, it will be a pair of Fair Races kicking off fair season at the Kenosha County Fairgrounds on Saturday August 16th and Cornfest at Angell Park Speedway on the 17th. You can watch the action live all season long on FloRacing.
Photos by HW Designs
- Madeline Schultz on Jul 29, 2025
- Article Date: 7/26/2025 by Madeline "Chatty Madi" Schultz