Benton County Speedway closed out the month of August with great racing in all five divisions on one of the best racing surfaces of the year, which is saying a lot considering the Vinton 1/4-mile has been in tip-top shape all season. Eighty cars signed in to compete as the season enters its stretch run.
Mike Burbridge picked up his third win of the season in the IMCA Modified division. From his third row starting spot, Burbridge used the low groove to make his way into contention as he battled Tony Olson and Brandon Banks for the lead.
Olson held the early lead as he put his #T23 on the high side of the speedway while Banks ran the middle groove with Burbridge down low. Olson, Burbridge, Banks and Troy Cordes worked side-by-side, two rows deep during the early stages before Burbridge and Banks both pulled to the inside of Olson for the lead. The leaders ran three-wide down the back stretch before Burbridge took over on the third lap.
As Burbridge led, Banks settled into second while Joe Docekal and Scott Hogan worked through the field from fourth row starting spots. They made their way into the top four before Docekal's engine let go, forcing him to an early exit. Hogan pestered Banks for the runner-up spot while Burbridge pulled away for the win. Banks crossed the line second ahead of Hogan.
1. 11B Mike Burbridge
2. 22 Brandon Banks
3. 33D Scott Hogan
4. 10K Ronn Lauritzen
5. 71 Troy Cordes
6. F7 Patrick Flannagan
7. T23 Tony Olson
8. 32 Chris Snyder
9. 7 Todd Jensen
10. 17X Mike Krall
11. 5 Jerry Dedrick
12. 7T Tim McBride
13. 12D Joe Docekal
14. 17 Dawn Krall
15. 25 Shawn Fisher
16. 111 Buster Pate (DNS)
Damon Murty raced through the field from a fifth row starting spot to earn his fifth IMCA Stock Car win of the season. It was inside second row starter Andrew Burk who held the early advantage. Burk worked past Rick Kriegel and John Schaefer to secure the lead by the completion of the first lap.
Burk maintained the top spot while Murty was charging both high and low through the field. He reeled in Burk by lap five, then made his way around him one lap later to steal the lead. Murty survived a trio of cautions over the final half of the event to earn the win in the 15-lapper. John Emerson, who started in the sixth row, came home second ahead of points leader Scooter Dulin.
1. 99D Damon Murty
2. 287 John Emerson
3. 3T Scooter Dulin
4. 15 Norman Chesmore
5. 6X Bob Ahrendsen
6. G1 Mike Padden
7. 17R Rick Kriegel
8. 76 Mike Galli
9. 8 Curtis Roster
10. 10 John Schaefer
11. 37C Roger Ciesielski
12. 20B Andrew Burk
13. 7H Phil Holtz
Kyle Parizek scored his second IMCA Hobby Stock win of the season, his first since May 22. Parizek held off persistent challenges from Jacob Keiser to score the exciting win.
From his pole position start, Parizek took charge at the drop of the green and held the point running the low groove while Keiser worked the top side of the speedway. Matt Brown and points leader Scott Pippert pursued the leaders in double-wide formation.
Keiser proved to be too fast on the high side throughout much of the event until Parizek inched ahead with five laps remaining. He held off a late surge from Brown to score the victory. Pippert worked past Keiser with three laps to go to finish third. Parizek's victory brought an end to Pippert's five race winning streak, which dated back to July 24.
1. 17K Kyle Parizek
2. 78 Matt Brown
3. 47 Scott Pippert
4. 07 Jacob Keiser
5. 09 Brad Forbes
6. 2P Cale Petersen
7. 67 Justin Stander
8. 45 Justin Wacha
9. 55 Vince Buchholz
10. 19K Erick Knutsen
11. 77 Rod Grother
12. 4JR Russell Damme Jr.
13. 44J Gabe Phelps
14. 25 Doug Laughridge
15. 6JN Justin Ginther
16. 1 Scott Siems
Steve Miedke led the 12-lap IMCA Sport Compact feature in its entirety, however Jacob McVay stood in the winner's circle for the first time this season after Miedke was disqualified during post-race inspection.
1. 8M Jacob McVay
2. 51 Bryce Bailey
3. 2ND Brad Chandler
4. 00W Bill Whalen Jr.
5. 1 Merv Chandler
6. 35 Brett Vanous
7. 22 Nathan Chandler
8. 36DD Gary Peiffer
9. 007 Adam Gates
10. 07X Tyler Whalen
11. 83 Travis Ross
12. 3S Craig Streeter
13. A1 Louis Trachta
14. 07 Joe Goodenbauer
Chaos ensued in the 15-lap IMCA SportMod main event. A number of cautions involving questionable driving at the front of the pack led to a number of lead changes well into the late stages of that feature. Bryan Rodman took the lead at the drop of the green from his pole position start. He showed the way while Jared Van Deest gave chase.
Danny Dvorak, who started in the sixth row, was making his way through the pack before being blindsided by Kyle Olson exiting turn four a couple of laps into the event. Although the contact slowed Dvorak's progress and affected a number of cars, everyone kept moving, with the exception of Olson who was pulled from the race for questionable driving. The race stayed green until the yellow flag waved for another incident on lap four.
On the restart, Dvorak continued his march to the front, settling into second just past the midway point. By that time, Rodman built half of a straightaway advantage. Dvorak reeled in the leader a couple laps later and made his bid for the lead as the flying green waved. Contact between the leaders, however, sent Dvorak to the infield with substantial damage and Rodman to the pits for questionable driving.
Curt Hilmer inherited the lead for the ensuing restart with Jared Van Deest and Kyle Brown behind him. When the green flag waved, Brown shot to the inside of Van Deest in turns one and two in a battle for second. The only problem with that, you ask? There was juuuuuust enough room to the inside of Van Deest's machine to spread out a crying towel a number of the SportMod drivers (and many fans in the stands) needed tonight. Needless to say, Brown wheel-hopped Van Deest, spinning both of them out, littering the corner with debris to bring out another caution.
With Van Deest in the pits after having suffered too much damage and Brown at the tail of the field due to his involvement in the incident, Ken Kositzky and Drew Fish restarted in second and third. Hilmer held on over the course of the final green-white-checkered finish (as much as I don't like NASCAR, their "mercy rule" of green-white-checker finishes would have worked well tonight) to take his second win of the season, both in the last three weeks.
1. 22H Curt Hilmer
2. K0 Ken Kositzky
3. 3D Drew Fish
4. J2 Dave Schulze
5. 14 Shane Ebaugh
6. 3B Brian Anderson
7. 21X Kyle Brown
8. 00 Jim Buhlman
9. 28P Rick Paulson
10. 21A Mark Angotti
11. 80 Jared Van Deest
12. 08 Bryan Rodman
13. 3R Danny Dvorak
14. 33 Ed O'Brien
15. 3 Dave McCalla
16. K3 Kyle Olson
17. 14E Al Sweerin
18. 23 Jeramia Boynton
19. B7 Blake Carson
20. 57R (no driver info)
Joining flagman John Huff in the flagstand the last couple weeks has offered me a different perspective from which to both view the races and listen to the fans in the stands. Tonight, plenty of entertainment was offered from both sides of the front stretch wall.
While writing tonight's blog, I've been trying to determine which side offered the more embarrassing form of entertainment - the applause one SportMod driver offered when a fellow competitor was knocked out of the event or the unnecessary grumblings from those in the grandstands.
Let's start with the driver side of things. Not only is it inappropriate to cheer when someone is knocked out of a race, it's unprofessional and embarrassing to crew, fans and sponsors when a driver makes a spectacle of himself by leading the parade as he, himself, is being towed from the infield following his own act of questionable driving.
As for the fans, there were many boos when the black flag came out tonight. Apparently, drivers and fans want fairness and consistency in calls unless, of course, it applies to "their" driver.
