The Late Model division has been around Independence longer than many of the track's fans, dating back to the mid-1960s. Below is a year-by-year recap of every season dating back to 1967 followed by division statistics since that time. Although I understand the track opened a year or so prior to the start of the 1967 season, I was only able to locate results as far back as 1967. Additionally, I only have the track champions dating back to 1981, along with a handful prior to that season. For that reason, I did not include division champions in the stats section. I did, however, include the titlists in the yearly recaps where available.
Please keep in mind, these results and statistics include only weekly racing. Special series, such as the Deery Series, Indee Open, Corn Belt Clash and other specials are not included. And now, 43 years of Late Model results...
1967
Under the promotion of Doc Hunt and Vern Weber of Greater Iowa Racing, Independence kicked off its 1967 season with Glen Martin in victory lane on May 6, his only triumph that year. He started the season as the first of five different winners. Red Droste, Chub Liebe, Bob Hilmer and Tom Hughes were all victorious before Droste became the first two-time winner on June 10. Chub Liebe followed up with his second win the next week. Liebe went on to lead the division with five victories during the 15-week season, including a win during the July 22 mid-season championships. He was the only driver to earn back-to-back wins that year. Droste posted four wins, including a victory on championship night, September 9. Completing the list of one-time winners that year were Martin, Hilmer, Hughes, Ty Burger, Dave Noble and Dick Heiden. Liebe earned track championship honors.
1968
Droste continued his winning ways into 1968 by picking up the opening night victory. It was the first of only 10 times in division history that the season championship winner of one season won the opener of the following season. Droste's only other win that year came one week before championship night during the 16-week season. Liebe continued to pace the field in 1968, matching his 1967 performance with another five-win season in 1968. He was the only driver to earn back-to-back wins during that season, as well. Cal Swanson earned his first division win on May 18, the first of his three victories that season. Klaus Stricker and Bill Zwanziger scored their lone wins of the season prior to Ed Sanger's first triumph, that being during the July 13 mid-season championship program. Paul Fitzpatrick rounded out the list of winner that year. He earned two victories, including the final race on championship night.
1969
It took Bill Barthelmes three weeks to earn his first victory to start the 1969 season. The season opener on May 10 was cut short due to rain, forcing Barthelmes to wait until the next time Mother Nature cooperated on May 31 to take the season opening win. It was his only trip to the winner's circle that year. Droste led the division with three wins that year, including back-to-back wins in July, as well as a September 20 season championship triumph. Sanger and Liebe each earned two wins, while Joe Schaefer also scored his first two wins that season, coming on August 9 and 3o. Curt Hansen drove to his first and only win on August 2 to complete the list of eight winners during the rain-shortened 13-week season.
1970
Barthelmes scored his second straight season-opening win, his only victory that season, as well. He was the first of eight straight different winners to open the season, a season-opening record that still stands 40 years later. Hansen, Droste, Martin, Bill Beckman, Swanson and Liebe all won features before Sanger doubled-up on July 4 and 11. Sanger scored his division-leading third win on championship night to wrap up the points title. Zwanziger was the only other multi-race winner that year with his two wins coming in back-to-back fashion in August. Al "Doc" Mayner earned his first win on July 18 of that year while Schaefer added his name to the list of 11 winners with a victory on August 22. That was the last race of the season before season championships finally dodged the rain four weeks later on September 19.
1971
Sanger continued his winning ways in 1971 by taking the first two features of the year. Sanger eventually visited the winner's circle seven times that season, a mark that has only been topped two other times in the last 39 years, once by Sanger himself. Mayner broke Sanger's streak to take the first of his two wins that season in week three. Red Dralle scored his first Late Model win at Independence on May 29 of that year (remember that date), the first of two wins for him that season. Jim Burbridge got his first victory on June 26 as part of a make-up feature from the previous week's washed out show. Liebe took mid-season championship honors in his only win of the year before Burger, Hansen and Karl Sanger earned single wins. Sanger closed the season with three wins in the final four nights, including a championship night victory.
1972
Liebe opened the 1972 season with the first of his two wins that year. Hansen and Arthur Nesteby joined Liebe in the two-win column while Mayner, Barthelmes, Schaefer, Karl Sanger and Bob Hesse completed the list of one-time winners. Ed Sanger again dominated victory lane as he drove to five feature wins, all coming in the final seven weeks of the season, including championship night. In the process, Sanger set a mark that has been matched only 11 times (twice by him), but never topped. Remarkably, that record is earning three straight wins. It's hard to believe nobody has ever won four straight in 43 years. Hansen, however, walked away with track title honors.
1973
After a three year absence, Martin returned to victory lane to open the 1973 season. Mayner and Dan Nesteby also made trips to the winner's circle that season, while Hansen posted two victories, including one on mid-season championship night. It was Ed Sanger, however, who posted another mark that has been matched only one time since the 1973 season, but never topped. Starting with his feature win during the second weekly show on May 19, Sanger won a total of eight times that year. His victories included two separate streaks of three straight wins. His mark of eight wins has been matched only one other time. While it's one of the years I'm missing, I would have to believe Sanger won the points title again in 1973.
