Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TEAM 73 – SHEBOYGAN, WI – A much needed momentum shift, nonetheless, the “Big Wheel” Scotty Thiel and Team 73 turned their season completely around Saturday night at Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, concluding the IRA Outlaw Sprint Series season opener one position shy of clean sweep, capping the program’s A-Main in the runner-up spot after leading the first 20 circuits.
It was a hiccup in traffic that lost Thiel his first victory of the year – Tim Estenson was the victor.
Thiel, ace of the Gibbsville Cheese, Professional Plating Inc, Ludwig & Sons Trucking, Total Restoration Services, Scott Thiel Builders, Lift Pro, Schmidts Landscaping, Complete Water, GRP Motorsports, Lake Home Retreats, No. 73 sprinter, kicked-off the IRA opener with victories in his respective heat race and dash, ultimately setting the tone for his A-Main performance. The end result was Thiel’s best of the season thus far, a perfect jumpstart to his IRA championship quest.
The IRA agenda was intended to begin one night earlier at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wisconsin, but Mother Nature had other plans.
“Definitely bummed we didn’t hang on, but in all, a great night and a great momentum boost for our team. We needed a night like that, especially with it being an IRA event. You can never afford to get behind in a points battle early,” Scotty Thiel noted. “Hats off to this entire team. We’re not really sure of an exact plan for the upcoming weekend, but Knoxville is definitely on the list. We’ll play things day to day and see how the weather works out.”
Tentatively, Scotty Thiel and Team 73 will continue their 2024 campaign with a World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series doubleheader at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, on Friday and Saturday, April 26-27. Each event will award $12,000-to-win.