From where I was standing tonight, I honestly feel the right calls were made on the track, especially in the SportMod feature. The drivers that were penalized for the cautions were rightly scolded and sent to the corner. I will be the first to agree that not all "questionable" driving is equivalent to "intentional" driving, meaning some drivers may not mean to create contact or be the reason for a caution, however a call needs to be made if and when it happens.
While the contact in the first caution involving questionable driving appeared to be intentional from my vantage point, the contact in the second and third incidents didn't appear to be quite so blatant. Heck, it may even have been accidental or the case of a driver just racing for the lead. Either way, blame must be assessed by the track officials and in both cases, whether intentional or not, the driving was certainly questionable. As a result, whether everyone may or may not like it, the correct calls were made in both cases. I've always been a believer that if the caution flag waves, there must have been a reason. And, if there's a reason, a penalty must be assessed. It doesn't mean anyone "meant to," it just means that someone "did."
In the end, I feel sorry for Danny Dvorak tonight being the human pinball (I guess he found a place to spend that extra money he earned from the Cash Dash and Australian Pursuit on Saturday night), as much as I feel bad for Bryan Rodman, who was in search of his first win of the season. As for anyone who is upset at the calls that were made, let me grab that towel for you, I think it's sitting down in turns one and two...
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Johnson brothers sweep features, track titles at Independence Motor Speedway
Adam and Sean Johnson entered season championship night at Independence Motor Speedway in similar fashion - each holding three point leads in their respective divisions. They finished the night, and the season, the same way as the brothers from Independence made track history by becoming the first immediate family members to earn track titles in the same season.
Sean Johnson was simply dominant throughout the season in the IMCA Stock Car division. Entering championship night, his eight feature wins led all drivers at the speedway. He ended the night with his ninth win of the year as he earned the first track championship of his career.
At the start of the 15-lapper, Sean set the pace from his pole position start while Jarod Weepie gave chase. Needing only a top four finish to guarantee the track title, Johnson left no doubt as he led the event in its entirety to score the win.
Jarod Weepie, who entered the night second in points, battled Dave Stricker for second throughout much of the event. Weepie won that fight by crossing the line in second. Stricker, Roger Ciesielski and Norman Chesmore completed the top five.
It was Johnson's 17th career Stock Car win at the speedway, which moved him into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time list. He now sits just one win behind both Justin Temeyer and Weepie, who are tied for third. Johnson's win on championship night was his fifth straight in the division. The last time (and only time) a driver won that many in a row to finish a season in the division was when Larry Portis drove to six straight wins to close out the 1995 season.
For those wondering, the longest winning streak to span multiple seasons in the Stock Car division is seven straight wins. Portis did it by winning the opening night feature in 1997 to extend his streak from 1996. Dan Ttimble also won seven straight when he closed out the 1999 season with three straight wins before opening 2000 with four wins in a row.
Another category Johnson led this season was in total feature laps led. While I normally save this info for the monthly Stats Blitz, I think Sean is probably curious how he compared this season to the rest of the competition. With his 15 laps led on Saturday, Johnson reach 131 total feature laps led for the season. Not only did that lead all drivers at the speedway this season, nobody else was even close. In fact, three drivers from three other divisions tied for the second number of laps led. That number? 50. Luke Merfeld (Late Models), Vern Jackson (Modifieds) and Tyler Droste (SportMods) tied at that mark. The driver who led the second most Stock Car feature laps behind Johnson? Dave Stricker with 26.
Weepie, who was arguably the most consistent driver at the speedway this season, came up just four points shy in the final standings. He was the only driver at the speedway to record top-10 finishes in all 14 features this season.
Adam Johnson looked to match hs brother's efforts in the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature. From his pole position start, Adam took command at the drop of the green while Troy Cordes slipped past front row starter Jerry Luloff for second. Johnson paced the field and extended his advantage while his pursuers battled and Darin Duffy cahrged through the pack from a fourth row start.
Johnson entered lapped traffic just prior to the first caution at the midway point as Duffy closed in on Cordes and Luloff. When racing resumed, Duffy worked the top groove to battle for second while Johnson again took charge. Luloff and Duffy both slipped past Cordes for second and third before one final pair of stoppages on lap 12.
On the final restart, Duffy worked past Luloff with just five laps to go. He tried both high and low to make his way around Johnson, however Johnson had the field covered as he drove to the win. Duffy, Luloff, Cordes and Vern Jackson completed the top five.
It was Johnson's fourth win of the season and the eighth of his career in the Modifieds at Independence. The victory moved him into a tie for 11th on the division's all-time wins list at the speedway. He shares that spot with Greg Kastli, Joey Schaefer and Kevin Pittman.
Johnson closed the season with three wins in the last five weeks. He also had seven straight top-10 finishes to finish the season, the longest such streak in the division.
By virtue of his win on Saturday, Johnson joined Jackson as four-time winners in the division this season. Multiple drivers with at least four wins in the same season is a rarity in the Modifieds as it has now happened only five times in the 29-year history of the division at the speedway. Previous years and drivers to accomplish that feat were Tom Bartholomew (4 wins) and Ron Barker (4) in 1989, Vern Jackson (4) and Keith Pittman (4) in 1997, Darin Duffy (5) and Tim McBride (4) in 1998, and Darin Duffy (4) and Troy Cordes (4) in 2000.
Additional records were matched or set in other championship features, as well. Vince Buchholz became only the third driver in 23 years to earn his second track championship in the IMCA Hobby Stocks and Tyler Droste became the fourth different IMCA SportMod track champion in as many years. Doing so, Droste may very well have become the youngest track champion in track history. Jon Passick also earned title honors as he won his first career championship in the IMCA Late Models.
In the 15-lap Hobby Stock feature, Rod Grother worked past pole-sitter Buchholz for the early lead from his second row starting spot. Grother paced the field for a pair of laps until Buchholz inched ahead just prior to a lap three caution.
On the restart, Buchholz held the point and survived another mid-race caution to take track title honors with his first win of the season. Grother ran second ahead of a hard-charging Quinton Miller, who started in the sixth row. Chris Wiltse edged his father, Steve Wiltse, at the line for fourth.
Buchholz, the 2003 Hobby Stock titlist, joined Patrick Stansbery (2002, 2005) and Josh Irvine (2007, 2009) as the only Hobby Stock drivers in track history with multiple titles. The win on championship night gave Buchholz 11 in the division at Independence. That moved him into a tie with Stansbery for fifth on the all-time list. Buchholz closed the season with four straight top-five finishes, the longest such streak in the division.
Buchholz also extended another record he already held in the division entering the night. Following his win, 6,664 days now span his first and most recent wins in the division. That 18 year, two month and 29 day span is more than double of any other Hobby Stock driver. Second on that list? Chris Luloff, whose first and most recent Hobby Stock wins span seven years, one month and 25 days.
Droste made his first-ever championship run an entertaining one in the SportMod division. The 15-year old driver took the challenge and started at the tail of his feature, in attempt to double his money with a feature win. Although he was given an extra five laps to take the challenge, he didn't even need the 15 laps normally allotted for the SportMods as he scored the come-from-behind win and earned the track title in the process.
Danny Dvorak, the division's first-ever track title winner in 2008, inherited the pole when Droste elected to start at the rear. Dvorak held the point throughout a trio of cautions over the first three laps. Matt McCahen and Jim Buhlman pursued the leader while Droste made his way through the field when racing resumed.
Droste worked his way back into the runner-up spot just shy of the midway point, then set his sights on Dvorak. He worked the low side of Dvorak's #3R and made his bid for the lead just after the completion of the 13th lap. Droste then survived a pair of late cautions to score the victory and track championship.