1974
Although he won the season opener in 1974, Ed Sanger slowed down a bit as he posted just two wins in 1974. It was the seventh straight year he posted at least one feature victory and the final season in that streak. Despite his low win total, Sanger was one of five drivers to score two wins to lead the division. Among the other two-time winners were Martin, Schaefer, Arthur Nesteby and Gary Crawford, who earned his first Late Model win at Independence on June 22 of that year. Both Martin and Nesteby won their features in back-to-back fashion while Schaefer's final win came on championship night. One-timers that year included Jack Mitchell, Barthelmes, mid-season victor Dralle and Dan Nesteby.
1975
Martin scored back-to-back wins to open the 1975 season in a year when a number of first-time winners visited victory lane. Among those were Denny Osborn on May 31, Darrell Sells on July 5, Jim Burger on July 15 and Dave Bedard on July 26. For Sells, Burger and Bedard, those wins were the only victories of their careers at Independence. Crawford, Burbridge, Dralle, Mayner and Arthur Nesteby were also one-time winners. Osborn, Martin, Barthelmes and Schaefer each drove to two wins to lead the division in a season that saw 12 different feature winners throughout the 16-week season. The 12 winners that year has remained the record for the past 34 seasons. Schaefer was the season championship winner while Osborn nabbed track title honors.
1976
The variety of feature winners kept on coming in 1976 as 10 drivers posted wins in the 14-week season. Barthelmes led the way with three wins, the largest number of wins in the division in three seasons. Barthelmes won the season opener, the third such win of his career, along with back-to-back wins ending on mid-season championship night. Following his May 8 opening night win, rain forced the cancellation of the next three consecutive nights of racing. Since they did not race again until June 5, Hunt and Weber reportedly decided it had "been so long since they raced" that they were going to forget the original opener and declare the June 5 show their season opener. Martin topped that show for his only win of the season. Burbridge, Dralle and Arthur Nesteby also scored single wins that year while Larry Wasserfort and Roger Bruggeman scored the only wins of their careers that season. Bill Beckman and Crawford each collected a pair of victories.
1977
Crawford became the man to beat in 1977 as he posted five feature wins, including three straight to end the season. Dave Trower, the opening night winner, along with Roger Klingfus and Jim Decker, earned their only Independence wins that season. Beckman, Hesse, Mitchell, Martin and Mayner also collected single wins while Dralle topped mid-season action. For the second straight season there were 10 different winners in 14 nights of racing.
1978
Crawford continued to dominate in 1978 as he posted a career high six wins, including two separate back-to-back streaks, one of which came at the end of the season. Ed Sanger appeared to be the dominant car as he posted three wins in the first four weeks before Crawford accomplished the same feat in the following four weeks of competition. Mayner and Dralle eached scored wins in the first half of the season. Following Crawford's mid-season championship victory, Burbridge won two straight prior to victories by Martin and John Weers. Crawford then ended the season with two straight trips to the winner's circle.
1979
Tom Fitzpatrick won the 1979 opener before Zwanziger returned to victory lane for the first time in nine years in week two. Crawford then reeled off four wins over the next five weeks. Zwanziger matched Crawford's division-leading four wins that season. Greg Kastli scored the first win of his Late Model career at Independence on June 30 and added his second win seven weeks later, one of six straight different winners to close the season. Gary Tigges, Tom Fitzpatrick, Dave Merfeld and Plum were part of that string, along with championship night winner Martin.
1980
Mayner won on opening night of the 14-week 1980 season to earn his only win of the year. Crawford posted a trio of wins that year, his final one during mid-season championships. Zwanziger and Tom Fitzpatrick added wins during the first half of the season along with Rick Wendling, who earned his first career win on June 28, one week prior to mid-season. The week following mid-season, on July 12, Dave Bentley scored his first career Late Model win. Ed Sanger and Dick Schiltz also scored wins in the closing weeks of the season, however Jim Burbridge was the man to beat toward season's end as he won three times in the final five weeks.
1981
Ed Sanger scored the opening night victory in 1981, the first of his two wins. His only other win that year came on championship night. After the May 9 program was cut short due to rain, Kastli not only won the make-up feature on May 16, he also won that night's regularly scheduled main event. He eventually scored five wins that season on his way to the track title. John Connolly earned two wins, while Bentley, Tigges, Schiltz and Burbridge also scored victories. The Late Model feature on August 22 was cut short, ultimately canceled and never made up following an injury during that event.
1982
Crawford and Burbridge led the list of nine different winners in 1982 as those drivers each earned three wins during the 14-week season. Wendling kicked off the year in victory lane, the first of seven different consecutive winners to open the season. Burbridge, Kastli, Ed Sanger and Crawford followed before Steve Auringer posted his only Late Model win at Independence on June 19. Dralle completed the list of seven straight winners the following week. Crawford was the first to double-up that season, one of only three drivers to earn multiple wins. Mayner and Karl Sanger joined the winners' list toward the end of the year. Burbridge's two wins came in back-to-back fashion late in the season to wrap up the points title. One week later, Wendling closed the season on championship night the way he started it, in victory lane.
