All photos included here are courtesy of Scott Tjabring of Action Track Photography, the official track photographer of the speedway. Some shots are strategically placed throughout this blog, while others are randomly dropped in to break up the monotony of my 10,000-plus word rant. That's right, settle in, it's a long one. In fact, it covered 36 pages of a Microsoft Word document... not including the pictures.
IMCA Modified driver Jason Snyder stopped by earlier this week to help me with a home improvement project of sorts. I let him take a look at the old point sheets I have on file, along with my computer files of endless records from Independence. He left me with the impression that he thought they were cool and that I wasn't a geek. I'll have to check back with him next week at Boone to see if his opinion has changed after he gets through this blog. I may think better of it and decide not to ask at all...
Since he endured me talking for over an hour about statistics and other trivial stuff, this is the least I could do - here's Jason Snyder in his IMCA Modified in competition at Independence in 2010.
Following the numbers from 2010, which are directly below, I added the season's totals to the all-time statistics. New records and other interesting all-time marks are listed at the end of this blog. Grab a drink and settle in, this Blitz is the longest (and most informative!) yet. Without further delay, here is the Blitz! Enjoy!
Car Count
Division - Average - High - Low
Late Model - 21.4 - 27 - 17
Modified – 25.8 - 34 - 19
Stock Car – 17.0 - 27 - 14
SportMod – 29.9 - 42 - 21
Hobby Stock – 22.9 - 27 - 19
TOTAL – 117.0 - 152 - 98
For those who cried foul during the latter half of the season, saying car counts were down and the track was going to disappear into the night, consider that the average car count at Independence in 2009 was 117.4. I will personally shoulder the blame for the loss of four-tenths of a car in 2010 due to one too many Tiger Woods and American Idol jokes on the microphone. If that's what it takes, I'll put the target on my back myself. While I was "retired" in 2008, I don't have the weekly averages for that season, however I can tell you that the average 2007 car count was 103. The highest car count that season was 114. Yes, that's three cars below our average car count in 2010. Yes, our car counts the first two weeks of 2010 were abnormally high. Even so, if you removed those two dates and averaged the rest of the season... 112. Not too shabby. Remember that 103 in 2007? The 2006 average car count? 109.8 with a high car count of 121 that season.
Shown here on opening night, Sean Johnson (8R) battles Jason Cook (27J), Brian Irvine (26) and I believe Phil Holtz in IMCA Stock Car action.
Points
* 236 drivers earned points this season.
* Among those 236 drivers, 91 different hometowns were represented.
* Only three of five track champions won features: Tyler Bruening (Late Model), Austin Kaplan (SportMod) and Jarod Weepie (Stock Car). Track champions without victories included Troy Cordes (Modified) and Rod Grother (Hobby Stock).
* No driver held the points lead all 14 weeks. Cordes was atop the standings for the last 13 weeks, Bruening for the last 12 weeks and Kaplan for the last eight weeks. Weepie led for the final six weeks of the season while Grother led for the final four weeks and six of the last seven.
IN THE HUNT
* 15 drivers remained in the top-10 in the points every week of the season. Those drivers include:
Late Model (3): Tyler Bruening, Greg Kastli, Curt Martin;
Modified (3): Troy Cordes, Darin Duffy, Jerry Luloff;
Stock Car (4): Norman Chesmore, Sean Johnson, Dan Trimble, Jarod Weepie;
SportMod (2): Danny Dvorak, Joel Rust;
Hobby Stock (3): August Bach, Vince Buchholz, Justin Lichty.
J.D. Auringer (00) works the low side of Patrick Flannagan (F7) in IMCA Modified action.
Feature Winners
* There were 39 different feature winners in 70 feature events this season.
* In August alone, there were 16 different winners in 20 events. Only Darin Duffy (Modified), Sean Johnson (Stock Car), Josh Sherbon (SportMods) and Don Arnold (Hobby Stock) won multiple features during the month.
* Despite having 39 different winners, incredibly, 19 drivers managed to earn multiple feature wins. They included: Josh Sherbon (SportMod, 6 wins), Sean Johnson (Stock Car, 4), Austin Kaplan (SportMod, 3), Brian Irvine (Stock Car, 3), Justin O'Brien (Modified, 3), Vern Jackson (Modified, 3), Darin Duffy (Modified, 3), Jamie Whitaker (Hobby Stock, 3), Jeff Aikey (Late Model, 2), Tyler Bruening (Late Model, 2), Greg Kastli (Late Model, 2), Dale Hackwell Jr. (Late Model, 2), Max Corporon (Modified, 2), Dave Stricker (Stock Car, 2), Dan Trimble (Stock Car, 2), Ray Lundry (SportMod, 2), Vince Buchholz (Hobby Stock, 2), Justin Lichty (Hobby Stock, 2), Don Arnold (Hobby Stock, 2).
* The five track champions in 2010 accounted for the fewest number ever of composite wins for the points champions as those drivers won a total of only six features. Even the storm-shortened nine-week 2008 season boasted seven wins among the five champions.
A quartet of IMCA Hobby Stocks do battle, including George Wayne (31W), Mark Butler (28B), Russel Damme Jr. (4JR) and Wes Stanek Jr. (I think).
Top-10s
* 156 drivers earned at least one top-10 finish this season.
* Tyler Bruening (Late Model), Troy Cordes (Modified), Jarod Weepie (Stock Car) and Austin Kaplan (SportMod) led the way with 13 top-10s in 14 nights of racing. That consistency propelled those drivers to track championships in ther respective divisions. Not to be outdone, Rod Grother led the Hobby Stocks with 12 top-10s on his way to the points title.
* Kaplan closed the season with the longest top-10 streak as his 13 top-10s came in the final 13 weeks of the season.
Late Model driver Tysus Pattee (101) changed car numbers in 2010 in honor of fallen friend and crew member Roy Sturtz, who owned and operated 101 Welding in Vinton. Shown here, Pattee works the low side of Greg Kastli (73).
Top-5s
* 109 drivers earned at least one top-5 finish this season.
* Jarod Weepie (Stock Car) led all drivers with an incredible 12 top-5s in 14 weeks of racing. Tyler Bruening (Late Model) had 11, while Sean Johnson (Stock Car), Austin Kaplan (SportMod) and Rod Grother (Hobby Stock) each had 10. Vern Jackson led the Modifieds with nine top-5s in that division.
* Weepie closed the season with nine straight top-5s to lead all drivers. Jackson finished the season with six straight.
Travis Smock earned his first career IMCA Late Model victory in 2010.
Top-3s
* 81 drivers earned at least one top-3 finish this season.
* Jarod Weepie (Stock Car) and Josh Sherbon (SportMod) led the way with nine top-3 finishes apiece. Sean Johnson (Stock Cars) had eight while Tyler Bruening (Late Model) and Darin Duffy (Modified) had seven apiece. Rod Grother, Jamie Whitaker and Vince Buchholz led the Hobby Stock division with five top-3 finishes apiece.
Lucas Lundry gets his IMCA SportMod on three wheels during the early part of the 2010 season.
Feature Lap Leaders
* 75 drivers led at least one lap of feature competition.
