JOSH NELMS wins the Big One over the best of KIRL

The saying goes: "the cream rises to the top," and Joshua Nelms proved it at Event #5 in the Pro-KIRL series 30 lap Super Final. Current Pro-KIRL point leader and former ARCA stock-car racer Bill Hartwig initially chased down and passed kart specialist Adam Schatz and stretched out his lead while Josh was methodically working his way to the front.  

Once past Schatz, Nelms had a 12 second deficit to erase before he could even think about passing the 4 time Pro-KIRL Champ Hartwig.  Josh Nelms was on a mission to win after working on his ASA latemodel all day and barely making it to the Chicago Indoor Racing facility before registration closed.  At about lap 22, Josh Nelms (Rockford Speedway's 2005 Latemodel Rookie of the Year and Illiana Speedway's 2003 and 2004 Sportsman Champ) put one of the slickest moves on the crafty veteran for the lead.  In fact, Hartwig even briefly put his hands up in the air, signaling his surrender to Josh. 

 Once in front,  Josh put the smooth driving style he is famous for to work and stretched out his lead on Hartwig to well over 10 seconds in the remaining laps.  Also sharing the podium with the 2 superstars from the back of the field to third place was the 16 year old slippery quick Tony Velez.

Event #5 was the 5th consecutive show with over 55 participants.  

KIRL Event #6 (the final race for the 5th season) has officially been scheduled for Sunday March 30th.  To make your reservations please email drtwoth@comcast.net or call 773.719.9559 soon (no reservations will be taken during the week preceding the event, however, walk-ons are never turned away prior to the close of registration).

Ryan Finley scores his first Pro-KIRL Super Final of the 2007-08 season on January 6th.  The race quickly brought the final top 3 together in pursuit of the early leader, Dave Edwards who held nearly an 8 second lead at one point. The chasing trio lead by James Swan over Ryan Finley and Tony Velez took until lap 18 to put Edwards behind them and begin their personal tussels.  Watching the three swap the positions back and forth without any contact while the lappers graciously pulled over as they blasted by was quite a site especially after watching a gruesome Lightweight Final.  Ryan Finley made the final pass for the lead over James Swan with 2 laps to go as Swans tires were failing.  Tony Velez was exceptionally kind by not helping Swan to get anymore loose in the corners than he already was!  At the line it was Finley 3 lengths ahead of Swan who had about a foot over Tony Velez! Dave Edwards held onto 4th followed by the quickly closing pack of George Schultz, Nick Petska, Michael Bilderback, Ryan Farrell and Jarrett Kimball.



Ryan Finley 1st, James Swan 2nd and Tony Velez 3rd.

Click This to see the current point standings.

3 time Pro-KIRL Champion and former USAC Stock Car Racer Bill Hartwig shows all the lighter and younger kart racers in the 30 lap Super Final on December 2nd why he is the champ!  Bill may not have had the fastest laps of the night but he always leads in the fastest average lap.  In the Super Final his consistent quickness earned him the honor of carrying the final checkered flag for KIRL racing in 2007!  The next KIRL event will be on the first Sunday in January of 2008.  Infrequent Pro-KIRL racer Adam Berge made an impressive showing in all his races of the night including a second to Bill Hartwig.  Relative KIRL newcomer Bill Wirth also had a fantastic night ending up third in the Super Final after winning the Super Heavyweight Final race.



On November 4th, Ryan Farrell smoothly worked his into the front of the 30 lap Pro-KIRL Super Final at the halfway point by passing pole sitter Cody Potter. By lap 22 it was Farrell, Nick Schumacher and Josh Nelms and that's how the race would end.  Schumacher said he wished it had been a 35 lapper.  Nelms complained that with Bill Hartwig giving up his berth in the Super Final to Andy Jones, this forced him to have to carry the KIRL Helmet Cam.  Nelms said his aero package was all out of shape with the camera onboard and thus he was slowed in his quest to the front. KIRL rookie Cody Potter was ecstatic with his 4th place finish.


Nick Schumacher 2nd; Ryan Farrell 1st and Josh Nelms 3rd in the KIRL SuperFinal

10 year old Minicup racer, Toby Stewart won the Feather Weight Feature and set fast time for the counter clockwise direction



Nick Schumacher was seen trying to get some tips from the young guns (l-r) Andy Jones,Tommy Jones and Aaron Katzenberg



The veteran Light Weights (l-r ignoring Bill Hartwig) Jerry Giuliano, Ryan Finley and Adam Mass are all dejected that Toby Stewart annihilated them in the first qualifier.



Ken Johnson (dr tooth) giving the veteran Light Weights tips on how to stay ahead of Toby Stewart in the Feature






Aaron Katzenberg is being aggresively pursued by eventual  winner Toby Stewart



During the summer, Chicago Indoor Racing ran a special 300 lap endurance race. Team KIRL (l-r) Fred Marano, James Thorndike and Bill Hartwig placed 2nd out of 21 teams. A nearly one lap lead they built up was erased by a red flag with 40 laps to go.



KIRL newcomer Jeff Conn (Friendly Ford's General Manager) is given pointers by Bill Hartwig prior to the Super Heavy Weight Feature