1983
Gary Henderson opened 1983 with his first Independence Late Model win. After the season opener was rained out on May 21, Henderson won the make-up feature the following week. Burbridge scored the first of his two wins during the regularly scheduled feature on May 28. Wendling got his only win that season on week three. Kastli nabbed a pair of wins that season to drive to the track title while Dralle won consecutive features as the middle of the season approached. Bentley also scored a win in the second half of the season. Zwanziger had the hot foot throughout the second half of the year as he posted four wins to lead the division, all during the final seven weeks of the season, including on championship night.
1984
Opening night of the 1984 season was a turning point for the division, as well as the speedway itself. The most dominant driver in division history at Independence scored his first career victory to open the season that former driver Jerry Blue purchased Greater Iowa Racing and took over the reigns of the speedway. It was on May 5 of that year when Curt Martin scored the first of his 90 career wins in weekly competition at the speedway. It was the first of five wins for Martin that year, who closed his memorable year with a win on championship night. Wendling posted four victories that year as he and Martin dominated the final six weeks of the season; each driver won three times in that span. Ed Sanger scored a pair of wins that year while Dralle and Karl Sanger each posted single victories. The season marked the first of three straight track titles for Martin, who eventually motored to 10 championships overall at Independence.
1985
Martin opened 1985 with another victory, the first of eight straight different drivers to score wins that season, matching the mark first established at the start of the 1970 season. Crawford, Dralle, Larry Schmidt, Ed Sanger, Wes Merritt, Jeff Aikey and Henderson completed the list of different winners. Crawford ended the list of new winners in grand fashion as he went on to score three striaght wins. The season then closed with another streak as six different drivers found victory lane over the final six weeks. That list included Martin, Kastli, Crawford, Merritt, Vern Jackson (whose lone Late Model win came on August 17) and Red Dralle, the winner on championship night. Overall, Crawford led the way with five wins while Martin drove to his second straight track title
1986
Martin was the first to double-up in 1986, however it took eight weeks (mid-season championships) to do so as, again, a long string of different winners opened the season. In all, seven drivers won during the first seven weeks with a total of 10 drivers earning victories that season. Martin opened the season with a win, followed with wins by Greg Hunter, whose first career win came on May 3, Osborn, Dralle, Ed Sanger, Zwanziger and Henderson. Following Martin's mid-season win on July 12, Burbridge, Crawford and Randy Frush added their names to the list of 1986 winners. After a rain-shortened program on August 9, Martin won the make-up feature on August 16 while Burbridge won the regular feature that night, the first of two straight for him. Martin concluded the season with a win on championship night, his fourth of the season, on the way to his third straight title.
1987
With his three wins in 1987, including mid-season and season championship triumphs, Wendling drove to his first division crown as the Late Models were sanctioned with I.M.C.A. for the first time in track history. Burbridge also scored three victories to match Wendling for that season's high. Crawford's lone win came on opening night before Hunter won back-to-back features the following two weeks. Osborn posted a pair of wins while Merritt and Schmidt also claimed a checkered flag apiece. Dennis Schwake earned his only win on June 27 of that season before Dave Thorsten took his first Late Model win the following week on July 4.
1988
Aikey opened the 1988 season with a win before Martin went back-to-back in the following two weeks. Dralle earned his only win of the season the following week before Dennis Dugan earned his first Late Model win on June 4. He won his second feature later that season. Burbridge and Wendling scored two wins each, as did Hunter, whose mid-season and season championship feature wins lifted him to his first division title. (Note: The August 13 show did not include weekly Late Model racing as I.M.C.A.'s Late Model Series, now known as the Deery Brothers Summer Series for I.M.C.A. Late Models, made it's first-ever stop at Independence that night. Osborn took the victory in that historic event. Coincidentally, the series ran without a title sponsor in its first season and it no longer competes at tracks on points nights during the season.)
1989
Denny Osborn scored two wins in 1989 to drive to the track title and the I.M.C.A. national championship. Both of Osborn's wins came in the final five weeks of the season, including season championship night. Five other drivers matched Osborn with two wins apiece that season. Those drivers included Kastli, Wendling, Burbridge, Dralle and Dave Gerner, whose first win came on June 3. Other winners that year included Bernard Reinking, Hunter and Dean Wagner. Following Osborn in the final standings were Kastli, Dralle, Hunter and Wendling. Thorsten, Schwake, Gerner, Reinking and Dugan completed the top 10. (Yes, this was the year I started my collection of endless points sheets.)
1990
Martin opened the 1990 season with consecutive wins on his way to the track championship. Along with his track championships that season, which included Marshalltown Speedway, Martin won I.M.C.A.'s Late Model Series (sponsored by J&J Steel) and the national championship to earn the unprecedented Triple Crown of I.M.C.A. Late Model racing. Martin tallied five wins at Independence that year, including mid-season and season championship victories, on his way to the track title. Osborn and Wendling each scored a pair of wins while Burbridge and Ed Sanger were also victorious that year. In the final standings, Kastli and Osborn followed Martin in a tight battle for second. Dralle, Wendling, Burbridge, Merritt, Hunter, Verly and Reinking were among the top 10 in the final standings.