* Division lap leaders included:
Late Model (17 total different lap leaders): Dale Hackwell Jr. (48 laps led), Joel Brasch (40), Jeff Aikey (39), Rick Wendling (36), Travis Smock (35), Jason Rauen (35), Tyler Bruening (32);
Modified (16): Vern Jackson (56 laps led), Justin O’Brien (50), Darin Duffy (50), Joe Docekal (23), Adam Johnson (23), Richie Gustin (19);
Stock Car (12): Dave Stricker (59 laps led), Brian Irvine (42), Sean Johnson (33), Rick Suckow (23), Phil Holtz (21), Dan Trimble (21), Justin Temeyer (20);
SportMod (14): Josh Sherbon (61 laps led), Ray Lundry (30), Austin Kaplan (25), Lucas Lundry (19), Austin Lucas (18), Matt McCahen (9);
Hobby Stock (16): Don Arnold (41 laps led), Chris Wiltse (27), Jim Ball (24), Justin Lichty (22), Jamie Whitaker (19), Max Leonard (15), Josh Irvine (14), Mark Butler (14).
Justin O'Brien (12J) runs down on the tires while Jerry Luloff (18) works high in IMCA Modified action.
Heat Races
* There were 93 different heat race winners in exactly 200 heat races.
* 53 drivers won multiple heat races this season.
* Greg Kastli (Late Model) led all drivers with nine heat race wins in 13 weeks of qualifying events. Josh Sherbon (SportMod) and Jim Ball (Hobby Stock) each won seven heats while Don Arnold (Hobby Stock) won six. Dave Stricker (Stock Cars) and Danny Dvorak (SportMods) had five heat wins apiece. Topping the Modified division with four heat wins each were Troy Cordes and Darin Duffy.
Norman Chesmore (15) is the only driver to race in the Stock Car division all 18 years it has competed at Independence. Shown here, Chesmore works the low groove in a three-wide battle.
Efficiency Stats
* A total of 287 races were run this season.
* A total of 2,992 laps were completed.
* A total of 298 caution flags were thrown.
* The Hobby Stock division (42 cautions in 55 total events) had the best caution per race ratio by averaging .76 cautions for every race.
* The Late Models (44 cautions in 643 total laps) had the best race lap per caution ratio by averaging 14.61 laps of competition completed between caution flags.
* The Modifieds had the most cautions per race, averaging 1.26 cautions per event with 78 caution flags thrown during their 62 races. A close second was the SportMod division, with only a .01 caution flag better per race average. They had 91 caution flags in 73 total events.
* The SportMods had the worst average when it came to laps completed between cautions. They averaged 7.25 laps between yellows. Their 91 cautions came during 660 laps of competition.
Stackin' 'em four-deep in the IMCA Hobby Stock division are Justin Hanson (23), Kyle Anderson (98), Jim Ball (7) and Jerome Wilson (64).
Since the year 1967...
* 644 Late Model feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 96 different winners. On average, a new Late Model winner visits victory lane every 6.7 events.
* 414 Modified feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 77 different winners. On average, a new Modified winner visits victory lane every 5.4 events.
* 262 Stock Car feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 39 different winners. On average, a new Stock Car winner visits victory lane every 6.7 events.
* 37 SportMod feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 12 different winners. On average, a new SportMod winner visits victory lane every 3.1 events.
* 323 Hobby Stock feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 84 different winners. On average, a new Hobby Stock winner visits victory lane every 3.8 events.
* Overall, in the last 44 seasons, 1,680 features have been completed in the five divisions that currently compete at the speedway.
Qualifying Streaks
Justin Temeyer (56T) and Sean Johnson (8R) battle for position in IMCA Stock Car competition.
* The longest currently active feature qualifying streaks for weekly competition in each division include:
Late Model: Darren Ackerman has qualified for 59 consecutive features. His last miss was June 3, 2006.
Modified: Jerry Luloff has qualified for 197 consecutive features. His last miss was July 5, 1997.
Stock Car: Jarod Weepie has qualified for 136 consecutive features. His last miss was June 9, 2001.
Hobby Stock: Justin Hanson has qualified for 27 consecutive features. His last miss was May 2, 2009.
SportMod: Jim Buhlman has qualified for all 37 features dating back to the first one at the speedway on June 21, 2008.
Russel Damme Jr. (4JR), Justin Stander (67), Chris Wiltse (69), August Bach (19) and Wes Stanek Jr. (16) look for a way to the front in IMCA Hobby Stock action.
Stuff Nobody Should Know…
* Of the 70 feature winners, 37 came from inside starting spots and 33 from the outside.
* No driver in the Late Model, Modified or Hobby Stock divisions finished in the same feature position more than three times. It may not sound like that big of a deal, but it is very rare for that to occur in one division, let alone three times in the same season.
* Jerry Luloff (Modified) and Tyler Droste (SportMod) were the only two drivers to lead just a single lap of feature racing and earn wins.
* 90 different drivers cracked the top-10 in his or her division’s points for at least one week this season.
* 21 different drivers held or shared their division's points lead at some point during the season, including four different Late Models, two Modifieds, four Stock Cars, five SportMods and six Hobby Stocks.
* All three of Justin O'Brien's Modifed wins came from the outside second row starting spot.
* No drivers won from the pole in either the Modifieds or SportMods. In fact, nobody won from the entire front row in the SportMod division.
* Three drivers won features after failing to qualify for the invert of their heat races: Brian Irvine (Stock Car) came from the 17th starting spot to win on May 15, Dan Trimble (Stock Car) came from the 13th starting spot to win on August 7 and Darin Duffy (Modified) came from the 21st starting spot to win on August 14.
Shown here on season championship night, 14-year-old Tyler Droste drove to his first career IMCA SportMod win in the season finale and brought the capacity crowd to its feet.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING...
Okay, here it is, the impact 2010 had on the grand scheme of things - the track history of the speedway. I'll break down each division with a few new records and highlights from 2010, then include updated all-time stats at the end of each division. While some of the information below is the same as I posted this past January and February, everything listed is current through the 2010 season. Updates were made where necessary. I am also making this information available to those of you who may not have been a reader of Positively Racing prior to the start of the season.
Oh yeah, and one other reason I'm posting this information again is to get Dominator Chassis owner Nick Wroten out of retirement. You see, I know him being tied with Chris Wessner for the longest winning streak in Hobby Stock division history at Independence really irritates him. It isn't Wessner that bothers him, it's that whole being tied bit that gets under his skin. I figure the more he sees it, the more likely he'll suit up next year and see what he can show the youth movement in the division.
Again, the numbers listed below relate to weekly points races only. Special events are not included in any statistics provided in the Stats Blitz.
LATE MODEL (1965-2010, 46 seasons)
NOTE: My records go back to the start of the 1967 season. The 1965 and 1966 seasons are not included in any of the statistics listed below.
• 2010 was just the fifth time in 44 years that no Late Model driver won more than two features.
• The 10 different Late Model winners in 2010 tied for the third most for a single season in track history. The record was 12 in the 16-week 1975 season. In 1970 there were 11 different winners in that 14-week season. Other seasons with exactly 10 different Late Model winners included 1976, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1994, 1999 and 2007.
• Four different Late Model drivers won multiple features. That ties for the most since 1997, when six different drivers won more than one feature that season. Coincidentally, the six different multi-race winners of that year stands as the all-time record. Since then, there have been four multi-race Late Model winners in a season in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2007.
• Of the 644 feature wins since 1967, 210 belong to drivers who were single-race winners in a season... 86 times a driver won two features in a single season, 23 times has a single season produced a three-race winner, 16 times has there been a four-race winner, 11 times there has been a five-race winner, five times a six-race winner, four times a seven-race winner and twice an eight-race winner.
• Three of the four Late Model winners of the Dick Frye Memorial race during the fair have gone on to win the season championship feature, as well as wrap up the points title. Darren Ackerman did it in 2007 and 2009, while Tyler Bruening did it in 2010. Coincidentally, all four Dick Frye Memorial winners went on to win the championship night feature as Curt Martin did it in 2008.
