“I just had no idea we were going to be that good.” Said an ecstatic Jordan Goldesberry in Plymouth Dirt Track victory lane. “That was a crazy race.”
The IRA Sprints series is more competitive than ever, with 20+ drivers committing to at least 80% of the season’s schedule. So far in 2023, it’s been the Rockstar Energy/Rhine Auto-Plymouth, WI #65 team rising to the top of the pile. This weekend at Plymouth and Angell Park Speedway was no different.
A 5th place qualifying effort and 5th to 3rd Dash result earned Goldesberry the 5th place starting position for the 30 lap Frank Filskov Memorial feature this past Saturday night. Utilizing a quickly rubber-ing bottom groove the 2022 IRA Champion took the lead from the usual dominator of the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds, Bill Balog. Entering lapped traffic though, Goldesberry was held up on the bottom and Balog soared back to the lead and brought 2x IRA Champ Jake Blackhurst with him as Goldesberry moved up to pass a slower car.
The three IRA champions proceeded to put on an absolute show in lapped traffic, with Blackhurst eventually tapping out late as the lapped traffic thickened. A straight up fight between Goldesberry on the bottom and Balog on the top ensued all the way to the final corners, as with the #65 in front, Balog made a last ditch, Hail Mary effort on the cushion but missed his mark, hit the wall and spun to a stop in turn 4. The checkered flag flew alongside the caution lights and Goldesberry picked up his second IRA feature win and 3rd 410 Sprint Car feature triumph of the 2023 season.
“I just stuck to the bottom at Plymouth.” Goldesberry stated. “I knew lapped traffic was going to be an issue down there but it ended up being the place to be at the end. Racing clean with Bill and Jake was awesome and I think it put on a great show for the fans.”
The IRA tour then shifted focus to Angell Park Speedway’s “Dahlke Memorial” season opener on Sunday night. Goldesberry qualified 8th overall and earned a Dash redraw spot with a win in Heat #2. A 4th place finish in Dash #1 out Goldesberry in the 7th starting position in the night’s A Main.
Some daring moves and avoidance of carnage on a technical track surface allowed Goldesberry to make his way through the front runners and eventually an extremely strong 3rd place finish for another IRA podium. The result also vaulted the Springfield, IL driver back to the top of the IRA points battle.
“Honestly we weren’t all that great to start off at Angell Park.” Goldesberry admitted. “We threw a lot of changes at the car for the Dash and got a lot better. I was definitely happy to come away with a 3rd place run on a track surface that doesn’t really fit my driving style.”
Goldesberry and the Rockstar Energy Drink #65 team will continue their 2023 IRA Sprints campaign on May 27th at the Wilmot Raceway at the Kenosha County Fairgrounds in Wilmot, WI. The IRA then heads to the high banks of “Wisconsin’s Baddest Bullring” 141 Speedway on Sunday, May 28th for another round of the Hopf Farms Bullring Showdown. Tickets are available at the track for both events. FloRacing will provide live coverage of the IRA all season long.
Jordan Goldesberry Racing thanks their 2023 partners for their support this season!
Rockstar Energy Drink
Modern Paving and Scrap
Rhine Auto-Plymouth, WI
FK Rod Ends
Wix Filters
Keizer Wheels
King Racing Products
Schure Built Suspensions
Collision Concepts
HRP-Hepfner Racing Products
Capital City Powder Coating
Box3 Media
FULL RESULTS: 5/20 at Plymouth Dirt Track w/IRA Sprints-Frank Filskov Memorial
Qualifying: 5th out of 31 cars
Heat: S/3rd, F/5th
Dash 1: S/5th, F/3rd
Feature: S/5th, F/1st
5/21 at Angell Park Speedway w/IRA Sprints-Dahlke Memorial
Qualifying: 8th out of 27 cars
Heat: S/2nd, F/1st
Dash 1: S/3rd, F/4th
Feature: S/7th, F/3rd
NEXT RACE: 5/27 Wilmot Raceway w/IRA Sprints
SEASON STATS
Races: 7
Feature Starts: 7
Top 10’s: 4
Top 5’s: 4
Feature Wins: 3
Dash/Re-Draw Appearances: 6
IRA POINT STANDINGS
1st-Jordan Goldesberry-734
2nd-Jake Blackhurst-703
3rd-Brenham Crouch-688
4th-Russel Borland-651
5th-Blake Nimee-648
Comments