1991
Martin continued his stay at the top of the division with another track title in 1991. In all, Martin scored five wins, including victories on opening, mid-season and season championship nights en route to the title by 60-plus points ahead of Kastli. Burbridge, with four victories, was the only other multi-race winner. Along with victories by Wagner, Gerner, Dugan and Thorsten, it was on May 4 of that season when Ed Sanger earned his most recent (final?) career win at Independence. Burbridge ran third in the final standings, followed by Wendling and Kevin Pittman. Dan Forsyth, Dralle, Wagner, Darin Burco and Wayde Russell were also among the top 10.
1992
Despite six wins by Martin, a number of drivers scored the first wins of their careers in 1992. Following wins by Martin, Burbridge and Wendling to open the season, Kevin Pittman scored his first win on May 23. Just two weeks later, following another Wendling victory, Burco won his first feature on his hometown track on June 6. Forsyth took his first win the following Saturday, the first of his two wins that season. Burbridge scored a trio of wins that year and Em Fretheim nabbed his lone win at Independence on July 25. Dugan won on championship night, but it was Greg Hunter who overcame a seven-point deficit to Kastli that evening to snag the track title.
1993
After a six-year absence from victory lane, Crawford made a memorable return by posting six wins on his way to the track championship in 1993. Following Hunter's opening night victory, Crawford scored five wins in a seven week span to take command. He posted his sixth and final win on championship night to lock up the title by 48 points over Hunter. Crawford was the only multi-race winner that season. In addition to Hunter, the winners of the remaining five events of the rain-shortened 11-race season included Osborn, Martin, Kastli and Les Verly, whose first career win came on August 21. Kastli finished third in the standings ahead of Wendling and Layne Meyer. Dugan, Osborn, Modified veteran Timm Jensen, Pittman and Martin completed the top 10.
1994
The pattern of different winners at the start of the season continued in 1994 as seven straight different drivers saw victory lane before mid-season championships. Martin, Crawford, Hunter, Burco, Blaine Blessing, Kastli and Dralle all scored wins before Kastli earned his second victory during the July 9 mid-season championships. The second half of the season was also littered with different names as Lynn Idler, Kevin Pittman and Dean Wagner were all victorious. Kastli led the way with four feature wins while Martin and Pittman each scored two victories. Pittman won on championship night. Kastli's on-track success led to the track title for the veteran driver, who finished 31 points ahead of Pittman. Crawford, Hunter and Burco completed the top five while Wagner, Idler, Blessing, Meyer and Martin ran sixth through 10th.
1995
Wendling led the way with four feature wins on the way to his first track championship in eight years. Wendling scored season opening and championship night wins, along with a pair of consecutive wins in the middle of the season en route to the crown. Martin tallied three wins, including mid-season championship night, while Hunter and Meyer each added a pair of wins. Idler and Rich Picha also took victories. Pittman ran second to Wendling in the final standings, 56 points out of first. Martin, Meyer and Hunter completed the top five. Wagner, Idler, Crawford, Picha and Verly rounded out the top 10. Coincidentally, Meyer ran second to Wendling in the championship feature. By virtue of that finish, Meyer clinched the national championship title over Wendling. FRC, anyone?
1996
Wendling earned his second straight track title in dominating fashion in 1996. His division-leading seven feature wins included two separate three-race winning streaks in the final two months of the season as Wendling won six of the final seven features that season. His championship night win sealed a 79-point victory over Burco in the final standings. Burco was the winner of two events. Martin also won two features, including the only non-Wendling victory in the waning weeks of the season. Crawford, Kastli, Osborn and Pittman comprised the list of single-race winners, Wagner, Hunter and Pittman completed the top five in the final standings. Martin, Verly, Crawford, Osborn and Kastli ran sixth through 10th.
1997
The introduction of the spec motor led promoter Jerry Blue to drop the I.M.C.A. sanction in the Late Model division. It marks the only season in the past 23 years that the division has gone unsanctioned. It was also the only season in history that the track went rainout-free as 19 events were completed. Martin and Pittman led the division with four wins apiece, with Martin taking season championship feature honors to earn the track title by 26 points over Wagner. Kastli scored three wins while Hunter, Burco and Verly won two times each. One-time victories went to Denny Osborn and his son, Brad. Kastli ran third in the final standings ahead of Pittman and Crawford. Hunter, Burco, Drew Johnson, Verly and Drew Hamilton completed the top 10.
1998
I.M.C.A.-sanctioned Late Models returned for good in 1998 and Kevin Pittman made the most of it as he scored five wins to drive to the track championship. His five wins came in a nine-week span in the middle of the season. Burco nabbed three wins while Martin and Kastli each grabbed a pair. Crawford, Dralle, Hunter and Denny Osborn each scored wins while Dale Hackwell Jr. earned his first Late Model win on August 15. Burco ran second in the final standings, 26 points behind Pittman. Kastli, Martin and Hunter completed the top five. Crawford, Verly, Kevin Kirkpatrick, Darren Ackerman and Hackwell rounded out the top 10.