It was the seventh win for Droste this season, which eclipsed the mark of six SportMod wins in a season at the speedway. That record was set by Josh Sherbon last season. The victory was the eighth of Droste's career, dating back to season championship night last season when he earned his first win at Independence. He finished the season third on the division's all-time wins list behind Sherbon (12 wins) and Dvorak (9).
Droste finished the season with nine straight top-4 finishes, the longest top-4 streak at the speedway all season. Five of those finishes were feature wins.
Passick completed the list of first time track titlists as he earned top honors in the IMCA Late Model division. Darren Ackerman held the early in that 30-lapper, which was lengthened by five laps when Tyler Bruening and Greg Kastli took the challenge and started at the tail.
From his outside front row start, Ackerman shot into the lead at the drop of the green before Passick made his way to the front by lap two. A pair of cautions slowed the early going, however Passick maintained the lead throughout the yellows.
Passick extended his advantage while Travis Smock and Dale Hackwell Jr. battled for second. Dean Wagner and Curt Martin, who each started in the middle of the pack, made strong runs through the field and into the top five.
As Passick approached lapped traffic at the midway point, Smock and Hackwell started to close the gap. A scary moment for Passick came when the leader ventured upon the lapped car of Scott Welsh. Welsh spun in the middle of the straightaway as Passick was exiting turn four. He narrowly missed contact with the backmarker while Hackwell took advantage of the scattering cars to pass Smock for second.
Passick welcomed clear track in front of him when the caution flag reappeared with 10 laps to go. He maintained the point while Martin and Wagner challenged Hackwell for second after Smock faded to fifth. Martin worked past Hackwell, but was unable to chase down Passick, allowing Passick to drive to the win and track title. Hackwell fought off challenges from Wagner to take third. Bruening came home fifth.
It was the second career win for Passick, his first coming just seven weeks ago, and his first track title. Passick became the fourth conseuctive different Late Model track champion at the speedway, the longest stretch of different winners in 10 years. The last time the Late Models saw four straight different titlists was during a span from 1998-2001 when Kevin Pittman, Curt Martin, Darin Burco and Greg Kastli won championships.
Passick finished the season with four straight top-5 finishes, the longest such streak in the division. He was also the only Late Model driver to record 13 top-10 finishes in 14 nights of racing this season.
Another record was matched last night, although I mentioned at the track that it was a first-time occurrence this season. (Yes, Mike Neilly, I do make my share of mistakes!) I stated last night that it was the first time in track history that all feature winners on championship night earned track championships. Since the track went to a minimum of four weekly divisions in the 1980s, one other time have all season championship winners earned track titles the same season. Last night was the second time in track history that was accomplished, the first time coming in 1995. Drivers who won championship features and track titles that season included Rick Wendling (IMCA Late Models), Steve Droste (IMCA Modifieds), Larry Portis (IMCA Stock Cars), Chris Wessner (Hobby Stocks) and Vern Jackson (Pro Stocks).
A number of other statistical oddities stand out this season, as well. In the Late Models, there were 10 different feature winners over the course of the 14-week season. That ties for the third most in the last 45 years and the most since 1975 when there were 12 winners. There were 11 different winners in 1970. Having 10 different winners in the Late Model division appears to be the norm. This season was the 10th time since 1976 that there were exactly 10 different winners in the division. This season was also the third time in the last five years there were exactly 10 different winners. That theme doesn't stop at the Late Models...
The Modifieds offered similar numbers as, for the fifth time in the last seven years, there were exactly seven different feature winners in the division. Nine times in 29 years have exactly seven different drivers won Modified features.
Despite Sean Johnson's dominance, there were five different feature winners in the Stock Cars. Again, five winners is the norm in that division, as well, as the division has produced exactly five different winners six times in the division's 19 year history at the speedway. There have been exactly five different Stock Car winners in three of the last four seasons.
In the short four-year history of the SportMod division at the speedway, the number of feature winners per year has ranged from five to seven. This season, and for the second time in track history, there were six different winners. It is the second straight year that exactly six different drivers won SportMod features.
For the second straight year and the fourth year overall, the Hobby Stock division produced nine different feature winners. Chris Luloff kept a strak alive in that division this season. Every year since the division started competing at Independence (1989), at least one driver every season has won a minimum of three features. Including 2011, Luloff alone now has four seasons in a Hobby Stock with three-plus wins, the most of any driver in the division's history.
Special thank you to Cam and Jodi Granger of CJ Promotions and the Buchanan County Fair Board for another great year of racing at the speedway. While the racing is done, there are still a bunch of numbers to be crunched. I'll have the final Stats Blitz of the season posted sometime this week. I'm hoping for tomorrow night, but this one will be a doozy so it may be later in the week. I'm heading back to Benton County Speedway in Vinton tonight and then bowling league Tuesday (yes, I joined a bowling league for the first time in nearly 15 years), so the Blitz will be posted either early or late this week.
At the end of the week, I plan to head to 34 Raceway in Burlington for the annual two-day Pepsi USA Late Model Nationals, the next event on the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models schedule. Then, next Sunday, I'll be at Cresco Speedway for the Corn Belt Clash Late Model Series before heading to Boone Speedway to help call the action all week at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals. That will be nine straight days of racing so, yeah, I guess I better get my tail started on that Stats Blitz! Hope to see everyone at Vinton tonight!
Sean Johnson was simply dominant throughout the season in the IMCA Stock Car division. Entering championship night, his eight feature wins led all drivers at the speedway. He ended the night with his ninth win of the year as he earned the first track championship of his career.
At the start of the 15-lapper, Sean set the pace from his pole position start while Jarod Weepie gave chase. Needing only a top four finish to guarantee the track title, Johnson left no doubt as he led the event in its entirety to score the win.
Jarod Weepie, who entered the night second in points, battled Dave Stricker for second throughout much of the event. Weepie won that fight by crossing the line in second. Stricker, Roger Ciesielski and Norman Chesmore completed the top five.
It was Johnson's 17th career Stock Car win at the speedway, which moved him into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time list. He now sits just one win behind both Justin Temeyer and Weepie, who are tied for third. Johnson's win on championship night was his fifth straight in the division. The last time (and only time) a driver won that many in a row to finish a season in the division was when Larry Portis drove to six straight wins to close out the 1995 season.
For those wondering, the longest winning streak to span multiple seasons in the Stock Car division is seven straight wins. Portis did it by winning the opening night feature in 1997 to extend his streak from 1996. Dan Ttimble also won seven straight when he closed out the 1999 season with three straight wins before opening 2000 with four wins in a row.
Another category Johnson led this season was in total feature laps led. While I normally save this info for the monthly Stats Blitz, I think Sean is probably curious how he compared this season to the rest of the competition. With his 15 laps led on Saturday, Johnson reach 131 total feature laps led for the season. Not only did that lead all drivers at the speedway this season, nobody else was even close. In fact, three drivers from three other divisions tied for the second number of laps led. That number? 50. Luke Merfeld (Late Models), Vern Jackson (Modifieds) and Tyler Droste (SportMods) tied at that mark. The driver who led the second most Stock Car feature laps behind Johnson? Dave Stricker with 26.
Weepie, who was arguably the most consistent driver at the speedway this season, came up just four points shy in the final standings. He was the only driver at the speedway to record top-10 finishes in all 14 features this season.
Adam Johnson looked to match hs brother's efforts in the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature. From his pole position start, Adam took command at the drop of the green while Troy Cordes slipped past front row starter Jerry Luloff for second. Johnson paced the field and extended his advantage while his pursuers battled and Darin Duffy cahrged through the pack from a fourth row start.
