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SOPHOMORE SHOE STOUTHAMER TAKES FIRST IRA LIGHTNING SPRINTS FEATURE MAY 10 AT SYCAMORE

(Sycamore, IL, Saturday, May 10, 2025)--Another one of the "young guns" in the 11-75 Sports Park & Eatery IRA Lightning Sprints captured his first career main victory as Chad Stouthamer of Big Bend, WI scored the 20-lap feature win Saturday, May 10 at Sycamore(IL) Speedway
"This is amazing," said a jubilant Stouthamer who comes from a racing family. "I got caught by a lapped car which took me briefly out of my rhythm, but I was able to get it back. It was a fun race."
"I have to thank all of my family, sponsors, and everyone whose been behind this effort," said Stouthamer, the rookie of the year last season as he in his sophomore year of lightning sprints racing. "I have to thank my Grandpa Bob Peterson, who was the former president of the IRA. My Uncle Dale who was a IRA Champion, and this is an early Mother's Day present for Mom."
Following an aborted initial start of the main, Stouthamer shot to the outside of Tim Brannam of Holiday Hills, IL.

The race stayed green with the front runners encountering traffic near the halfway point. Southamer was sticking to the inside groove coming out of turn two and was boxed in my a backmarker. Tucker Richards of Bristol, 14-year-old 8th grader fresh off his first career feature win to open the season a week earlier at Wilmot Raceway, took the point using the high side.
Two circuits later, after clearing the lapped traffic, Stouthamer regained his rhythm retaking the point and going on to the win.

At the checkered, Body Craft fast qualifier Nick Petska of Spring Grove, IL caught third place finisher Richards for runner-up at the finish by inches as the two crossed side by side.

Following a disqualification, the revised finish saw Brian Strane Jr. of Paris, WI fourth. Tim Brannam, winner of the Fox Lake Harbor presents All Star Performance 1st Heat, ended up fifth.

Behing Circle Track Hard Charger was Petska who improved four positions after starting sixth.

Derek Fortier of Racine, WI won the Game Day Men's Health presents Rod End Supply 2nd Heat.

Next up for the Lightning Sprints 35th Anniversary Season Tour is heading to the Plymouth Dirt Track at Sheboygan County Fair Park Saturday, May 17 joining the Bumper to Bumper IRA 410 Outlaw Winged Sprints and the Akright Auto Midwest Sprint Association 360 Sprints.

For information check Plymouth Dirt Track or IRA Lightning Sprints MyRacePass, websites or social media pages.

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