INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (August 15) - For the 10th time in 12 weeks this season, and for the eighth week in a row, an Irvine visited victory lane at Independence Motor Speedway. For the fourth time, two Irvines celebrated in the winner's circle. Brian Irvine took a track leading eighth win in the I.M.C.A. Stock Car division and Josh Irvine scored his fifth victory in the I.M.C.A. Hobby Stocks as both drivers added to their slim points leads with only two weeks remaining in the season.
At the drop of the green in the 20-lap Stock Car feature, Kevin Rose set the pace. Norman Chesmore, who started right behind Rose, moved under the leader on lap two to snag the lead. As Chesmore led, Brian Irvine was working through the field from a fifth row start. Irvine motored past Chesmore just shy of the midway point to take command. He led the final 11 circuits to take the win, his sixth in the last seven weeks. Jarod Weepie, Dan Trimble, Chesmore and Phil Holtz completed the top five. Irvine added an extra point to his lead over Weepie to take a four point edge into the last two weeks of the season. Trimble sits 11 points out of the lead.
Pole-sitter Don Arnold took the lead at the start of the 15-lap Hobby Stock feature. He received heavy pressure from Joe Sprague and Justin Hanson throughout the early stages of the event while Josh Irvine was working through the field from a fifth row start. Irvine worked his way into second place just prior to a mid-race caution on lap eight. When racing resumed, Irvine remained glued to Arnold's rear bumper until making the winning pass with only five laps to go. Hanson came home second ahead of Wes Stanek, Arnold and Brad Forbes. In the points race, Irvine now sits 11 markers ahead of sixth place finisher Quinton Miller.
Chad Lerch took command on the third lap of the 25-lap I.M.C.A. Late Model feature to drive to his third win of the year. The first year driver wasted little time extending his lead over the field as he amassed a straightaway advantage by the time he encountered lapped traffic on the 10th circuit. Lerch cleared the lapped cars while a quartet of drivers engaged in an exciting battle for second. Tom Struve claimed runner-up honors ahead of Greg Kastli, who nosed out Curt Martin at the line for third. By virtue of his fifth place finish, points leader Darren Ackerman padded his lead in the standings to 11 ahead of Travis Smock and 18 over Jon Passick.
Cautions plagued the I.M.C.A. Modified feature, resulting in a time-shortened event. Jeff Kriz led throughout much of the scheduled 20-lapper, holding off heavy pressure from Jerry Luloff and Darin Duffy. Luloff made his way around Kriz just prior to a lap 13 caution. After racing resumed, another caution brought a premature end to the event sending Luloff in victory lane. Kriz ran second ahead of Duffy, Doug Firgard and Leon Wilson. Duffy, who continued his hot streak with his 12th straight top-four finish, carries a 44 point lead over Troy Cordes into the final two weeks of the season.
Danny Dvorak was in the right place at the right time to claim the victory in the 15-lap I.M.C.A. SportMod main event. Lucas Lundry took the lead on the third lap and then held off challenges from Jake Strayer late in the event as he appeared to be on the way to his second win of the season. Exiting turn four on the final lap, however, contact from Strayer's machine sent Lundry into a spin allowing Strayer to cross the line first. Strayer, however, was deemed at fault, thus handing the victory to then-third place Dvorak. Josh Sherbon, Joel Rust, Jim Buhlman and Mary Handberg rounded out the top five. Finishing sixth, Kyle Bentley held onto a seven point lead over Buhlman in the points race.
It was another great night of racing at IMS as 110 cars signed in to compete. It was also nice to be joined in the tower by K98.5 radio personality Bucky Doren, who called the action in the I.M.C.A. Modified division. In addition, there were many kids on-hand for the back-to-school festivities. Those included bike giveaways, backpack prizes and other school supplies given to the kids on-hand, courtesy of the local Walmart. The kids were also able to take part in a candy dash during intermission, sponsored by Doug Cue of Superior Cleaning Services.
Only two weeks remain in the 2009 season at the speedway and a few of the points battles are far from over so it's setting up to a great two-week stretch. If you haven't had a chance to stop by, take advantage of one of the next two Saturdays, if not both. The new concession stand should also be open next week.
Due to computer problems over the weekend, I may not have bonus stats this week. If, by chance, things clear up, I'll see what I can scrounge up numbers-wise.
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