Johnson entered lapped traffic just prior to the first caution at the midway point as Duffy closed in on Cordes and Luloff. When racing resumed, Duffy worked the top groove to battle for second while Johnson again took charge. Luloff and Duffy both slipped past Cordes for second and third before one final pair of stoppages on lap 12.
On the final restart, Duffy worked past Luloff with just five laps to go. He tried both high and low to make his way around Johnson, however Johnson had the field covered as he drove to the win. Duffy, Luloff, Cordes and Vern Jackson completed the top five.
It was Johnson's fourth win of the season and the eighth of his career in the Modifieds at Independence. The victory moved him into a tie for 11th on the division's all-time wins list at the speedway. He shares that spot with Greg Kastli, Joey Schaefer and Kevin Pittman.
Johnson closed the season with three wins in the last five weeks. He also had seven straight top-10 finishes to finish the season, the longest such streak in the division.
By virtue of his win on Saturday, Johnson joined Jackson as four-time winners in the division this season. Multiple drivers with at least four wins in the same season is a rarity in the Modifieds as it has now happened only five times in the 29-year history of the division at the speedway. Previous years and drivers to accomplish that feat were Tom Bartholomew (4 wins) and Ron Barker (4) in 1989, Vern Jackson (4) and Keith Pittman (4) in 1997, Darin Duffy (5) and Tim McBride (4) in 1998, and Darin Duffy (4) and Troy Cordes (4) in 2000.
Additional records were matched or set in other championship features, as well. Vince Buchholz became only the third driver in 23 years to earn his second track championship in the IMCA Hobby Stocks and Tyler Droste became the fourth different IMCA SportMod track champion in as many years. Doing so, Droste may very well have become the youngest track champion in track history. Jon Passick also earned title honors as he won his first career championship in the IMCA Late Models.
In the 15-lap Hobby Stock feature, Rod Grother worked past pole-sitter Buchholz for the early lead from his second row starting spot. Grother paced the field for a pair of laps until Buchholz inched ahead just prior to a lap three caution.
On the restart, Buchholz held the point and survived another mid-race caution to take track title honors with his first win of the season. Grother ran second ahead of a hard-charging Quinton Miller, who started in the sixth row. Chris Wiltse edged his father, Steve Wiltse, at the line for fourth.
Buchholz, the 2003 Hobby Stock titlist, joined Patrick Stansbery (2002, 2005) and Josh Irvine (2007, 2009) as the only Hobby Stock drivers in track history with multiple titles. The win on championship night gave Buchholz 11 in the division at Independence. That moved him into a tie with Stansbery for fifth on the all-time list. Buchholz closed the season with four straight top-five finishes, the longest such streak in the division.
Buchholz also extended another record he already held in the division entering the night. Following his win, 6,664 days now span his first and most recent wins in the division. That 18 year, two month and 29 day span is more than double of any other Hobby Stock driver. Second on that list? Chris Luloff, whose first and most recent Hobby Stock wins span seven years, one month and 25 days.
Droste made his first-ever championship run an entertaining one in the SportMod division. The 15-year old driver took the challenge and started at the tail of his feature, in attempt to double his money with a feature win. Although he was given an extra five laps to take the challenge, he didn't even need the 15 laps normally allotted for the SportMods as he scored the come-from-behind win and earned the track title in the process.
Danny Dvorak, the division's first-ever track title winner in 2008, inherited the pole when Droste elected to start at the rear. Dvorak held the point throughout a trio of cautions over the first three laps. Matt McCahen and Jim Buhlman pursued the leader while Droste made his way through the field when racing resumed.
Droste worked his way back into the runner-up spot just shy of the midway point, then set his sights on Dvorak. He worked the low side of Dvorak's #3R and made his bid for the lead just after the completion of the 13th lap. Droste then survived a pair of late cautions to score the victory and track championship.
It was the seventh win for Droste this season, which eclipsed the mark of six SportMod wins in a season at the speedway. That record was set by Josh Sherbon last season. The victory was the eighth of Droste's career, dating back to season championship night last season when he earned his first win at Independence. He finished the season third on the division's all-time wins list behind Sherbon (12 wins) and Dvorak (9).
Droste finished the season with nine straight top-4 finishes, the longest top-4 streak at the speedway all season. Five of those finishes were feature wins.
Passick completed the list of first time track titlists as he earned top honors in the IMCA Late Model division. Darren Ackerman held the early in that 30-lapper, which was lengthened by five laps when Tyler Bruening and Greg Kastli took the challenge and started at the tail.
From his outside front row start, Ackerman shot into the lead at the drop of the green before Passick made his way to the front by lap two. A pair of cautions slowed the early going, however Passick maintained the lead throughout the yellows.
Passick extended his advantage while Travis Smock and Dale Hackwell Jr. battled for second. Dean Wagner and Curt Martin, who each started in the middle of the pack, made strong runs through the field and into the top five.
As Passick approached lapped traffic at the midway point, Smock and Hackwell started to close the gap. A scary moment for Passick came when the leader ventured upon the lapped car of Scott Welsh. Welsh spun in the middle of the straightaway as Passick was exiting turn four. He narrowly missed contact with the backmarker while Hackwell took advantage of the scattering cars to pass Smock for second.
Passick welcomed clear track in front of him when the caution flag reappeared with 10 laps to go. He maintained the point while Martin and Wagner challenged Hackwell for second after Smock faded to fifth. Martin worked past Hackwell, but was unable to chase down Passick, allowing Passick to drive to the win and track title. Hackwell fought off challenges from Wagner to take third. Bruening came home fifth.
It was the second career win for Passick, his first coming just seven weeks ago, and his first track title. Passick became the fourth conseuctive different Late Model track champion at the speedway, the longest stretch of different winners in 10 years. The last time the Late Models saw four straight different titlists was during a span from 1998-2001 when Kevin Pittman, Curt Martin, Darin Burco and Greg Kastli won championships.
Passick finished the season with four straight top-5 finishes, the longest such streak in the division. He was also the only Late Model driver to record 13 top-10 finishes in 14 nights of racing this season.
Another record was matched last night, although I mentioned at the track that it was a first-time occurrence this season. (Yes, Mike Neilly, I do make my share of mistakes!) I stated last night that it was the first time in track history that all feature winners on championship night earned track championships. Since the track went to a minimum of four weekly divisions in the 1980s, one other time have all season championship winners earned track titles the same season. Last night was the second time in track history that was accomplished, the first time coming in 1995. Drivers who won championship features and track titles that season included Rick Wendling (IMCA Late Models), Steve Droste (IMCA Modifieds), Larry Portis (IMCA Stock Cars), Chris Wessner (Hobby Stocks) and Vern Jackson (Pro Stocks).
A number of other statistical oddities stand out this season, as well. In the Late Models, there were 10 different feature winners over the course of the 14-week season. That ties for the third most in the last 45 years and the most since 1975 when there were 12 winners. There were 11 different winners in 1970. Having 10 different winners in the Late Model division appears to be the norm. This season was the 10th time since 1976 that there were exactly 10 different winners in the division. This season was also the third time in the last five years there were exactly 10 different winners. That theme doesn't stop at the Late Models...
The Modifieds offered similar numbers as, for the fifth time in the last seven years, there were exactly seven different feature winners in the division. Nine times in 29 years have exactly seven different drivers won Modified features.
Despite Sean Johnson's dominance, there were five different feature winners in the Stock Cars. Again, five winners is the norm in that division, as well, as the division has produced exactly five different winners six times in the division's 19 year history at the speedway. There have been exactly five different Stock Car winners in three of the last four seasons.
In the short four-year history of the SportMod division at the speedway, the number of feature winners per year has ranged from five to seven. This season, and for the second time in track history, there were six different winners. It is the second straight year that exactly six different drivers won SportMod features.