1999
Martin piloted to seven feature wins and his seventh track championship in 1999 in Greater Iowa Racing's final season at the helm of the speedway. Following a Martin victory on opening night, Jim Gallery scored his only career win at Independence on May 8. Hunter nabbed his lone feature win the following week before Martin went back-to-back in weeks four and five. After the first career Independence Late Model wins for Drew Johnson on June 5 and Greg Bruening on June 12, Martin reeled off three straight wins. Seven straight different winners closed the season, which included Hunter, Martin, Burco, Tysus Pattee (first career win on August 7), Hackwell, Verly and Kastli on championship night. Martin led Hunter by 51 points in the final standings, followed by Burco, Kastli and Ackerman. Crawford, Verly, Hackwell, Johnson and Gallery completed the top 10.
2000
Under the direction of the Buchanan County Fair Board and new race director Dana Benning, the 2000 season opened on April 29 with another Martin victory. Kastli won the following week before Martin won back-to-back to earn three wins in the first four weeks of the season. Hunter collected three wins on the season, including mid-season championship, while Wendling and Burco each took a pair of victories. Burco landed in victory lane on championship night to clinch the points title by three markers ahead of Martin. Pattee and Dralle also reached victory lane. Kastli, Hunter, Ackerman, Hackwell, Verly, Hunter, Pattee and Wendling completed the top 10.
2001
Kastli scored five wins, including two in the first three weeks, to win the division title in 2001. Kastli took his final three wins over the course of the final eight weeks to secure top honors by 17 points ahead of Martin in the final standings. Martin added three wins of his own as the two drivers made it a two-horse race at the top of the heap. Hunter, who took two wins, finished a distant third, sitting 56 points behind Martin at season's end. Burco and Verly also scored victories while Ackerman earned his first win at Independence on June 9. Brad Osborn and Verly completed the top five in the standings while Hackwell, Brian Hunter, Johnson, Ackerman and Pattee completed the top 10. The season was the first in history when season championships were not run, as the original date (as well as the make-up date) rained out.
2002
Curt Martin was the dominant driver at Independence in 2002... when he was there. Despite racing only 11 of the scheduled 15 nights, Martin tied the mark Ed Sanger set clear back in 1973 by taking eight feature wins. Maybe the only more impressive stat from that season was Kastli's championship run. Not only did Kastli defeat nearest competitor Ackerman by 59 points in the final standings, he did so by winning just two feature events and missing a night of competition altogether. Denny Osborn and LaVern Carey each won two features that season while Dale Stolte rounded out the list of winners in 2002. Just five different drivers won features throughout the course of the 15-week season. That mark tied 1973 and 1990 for the all-time fewest number of winners in a season. Hackwell ran third in the final standings ahead of Brad Osborn and Carey. Denny Osborn, Johnson, Verly, Martin and Crawford completed the top 10.
2003
Despite earning only one win, Kastli made it three straight championships in 2003. Martin, who again led the field with six feature wins, competed in only 13 of the 16 race nights. It was also a memorable season as two of the speedway's legendary drivers each earned their final feature wins at the track. Crawford, who earned the opening night win, scored his last Independence victory on June 14. Just one month later, Red Dralle took his final victory lap at the speedway on July 12. (Check out their staying power in the stats following the yearly recaps.) Stolte, Wheeler and Carey also scored single wins in 2003 while Darin Duffy made the move to the Late Model division and picked up three wins in his rookie campaign. Two of those wins came back-to-back at the end of the season. Duffy ran second in the final standings, 35 points behind Kastli. Hackwell, Crawford and Ackerman completed the top five. Martin, Stolte, Greg Hunter, Pattee and Carey ran sixth through 10th. It was the second time in three years that season championship racing was rained out.
2004
Dean Wagner opened the season with a feature win, his first since 1994. Duffy and Ackerman split wins the following two weeks before Martin went on a tear. Martin won seven of the next 10 features and engaged in a close points battle with Ackerman at the top of the standings. Ackerman's two wins on the season, along with his consistency, kept him in a battle at the top. His 11 top-five finishes led the division and kept him on Martin's heels. Ackerman's second place finish on championship night, combined with Martin's seventh place finish, resulted in a tie at the top of the standings for the division crown. Since I.M.C.A. did not recognize tie-breakers at the track level at the time, the two were declared co-champions. Coincidentally, Martin again missed a night of racing in 2004, competing in just 13 of 14 events. Other winners that year included Duffy with three victories and Thorsten with one. Running third in the final standings was Stolte, followed by Duffy and Hackwell. Wagner, Pattee, Thorsten, Greg Hunter and J.D. Auringer completed the top 10.