Feature Wins (96 drivers)
1. Curt Martin 91
2. Gary Crawford 46
3. Ed Sanger 43
4. Greg Kastli 40
5. Rick Wendling 34
6. Jim Burbridge 32
7. Red Dralle 21
8. Greg Hunter 20
9. Chub Liebe 16
T10. Darren Ackerman 15
T10. Denny Osborn 15
T12. Bill Zwanziger 14
T12. Darin Burco 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
T20. Jeff Aikey 8
T20. Joe Schaefer 8
Curt Hansen 7
Tyler Bruening 7
Arthur Nesteby 6
Dale Stolte 6
Dale Hackwell Jr. 5
Les Verly 5
Rick Dralle 5
Terry Neal 5
Bill Beckman 4
Cal Swanson 4
Dean Wagner 4
Dennis Dugan 4
Karl Sanger 4
Chad Lerch 3
Dave Bentley 3
Dave Gerner 3
Dave Thorsten 3
Gary Henderson 3
LaVern Carey 3
Tom Fitzpatrick 3
Tysus Pattee 3
Wes Merritt 3
Bob Hesse 2
Bob Hilmer 2
Dan Forsyth 2
Dan Nesteby 2
Dick Schiltz 2
Gary Tigges 2
Jack Mitchell 2
John Connolly 2
Larry Schmidt 2
Layne Meyer 2
Levi Benn 2
Luke Goedert 2
Lynn Idler 2
Paul Fitzpatrick 2
Randy Wheeler 2
Ty Burger 2
Bernard Reinking 1
Blaine Blessing 1
Brad Osborn 1
Bryan Klein 1
Darrell Sells 1
Dave Bedard 1
Dave Merfeld 1
Dave Noble 1
Dave Plum 1
Dave Stricker 1
Dave Trower 1
Dennis Schwake 1
Dick Heiden 1
Drew Johnson 1
Em Fretheim 1
Greg Bruening 1
Jason Rauen 1
Jim Burger 1
Jim Decker 1
Jim Gallery 1
Joel Brasch 1
John Weers 1
Josh McGowan 1
Ken Kennedy 1
Klaus Stricker 1
Larry Wasserfort 1
Luke Pestka 1
Randy Frush 1
Rich Picha 1
Rob Toland 1
Roger Bruggeman 1
Roger Klingfus 1
Scott Welsh 1
Steve Auringer 1
Tom Hughes 1
Travis Smock 1
Vern Jackson 1
All-time Late Model wins leader Curt Martin (45)
NOTE: I have incomplete track champion records for a few years prior to 1981 in the Late Model division so I chose not to include any of them here. Below are the last 30 Late Model track champions.
1981 Greg Kastli
1982 Jim Burbridge
1983 Greg Kastli
1984 Curt Martin
1985 Curt Martin
1986 Curt Martin
1987 Rick Wendling
1988 Greg Hunter
1989 Denny Osborn
1990 Curt Martin
1991 Curt Martin
1992 Greg Hunter
1993 Gary Crawford
1994 Greg Kastli
1995 Rick Wendling
1996 Rick Wendling
1997 Curt Martin
1998 Kevin Pittman
1999 Curt Martin
2000 Darin Burco
2001 Greg Kastli
2002 Greg Kastli
2003 Greg Kastli
2004 C. Martin / D. Ackerman
2005 Curt Martin
2006 Curt Martin
2007 Darren Ackerman
2008 Dale Hackwell Jr.
2009 Darren Ackerman
2010 Tyler Bruening
2010 IMCA Late Model Track Champion Tyler Bruening (16)
18 - Curt Martin (1990-2007)
9 - Gary Crawford (1974-1982)
8 - Greg Kastli (1996-2003)
8 - Glen Martin (1973-1980)
7 - Darren Ackerman (2004-2010)
7 - Jim Burbridge (1986-1992)
7 - Ed Sanger (1968-1974)
6 - Darin Burco (1996-2001)
6 - Chub Liebe (1967-1972)
5 - Red Dralle (1982-1986)
5 - Red Dralle (1974-1980)
5 - Greg Hunter (1997-2001)
5 - Curt Hansen (1969-1973)
4 - Rick Wendling (1987-1990)
4 - Rick Dralle (2007-2010)
4 - Red Droste (1967-1970)
4 - Jim Burbridge (1980-1983)
4 - Greg Hunter (1986-1989)
4 - Gary Crawford (1984-1987)
4 - Al "Doc" Mayner (1970-1973)
3 - Tyler Bruening (2006-2008)
3 - Rick Wendling (1982-1984)
3 - Kevin Pittman (1996-1998)
3 - Jeff Aikey (2005-2007)
3 - Greg Kastli (1981-1983)
3 - Greg Hunter (1993-1995)
3 - Ed Sanger (1984-1986)
3 - Ed Sanger (1980-1982)
3 - Denny Osborn (1996-1998)
3 - Darin Duffy (2003-2005)
3 - Bill Zwanziger (1968-1970)
3 - Bill Barthelmes (1974-1976)
3 - Arthur Nesteby (1974-1976)
Most consecutive seasons with win (active)
7 - Darren Ackerman (2004-?)
4 - Rick Dralle (2007-?)
2 - Rick Wendling (2009-?)
First-time winners per month
26 - June
23 - August
23 - July
22 - May
1 - April
1 - September
Longest win streak (same season)
3 - Gary Crawford (1977, 1979, 1985, 1993)
3 - Ed Sanger (1972, 1973, 1973)
3 - Curt Martin (1992, 1999, 2004)
3 - Rick Wendling (1996, 1996)
Longest win streak (over two seasons)
4 - Ed Sanger (1973-1974)
Most wins in single season
8 - Ed Sanger (1973)
8 - Curt Martin (2002)
Most number of different winners in a season
12 - 1975
11 - 1970
10 - 1976, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1994, 1999, 2007, 2010
Most consec. different winners (same season)
9 - 1975
Most consec. diff. winners (two seasons)
9 - 1975-1976, 1979-1980
Most consec. diff. winners to start season
8 - 1970, 1985
Most consec. diff. winners to end season
9 - 1975
Most opening night feature wins
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)
1 - Travis Smock (2010)
Most season championship feature wins
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)
2 - Tyler Bruening (2008, 2010)
1 - Red Dralle (1985)
1 - Paul Fitzpatrick (1968)
1 - Kevin Pittman (1994)
1 - Jim Burbridge (1980)
1 - Greg Kastli (1999)
1 - Greg Hunter (1988)
1 - Glen Martin (1979)
1 - Denny Osborn (1989)
1 - Dennis Dugan (1992)
1 - Darin Duffy (2004)
1 - Darin Burco (2000)
1 - Dale Hackwell Jr. (2006)
1 - Bill Zwanziger (1983)
1 - Bill Beckman (1976)
Rained out twice (2001, 2003)
Most points nights (season)
19 (1997)
Fewest points night (season)
9 (2008)
Most 2 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
14 - Curt Martin
4 - Ed Sanger
4 - Jim Burbridge
3 - Rick Wendling
3 - Bill Zwanziger
2 - Gary Crawford
2 - Greg Kastli
2 - Chub Liebe
2 - Darin Duffy
1 - Red Dralle
1 - Greg Hunter
1 - Darin Burco
1 - Glen Martin
1 - Kevin Pittman
1 - Darren Ackerman
1 - Red Droste
1 - Bill Barthelmes
1 - Arthur Nesteby
1 - Rick Dralle
1 - Jeff Aikey
Most 3 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
4 - Gary Crawford
3 - Ed Sanger
3 - Curt Martin
2 - Rick Wendling
Seasons with no back-to-back feature winners
1980, 1989, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2007
Bookend wins (won opener and 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
11732 - Red Dralle (32 years, 1 month, 14 days)
11361 - Greg Kastli (31 years, 1 month, 8 days)
11004 - Rick Wendling (30 years, 1 month, 17 days)
10584 - Gary Crawford (28 years, 11 months, 22 days)
9912 - Denny Osborn (27 years, 1 month, 20 days)
9114 - Jeff Aikey (24 years, 11 months, 14 days)
8386 - Curt Martin (22 years, 11 months, 16 days)
8330 - Ed Sanger (22 years, 9 months, 21 days)
7728 - Jim Burbridge (21 years, 1 month, 26 days)
6587 - Bill Zwanziger (18 years, 13 days)
Average number of different winners per season
8.11
Average number of race nights per season
14.64
MODIFIED (1983-2010, 28 seasons)
• For just the third time in the 28-year history of the Modifieds at Independence, three separate drivers won at least three features in the same season. Darin Duffy, Vern Jackson and Justin O’Brien each won three features in 2010. In the 19-week, rainout-free 1997 season, Vern Jackson and Keith Pittman each won four times and Travis Heyer won three times to establish that mark. In the 16-week 2005 season, Jackson won five times, while Troy Cordes and Joey Schaefer each won three times. The 2010 season marked the first time that three drivers finished with exactly three wins apiece in the division.