For the second straight year and the fourth year overall, the Hobby Stock division produced nine different feature winners. Chris Luloff kept a strak alive in that division this season. Every year since the division started competing at Independence (1989), at least one driver every season has won a minimum of three features. Including 2011, Luloff alone now has four seasons in a Hobby Stock with three-plus wins, the most of any driver in the division's history.
Special thank you to Cam and Jodi Granger of CJ Promotions and the Buchanan County Fair Board for another great year of racing at the speedway. While the racing is done, there are still a bunch of numbers to be crunched. I'll have the final Stats Blitz of the season posted sometime this week. I'm hoping for tomorrow night, but this one will be a doozy so it may be later in the week. I'm heading back to Benton County Speedway in Vinton tonight and then bowling league Tuesday (yes, I joined a bowling league for the first time in nearly 15 years), so the Blitz will be posted either early or late this week.
At the end of the week, I plan to head to 34 Raceway in Burlington for the annual two-day Pepsi USA Late Model Nationals, the next event on the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models schedule. Then, next Sunday, I'll be at Cresco Speedway for the Corn Belt Clash Late Model Series before heading to Boone Speedway to help call the action all week at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals. That will be nine straight days of racing so, yeah, I guess I better get my tail started on that Stats Blitz! Hope to see everyone at Vinton tonight!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Lauritzen fitting winner at Benton County Speedway
On the night Stickfort Construction sponsored Autism Awareness Night at Benton County Speedway, the car Stickfort sponsors made its way to victory lane in the IMCA Modified division. Ronn Lauritzen ran the high groove to the lead just past the midway point to take top honors in the 20-lap feature.
At the drop of the green, it was pole-sitter Jerry Dedrick taking command. He paced the field for a single circuit before second row starter Brandon Banks made his way to the front one lap later. A pair of early cautions slowed the action, but didn't slow down Banks as he held the point on each restart.
As Banks led, Mike Burbridge ran second, repeatedly trying to stick the nose of his #11B to the inside of Banks. Banks, however, remained glued to the tractor tires on the low side of the speedway and fought off his challenges.
Lauritzen, meanwhile, ran the high groove into contention. Following the final caution midway through the race, Lauritzen pulled to the outside of Burbridge as the pair tried from every angle to challenge for the lead. At the 12 lap mark, Burbridge pulled to the inside of Banks as Lauritzen made his move to the outside in a three-wide battle for the lead off turn four. Lauritzen escaped with the lead and then held off a late charge from Burbridge to score the victory.
1. 10K Ronn Lauritzen
2. 11B Mike Burbridge
3. 22 Brandon Banks
4. 12D Joe Docekal
5. 33D Scott Hogan
6. F7 Patrick Flannagan
7. 18L Jerry Luloff
8. 2AC Dustin Creer
9. T23 Tony Olson
10. 25 Shawn Fisher
Although it took Phil Holtz until mid-August to earn his first win of the season, the IMCA Stock Car driver wasted little time capturing victory number two as he drove to his second straight win on the quarter-mile.
Rick Kriegel held the early lead until Norman Chesmore inched ahead on lap three. Chesmore held the point for a pair of circuits while Holtz worked his way to the front after starting in the third row. As the leaders battled, a terrific display of three-wide racing three rows deep at the front of the pack entertained the crowd. Holtz made his way beneath Chesmore on the fifth lap to take charge.
With Holtz out front, Chesmore worked on holding off Andrew Burk for second. Burk made his way beneath Chesmore for the position late in the event, but Holtz had already set sail for the checkers.
While the dance at the top of the division's points continues to be close, the order shuffled a bit following tonight's action. By virtue of his fourth place finish in the feature, Scooter Dulin unofficially made his way past Bob Ahrendsen by three points atop the division standings. Norman Chesmore is log-jammed between them, just two points behind Dulin.
1. 7H Phil Holtz
2. 20B Andrew Burk
3. 15 Norman Chesmore
4. 3T Scooter Dulin
5. G1 Mike Padden
6. 76 Mike Galli
7. 17R Rick Kriegel
8. 76S Chad Siems
9. 10 John Schaefer
10. 6X Bob Ahrendsen
Jesse Belez took the lead at the drop of the green in the 15-lap IMCA SportMod feature. He paced the field while Kyle Olson challenged. Olson made his way around Belez on the third lap aa Curt Hilmer looked to follow him to the front. Hilmer made the pass for second on the low side of Belez at the six lap mark while Drew Fish dialed in his #3D on the high groove.
Running fifth and sixth throughout the first half of the event, Fish quickly made his way to the front during the second half of the race. He made his way into fourth on the eighth lap, then swept past Dave Schulze and Hilmer for second one lap later. As the leaders navigated through lapped traffic, Fish rocketed by Olson with five laps to go as he drove to the impressive victory. Olson eventually left with mechanical problems, leaving Hilmer to finish second.
Note: For the Fish fans who read my blog (yes, I've been told there are some followers from the school of Fish who read "In Staging"), I apologize that I didn't make any fish puns in tonight's entry. There was nothing about wading through traffic or floundering through lapped traffic or even taking advantage of the oppor-tuna-ty that lapped traffic presented, nor was there a mention of being hooked up on the top side and nary a mention of Drew's whale of a run tonight. I didn't even say how Fish flew around the top side while the rest were all bottom suckers. I didn't even get all Dr. Seuss and say "one fish, two fish, 3D, Drew Fish." Maybe next time I'll focus a bit better and write with a little more "sole" just for the halibut. I hope my lack of Fish references wasn't offensive, Jake!
1. 3D Drew Fish
2. 22H Curt Hilmer
3. 3R Danny Dvorak
4. K0 Ken Kositzky
5. 00 Jim Buhlman
6. 08 Bryan Rodman
7. J2 Dave Schulze
8. 42M Lon Mercer
9. B7 Blake Carson
10. 3B Brian Anderson
Scott Pippert continued his dominance in the IMCA Hobby Stock division. Pippert took command on the seventh lap to drive to his 12th feature win of the season at Vinton. Pippert took control when he made his way around race-long leader Kyle Parizek just shy of the midway point.
1. 47 Scott Pippert
2. 17K Kyle Parizek
3. 78 Matt Brown
4. 67 Justin Stander
5. 29 Nathan Ballard
6. 45 Justin Wacha
7. 77 Rod Grother
8. 25 Doug Laughridge
9. 55 Vince Buchholz
10. 2P Cale Petersen
Nathan Chandler cut into his dad, Merv's, points lead by a half dozen markers in the IMCA Sport Compact division. The younger Chandler took command in that 12-lapper on the third circuit when he made his way past leader Bill Whalen Jr. He then pulled away from the field to score the dominant win.
1. 22 Nathan Chandler
2. 2ND Brad Chandler
3. 00W Bill Whalen Jr.
4. 8M Jacob McVay
5. 35 Brett Vanous
6. 51 Bryce Bailey
7. 1 Merv Chandler
8. 36DD Gary Peiffer
9. 007 Adam Gates
10. 3S Craig Streeter
Thanks to flagger John Huff for letting me join him in the flagstand tonight. It was great to get a different view of the action on the track. After another busy weekend, I have no races scheduled for the upcoming workweek. My 52nd event of the year will take me back to Independence on Saturday for Budweiser Season Championship Night. Have a great week!
At the drop of the green, it was pole-sitter Jerry Dedrick taking command. He paced the field for a single circuit before second row starter Brandon Banks made his way to the front one lap later. A pair of early cautions slowed the action, but didn't slow down Banks as he held the point on each restart.
As Banks led, Mike Burbridge ran second, repeatedly trying to stick the nose of his #11B to the inside of Banks. Banks, however, remained glued to the tractor tires on the low side of the speedway and fought off his challenges.