2005
Martin again led the way in 2005, winning six of the division's 16 features as he drove to his ninth championship. Kastli, Duffy, Martin and Ackerman opened the season with wins over the course of the first four weeks before Duffy and Martin alternated trips to victory lane over the next four weeks with the pattern ending on mid-season championships when Martin won. Ackerman and Stolte opened the second half of the season with wins before Martin triumphed in back-to-back weeks. A streak of four straight different winners closed the season starting with Duffy. Josh McGowan followed with his only career Late Model win at Independence on August 13 before Aikey won the following week. Martin wrapped up the division title with a victory on championship night. Ackerman ran second in the final standings with McGowan, Duffy and Greg Hunter completing the top five. Hackwell, Stolte, Wagner, Rick Dralle and Kastli completed the top 10.
2006
Martin opened the 2006 in victory lane to begin pursuit of his 10th and most recent track championship. He added another three wins to his total on his way to the title. His back-to-back wins on July 1 and July 8 was his most recent such streak, taking his record total to 14 separate sets of back-to-back wins in his career. Kastli steered to victory lane two times while Tyler Bruening scored the first win of his Independence racing career on July 22. He added a second win two weeks later. One-time winners included Hackwell, who finished second in the final standings and won on championship night, Ackerman, Luke Goedert, Dave Stricker, Stolte and Aikey. Wagner, Pattee and Ackerman completed the top five in the standings. Tyler Bruening, Joel Brasch, Wheeler, Levi Benn and Kastli ran sixth through 10th.
2007
Martin found himself in opening night victory lane once again in 2007 for a record 13th time in 24 seasons. It currently serves as his most recent win at the speedway. The season was the last time a double-digit number of drivers made trips to the winner's circle as 10 drivers scored victories during the 15-week season. Ackerman led the field with three victories while Aikey, Terry Neal and Benn added two wins apiece. One-time winners included Martin, Goedert, Pattee, Bruening and Burco. Rounding out the list of winners was Rick Dralle, son of legend Red Dralle, who made his first-ever trip to victory lane on July 7. Ackerman's three wins, including mid-season and season championship triumphs, lifted him to his first outright championship and second overall. He finished 16 points ahead of Goedert. Burco, Hackwell and Pattee completed the top five. Rookie Travis Smock, Martin, Jon Passick, Benn and Johnson rounded out the top 10.
2008
Following the delay to the start of the season after the devastating spring storms, Ackerman maintained his winning ways by taking the June 21 opening night feature. Stolte, Bryan Klein and Tyler Bruening began the abbreviated nine-week seasons with wins before Rick Dralle won consecutive events on July 26 and August 2. Luke Pestka scored his first win one week later, followed by Ackerman's second and final win of the season on August 16. Bruening scored his second win of the season on championship night. Hackwell held off Burco by a single point to score his first Independence track title. Bruening, Smock and Ackerman completed the top five while Klein, Goedert, Wheeler, Rick Dralle and Johnson finished sixth through 10th.
2009