• With his win on the final night of the 2010 season, Darin Duffy has won four season championship features in the Modified division. He now has sole possession of the lead in that category. Tom Bartholomew and Jerry Luloff each have three championship night wins. In the process, Duffy became the first driver since Bartholomew in 1991 and 1992 to sweep mid-season and season championship feature wins in back-to-back seasons.
• Troy Cordes became the first driver in track history to win multiple track championships without a feature win. He first accomplished that feat in 2008 before winning the 2010 track title without a trip to victory lane. During his 2002 title run, Cordes earned three wins. Twenty-three of his career Modified wins at Indee have come during non-championship years. The only other Modified drivers to earn a track championship at Independence without earning a feature win along the way include Scott Hogan in 1998 and Jerry Luloff in 2006. That means the last three Modified champions on even numbered years (2006, 2008, 2010) did not win a feature.
• For the fourth time in the last six years, there were exactly seven different Modified feature winners. The other two seasons of the last six there were eight different winners. In fact, only one time in the 28-year history of the Mods in Independence has there been a season with fewer than six different winners. That was in 1984, the division's second year, when there were four.
• Of the 414 all-time feature wins since 1983, 124 belong to drivers who were single-race winners in a season... 54 times a driver won two features in a single season, 16 times has a single season produced a three-race winner, 10 times has there been a four-race winner, six times there has been a five-race winner, four times a six-race winner, two times a seven-race winner, twice an eight-race winner and once a 10-time winner.
Feature Wins (77 drivers)
1. Darin Duffy 36
2. Vern Jackson 35
3. Troy Cordes 26
4. Tom Bartholomew 22
5. Jerry Luloff 21
6. Jack Mitchell 19
T7. Duane Van Deest 13
T7. Steve Droste 13
9. Scott Hogan 11
10. Timm Jensen 9
T11. Greg Kastli 8
T11. Joey Schaefer 8
T11. Kevin Pittman 8
T14. Deon Turner 7
T14. Ed Thomas 7
T14. John Light 7
T14. Mark Noble 7
T14. Max Corporon 7
T14. Mike Sampson 7
T14. Ron Barker 7
T14. Tim McBride 7
Corey Dripps 6
Craig Haupt 6
Garry Stuber 6
J.D. Auringer 6
Todd Jensen 6
Keith Pittman 5
Larry Schmidt 5
Tom Fitzpatrick 5
Adam Johnson 4
Dan Bohr 4
Don Erger 4
Jason Snyder 4
Jeff Barkdoll 4
Mike Krall 4
Justin O'Brien 3
Owen Grube 3
Randy Trefz 3
Travis Heyer 3
Adam Bolin 2
Dave Bentley 2
Dennis Fink 2
Jamie Aikey 2
Jerry King 2
Jim Abben 2
Johnathan Thimmesch 2
Kevin Peverill 2
Merlin Benning 2
Mike Schulte 2
Arlo Becker 1
Ben Metcalf 1
Brett Ladehoff 1
Buck Swanson 1
Cory Bauer 1
Dean Mahlstedt 1
Dennis Betzer 1
Denny Ansel 1
Dick Feckers 1
Doug Hillson 1
John Irwin 1
Ken Irvine 1
Kenny Hoeppner 1
Kevin Schroeder 1
Larry Engen 1
Merv Chandler 1
Patrick Flannagan 1
Richard Von Krog 1
Richie Gustin 1
Ron Becker 1
Ron Hurst 1
Ron Little 1
Ronn Lauritzen 1
Shawn Fisher 1
Tim Donlinger 1
Todd McCombs 1
Tom Hanson 1
Tony Olson 1
All-time Modified wins leader Darin Duffy (19D)
1983 Jack Mitchell
1984 Jack Mitchell
1985 Duane Van Deest
1986 Greg Kastli
1987 Mark Noble
1988 Craig Haupt
1989 Tom Bartholomew
1990 Tom Bartholomew
1991 Tom Bartholomew
1992 Tom Bartholomew
1993 Owen Grube
1994 Steve Droste
1995 Steve Droste
1996 Steve Droste
1997 Scott Hogan
1998 Scott Hogan
1999 Jerry Luloff
2000 Jerry Luloff
2001 D. Duffy / J. Luloff
2002 Troy Cordes
2003 Scott Hogan
2004 Vern Jackson
2005 Jerry Luloff
2006 Jerry Luloff
2007 J.D. Auringer
2008 Troy Cordes
2009 Darin Duffy
2010 Troy Cordes
2010 IMCA Modified Track Champion Troy Cordes (71)
10 - Jerry Luloff
9 - Vern Jackson
6 - Troy Cordes
6 - Tom Bartholomew
6 - Darin Duffy
5 - Duane Van Deest
4 - Steve Droste
4 - Scott Hogan
4 - Max Corporon
4 - Jerry Luloff
4 - Deon Turner
3 - Scott Hogan
3 - Ron Barker
3 - Owen Grube
3 - Corey Dripps
Most consecutive seasons with win (active)
4 - Jerry Luloff
4 - Max Corporon
First-time winners per month
24 - May
17 - August
17 - June
14 - July
5 - April
Total features
414
Total winners
77
Longest win streak (same season)
6 - Jack Mitchell (1984)
Longest win streak (over seasons)
4 - Steve Droste (1995-1996)
Most wins in single season
10 - Jack Mitchell (1984)
Most number of different winners in a season
11 (1994, 15-week season)
Career track championships
5 - Jerry Luloff (1999, 2000, co-2001, 2005, 2006)
4 - Tom Bartholomew (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992)
3 - Steve Droste (1994, 1995, 1996)
3 - Scott Hogan (1997, 1998, 2003)
3 - Troy Cordes (2002, 2008, 2010)
2 - Jack Mitchell (1983, 1984)
2 - Darin Duffy (co-2001, 2009)
1 - Vern Jackson (2004)
1 - Owen Grube (1993)
1 - Mark Noble (1987)
1 - J.D. Auringer (2007)
1 - Greg Kastli (1986)
1 - Duane Van Deest (1985)
1 - Craig Haupt (1988)
Most consec. different winners (same season)
8 - 1992, 1993 (3 separate times within 1993 season)
Most consec. diff. winners (two seasons)
9 - 1992-1993; 1993-1994
Most consec. diff. winners to start season
8 - 1993
Most consec. diff. winners to end season
8 - 1993
Most opening night feature wins
3 - Vern Jackson (2001, 2003, 2008)
2 - Steve Droste (1995, 1996)
1 - Jack Mitchell (1983)
1 - Mike Krall (1984)
1 - Tom Fitzpatrick (1985)
1 - Greg Kastli (1986)
1 - Todd Jensen (1987)
1 - Craig Haupt (1988)
1 - Kevin Pittman (1989)
1 - John Irwin (1990)
1 - Larry Schmidt (1991)
1 - Deon Turner (1992)
1 - Tim Donlinger (1993)
1 - Duane Van Deest (1994)
1 - Travis Heyer (1997)
1 - Jerry Luloff (1998)
1 - Garry Stuber (1999)
1 - Troy Cordes (2000)
1 - Jerry King (2002)
1 - Scott Hogan (2004)
1 - Joey Schaefer (2005)
1 - Jason Snyder (2006)
1 - J.D. Auringer (2007)
1 - Max Corporon (2009)
1 - Richie Gustin (2010)
Note: It took 14 years before a driver won his second opening night feature. Prior to 1996, there were 13 different opening night winners.