Lauritzen, meanwhile, ran the high groove into contention. Following the final caution midway through the race, Lauritzen pulled to the outside of Burbridge as the pair tried from every angle to challenge for the lead. At the 12 lap mark, Burbridge pulled to the inside of Banks as Lauritzen made his move to the outside in a three-wide battle for the lead off turn four. Lauritzen escaped with the lead and then held off a late charge from Burbridge to score the victory.
1. 10K Ronn Lauritzen
2. 11B Mike Burbridge
3. 22 Brandon Banks
4. 12D Joe Docekal
5. 33D Scott Hogan
6. F7 Patrick Flannagan
7. 18L Jerry Luloff
8. 2AC Dustin Creer
9. T23 Tony Olson
10. 25 Shawn Fisher
Although it took Phil Holtz until mid-August to earn his first win of the season, the IMCA Stock Car driver wasted little time capturing victory number two as he drove to his second straight win on the quarter-mile.
Rick Kriegel held the early lead until Norman Chesmore inched ahead on lap three. Chesmore held the point for a pair of circuits while Holtz worked his way to the front after starting in the third row. As the leaders battled, a terrific display of three-wide racing three rows deep at the front of the pack entertained the crowd. Holtz made his way beneath Chesmore on the fifth lap to take charge.
With Holtz out front, Chesmore worked on holding off Andrew Burk for second. Burk made his way beneath Chesmore for the position late in the event, but Holtz had already set sail for the checkers.
While the dance at the top of the division's points continues to be close, the order shuffled a bit following tonight's action. By virtue of his fourth place finish in the feature, Scooter Dulin unofficially made his way past Bob Ahrendsen by three points atop the division standings. Norman Chesmore is log-jammed between them, just two points behind Dulin.
1. 7H Phil Holtz
2. 20B Andrew Burk
3. 15 Norman Chesmore
4. 3T Scooter Dulin
5. G1 Mike Padden
6. 76 Mike Galli
7. 17R Rick Kriegel
8. 76S Chad Siems
9. 10 John Schaefer
10. 6X Bob Ahrendsen
Jesse Belez took the lead at the drop of the green in the 15-lap IMCA SportMod feature. He paced the field while Kyle Olson challenged. Olson made his way around Belez on the third lap aa Curt Hilmer looked to follow him to the front. Hilmer made the pass for second on the low side of Belez at the six lap mark while Drew Fish dialed in his #3D on the high groove.
Running fifth and sixth throughout the first half of the event, Fish quickly made his way to the front during the second half of the race. He made his way into fourth on the eighth lap, then swept past Dave Schulze and Hilmer for second one lap later. As the leaders navigated through lapped traffic, Fish rocketed by Olson with five laps to go as he drove to the impressive victory. Olson eventually left with mechanical problems, leaving Hilmer to finish second.
Note: For the Fish fans who read my blog (yes, I've been told there are some followers from the school of Fish who read "In Staging"), I apologize that I didn't make any fish puns in tonight's entry. There was nothing about wading through traffic or floundering through lapped traffic or even taking advantage of the oppor-tuna-ty that lapped traffic presented, nor was there a mention of being hooked up on the top side and nary a mention of Drew's whale of a run tonight. I didn't even say how Fish flew around the top side while the rest were all bottom suckers. I didn't even get all Dr. Seuss and say "one fish, two fish, 3D, Drew Fish." Maybe next time I'll focus a bit better and write with a little more "sole" just for the halibut. I hope my lack of Fish references wasn't offensive, Jake!
1. 3D Drew Fish
2. 22H Curt Hilmer
3. 3R Danny Dvorak
4. K0 Ken Kositzky
5. 00 Jim Buhlman
6. 08 Bryan Rodman
7. J2 Dave Schulze
8. 42M Lon Mercer
9. B7 Blake Carson
10. 3B Brian Anderson
Scott Pippert continued his dominance in the IMCA Hobby Stock division. Pippert took command on the seventh lap to drive to his 12th feature win of the season at Vinton. Pippert took control when he made his way around race-long leader Kyle Parizek just shy of the midway point.
1. 47 Scott Pippert
2. 17K Kyle Parizek
3. 78 Matt Brown
4. 67 Justin Stander
5. 29 Nathan Ballard
6. 45 Justin Wacha
7. 77 Rod Grother
8. 25 Doug Laughridge
9. 55 Vince Buchholz
10. 2P Cale Petersen
Nathan Chandler cut into his dad, Merv's, points lead by a half dozen markers in the IMCA Sport Compact division. The younger Chandler took command in that 12-lapper on the third circuit when he made his way past leader Bill Whalen Jr. He then pulled away from the field to score the dominant win.
1. 22 Nathan Chandler
2. 2ND Brad Chandler
3. 00W Bill Whalen Jr.
4. 8M Jacob McVay
5. 35 Brett Vanous
6. 51 Bryce Bailey
7. 1 Merv Chandler
8. 36DD Gary Peiffer
9. 007 Adam Gates
10. 3S Craig Streeter
Thanks to flagger John Huff for letting me join him in the flagstand tonight. It was great to get a different view of the action on the track. After another busy weekend, I have no races scheduled for the upcoming workweek. My 52nd event of the year will take me back to Independence on Saturday for Budweiser Season Championship Night. Have a great week!
Wagner gets first win in seven years at Independence Motor Speedway
For the second straight week, rain showers just prior to the start of the show delayed racing action at Independence Motor Speedway. After pesky sprinkles and a brief, light shower moved out of the area Saturday evening, race fans were provided with a great show in the final weekly racing program prior to next week's season championships.
A strong field of 101 race teams filed into the pits and perhaps the happiest of the lot was IMCA Late Model driver Dean Wagner. Wagner, who has competed in the division for the better part of the last 25 years, earned his first feature win in over seven years.
At the start of the 25-lapper, second row starting Wagner quickly worked past front row starters Drew Johnson and Scott Welsh to assume command by the end of the first lap. He put a few car-lengths on the field while Luke Pestka gave chase. Darren Ackerman and Tyler Bruening, who both started in the middle of the pack, made their way into the top four after four laps and set their eyes on the leaders. The top four started to pull away from the field until the race's only stoppages, a pair of cautions on lap 13.
On the final restart, Bruening and Ackerman quickly worked past Pestka as he faded to sixth. Wagner, however, maintained the point throughout the event, leading the 25-lapper in its entirety to score the win. Bruening, Ackerman, Bryan Klein and points leader Jon Passick completed the top five.
For Wagner, it was his fifth career weekly Late Model win at Independence and his first since opening night (May 1) of the 2004 campaign. The win moved Wagner into a tie with Dale Hackwell Jr., Les Verly, Rick Dralle and Terry Neal for 26th on the all-time Late Model wins list at the speedway.
Wagner's trip to victory lane made him the eighth straight different winner in the division this season, which is one shy of the all-time record of nine straight different Late Model winners. That record was set in 1975. The names on the list from 36 years ago? Darrell Sells, Red Dralle, Jim Burger, Dave Bedard, Gary Crawford, Bill Barthelmes, Denny Osborn, Dan Nesteby and Joe Schaefer. The names included in the current streak are Tyler Bruening, Luke Merfeld, Curt Martin, Jon Passick, Luke Pestka, Travis Smock, Greg Kastli and Wagner.
Late Model Season Championship Scenarios
1. Jon Passick: Passick sits atop the division's standings, carrying a 21 point edge over Tyler Bruening into next Saturday's championship event. A top-21 finish in that feature will earn Passick his first career track championship.
2. Tyler Bruening: If Bruening can beat Passick by at least 21 positions in the feature, he will earn his second straight track title. All other drivers are mathematically eliminated.