Ackerman drove to his third track championship in six years after pulling away in the standings late in the season. Back-to-back wins just past the midway point of the season combined with a championship night victory locked up the title. Neal and rookie Chad Lerch also scored three victories apiece to match Ackerman in the win column. Stolte, Rob Toland, Rick Dralle and Scott Welsh also earned wins while Wendling made his first trip to victory lane almost nine years to the date after his last visit with his win on August 22. His most recent win had been August 19, 2000. Ackerman beat Smock by 24 in the final standings while Martin, Burco and Brian Hunter completed the top five. Kastli, Passick, Hackwell, Johnson and Tyler Bruening rounded out the top 10.
LATE MODELS (1967-2009/current)
Career Wins
1. Curt Martin, 90
2. Gary Crawford, 46
3. Ed Sanger, 43
4. Greg Kastli, 38
5. Rick Wendling, 33
6. Jim Burbridge, 32
7. Red Dralle, 21
8. Greg Hunter, 20
9. Chub Liebe, 16
10. Denny Osborn, 15
T11. Bill Zwanziger, 14
T11. Darin Burco, 14
T11. Darren Ackerman, 14
T14. Glen Martin, 13
T14. Kevin Pittman, 13
T16. Al "Doc" Mayner, 10
T16. Darin Duffy, 10
T16. Red Droste, 10
19. Bill Barthelmes, 9
20. Joe Schaefer, 8
21. Curt Hansen, 7
T22. Arthur Nesteby, 6
T22. Dale Stolte, 6
T22. Jeff Aikey, 6
T25. Les Verly, 5
T25. Terry Neal, 5
T25. Tyler Bruening, 5
T28. Bill Beckman, 4
T28. Cal Swanson, 4
T28. Dean Wagner, 4
T28. Dennis Dugan, 4
T28. Karl Sanger, 4
T28. Rick Dralle, 4
T34. Chad Lerch, 3
T34. Dale Hackwell Jr., 3
T34. Dave Bentley, 3
T34. Dave Gerner, 3
T34. Dave Thorsten, 3
T34. Gary Henderson, 3
T34. LaVern Carey, 3
T34. Tom Fitzpatrick, 3
T34. Tysus Pattee, 3
T34. Wes Merritt, 3
T44. Bob Hesse, 2
T44. Bob Hilmer, 2
T44. Dan Forsyth, 2
T44. Dan Nesteby, 2
T44. Dick Schiltz, 2
T44. Gary Tigges, 2
T44. Jack Mitchell, 2
T44. John Connolly, 2
T44. Larry Schmidt, 2
T44. Layne Meyer, 2
T44. Levi Benn, 2
T44. Luke Goedert, 2
T44. Lynn Idler, 2
T44. Paul Fitzpatrick, 2
T44. Randy Wheeler, 2
T44. Ty Burger, 2
T60. Bernard Reinking, 1
T60. Blaine Blessing, 1
T60. Brad Osborn, 1
T60. Bryan Klein, 1
T60. Darrell Sells, 1
T60. Dave Bedard, 1
T60. Dave Merfeld, 1
T60. Dave Noble, 1
T60. Dave Plum, 1
T60. Dave Stricker, 1
T60. Dave Trower, 1
T60. Dennis Schwake, 1
T60. Dick Heiden, 1
T60. Drew Johnson, 1
T60. Em Fretheim, 1
T60. Greg Bruening, 1
T60. Jim Burger, 1
T60. Jim Decker, 1
T60. Jim Gallery, 1
T60. John Weers, 1
T60. Josh McGowan, 1
T60. Ken Kennedy, 1
T60. Klaus Stricker, 1
T60. Larry Wasserfort, 1
T60. Luke Pestka, 1
T60. Randy Frush, 1
T60. Rich Picha, 1
T60. Rob Toland, 1
T60. Roger Bruggeman, 1
T60. Roger Klingfus, 1
T60. Scott Welsh, 1
T60. Steve Auringer, 1
T60. Tom Hughes, 1
T60. Vern Jackson, 1
Most consecutive seasons with at least one feature win
18 - Curt Martin (1990-2007)
9 - Gary Crawford (1974-1982)
8 - Glen Martin (1973-1980)
8 - Greg Kastli (1996-2003)
7 - Ed Sanger (1968-1974)
7 - Jim Burbridge (1986-1992)
6 - Chub Liebe (1967-1972)
6 - Darin Burco (1996-2001)
6 - Darren Ackerman (2004-2009, currently active)
5 - Curt Hansen (1969-1973
5 - Red Dralle (1974-1980)
5 - Red Dralle (1982-1986)
4 - Greg Hunter (1997-2001)
4 - Red Droste (1967-1970)
4 - Al "Doc" Mayner (1970-1973)
4 - Jim Burbridge (1980-1983)
4 - Gary Crawford (1984-1987)
4 - Greg Hunter (1984-1987)
4 - Rick Wendling (1987-1990)
3 - Bill Zwanziger (1968-1970)
3 - Arthur Nesteby (1974-1976)
3 - Bill Barthelmes (1974-1976)
3 - Ed Sanger (1980-1982)
3 - Greg Kastli (1981-1983)
3 - Rick Wendling (1982-1984)
3 - Ed Sanger (1984-1986)
3 - Greg Hunter (1993-1995)
3 - Denny Osborn (1996-1998)
3 - Kevin Pittman (1996-1998)
3 - Darin Duffy (2003-2005)
3 - Jeff Aikey (2005-2007)
3 - Tyler Bruening (2006-2008)
3 - Rick Dralle (2007-2009, currently active)
Total features - 630
Total feature winners - 93
First-time winners per month
25 - June
23 - August
22 - July
21 - May
1 - April
1 - September
Longest win streak (within one season)
Note: No driver has ever won more than three straight features within the same season.