Most season championship feature wins
4 - Darin Duffy (1997, 1998, 2009, 2010)
3 - Tom Bartholomew (1990, 1991, 1992)
3 - Jerry Luloff (1999, 2002, 2004)
2 - Vern Jackson (2005, 2007)
2 - Troy Cordes (2000, 2006)
2 - Steve Droste (1994, 1995)
2 - Jack Mitchell (1983, 1984)
2 - Duane Van Deest (1985, 1986)
1 - Scott Hogan (1996)
1 - Ron Barker (1989)
1 - Owen Grube (1993)
1 - Mark Noble (1987)
1 - Johnathan Thimmesch (2008)
1 - Craig Haupt (1988)
Rained out twice (2001, 2003)
Track champion with fewest feature wins
0 - Scott Hogan (1998), Jerry Luloff (2006), Troy Cordes (2008, 2010)
Most points nights (season)
19 - 1997
Fewest points night (season)
7 - 1986
Most 2 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
6 - Darin Duffy
Most 3 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
3 - Darin Duffy
Most 6 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
1 - Jack Mtchell
Season championship winners/points champion (same season)
Tom Bartholomew (1990, 1991, 1992)
Jack Mitchell (1983, 1984)
Steve Droste (1994, 1995)
Duane Van Deest (1985)
Mark Noble (1987)
Craig Haupt (1988)
Owen Grube (1993)
Jerry Luloff (1999)
Darin Duffy (2009)
Seasons with no back-to-back feature winners
1993, 1994, 2003, 2010
Bookend wins (won opener and championship features in same season)
Jack Mitchell (1983)
Craig Haupt (1988)
Steve Droste (1995)
Troy Cordes (2000)
Most days between first and most recent feature wins
6608 - Timm Jensen (18 years, 1 month, 4 days)
6552 - Ed Thomas (17 years, 11 months, 9 days)
6293 - Darin Duffy (17 years, 2 months, 23 days)
5089 - Jerry Luloff (13 years, 11 months, 7 days)
5054 - Deon Turner (13 years, 10 months, 2 days)
4837 - Vern Jackson (13 years, 2 months, 28 days)
4774 - Troy Cordes (13 years, 26 days)
4326 - Garry Stuber (11 years, 10 months, 4 days)
4081 - Jack Mitchell (11 years, 2 months, 2 days)
3633 - Mike Sampson (9 years, 11 months, 12 days)
Average number of different winners per season
7.82
Average number of race nights per season
14.79
1st feature winner in division history
Jack Mitchell (5/21/83)
50th feature winner in division history
John Light (6/28/86)
100th feature winner in division history
Deon Turner (7/1/89)
150th feature winner in division history
Timm Jensen (8/15/92)
200th feature winner in division history
Steve Droste (7/6/96)
250th feature winner in division history
Darin Duffy (7/19/99)
300th feature winner in division history
Ben Metcalf (8/17/02)
350th feature winner in division history
J.D. Auringer (5/6/06)
400th feature winner in division history
Darin Duffy (8/29/09)
Monthly sweeps (minimum of 3 races run that month)
June 1984 - Jack Mitchell (3 races)
August 1984 - Jack Mitchell (4 races)
May 1987 - Mark Noble (3 races)
STOCK CAR (1993-2010, 18 seasons)
• Jarod Weepie has won four of the last six IMCA Stock Car track championships (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010)
• Jarod Weepie became the ninth IMCA Stock Car track champion in 18 years to win both the season championship feature and the division points title.
• The seven different feature winners in 2010 ties 2006 with the most in the last five seasons. The year before, in 2005, a record nine different drivers won features.
• Of the 262 all-time feature wins since 1993, 48 belong to drivers who were single-race winners in a season... 22 times a driver won two features in a single season, 15 times has a single season produced a three-race winner, seven times has there been a four-race winner, three times there has been a five-race winner, five times a six-race winner, one time a seven-race winner, once an eight-race winner, three times a nine-time winner and once a 10-time winner.
Feature Wins (39 drivers)
1. Dan Trimble 68
2. Brian Irvine 31
3. Jarod Weepie 18
4. Justin Temeyer 17
5. Larry Portis 16
6. Tom Schmitt 15
7. Norman Chesmore 14
8. Chris Wessner 9
9. Sean Johnson 8
10. Ken Irvine 7
T11. Curtis Roster 5
T11. Darrin Treptow 5
T11. Lon Gadow 5
T14. Damon Murty 4
T14. Tony Schimmels 4
T16. Brad Holtkamp 3
T16. Dale Hackwell Jr. 3
T16. Forrest Frost 3
T16. Jerry Schipper 3
T20. Dave Stricker 2
T20. David Adams 2
T20. Phil Holtz 2
T20. Robert Walters 2
Bernard Reinking 1
Bob Ahrendsen 1
Chad Albert 1
Cliff Gray 1
Dain Sires 1
Doug Walker 1
Eric Weber 1
Fabian Seitz 1
Jeff Franck 1
LaVern Carey 1
Max Leonard 1
Richard Quail 1
Roger Samec 1
Scooter Dulin 1
Steve Meyer 1
Todd Suhr 1
All-time Stock Car wins leader Dan Trimble (20)
1993 Lon Gadow
1994 Dan Trimble
1995 Larry Portis
1996 Jerry Schipper
1997 Jerry Schipper
1998 Dan Trimble
1999 Dan Trimble
2000 Dan Trimble
2001 Dan Trimble
2002 Dan Trimble
2003 Dan Trimble
2004 Dan Trimble
2005 Jarod Weepie
2006 Dan Trimble
2007 Jarod Weepie
2008 Jarod Weepie
2009 Brian Irvine
2010 Jarod Weepie
2010 IMCA Stock Car Track Champion Jarod Weepie (3)
13 - Dan Trimble (1994-2006)
8 - Jarod Weepie (2000-2007)
Most consecutive seasons with win (active)
6 - Brian Irvine (2005-?)