Troy Cordes benefitted from a mid-race miscue to take the win in the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature. Outside front row starter Jeff Kriz took the early lead while Todd Conrad moved into contention after starting in row two. Conrad swept past Kriz for the lead just prior to the first caution on lap three.
When racing resumed, Conrad pulled away from the pack, putting a handful of car-lengths between himself and his competitors. As Conrad led, Troy Cordes and Ronn Lauritzen reeled in Kriz for second. With Cordes up top and Laurtizen running the low side, the pair searched for a way around Kriz.
As the leaders were coming around to complete lap 11, Conrad got sideways exiting turn four, spinning his #83C and collecting Kriz in the process to bring out the final caution. With both cars penalized, Cordes and Lauritzen started side-by-side on the front row for the restart.
When the green flag waved, Cordes took charge with Lauritzen settling in behind him. Jerry Luloff, who started in the fifth row, was charging on the low side of the speedway and into contention. Luloff made his way past Lauritzen on lap 12 while Vern Jackson was running the top groove. He entered the mix a few laps later and settled into third with only a haldful of laps remaining. Cordes, however, proved too strong out front as he drove to his second win of the season. Luloff, Jackson, Lauritzen and Keith Pittman rounded out the top five. It was the 28th career weekly Modified win for Cordes at Independence.
Modified Season Championship Scenarios
1. Adam Johnson: Adam Johnson will take a three point lead over Jerry Luloff into next week's championship event. A top-four feature finish will lock up Johnson's first-ever track title in the division. If he does not finish in the top four, Johnson will still earn title honors if he finishes within three positions of Luloff in next Saturday's feature and if he does not finish more than 18 positions behind Troy Cordes.
2. Jerry Luloff: Luloff will win the track title if he beats Johnson by at least four positions and finishes no worse than 14 positions behind Cordes.
3. Troy Cordes: Cordes must beat Johnson by 19 positions (only 18 positions if Cordes wins the feature) and Luloff by 15 positions to earn the championship. He must also finish within eight positions of Patrick Flannagan in the feature (which is a foregone conclusion if he accomplishes picking up 19 points on Johnson).
4. Patrick Flannagan: Flannagan still has an extreme outside chance of winning the track title, but his only way to do it is by winning the feature (assuming Jerry Luloff takes the green flag in the feature) and a series of other things happen. Flannagan can win if he wins the race, Johnson fails to take the green flag in the feature, Luloff finishes outside the top 23 and Cordes finishes no better than ninth. Good luck with all that, Pat! All other drivers have been mathemtically eliminated.
Sean Johnson continued his dominance in the IMCA Stock Car division. Although he entered the night a single point out of the lead, Johnson drove to his fourth straight win to take over the points lead with one week remaining in the season.
At the start of the 15-lapper, Paul Fauser and Roger Ciesielski shared time out front before a pair of cautions slowed the early going. Just prior to the second stoppage on lap five, Johnson made his way into the lead after starting in the fourth row.
On the restart, Johnson fought off the challenges of Dave Stricker to take the win, his eighth of the season. Jason Hocken, who made his first appearance of the season, made an impressive run to finish third ahead of Norman Chesmore and Jarod Weepie. It was Johnson's 16th career win in the division at Independence, which moved him into a tie with Larry Portis for fifth on the all-time list.
Stock Car Season Championship Scenarios
1. Sean Johnson: Just like his brother, Johnson takes a three point lead into championship week. A top-four finish in next week's feature will guarantee Johnson his first career track title. If Johnson finishes outside the top four, he will still lock up the title as long as he finishes within three positions of Weepie and within 11 positions of Dave Stricker in the feature.
2. Jarod Weepie: Weepie must beat Johnson by four positions and within seven positions of Stricker to earn his second straight division title and the fifth of his career.
3. Dave Stricker: Stricker must beat Johnson by 12 positions and Weepie by eight positions to earn his first track title.
4. Norman Chesmore: The longest shot of all drivers still mathemtically alive to earn a track title at Independence this season, Chesmore can win his first career track championship if Johnson, Weepie and Stricker all fail to take the green flag in the feature and Chesmore finishes in the top three next Saturday. All other drivers have been mathematically eliminated.
Tyler Droste earned his division-leading sixth win of the season in the IMCA SportMod division. Droste chased race-long leader Matt McCahen until a mid-race caution on lap seven. On the restart, Droste swept beneath McCahen to take the lead, en route to the victory. McCahen, Dave Schulze, Danny Dvorak and Shane Ebaugh rounded out the top five.
SportMod Season Championship Scenarios
1. Tyler Droste: Droste carries a 26-point lead into championship night. Simply taking the green flag in that event will earn Droste his first-ever track championship.
2. Danny Dvorak: Droste must fail to take the green flag in Saturday's feature and Dvorak must finish within six positions of Jim Buhlman to win the track title.
3. Jim Buhlman: Droste must fail to take the green flag in Saturday's feature and Buhlman must beat Dvorak by seven positions to take the track title. All other drivers have been mathematically eliminated.
Cautions plagued the IMCA Hobby Stock feature, forcing it to time out after only eight laps. Shawn Kuennen held the early advantage and led throughout a quartet of stoppages while Quinton Miller worked through the field from a fifth row start. Miller took the lead following a lap six restart and held the point until the final caution waved just past the midway point.
It was Miller's second win this season and the seventh of his career. He moved into a tie with Justin Lichty for 12th on the all-time list.
Hobby Stock Season Championship Scenarios
1. Vince Buchholz: A top-20 finish will lock up the second track title for Buchholz. He is looking to become only the third Hobby Stock driver in track history with multiple titles in the division.
2. Chris Wiltse: Wiltse must finish 20 positions ahead of Buchholz, at least one position ahead of Grother, within two positions of Whitaker, within five positions of Lichty (four positions if Lichty wins the feature) and within eight positions of Steve Wiltse (seven positions if Steve Wiltse wins the feature) to earn his first track title.
3. Rod Grother: Grother must finish 20 positions ahead of Buchholz, at least one position ahead of Chris Wiltse, within two positions of Whitaker (must finish second if Whitaker wins the feature), within five positions of Lichty (four positions if Lichty wins the feature) and within eight positions of Steve Wiltse (seven positions if Steve Wiltse wins the feature) to earn his second straight track title.
4. Jamie Whitaker: Assuming Buchholz takes the green flag in the feature, Whitaker must finish in the top two to have any shot at winning the track title. Combined with this, Buchholz would need to finish 24th or worse (23rd or worse if Whitaker wins the feature) and Whitaker must beat Chris Wiltse by three positions and beat Rod Grother by three positions (only two positions if Whitker wins the feature).
5. Justin Lichty: For Lichty to win the track title, Buchholz would need to fail to take the green flag in next week's feature and Lichty must also beat Chris Wiltse by six positions (only five positions if Lichty wins the feature), beat Rod Grother by six positions (only five positions if Lichty wins the feature), beat Whitaker by three positions and finish within three positions of Steve Wiltse.
6. Steve Wiltse: For Steve Wiltse to win the track title, Buchholz would need to fail to take the green flag in next week's feature and Wiltse must also beat Chris Wiltse by nine positions (eight if Steve Wiltse wins the feature), beat Rod Grother by nine positions, beat Whitaker by six positions and beat Lichty by four positions (three positions if Steve Wiltse wins the feature.) All other drivers have been mathematically eliminated.
The number of feature wins breaks any ties in the standings. If drivers are still tied, then most second place finishes, third place finishes, etc. will determine the tie breaker. Also, since championship features are lined up straight-up based on total season points, the same tie-breaker criteria is used for lineups. For instance, although Chris Wiltse and Rod Grother are tied for second in the Hobby Stock points, Wiltse will be lined up outside of the front row for the feature since his two feature wins this season is better than Grother's one feature win. On the points sheet for next week's races, the ties are broken and drivers are listed in the order they will line up.
