Passick picks up first career Late Model win at Independence

Jon Passick had been close.

Entering Saturday night, Passick was the only IMCA Late Model driver at Independence Motor Speedway to earn top-10 finishes in all eight features this season (five of which were top-5s) and he sat 10 points out of the division lead. By night's end, he earned his first-ever trip to Late Model victory lane, the 97th driver to do so at the speedway in the last 45 years.

At the start of the 25-lapper, pole-sitter Luke Pestka paced the field with second row starter Bobby Hansen in second. Along with Russell Hesse, the top three broke free from the field while Passick quickly worked into the mix driving the low groove of the speedway from a fifth row starting spot.

By lap three, Passick made his way into fourth, sweeping beneath Darren Ackerman, Dean Wagner and Hesse while Greg Kastli also powered to the front to settle into third. Just four laps later, Passick reeled in the lead trio and made his way around Kastli and Hansen before running down Pestka out front.

Passick made his bid for the lead on the low side of Pestka on the ninth circuit before Kastli slipped beneath Pestka just prior to the midway point. Passick and Kastli quickly motored away from the field, however Kastli was able to keep Passick in his sights as the leaders navigated through lapped traffic. Unfazed by the backmarkers, Passick held on to the point to drive to the impressive victory. Kastli ran second ahead of Pestka. Points leader Tyler Bruening made a nice run through traffic to come home fourth ahead of Hesse. The Late Models ran a caution-free feature for the fourth time in five weeks, taking just over seven minutes to complete.

Steve Wiltse joined Passick as another first-time winner as he visited victory lane following the 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. From his second row starting spot, Wiltse chased Jerry Wilson the first time around the 3/8-mile oval before taking command on lap two. Although a trio of cautions slowed the early stages of the event, Wiltse held serve as he fought off the challenges of Jamie Whitaker.

Despite two more stoppages midway through the race, Wiltse led the remainder of the event to take the milsestone win ahead of Whitaker and Rod Grother. Wiltse's son, Chris, came home fourth ahead of Justin Lichty. The elder Wiltse became the 86th different Hobby Stock winner in weekly competition at Independence since the division was added to the Saturday night program in 1989.

Jeff Kriz held the early lead in the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature. From his pole-position starting spot, Kriz set the pace while Ronn Lauritzen and Darin Duffy were making their way through traffic from respective fourth and fifth row starts. Running the low groove, Lauritzen entered a battle for the lead on lap seven while Duffy ran the high groove into contention.

Lauritzen slipped beneath the leader on the following circuit with Duffy close behind. As the leaders made their way down the back stretch following the completion of the ninth lap, however, contact from the lapped car of Richard Hinz sent Lauritzen's #10K into a spin up the track. He collected Duffy in the process to bring out the caution. Following a pit stop to repair a flat tire, Lauritzen joined Duffy at the tail for the restart.

When racing resumed, with the leader gone, Kriz inherited the pole position in the double-file restart with Vern Jackson to his outside. Jackson, who made his way to the front after starting in the fifth row, worked the outside groove to take command. Despite a pair of late cautions that bunched the field and heavy pressure from Jerry Luloff, Jackson sailed to his fourth win of the season. Luloff ran second ahead of Justin O'Brien, Adam Johnson and Kriz. The all-time wins leader in the division, Jackson celebrated his 39th Modified win at the speedway.

Tyler Droste earned his fifth IMCA SportMod win of the season and, in the process, returned to the top of the point standings for the first time since May 28. From a fifth row start, Droste quickly raced through the field and settled into second after just two laps. He made his way into the lead when Brennen Chipp pushed high in turn four on lap three.

Droste held the point while Josh Sherbon was working through traffic from a mid-pack start. Running the high groove, Sherbon settled into second on the seventh circuit, then tried both the low and high grooves in attempt to reel in the leader. His attempts fell short as Droste sailed to the win. Sherbon ran second ahead of Lucas Lundry, Jim Aschenbrenner and Jim Buhlman.

Dan Trimble won a wild IMCA Stock Car main that was uncharacteristically slowed by numerous cautions. Paul Fauser held the early lead while Sean Johnson worked into contention from a fourth row starting spot. Johnson motored past the leader after just four laps and appeared to be on the way to his fifth win of the season until a flat tire with five laps to go put an early end to those plans.

Tim Helle inherited the point, but was quickly challenged by Austin Evens. Evens stole the lead when Helle pushed high in turn four on the 11th lap. As Evens led, Trimble worked the high side of the speedway while Jarod Weepie worked the low groove. Trimble proved to be too fast up top as he took charge when the white flag waved to drive to his first win of the season. Evens ran second ahead of Weepie, Helle and Tony Schimmels. It was Trimble's first appearance at the speedway this season, however the veteran showed he hasn't lost his touch. No stranger to victory lane at Independence, it was the nine-time track champion's all-time leading 69th career Stock Car win at the speedway.

Despite the hot temperatures, it was another great night of racing at Independence. Following a trip to Vinton for the Benton County Fair races tomorrow, I'm scheduled to head to Highway 3 Raceway in Allison on Tuesday for a make-up from last month's rainout. In addition to Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, B Mods and 4-Cylinders, I understand IMCA-sanctioned Late Models will be joining the card. Following that event, it's back to Independence as the Buchanan County Fair gets underway this week. Prior to next Saturday's Dick Frye Memorial, I'll be calling the action at the annual Demolition Derby this Thursday night at the fairgrounds in Independence. I'll wrap up next weekend with the annual trek to the Great Jones County Fair in Monticello next Sunday. An afternoon of stock car racing on the half-mile in Monticello will be followed up with the annual Demolition Derby that night. It's going to be a busy week of racing so make plans to get out and support your local track!