First-time winners per month
10 - May
10 - June
9 - July
8 - August
2 - April
Total features
262
Total winners
39
Longest win streak (same season)
6 - Dan Trimble - 7/2/94 to 8/6/94 (Norman Chesmore on 8/13/94)
6 - Larry Portis - 7/8/95 to 8/26/95
Longest win streak (over seasons)
7 - Larry Portis - 7/8/95 to 4/27/96 (Jerry Schipper on 5/4/96)
7 - Dan Trimble - 8/14/99 to 6/3/00 (Curtis Roster on 6/10/00)
Most wins in single season
10 - Larry Portis (1995)
Most number of different winners in a season
9 - 2005 (in 16 nights)
Career track championships
9 - Dan Trimble (1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006)
4 - Jarod Weepie (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010)
2 - Jerry Schipper (1996, 1997)
1 - Lon Gadow (1993)
1 - Larry Portis (1995)
1 - Brian Irvine (2009)
Most consec. different winners (same season)
7 - 5/28/05 to 7/16/05
Most consec. diff. winners (two seasons)
NA (not as long as streak directly above)
Most consec. diff. winners to start season
5 - 2003 season
Most consec. diff. winners to end season
6 - 2006 season
Most opening night feature wins
5 - Dan Trimble
3 - Brian Irvine
2 - Larry Portis
2 - Tom Schmitt
1 - Lon Gadow
1 - Ken Irvine
1 - Jarod Weepie
1 - Fabian Seitz
1 - Norman Chesmore
1 - Justin Temeyer
Most season championship feature wins
7 - Dan Trimble
3 - Brian Irvine
2 - Jarod Weepie
1 - Tom Schmitt
1 - Lon Gadow
1 - Larry Portis
1 - Darrin Treptow
(Rained out twice - 2001, 2003)
Track champion with fewest feature wins
0 - Jerry Schipper (1997), Jarod Weepie (2008)
Most points nights (season)
19 - 1997 (only season on record with no rainouts)
Fewest points night (season)
9 - 2008 (Wind storm destroyed grandstands in spring)
Most 2 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
9 - Dan Trimble (13 drivers with 2 race win streak)
Most 3 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
3 - Dan Trimble (6 drivers with 3 race win streak)
Most 4 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
2 - Brian Irvine (2 drivers with 4 race win streak)
Most 5 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
1 - Chris Wessner (only driver with 5 race win streak)
Most 6 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
1 - Larry Portis and Dan Trimble (2 drivers with 6 race win streak)
Season championship winners/points champion (same season)
Lon Gadow (1993)
Dan Trimble (1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002)
Larry Portis (1995)
Brian Irvine (2009)
Jarod Weepie (2010)
Seasons with no back-to-back feature winners
2006
Bookend wins (won opener and championship features in same season)
4 - Dan Trimble (1994, 1998, 1999, 2000)
2 - Brian Irvine (2007, 2009)
1 - Lon Gadow (1993)
1 - Larry Portis (1995)
1 - Tom Schmitt (2004)
Most days between first and most recent feature wins
5922 - Dan Trimble (16 years, 2 months, 8 days))
5488 - Norman Chesmore (15 years, 9 days)
3668 - Jarod Weepie (10 years, 16 days)
3213 - Justin Temeyer (8 years, 9 months, 17 days)
2163 - Tony Schimmels (5 years, 11 months, 3 days)
1898 - Tom Schmitt (5 years, 2 months, 9 days)
1855 - Brian Irvine (5 years, 29 days)
1834 - Sean Johnson (5 years, 8 days)
1435 - Curtis Roster (3 years, 11 months, 5 days)
1393 - Ken Irvine (3 years, 9 months, 24 days)
Average number of different winners per season
5.89
Average number of race nights per season
14.56
1st feature winner in division history
Lon Gadow (4/24/93)
50th feature winner in division history
Larry Portis (7/20/96)
100th feature winner in division history
Tom Schmitt (7/10/99)
150th feature winner in division history
Tom Schmitt (4/26/03)
200th feature winner in division history
Jarod Weepie (5/27/06)
250th feature winner in division history
Brian Irvine (5/15/10)
Monthly sweeps (minimum of 3 races run that month)
August 1993 - Lon Gadow (3 races)
July 1994 - Dan Trimble (5 races)
August 1995 - Larry Portis (4 races)
July 2007 - Brian Irvine (4 races)
SPORTMOD (2008-2010, 3 seasons)
• Josh Sherbon became the first-ever 6-time winner in the IMCA SportMod division. Danny Dvorak held the previous mark of four wins in a single season, those coming in 2009. Sherbon is the only driver to win a feature in each of the first three years of the division at Independence.
• Josh Sherbon also accomplished a very rare feat in 2010 becoming just the seventh driver in track history to have a minimum of two straight wins three separate times during a single season. Sherbon won back-to-back features on May 29 and June 19 (around rainouts), July 17 and July 31 (around a rainout) and August 14 and August 21. The six drivers to do it before Sherbon? Vern Jackson (Pro Stock, 1992); Chris Wessner (Hobby Stock, 1996); Darin Duffy (Modified, 1999); Brian Irvine (Hobby Stock, 2003); Curt Martin (Late Model, 2004) and Brian Irvine again, this time in the Stock Cars in 2009.
• Of the 37 all-time feature wins since 2008, nine belong to drivers who were single-race winners in a season... three times a driver won two features in a single season, four times has a single season produced a three-race winner, once has there been a four-race winner and once has there been a six-race winner.
Feature Wins (13 drivers)
1. Josh Sherbon 10
2. Danny Dvorak 7
3. Austin Kaplan 5
4. Chris Luloff 3
T5. Joel Rust 2
T5. Lucas Lundry 2
T5. Ray Lundry 2
T8. Austin Lucas 1
T8. Jim Buhlman 1
T8. Joe Docekal 1
T8. Kurt Hogan 1
T8. Kyle Bentley 1
T8. Tyler Droste 1
All-time SportMod wins leader Josh Sherbon
2008 Danny Dvorak
2009 Kyle Bentley
2010 Austin Kaplan
2010 IMCA SportMod Track Champion Austin Kaplan (1)
3 - Josh Sherbon (2008-?)
2 - Danny Dvorak (2008-2009)
2 - Austin Kaplan (2009-?)
2 - Lucas Lundry (2009-?)
Most consecutive seasons with win (active)
3 - Josh Sherbon (2008-?)
2 - Austin Kaplan (2009-?)
2 - Lucas Lundry (2009-?)
First-time winners per month
5 - July
4 - August
2 - June
2 - May
0 - April
Total features
37
Total winners
13
Longest win streak (same season)
2 - Chris Luloff - 5/30/09 to 6/6/09 (Danny Dvorak on 6/20/09)
2 - Austin Kaplan - 5/15/10 to 5/22/10 (Josh Sherbon on 5/29/10)
2 - Josh Sherbon - 5/29/10 to 6/19/10 (Austin Kaplan on 6/26/10)
2 - Josh Sherbon - 7/17/10 to 7/31/10 (Ray Lundry on 8/7/10)
2 - Josh Sherbon - 8/14/10 to 8/21/10 (Tyler Droste on 8/28/10)
Longest win streak (over seasons)
NA
Most wins in single season
6 - Josh Sherbon (2010)
4 - Danny Dvorak (2009)
Most number of different winners in a season
7 - 2009 (in 14 nights)
Career track championships
1 - Danny Dvorak (2008)
1 - Kyle Bentley (2009)
1 - Austin Kaplan (2010)
Most consec. different winners (same season)
6 - 6/27/09 to 8/8/09
Most consec. diff. winners (two seasons)
NA (not as long as streak directly above)
Most consec. diff. winners to start season
3 - 2009 season
Most consec. diff. winners to end season
5 - 2008 season
Most opening night feature wins
2 - Josh Sherbon (2008, 2009)
1 - Austin Lucas (2010)
Most season championship feature wins
1 - Jim Buhlman (2008)
1 - Joel Rust (2009)
1 - Tyler Droste (2010)
Track champion with fewest feature wins
0 - Kyle Bentley (2009)
Most points nights (season)
14 - 2009, 2010
Fewest points night (season)
9 - 2008
Most 2 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
3 - Josh Sherbon (all in 2010 season)
1 - Chris Luloff (2009)
1 - Austin Kaplan (2010)
Most 3 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
None
Most 4 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
None
Season championship winners/points champion (same season)
None
Seasons with no back-to-back feature winners
2008
Bookend wins (won opener and championship features in same season)
None
Most days between first and most recent feature wins
791 - Josh Sherbon (2 years, 2 months)
406 - Danny Dvorak (1 year, 1 month, 10 days)
357 - Lucas Lundry (11 months, 12 days)
322 - Austin Kaplan (10 months, 18 days)
Average number of different winners per season
6.00
Average number of race nights per season
12.33
1st feature winner in division history
Josh Sherbon (6/21/08)
Monthly sweeps (minimum of 3 races run that month)
None
HOBBY STOCK (1989-2010, 22 seasons)
• Four different drivers won multiple features in the Hobby Stock division. That tied the all-time high, which was set in 1992, then matched in 1998. The four multi-race winners for a single season was the most since five drivers came away with multiple wins in 2005. Coincidentally, five multi-race winners is the record for a single season in the Hobby Stocks. That was initially set in 1997 before being matched in 2005.