3 straight wins, 4 times - Gary Crawford (1977, 1979, 1985, 1993)
3 straight wins, 3 times - Ed Sanger (1972 and twice in 1973)
3 straight wins, 3 times - Curt Martin (1992, 1999, 2004)
3 straight wins, 2 times - Rick Wendling (twice in 1996)
Longest win streak (over two seasons)
4 straight wins - Ed Sanger (end of 1973-start of 1974)
Most two-race win streaks (victories for each streak came within same season)
14 - Curt Martin
4 - Ed Sanger
4 - Jim Burbridge
3 - Bill Zwanziger
3 - Rick Wendling
2 - Chub Liebe
2 - Darin Duffy
2 - Gary Crawford
2 - Greg Kastli
1 - Arthur Nesteby
1 - Bill Barthelmes
1 - Darin Burco
1 - Darren Ackerman
1 - Glen Martin
1 - Greg Hunter
1 - Kevin Pittman
1 - Red Dralle
1 - Red Droste
1 - Rick Dralle
Seasons with no back-to-back feature winners - 1980, 1989, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2007
Most feature wins in a single season
8 - Ed Sanger (1973)
8 - Curt Martin (2002)
Most number of different feature winners in a season
12 - 1975
11 - 1970
10 - 1976, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1994, 1999, 2007
Most consecutive different feature winners (same season) - 9 (1975)
Most consecutive different feature winners (over two seasons) - 9 (1975-1976, 1979-1980)
Most consecutive different feature winners to start a season - 8 (1970, 1985)
Most consecutive different feature winners to end a season - 9 (1975)
Most opening night feature wins (19 different drivers)
13 - Curt Martin (1984, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007
4 - Ed Sanger (1971, 1974, 1978, 1981)
3 - Glen Martin (1967, 1973, 1975)
3 - Bill Barthelmes (1969, 1970, 1976)
3 - Rick Wendling (1982, 1995, 1996)
2 - Gary Crawford (1987, 2003)
2 - Greg Hunter (1993, 1997)
2 - Greg Kastli (2001, 2005)
1 - Red Droste (1968)
1 - Chub Liebe (1972)
1 - Dave Trower (1977)
1 - Tom Fitzpatrick (1979)
1 - Al "Doc" Mayner (1980)
1 - Gary Henderson (1983)
1 - Jeff Aikey (1988)
1 - Red Dralle (1989)
1 - Dean Wagner (2004)
1 - Darren Ackerman (2008)
1 - Rob Toland (2009)
Most season championship feature wins (22 different drivers)
8 - Curt Martin (1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2005)
5 - Ed Sanger (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1981)
4 - Rick Wendling (1982, 1987, 1995, 1996)
3 - Gary Crawford (1977, 1978, 1993)
2 - Red Droste (1967, 1969)
2 - Joe Schaefer (1974, 1975)
2 - Darren Ackerman (2007, 2009)
1 - Paul Fitzpatrick (1968)
1 - Bill Beckman (1976)
1 - Glen Martin (1979)
1 - Jim Burbridge (1980)
1 - Bill Zwanziger (1983)
1 - Red Dralle (1985)
1 - Greg Hunter (1988)
1 - Denny Osborn (1989)
1 - Dennis Dugan (1992)
1 - Kevin Pittman (1994)
1 - Greg Kastli (1999)
1 - Darin Burco (2000)
1 - Darin Duffy (2004)
1 - Dale Hackwell Jr. (2006)
1 - Tyler Bruening (2008)
Bookend wins (won opening night and season championship features in same season)
6 - Curt Martin (1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1998, 2002)
3 - Rick Wendling (1982, 1995, 1996)
2 - Ed Sanger (1971, 1981)
Most days between first and most recent/last feature wins
1. 11,732 - Red Dralle (32 years, 1 month, 14 days)
2. 10,647 - Rick Wendling (29 years, 1 month, 25 days)
3. 10,584 - Gary Crawford (28 years, 11 months, 2 days)
4. 9,912 - Denny Osborn (27 years, 1 month, 20 days)
5. 9,905 - Greg Kastli (27 years, 1 month, 12 days)
6. 8,386 - Curt Martin (22 years, 11 months, 16 days)
7. 8,330 - Ed Sanger (22 years, 9 months, 21 days)
8. 7,728 - Jim Burbridge (21 years, 1 month, 26 days)
9. 6,986 - Jeff Aikey (19 years, 1 month, 16 days)
10. 6,587 - Bill Zwanziger (18 years, 13 days)
11. 6,202 - Dave Thorsten (16 years, 11 months, 22 days)
12. 5,572 - Greg Hunter (15 years, 3 months, 1 day)
13. 5,439 - Darin Burco (14 years, 10 months, 22 days)
14. 5,383 - Dean Wagner (14 years, 8 months, 26 days)
15. 4,781 - Glen Martin (13 years, 1 month, 1 day)
16. 4,711 - Karl Sanger (12 years, 11 months, 24 days)
17. 4,389 - Al "Doc" Mayner (12 years, 6 days)
18. 3,318 - Bob Hilmer (9 years, 1 month)
19. 3,003 - Darren Ackerman (8 years, 2 months, 20 days)
20. 2,933 - Dale Hackwell Jr. (8 years, 11 days)
Average number of race nights per year - 14.65
Average number of feature winners per year - 8.05
1st feature winner in division history - Glen Martin (5/6/67)
50th feature winner in division history - Cal Swanson (6/20/70)
100th feature winner in division history - Dan Nesteby (8/4/73)
150th feature winner in division history - Gary Crawford (6/4/77)
200th feature winner in division history - Rick Wendling (6/28/80)
250th feature winner in division history - Curt Martin (5/5/84)
300th feature winner in division history - Jim Burbridge (6/6/87)
350th feature winner in division history - Rick Wendling (8/18/90)
400th feature winner in division history - Red Dralle (7/2/94)
450th feature winner in division history - Curt Martin (7/26/97)
500th feature winner in division history - Curt Martin (7/29/00)
550th feature winner in division history - Darren Ackerman (5/15/04)
600th feature winner in division history - Darren Ackerman (6/30/07)
The Late Models completes my look back at the history at Independence. I hope you enjoyed reading through it as much as I did. I'll throw in some new stuff as drivers add to the history of the speedway this season.
If you have any photos you want me to include, I'd be happy to post them, as well. A few people have already expressed interest in sending photos to include with these trips down memory lane. I may go back and include them in the blogs I've already posted or put them in a new one, depending on the interest.
Until next time...
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