Taylor tames Eagle River, scores second career MSA victory

Bill Taylor Boltonville, Wis. claimed his second career MMW Industrial Supply Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Car A-main victory at Eagle River Speedway in Eagle River, Wis. on Saturday, July 5. - MSA Sprints photo

(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) July 5, 2025 – On a lightning-fast track surface, Bill Taylor of Boltonville, Wis. was the fleetest in the MMW Industrial Supply Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Car field in claiming the second main event triumph of his MSA career in the 25-lap headliner at Eagle River Speedway in Eagle River, Wis. on Saturday, July 5.

Starting from the pole, Taylor bested outside front row starter Brady Portschy of Plymouth to gain the initial advantage on the drop of the green flag in the ninth MSA A main of the 2025 campaign. While Taylor quickly pulled away to a sizable lead, third starter Brandon Berth of Cascade engaged in a duel with Portschy for second.

Taylor caught the back of the pack on lap 10, but he still maintained a solid cushion over Portschy. Five laps later, Portschy pulled into the infield with mechanical issues.

One lap later, Ryan Sawusch brought out the first caution of the event when the left rear tire of his machine dislodged and came to a rest in turn two of the third-mile D-shaped clay oval. Shortly after the restart, the second and final caution flag of the race was displayed when rookie Cole Stella of Minocqua stopped along the front stretch on lap 16.

Following the final restart, two-time and defending MSA champion Ben Schmidt of Plymouth, who started sixth, slipped past Kevin Karnitz of West Bend to claim fourth.

As the laps wound down, Taylor extended his lead on the way to his second career MSA A-main victory and first win since 2019. With the victory, Taylor became the seventh different driver to notch an MSA triumph during the 2025 season.

Berth wound up second, seventh starter Joseph Hintz of Burnett finished third, Schmidt was fourth and Karnitz rounded out the top five in a race contested in a light drizzle.

“The track was really fast,” Taylor said in victory lane. “I had a lot of fun tonight. We were a little tight in the heat race and we made an adjustment to put in more gear. Wow. She was fast. I appreciate all the work the track crew did to get the show in tonight and I thank the fans for coming out to support us.”

Afternoon rain showers produced an exceedingly tacky track surface, which helped T.J. Smith of Greenville establish a new Eagle River Speedway track record in qualifying with a fast lap of 12.018 seconds.

Next up for the MMW Industrial Supply MSA Sprint Car Series is a doubleheader weekend starting Saturday, July 12 for Wall of Fame Induction Night at The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. 

Spectator gates open at 4:30 p.m. with qualifying at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m.

The following night, the MSA will head to Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis. for its second and final appearance of the 2025 campaign at the historic facility on Sunday, July 13.

Spectator gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps/qualifying at 5 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m

For more information on the 2025 Midwest Sprint Car Association season, visit www.msasprints.com or check out the Midwest Sprint Car Association Facebook page.   

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MMW Industrial Supply Midwest Sprint Car Association

Eagle River Speedway

Eagle River, Wis.

July 5, 2025

A Main (25 Laps): 1. 69-Bill Taylor [1]; 2. 22B-Brandon Berth [3]; 3. 14J-Joseph Hintz [7]; 4. 1-Ben Schmidt [6]; 5. 63K-Kevin Karnitz [5]; 6. 08-Katelyn Krebsbach [4]; 7. 69S-TJ Smith [8]; 8. 51-Chris Larson [9]; 9. 24X-Eric Wilke [11]; 10. 11-Tony Wondra [10]; 11. 9C-Cole Stella [13]; 12. (DNF) 55P-Brady Portschy [2]; 13. (DNF) 55S-Ryan Sawusch [12]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 14J-Joseph Hintz [2]; 2. 69S-TJ Smith [4]; 3. 51-Chris Larson [1]; 4. 55P-Brady Portschy [3]; 5. 11-Tony Wondra [5]; 6. 24X-Eric Wilke [7]; 7. 9C-Cole Stella [6]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 1-Ben Schmidt [1]; 2. 63K-Kevin Karnitz [2]; 3. 08-Katelyn Krebsbach [3]; 4. 22B-Brandon Berth [5]; 5. 69-Bill Taylor [4]; 6. 55S-Ryan Sawusch [6]

Qualifying 1: 1. 69S-TJ Smith, 12.018 [1]; 2. 55P-Brady Portschy, 12.118 [3]; 3. 14J-Joseph Hintz, 12.121 [5]; 4. 51-Chris Larson, 12.312 [4]; 5. 11-Tony Wondra, 12.416 [2]; 6. 9C-Cole Stella, 12.475 [7]; 7. 24X-Eric Wilke, 12.576 [6]

Qualifying 2: 1. 69-Bill Taylor, 12.145 [3]; 2. 08-Katelyn Krebsbach, 12.148 [2]; 3. 63K-Kevin Karnitz, 12.175 [1]; 4. 1-Ben Schmidt, 12.179 [5]; 5. 22B-Brandon Berth, 12.193 [4]; 6. 55S-Ryan Sawusch, 12.975 [6]