• Never before had three different drivers ended the season with exactly two Hobby Stock wins apiece. Vince Buchholz, Justin Lichty and Don Arnold were all two-time winners in 2010. Only 15 times in division history has a driver earned more than two wins in a single season at Independence.
• Only once in the last six seasons has a Hobby Stock driver earned more than three wins in a single season. That was last accomplished by track champion Josh Irvine in 2007.
• Of the 323 all-time feature wins since 1989, 102 belong to drivers who were single-race winners in a season... eight times a driver won two features in a single season, six times has a single season produced a three-race winner, once has there been a four-race winner, three times there has been a five-race winner, once a six-race winner, twice a seven-race winner, once an eight-race winner and once a nine-time winner.
Feature Wins (84 drivers)
1. Chris Wessner 20
2. Brian Irvine 16
3. Chris Luloff 15
4. Josh Irvine 13
5. Patrick Stansbery 11
T6. Ken Irvine 10
T6. Nick Wroten 10
T6. Rick Johnson 10
T6. Vince Buchholz 10
T10. Forrest Frost 9
T10. Jeff Roete 9
T12. Chris Schares 6
T12. Justin Lichty 6
T12. Steve Holthaus 6
T12. Tim Bartholomew 6
T12. Todd Temeyer 6
T17. Bret Dage 5
T17. David Rice 5
T17. Doug Otto 5
T17. Jerry Luloff 5
T17. Justin Temeyer 5
T17. Kevin Hoehne 5
T17. Lon Gadow 5
T17. Quinton Miller 5
T17. Rick Suckow 5
T17. Rod Grother 5
J.R. Kahler 4
Jamie Whitaker 4
Jarod Weepie 4
Paul Shepherd 4
Scooter Dulin 4
Tim Meeker 4
Adam Johnson 3
Chad Clubine 3
Danny Dvorak 3
Derek Reisner 3
Don Arnold 3
Jason Goedken 3
John Meyer 3
Matt Brown 3
Milo Matthias 3
Quinton Reinking 3
Zac Boehmer 3
August Bach 2
Bill Meyer 2
Brandon Davis 2
Butch Reid 2
Dwan Waddell 2
Jeff Wedemeier 2
Jim Achenbrenner 2
Joel Brasch 2
John Roete 2
Josh Steere 2
Shane Ebaugh 2
Wes Stanek Jr. 2
Brad Forbes 1
Brian Happel 1
Chris Wiltse 1
Cliff Tharp 1
Craig Coventry 1
Dale Hackwell Jr. 1
Duane Duffy 1
Greg Sweerin 1
Guy Stacy 1
Jason Rohde 1
Jeremiah Wilson 1
Jim Ball Jr. 1
Joe Sprague 1
Kevin Robinson 1
Kyle Scheel 1
Lloyd Bacon 1
Mark Butler 1
Max Leonard 1
Micheal Smith 1
Mike Ihde 1
Perry Thomsen 1
Randy Wheeler 1
Roger Ciesielski 1
Ron Hufford 1
Russel Damme Jr. 1
Ryan Bochmann 1
Steve Farr 1
Travis Michels 1
Troy Cordes 1
The active leader in wins in the Hobby Stock division, Josh Irvine is fourth on the all-time wins list for the division at Independence.
1989 Steve Holthaus
1990 Lon Gadow
1991 Jerry Luloff
1992 Forrest Frost
1993 Bret Dage
1994 Kevin Hoehne
1995 Chris Wessner
1996 Todd Temeyer
1997 Adam Johnson
1998 Nick Wroten
1999 Doug Otto
2000 Jeff Roete
2001 Scooter Dulin
2002 Patrick Stansbery
2003 Vince Buchholz
2004 Brian Irvine
2005 Patrick Stansbery
2006 Paul Shepherd
2007 Josh Irvine
2008 Chris Luloff
2009 Josh Irvine
2010 Rod Grother
2010 IMCA Hobby Stock Track Champion Rod Grother (77)
6 - Patrick Stansbery (1998-2003)
Most consecutive seasons with win (active)
4 - Justin Lichty (2007-?)
4 - Quinton Miller (2007-?)
2 - August Bach (2009-?)
First-time winners per month
24 - July
19 - June
19 - August
18 - May
4 - April
Total features
323
Total winners
84
Longest win streak (same season)
5 - Chris Wessner (1995), Nick Wroten (1998)
Longest win streak (over seasons)
7 - Brian Irvine (2003-2004)
Most wins in single season
9 - Chris Wessner (1995)
Most number of different winners in a season
11 (2006, in 14 nights)
Career track championships
2 - Patrick Stansbery (2002, 2005)
2 - Josh Irvine (2007, 2009)
1 - Steve Holthaus (1989)
1 - Lon Gadow (1990)
1 - Jerry Luloff (1991)
1 - Forrest Frost (1992)
1 - Bret Dage (1993)
1 - Kevin Hoehne (1994)
1 - Chris Wessner (1995)
1 - Todd Temeyer (1996)
1 - Adam Johnson (1997)
1 - Nick Wroten (1998)
1 - Doug Otto (1999)
1 - Jeff Roete (2000)
1 - Scooter Dulin (2001)
1 - Vince Buchholz (2003)
1 - Brian Irvine (2004)
1 - Paul Shepherd (2006)
1 - Chris Luloff (2008)
1 - Rod Grother (2010)
Most consec. different winners (same season)
8 (2005)
Most consec. diff. winners (two seasons)
7 (1990-1991, 2001-2002)
Most consec. diff. winners to start season
6 (2002, 2010)
Most consec. diff. winners to end season
8 (2005)
Most opening night feature wins
2 - Lon Gadow
2 - Chris Wessner
1 - Ken Irvine
1 - Forrest Frost
1 - Rick Johnson
1 - Kevin Hoehne
1 - Jason Rohde
1 - Danny Dvorak
1 - Doug Otto
1 - Jeff Roete
1 - Patrick Stansbery
1 - John Meyer
1 - J.R. Kahler
1 - Brian Irvine
1 - Josh Steere
1 - Rod Grother
1 - Micheal Smith
1 - Chris Luloff
1 - Josh Irvine
1 - August Bach
Most season championship feature wins
3 - Chris Wessner
2 - Brian Irvine
2 - Chris Luloff
2 - Josh Irvine
1 - Ken Irvine
1 - Rick Suckow
1 - Derek Reisner
1 - Forrest Frost
1 - Rick Johnson
1 - Tim Bartholomew
1 - Nick Wroten
1 - Doug Otto
1 - Patrick Stansbery
1 - Jeff Wedemeier
1 - Rod Grother
1 - Jamie Whitaker
Track champion with fewest feature wins
0 - Patrick Stansbery (2005)
0 - Rod Grother (2010)
Most points nights (season)
19 (1997)
Fewest points night (season)
9 (2008)
Most 2 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
4 - Chris Wessner
Most 3 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
1 - Chris Wessner, Brian Irvine, Chris Luloff, Vince Buchholz, Kevin Hoehne, J.R. Kahler
Most 4 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
1 - Brian Irvine, Josh Irvine
Most 5 race win streaks (each streak within same season)
1 - Chris Wessner, Nick Wroten
Season championship winners/points champion (same season)
Josh Irvine (2007, 2009)
Forrest Frost (1992)
Chris Wessner (1995)
Nick Wroten (1998)
Doug Otto (1999)
Brian Irvine (2004)
Chris Luloff (2008)
Seasons with no back-to-back feature winners
1993, 2005, 2008
Bookend wins (won opener and SC features in same season)
Chris Wessner (1995, 1996)
Ken Irvine (1989)
Forrest Frost (1992)
Rick Johnson (1993)
Doug Otto (1999)
Brian Irvine (2004)
Chris Luloff (2008)
Josh Irvine (2009)
Most days between first and most recent feature wins
6251 - Vince Buchholz (12 years, 11 months, 8 days)
2919 - Todd Temeyer (5 years, 11 months, 30 days)
2170 - John Meyer (5 years, 11 months, 9 days)
2107 - Derek Reisner (5 years, 9 months, 7 days)
1904 - Jeff Roete (5 years, 2 months, 16 days)
