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Strane Reluctantly Takes Third Lightning Sprints While Hensley Captures First WingLESS of 2025

(Sycamore, IL, Saturday, May 31, 2025)--"It's not the way I wanted to win, but I guess we'll take it," said Brian Strane Jr. of Paris following his third consecutive 11-75 Sports Complex & Eatery IRA Lightning Sprints main in a row after taking top honors in the 20-lap feature at Sycamore(IL) Speedway Saturday, May 31, 2025.
"Jordan(Funderburk) is a really good friend of mine, and he deserved to win it," said the 15-year-old Strane. "He went low and hard into turn three and just clipped the infield tire sending him spinning around. It was a shame because he was running strong and I had nothing for him. I have to thank my dad and our team for giving me a good car."
Ron Brannam of Barrington, IL, 73-year-old senior statesman with the Lightning Sprints as they compete in their 35th season, took the opening lead from the front row starting berth. Colin Sivia of Winthrop Harbor, IL, 13-year-old fourth generation driver in his rookie season, started outside the front row with the two batting in the early going.
On the third lap, Sivia hooked the berm and caught the inside tire, barrel rolling several times bringing out the red flag. Sivia was not injured but done for the night.
Funderburk of Wadsworth, IL battled R. Brannam on the restart, overtaking top spot on lap 5 with R. Brannam retiring to the infield with mechanical woes one lap later.
Appearing headed to victory, bad luck bit Funderburk as Strane described with the agonizing spin bringing out the final caution of the main.
Strane pulled away to the win by over a second and a half. Big Bend's Chad Stouthamer came across second.
Body Craft Fast Quaifier Nick Petska of Spring Grove, IL took third edging out 14-year-old Tucker Richards of Bristol, who won the Game Day Men's Health presents Behling Race Equipment 2nd heat, holding onto fourth despite Waukesha's Mark Heinert closing fast finishing fifth. Third thru fifth were separated by less than 3 tenths of a second. Richards picked up the Behling Race Equipment Hard Charger improving four spots for his feature finish.
Funderburk, who won the Fox Lake Harbor presents All Star Performance 1st Heat, charged from restarting at the tale following his spin to finish sixth passing half the field.
The 11-75 Sports Complex & Eatery IRA Lightning Sprints return to Sycamore Speedway on Saturday, August 23 along with Sycamore's Limited Late Models, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks.
"This is awesome," said Trevor's Tate Hensley, second generation driver, after leading flag to flag in the 20-lap AutoMeter powered by Gandrud Performance Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints feature. "It wasn't easy as we caught up to lapped traffic, as I knew Zach (Raidart) was right there waiting for me to make a mistake. I kept hitting my marks and it came together for a win."
"I have to thank Jim Robinson who with my dad(Raymond Hensley) are a wealth of knowledge in setting up the car," said Hensley joined by his family in victory lane following his second career main victory, with his first having come a little over a year ago May 18 at Plymouth(WI) Dirt Track.
Getting into a rhythm was an admitted challenge for Hensley as two cautions and two reds kept slowing progress. The first yellow led to the first red as Jimmy Sivia of Winthrop Harbor, IL, making his initial start of the season, developed a fuel line leak with a fire striking the driver's compartment. Sivia walked to the pit area after getting the flames extinguished.
Two circuits after the restart Oconomowoc's Ryan Zielski, Body Craft fast qualifier, clipped the front stretch wall coming out of turn four sending him into a end over end flip down the front straightaway. Zielski walked into the pit area after being assisted from his upside down machine.
On the ensuing restart, four cars tangled in turn two with Racine's Josh Davidson's mount ending up on its side in the infield. While attempting to gather his car up charging down the front straightaway, Kenosha's Bryce Andrews rolled his car onto its side entering turn one.
All of the cars involved, including the ones requiring assistance to be righted, restarted with no drivers injured.
After circumventing a lot of traffic running the inside line, Hensley scored the victory by less than half second over second place Raidart. Tyler Kuxhouse of Antioch was third. Adam Taylor of Wheatfield, IN rim road the high line improving eight spots from his initial 13th starting spot to finish fourth.
Watertown's Jordan Miklas scored an impressive career finish using the outer groove as well taking the Behling Race Equipment Hard Charger improving 13 positions going from 18th in the original lineup taking fifth.
Rusty Egan of Round Lake Heights, IL won the Fox Lake Harbor presents All Star Performance 1st Heat. Brown Deer's John Fahl took the Game Day Men's Health presents Behling Race Equipment 2nd Heat. Hartland's Seth Johnson picked up the BR Motorsports presents King Race Products 3rd Heat.
The AutoMeter powered by Gandrud Performance Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints close out a three-day weekend Sunday, June 1, 2025 at Angel Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis. along with Badger Midgets and MSA 360 Sprints.
Then its two weeks off for the WingLESS 11th season schedule prior to returning to the track where the series was born, Wilmot Raceway, on Father's Day weekend Saturday, June 14 along with the Lightning Sprintswhich are in their 35th year, also having begun at Wilmot. Wilmot classes Street Stocks and Bandits are on the card as well. Tickets and information check the Wilmot Raceway website.
For latest information and point standings check the official websites for the Lightning Sprints and Wisconsin WingLESS Sprints, both which are overseen by the Interstate Racing Association.

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