“Consistency is key.” The old adage has been repeated so many times by teams, analysts, and drivers throughout racing’s history. Consistency earns points, which in turn wins championships. So far in 2023, Jordan Goldesberry and the Rockstar Energy Drink #65 team have been exactly that; consistent, and then some.
This past Saturday night the Interstate Racing Association returned to Wilmot Raceway, and Goldesberry was cautiously optimistic about his chances at a good finish. However, after a 3rd place Qualifying effort and a 5th to 3rd run in the feature while battling fiercely with 10x IRA Champion Bill Balog and eventual feature winner Blake Nimee, Goldesberry was satisfied with the result.
“We haven’t always been the best at Wilmot, so it was huge for us to put a complete night together and come away with a solid finish.” The Springfield, IL native said of Saturday night’s events. “We definitely had a shot to win but just got caught up in lapped traffic. We’re extremely happy with another podium finish.”
The podium streak wouldn’t end there.
On Sunday, the tour traveled north to 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, WI for their annual Memorial Day Weekend visit to the tight but fast ¼ mile bullring. Goldesberry put a solid night together right from the start, qualifying 6th overall, running 2nd in his heat race and taking a commanding win in Dash #2 putting the Rockstar Energy Drink/Rhine Auto #65 on the outside of the front row for the night’s 30 lap A Main.
On the initial start, Goldesberry slotted into second place behind polesitter Blake Nimee, but didn’t stay there long. On just lap 2, Goldesberry charged to the inside of turn 1 and snatched the lead from Nimee.
For the next 12 or so laps Goldesberry surgically worked his way through thick lapped traffic with Balog and Nimee both pursuing the Rockstar Energy Drink #65. With 12 laps to go, Goldesberry found himself stuck with nowhere to go in traffic and Balog closed up to the defending IRA Champion’s tail tank. The two front-runners began lapping into the Top 10 cars with neither of them easing up. With 5 laps to go, the caution finally flew for the spinning #4K of Kris Spitz.
Over the final 5 laps, Goldesberry set sail in clean air with Balog in hot pursuit. On the final lap, Balog railed the cushion behind the #65 but Goldesberry would not be denied and pulled ahead to take his 3rd IRA Feature win of 2023 and 4th straight podium finish.
“This is quickly becoming one of my favorite tracks.” Goldesberry said of the 141 Speedway. “I knew we had 5 laps to hold off Bill [Balog] at the end and I just tried to run away. Lapped traffic was tough but it seemed to work out in our favor. This thing’s rolling pretty good right now. The track was a little different tonight than it usually is here, but the team adapted well and we were able to get the win.”
Goldesberry and the Rockstar Energy Drink #65 team will continue their 2023 IRA Sprints campaign on Friday, June 2nd in co-sanctioned action with the All Star Circuit of Champions at the Dodge County Fairgrounds for what could possibly be the track’s largest event in its history. $8,000 are on the line on Friday at the inaugural Gib Wiser Classic on the fearsome “Horsepower Half-Mile.” Then, the series heads back to Plymouth, WI for another opportunity at a huge payday. The $26,000 to win Rayce Rudeen Foundation Race is back at the ⅓ mile bullring for the first time since 2020, again in co-sanction with the All Stars. Tickets are available at the track for both events as well as on the IRA Sprints website. 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: 5/27 at Wilmot Raceway w/IRA Sprints
Qualifying: 3rd out of 34 cars
Heat: S/3rd, F/3rd
Dash 1: S/3rd, F/3rd
Feature: S/5th, F/3rd
5/28 at 141 Speedway w/IRA Sprints
Qualifying: 6th out of 26 cars
Heat: S/3rd, F/2nd
Dash 1: S/1st, F/1st
Feature: S/2nd, F/1st
NEXT RACE: 6/2 at Dodge County Fairgrounds w/IRA Sprints & All Star Circuit of Champions
SEASON STATS
Races: 9
Feature Starts: 9
Top 10’s: 6
Top 5’s: 6
Feature Wins: 4
Dash/Re-Draw Appearances: 8
IRA POINT STANDINGS
1st-Jordan Goldesberry-1015
2nd-Brenham Crouch-962
3rd-Blake Nimee-928
4th-Russel Borland-891
5th-Scotty Neitzel-880
PC: JW's Car and Racing Photos
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