With bad weather plaguing the region throughout the weekend, all eyes were on Benton County Speedway in Vinton on Sunday. Weather-delayed from one week ago, season championship racing was offered on the 1/4-mile oval on the final night of IMCA points racing this season.
While it's common to see division points leaders wrap up successful seasons with final trips to the winner's circle, only one points leader among the five divisions entering the night walked away with a championship night feature victory. Despite the frigid temperatures, a solid field of over 100 race teams and a good crowd in the stands put a cap on a successful year in Vinton.
IMCA Modified points leader Scott Hogan started the 25-lap main event from the pole psotion. He was pestered early by Tony Olson, who was fifth on the starting grid. Hogan assumed command early and led the field through a pair of cautions over the first five circuits while Olson attempted to charge to the front using the bottom groove. Hogan proved to be too fast, forcing Olson to battle a number of drivers for the runner-up spot.
While Hogan led, Mark Schulte used the high groove to challenge Olson and Joe Docekal worked both high and low in his attempts to wrestle away the second spot. That trio of drivers waged a terrific war for runner-up honors as Hogan put some distance on the field.
Just as Hogan was entering lapped traffic on the 16th lap, the caution flag waved, bunching the field. Hogan again took command on that restart and following one final restart a lap later. When racing resumed one last time on lap 17, Hogan capped off his track title with the feature win on championship night. Olson held off a hard charging Schulte for second. Mike Burbridge, who started 19th, made an impressive run to come home fourth ahead of Johnathan Thimmesch. Docekal, who was involved in a late caution while battling for second, raced through traffic to come home sixth. Ty Glass, who started 17th and then was involved in an early yellow, raced through the pack to a seventh place finish. Ronn Lauritzen, Todd Jensen and Shawn Fisher completed the top 10.
Hogan, who also earned championship honors at 34 Raceway in Burlington this season, appears to be in position to take home his first IMCA regional championship. Entering the night, Hogan was only a few points out of the lead of the North Central Region, however he was the only driver in the top three to earn two track titles. The bonus points that come along with the track championships may propel him to the regional title, as well.
Jerry Luloff, who sat third in points at the start of the night, elected to take the challenge of starting at the tail of the field. By winning from the back, Luloff would have doubled his money, however he left early with mechanical problems.
When points leaders Justin Temeyer and Norman Chesmore elected to start at the tail of the IMCA Stock Car feature, Damon Murty must have been salivating. Originally scheduled to start outside the third row, Murty moved up to the outside of row two for the green flag in that 20-lapper. He quickly took advantage, bursting into the lead on the first lap prior to a lap one caution.
On the restart, Murty quickly fought off challenges from Bob Ahrendsen to extend his advantage while Nathan Wood moved through the pack. Starting eighth, Wood motored into the top five after just one lap, then advanced one more position a lap later. He positioned himself to make his way into third on the sixth citrcuit, however a second yellow flag negated that move.
When racing resumed, Wood made quick work of Scotter Dulin and Ahrendesen to steal second, then went to work on Murty, who had already built a decent lead. Another stoppage just past the midway point allowed Wood to restart on Murty's rear bumper.
Running the low groove, Wood pulled to within half of a car-lsength of the lead when racing resumed, however Murty proved too strong as he motored to the win. Wood ran second at the line, a straightaway ahead of Chesmore who worked back through the pack to come home third. Curtis Roster ran fourth ahead of Roger Ciesielski, who was a recent addition to the division in the final weeks of the season. It was his first appearance in Vinton this year. John Schaefer ran sixth ahead of Mike Padden while Scott Beauregard, Mike Galli and Ahrendsen completed the top 10.
Although mechanical problems sidelined Temeyer early, he earned track championship honors by taking the green flag in the event.
IMCA SportMod points leader Austin Kaplan appeared to be another track titlist set to wrap up his season in victory lane as he took command at the drop of the green in that 15-lapper. Kaplan was immediately pursued by local favorite Drew Fish as those two drivers separated themselves from the field early.
