Wiltse earns first career Hobby Stock win in photo finish at Independence

Chris Wiltse had been close all year. Entering the night, he had led 26 IMCA Hobby Stock feature laps, including the first 14 of the 15-lapper back on July 10. What he hadn't done was make a trip to the winner's circle. Saturday night at Independence Motor Speedway, Wiltse led just one lap - as they say, "it's the only one that counts" - as he edged Mark Butler by a bumper to score the first victory of his career.

At the on-set of the 15-lap event, Butler took charge from his pole position start as Wiltse quickly worked into second from his second row starting spot. The leaders put a little distance on the field early as Wiltse tried to work the low side around Butler.

Numerous times throughout the event, Wiltse worked below the race leader exiting the corners, but was unable to make a charge to the front. That all changed after the field took the white flag. With just one lap to go, Wiltse again worked the low groove exiting turn two and pulled even with Butler down the back straightaway. Entering turn three, Wiltse held a slight advantage, but Butler fought back on the high side. The leaders ran wheel-to-wheel through the final set of turns before Wiltse surged ahead at the stripe to take the win by a nose. Terry Shaffar, in his first appearance at the speedway this season, made a nice run from the 12th starting spot to come home third. Jamie Whitaker, who started 22nd, also made a great run to finish fourth. Justin Lichty completed top the five.

Just a few days ago, I mentioned here on positivelyracing.com to keep an eye on Wiltse. Although only in his first year behind the wheel of a race car, he has turned the heads of many competitors and Saturday night earned what is likely to be the first of many wins in his career. You can check out the notes on Wiltse from last week here.

Chris Wiltse (69) battles to the inside of Mark Butler in the IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Wiltse edged Butler at the line to score his first career win in the division. (all photos courtesy of Scott Tjabring/ Action Track Photography/ http://www.actiontrackphotos.com/)

Josh Sherbon continued his recent dominance in the IMCA SportMod division. Entering the night having won three of four, Sherbon extended that streak to four wins in the last five weeks with another victory Saturday night.

Pole-sitter Jim Aschenbrenner held the early lead in that 15-lapper, a position he held throughout a pair of early cautions. Between those two yellow flags over the first three laps, Sherbon worked through traffic from a fourth row start and into second.

When racing resumed on lap three, Sherbon went to work on the high side of Aschenbrenner's #6A and took over the top spot as the field completed lap five. Sherbon ran uncontested to the checkers to score his sixth win of the season and 10th of his career at Independence. Aschenbrenner ran second ahead of Danny Dvorak, Ray Lundry and Curt Hilmer.

Josh Sherbon drove the high side to victory in the IMCA SportMod feature. The win was Sherbon's sixth of the season and fourth in the last five weeks.

John Emerson held the early lead in the 20-lap IMCA Stock Car feature while Sean Johnson worked from a fourth row starting spot and into contention. As Johnson made his way into the lead on lap five, Brian Irvine was making an impressive run through the field from his fifth row start. Irvine maneuvered his way through traffic and followed Johnson to the front one lap later.

Just prior to a lap eight caution, Irvine assumed command. He held the point on the restart and appeared to be on his way to victory, however that all changed in the waning laps. Just as the field was coming around to take the flying green with two laps to go, in a bit of irony, Irvine shredded a tire on the right side of his #26 to force him to an early exit.

Irvine's departure left Johnson leading the way, however he had company. Justin Temeyer, who started alongside Irvine in row six, made his way into second and was hot on Johnson's heels. Exiting turn four on the final lap, Johnson worked the middle of the track while Temeyer went up high. Johnson held on at the line to take the win by inches over Temeyer. Points leader Jarod Weepie came home third ahead of Emerson and Norman Chesmore.

Sean Johnson (8R) and Brian Irvine (26) battle for the lead in the IMCA Stock Car feature. Johnson went on to win the event, his fourth victory of the season, after a shredded tire forced Irvine to an early exit with only two laps to go.

A trio of early cautions slowed the 25-lap IMCA Late Model feature, however when racing resumed for the final time following a lap three stoppage, Dale Hackwell Jr. ran away and hid from the rest of the 19-car starting field.

On that final restart, Hackwell swept to the outside of leader Dirk Hamilton and rocketed into the lead exiting turn two. He built a lead of over a straightaway by the time he encountered heavy lapped traffic with a handful of laps remaining. Hackwell patiently worked the backmarkers to drive to his second win of the season. Luke Merfeld, who started last on the grid, made a strong run through the pack to come home second. Greg Kastli, who was running in the top five early, was caught up in one of the early cautions that sent him to the rear on a restart. He wowed the crowd to race back through the field to finish third ahead of Darren Ackerman and Hamilton.

Dale Hackwell Jr. is joined in victory lane by family and friends after he dominated the IMCA Late Model feature.

Vern Jackson scored the victory in a caution-plagued IMCA Modified feature. Jackson made the pass for the lead on the 10th lap of the scheduled 20-lapper. He held the point until the race timed out following its eighth stoppage on lap 13. Keith Pittman finished second ahead of J.D. Auringer, Justin O'Brien and Jerry Luloff.

Vern Jackson (64) scored his third win of the season in the IMCA Modified division. The win was the 35th of his career in the division at Independence.

Despite the caution happy Modified feature, it was a great night of racing. The show, which included 110 race teams, was completed by 9:30. While each of the five points leaders lost ground tonight, a couple of leaders have all but locked up their respective track championships.

In the IMCA Modifieds, Troy Cordes entered the night with a 36-point lead over Jerry Luloff. Mechanical problems sidelined Cordes early, leaving him to settle for a finish outside the top 10 for the first time this season. He ended the night with a 25-point advantage over Luloff, meaning all Cordes will need to do is take the green flag in next Saturday's feature to lock up the division title.

Austin Kaplan is in the same boat in the IMCA SportMods. While he entered the night with a 30 point lead, Kaplan also ended the night with a 25-point edge over the red-hot Sherbon. Kaplan just needs to take the green flag next Saturday to earn his first track title at Independence.

Tyler Bruening lost six points in his lead over Darren Ackerman in the IMCA Late Model divison, although he still takes a 12-point edge into championship night next week. A finish of 12th or better will guarantee Bruening of his first career track championship.

IMCA Hobby Stock driver Rod Grother carries a nine point lead over Jamie Whitaker into the final night of the season. A ninth place finish or better will guarantee him his first track title at Independence.

The closest points battle is in the IMCA Stock Car division. Jarod Weepie has led throughout the second half of the season in that division, but his margin is a mere seven points heading into championship night. Saturday's feature winner Sean Johnson sits second in that division. A finish of seventh or better in next week's show will result in Weepie's fourth career title at the speedway.

In addition to championship night racing next Saturday, there will be an added bonus for a handful of drivers in each division. Cash dashes, in honor of Bill Horn, a longtime supporter of the speedway, will be held in each of the five weekly divisions prior to championship features. Horn, who owned the land just north of the fairgrounds, passed away earlier this summer. His family looks to continue its support of the Buchanan County Fairgrounds and have offered extra money for the dashes next Saturday night.

My plans are still up in the air for Sunday. I may make the trip south to Vinton to continue the "every other week" trend I seem to have established when it comes to Benton County Speedway as I continue my quest for 60 race nights this season. Beyond that, a trip to Cedar County Raceway in Tipton is a certainty this Wednesday night for the Corn Belt Clash event scheduled there. On Thursday, it will be back to Highway 3 Raceway in Allison to announce that Corn Belt Clash event before the season wraps up next Saturday night at Independence. The summer days are slipping away fast so be sure to support your local track!