1848 - Patrick Stansbery (5 years, 22 days)
1526 - Chris Luloff (4 years, 2 months, 2 days)
1491 - Rick Johnson (4 years, 30 days)
1484 - Don Arnold (4 years, 23 days)
1127 - Lon Gadow (3 years, 1 month)
Average number of different winners per season
7.55
Average number of race nights per season
14.68
1st feature winner in division history
Ken Irvine (4/29/89)
50th feature winner in division history
Rick Suckow (6/6/92)
100th feature winner in division history
Chris Wessner (8/26/95)
150th feature winner in division history
Jarod Weepie (8/22/98)
200th feature winner in division history
Guy Stacy (6/8/02)
250th feature winner in division history
Bill Meyer (7/9/05)
300th feature winner in division history
Josh Irvine (6/20/09)
Monthly sweeps (minimum of 3 races run that month)
July 1995 - Chris Wessner (3 races)
July 2002 - J.R. Kahler (3 races)
May 2004 - Brian Irvine (3 races)
RAINOUT TRENDS
Since 1967, there have been a total of 795 weekly events scheduled at Independence. Of those 795 race nights, 168 were canceled. The monthly breakdown is as follows:
April: 11 rainouts in 25 events for a 56% success rate
May: 65 rainouts in 196 events for a 66.8% success rate
June: 37 rainouts in 188 events for an 80.3% success rate
July: 26 rainouts in 195 events for an 86.7% success rate
August: 29 events in 191 events for an 84.8% success rate
April: 6.5% of all rainouts
May: 38.7% of all rainouts
June: 22% of all rainouts
July: 15.5% of all rainouts
August: 17.3% of all rainouts
When considering the season is separate halves, where May and June comprise the first half of the season and July and August are the second half (I omitted April since it accounts for so few of the overall events), there have been 102 rainouts in 384 events scheduled for the first half of the season, whereas there have only been 55 rainouts in 386 events scheduled for the second half of the season. That means, historically, 65% of all rainouts have come during the first half of the season, nearly twice as many as in the second half.
The earliest date the track has scheduled for a weekly points race has been April 24, while the latest date in August has been August 31. When you consider those dates and all dates in between, at least one race has been held at the speedway on all of those dates over the past 44 years. The most rainouts for a single date in the last 44 years is four. Just four dates - May 7, May 17, May 22 and June 2 - hold that dubious distinction. While no date has rained out every year, there are 33 dates that have never rained out at all.
Here is a look back at the dates that comprised the 2010 schedule, along with the rainout trends as we entered the past season. The status of the 2010 program for each date follows:
April 24: 1 successful shows in 3 attempts (33.3% success rate) / Rained out in 2010
May 1: 3 for 6 (50%) / Completed program in 2010
May 8: 6 for 6 (100%) / Rained out for the first time in track history
May 15: 4 for 6 (66.7%) / Completed
May 22: 2 for 6 (33.3%) / Completed
May 29: 3 for 6 (50%) / Completed
June 5: 6 for 6 (100%) / Rained out for the first time in track history
June 12: 5 for 6 (83.3%) / Rained out
June 19: 5 for 6 (83.3%) / Completed
June 26: 6 for 6 (100%) / Completed
July 3: 4 for 6 (66.6%) / Completed
July 10: 3 for 6 (50%) / Completed
July 17: 4 for 6 (66.6%) / Completed
July 24: 6 for 6 (100%) / Rained out for the first time in track history
July 31: 5 for 6 (83.3%) / Completed
August 7: 5 for 6 (83.3%) / Completed
August 14: 5 for 6 (83.3%) / Completed
August 21: 6 for 6 (100%) / Completed
August 28: 5 for 6 (83.3%) / Completed
A view of the infield on July 24 after persistent torrential rainfall caused record flooding in the area. This marked the fifth and final rainout of 2010.
April 30: 2 successful shows in 3 attempts (66.6% success rate)
May 7: 1 for 5 (20%)
May 14: 3 for 5 (60%)
May 21: 3 for 5 (60%)
May 28: 5 for 5 (100%)
June 4: 5 for 5 (100%)
June 11: 5 for 5 (100%)
June 18: 4 for 5 (80%)
June 25: 4 for 5 (80%)
July 2: 5 for 5 (100%)
July 9: 4 for 5 (80%)
July 16: 5 for 5 (100%)
July 23: 5 for 5 (100%)
July 30: 5 for 5 (100%)
August 6: 4 for 5 (80%)
August 13: 5 for 5 (100%)
August 20: 4 for 5 (80%)
August 27: 5 for 5 (100%)
Years when the above dates have fallen on the schedule, the track averages just 2.6 rainouts for an entire season, meaning 2011 could be a very busy season. Afterall, the average number of weekly races run per season over the last 44 years is 14.64 out of an average of 18.06 scheduled. That means the dates that may fall on the schedule in 2011 result in one fewer rainout than average. However, if you look back at 2010, five dates had never been rained out entering 2010 and three of them ended the season with their first rainouts in track history. Yeah, your guess is as good as mine, but it's fun (at least for me?) to think about.
With that, I'm Blitzed out for 2010. Thank you to everyone for your support of the speedway this season. While there will be no more Blitzes until next spring, I do hope to throw out some random facts and other oddities throughout the course of the off-season. Also, if you have old photos from Independence and want to share them with other race fans from the area, I will gladly post them on here and/or the Independence facebook page. If you haven't already checked out the facebook page, there are a number of old driver photos, points sheets and souvenir programs on there in the Days Gone By album.
Since I'm working on this tonight and finishing up some other odds and ends in preparation for my week-long visit to Boone Speedway for next week's IMCA Super Nationals, I didn't make the trip to Marshalltown tonight. There are still a lot of specials on the calendar in the coming weeks, along with a few weekly shows remaining in 2010. After my trip to Highway 3 Raceway in Allison this Thursday night, I will be heading south for the weekend. While I hope to hit the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson on Saturday, I'll be detoured on Friday night to announce a different type of social gathering at a race track. Trust me, I'll have all sorts of details to blog about that little event... See you at the races!