Just as the leaders were about to enter lapped traffic midway through the event, the caution flag waved on lap seven. Fish worked the low side of Kaplan and briefly took the top spot shortly after racing resumed, however Kaplan fought back to snare the lead. Danny Dvorak, who started second and slipped back to fourth, entered the mix out front and briefly challenged Fish for second.
After another caution slowed the event with just four laps to go, it appeared that Kaplan was on his way to the win. Just after the leaders took the white flag, however, a pileup on the front stretch forced a green-white-checkered finish. While under caution, a tire went down on Kaplan's ride, forcing him to the pits and leaving Fish on the point.
When racing resumed one final time, Fish held off Dvorak to score the victory. Bryan Rodman made a nice run from the 10th starting spot to come home third ahead of Jim Buhlman and Shane Ebaugh. Joel Rust finished sixth ahead of Kent Kositsky, Dave Schulze, Jesse Belez and Rick Paulson.
Despite the unfortunate end to his night, Kaplan locked up the track title by simply taking the green flag in the event. His track championship in Vinton, along with his title in Independence, will go a long way toward his bid for a national championship in the division.
A close points battle at the top of the IMCA Sport Compact standings prevented either of the points leaders from taking the challenge, leaving points leader Gary Peiffer on the pole with Nathan Chandler to his outside, only seven points out of the lead entering the night. Unfortunately for Chandler, however, an expired engine forced him to an early exit on lap one, leaving Peiffer with the title shortly after the green flag waved.
On the track, however, Peiffer repeatedly slid off the top side of turn three, allowing Bill Whalen Jr. to sneak by for the lead. Whalen held the point until a mid-race caution when Brad Chandler, who realigned right behind him, worked the top groove into the lead. Chandler led the final eight laps to score the victory ahead of Brett Vanous and Whalen. Dallas Chandler ran fourth and Justin Wacha, who did take the challenge and started 18th, raced to a fifth place finish. Peiffer, Travis Losenicky, Cale Peterson, Joe Goodenbauer and Travis Ross rounded out the top 10.
With his second straight IMCA Hobby Stock title assured just by taking the green flag, points leader Scott Pippert obliged the fans by starting at the back of that 20-lapper. Brad Forbes and Matt Brown gave up their starting spots to join Pippert at the tail leaving Vince Buchholz to start on the front row. Buchholz took advantage of that gift as he raced into the lead at the drop of the green.
Buchholz held the point until a lap eight caution when he exited with what I believe was a flat tire. Brown, who worked his way back into third by the time the yellow came out, also left with a flat tire. This allowed fellow front row starter Wes Stanek Jr. to inherit the point with Kyle Parizek in tow.
On the restart, Parizek worked beneath the race leader to take over the lead while Pippert was making his way from the back and into a challenge for the lead at the race's midway point. Parizek and Pippert swapped the lead and pulled to a straightaway advantage over the field by the time the yellow flag waved one final time with just four laps remaining.
On the restart, Parizek bolted ahead of the field as Pippert suffered a right rear flat when the flying green waved, forcing him to a premature exit. Parizek led the final two circuits to take the win ahead of Forbes, who made a strong run from the back to finish second. Michael Peterson, Doug Laughridge and Steve Higham rounded out the top five. Randy Vandevegte, Al Sweerin, Russel Damme Jr., Billy Grimm and Frank Auen completed the top 10.
It was an entertaining night of racing in Vinton; a good night considering championship night doesn't always provide the best racing. Thanks to Mick Trier and crew for getting the facility together despite the persistent rains that pelted the area earlier in the weekend. While the track did get rough and the pits needed a lot of TLC to get into manageable condition, it was nice that racing was able to happen on Sunday night.
This was night #61 for me this season and the last night that I have scheduled... for now. While there are still special events on the calendar, I haven't determined if I'll make it to any of them or not. Stay tuned...
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