Whew! After all of that, I sure as hell hope we don't get rained out next weekend! Although season championship racing traditionally offers only feature events, next week's schedule will be loaded with activities. Along with the features, the "challenge" will be offered to the top four in the standings in each division. Each driver in the top four will be given the chance to double his winnings if any elect to start at the tail and come through to win his respective feature.
In addition, there will be beer specials for Budweiser Night, plus there will be a candy dash for the kids. Bill Horn Memorial Dash races will also be held in each of the five divisions. The $100 winners of those dashes will have the opportunity to take part in an Australian Pursuit, which will award $250 to the winner.
If you want an additonal take on Independence, fellow Positively Racing blogger Danny Rosencrans brought a group to Independence last night. While it was Danny's first time at Indee for a weekly show, it was the first time ever at Indee for another in his party. He will have his thoughts up later Racin' Down the Road. Thanks for making the three-plus hour trip to join us, Danny!
Up next for me is a trip to Benton County Speedway tonight. After scoring two weeks ago and announcing last week, I may venture up to the flagstand and hang out with flagman John Huff for tonight's show. It's a beautiful day outside so come on out to the races!
A strong field of 101 race teams filed into the pits and perhaps the happiest of the lot was IMCA Late Model driver Dean Wagner. Wagner, who has competed in the division for the better part of the last 25 years, earned his first feature win in over seven years.
At the start of the 25-lapper, second row starting Wagner quickly worked past front row starters Drew Johnson and Scott Welsh to assume command by the end of the first lap. He put a few car-lengths on the field while Luke Pestka gave chase. Darren Ackerman and Tyler Bruening, who both started in the middle of the pack, made their way into the top four after four laps and set their eyes on the leaders. The top four started to pull away from the field until the race's only stoppages, a pair of cautions on lap 13.
On the final restart, Bruening and Ackerman quickly worked past Pestka as he faded to sixth. Wagner, however, maintained the point throughout the event, leading the 25-lapper in its entirety to score the win. Bruening, Ackerman, Bryan Klein and points leader Jon Passick completed the top five.
For Wagner, it was his fifth career weekly Late Model win at Independence and his first since opening night (May 1) of the 2004 campaign. The win moved Wagner into a tie with Dale Hackwell Jr., Les Verly, Rick Dralle and Terry Neal for 26th on the all-time Late Model wins list at the speedway.
Wagner's trip to victory lane made him the eighth straight different winner in the division this season, which is one shy of the all-time record of nine straight different Late Model winners. That record was set in 1975. The names on the list from 36 years ago? Darrell Sells, Red Dralle, Jim Burger, Dave Bedard, Gary Crawford, Bill Barthelmes, Denny Osborn, Dan Nesteby and Joe Schaefer. The names included in the current streak are Tyler Bruening, Luke Merfeld, Curt Martin, Jon Passick, Luke Pestka, Travis Smock, Greg Kastli and Wagner.
Late Model Season Championship Scenarios
1. Jon Passick: Passick sits atop the division's standings, carrying a 21 point edge over Tyler Bruening into next Saturday's championship event. A top-21 finish in that feature will earn Passick his first career track championship.
2. Tyler Bruening: If Bruening can beat Passick by at least 21 positions in the feature, he will earn his second straight track title. All other drivers are mathematically eliminated.
Troy Cordes benefitted from a mid-race miscue to take the win in the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature. Outside front row starter Jeff Kriz took the early lead while Todd Conrad moved into contention after starting in row two. Conrad swept past Kriz for the lead just prior to the first caution on lap three.
When racing resumed, Conrad pulled away from the pack, putting a handful of car-lengths between himself and his competitors. As Conrad led, Troy Cordes and Ronn Lauritzen reeled in Kriz for second. With Cordes up top and Laurtizen running the low side, the pair searched for a way around Kriz.
As the leaders were coming around to complete lap 11, Conrad got sideways exiting turn four, spinning his #83C and collecting Kriz in the process to bring out the final caution. With both cars penalized, Cordes and Lauritzen started side-by-side on the front row for the restart.
When the green flag waved, Cordes took charge with Lauritzen settling in behind him. Jerry Luloff, who started in the fifth row, was charging on the low side of the speedway and into contention. Luloff made his way past Lauritzen on lap 12 while Vern Jackson was running the top groove. He entered the mix a few laps later and settled into third with only a haldful of laps remaining. Cordes, however, proved too strong out front as he drove to his second win of the season. Luloff, Jackson, Lauritzen and Keith Pittman rounded out the top five. It was the 28th career weekly Modified win for Cordes at Independence.
Modified Season Championship Scenarios
1. Adam Johnson: Adam Johnson will take a three point lead over Jerry Luloff into next week's championship event. A top-four feature finish will lock up Johnson's first-ever track title in the division. If he does not finish in the top four, Johnson will still earn title honors if he finishes within three positions of Luloff in next Saturday's feature and if he does not finish more than 18 positions behind Troy Cordes.
2. Jerry Luloff: Luloff will win the track title if he beats Johnson by at least four positions and finishes no worse than 14 positions behind Cordes.
3. Troy Cordes: Cordes must beat Johnson by 19 positions (only 18 positions if Cordes wins the feature) and Luloff by 15 positions to earn the championship. He must also finish within eight positions of Patrick Flannagan in the feature (which is a foregone conclusion if he accomplishes picking up 19 points on Johnson).
4. Patrick Flannagan: Flannagan still has an extreme outside chance of winning the track title, but his only way to do it is by winning the feature (assuming Jerry Luloff takes the green flag in the feature) and a series of other things happen. Flannagan can win if he wins the race, Johnson fails to take the green flag in the feature, Luloff finishes outside the top 23 and Cordes finishes no better than ninth. Good luck with all that, Pat! All other drivers have been mathemtically eliminated.
Sean Johnson continued his dominance in the IMCA Stock Car division. Although he entered the night a single point out of the lead, Johnson drove to his fourth straight win to take over the points lead with one week remaining in the season.
At the start of the 15-lapper, Paul Fauser and Roger Ciesielski shared time out front before a pair of cautions slowed the early going. Just prior to the second stoppage on lap five, Johnson made his way into the lead after starting in the fourth row.
On the restart, Johnson fought off the challenges of Dave Stricker to take the win, his eighth of the season. Jason Hocken, who made his first appearance of the season, made an impressive run to finish third ahead of Norman Chesmore and Jarod Weepie. It was Johnson's 16th career win in the division at Independence, which moved him into a tie with Larry Portis for fifth on the all-time list.
Stock Car Season Championship Scenarios
1. Sean Johnson: Just like his brother, Johnson takes a three point lead into championship week. A top-four finish in next week's feature will guarantee Johnson his first career track title. If Johnson finishes outside the top four, he will still lock up the title as long as he finishes within three positions of Weepie and within 11 positions of Dave Stricker in the feature.
2. Jarod Weepie: Weepie must beat Johnson by four positions and within seven positions of Stricker to earn his second straight division title and the fifth of his career.
3. Dave Stricker: Stricker must beat Johnson by 12 positions and Weepie by eight positions to earn his first track title.
4. Norman Chesmore: The longest shot of all drivers still mathemtically alive to earn a track title at Independence this season, Chesmore can win his first career track championship if Johnson, Weepie and Stricker all fail to take the green flag in the feature and Chesmore finishes in the top three next Saturday. All other drivers have been mathematically eliminated.
Tyler Droste earned his division-leading sixth win of the season in the IMCA SportMod division. Droste chased race-long leader Matt McCahen until a mid-race caution on lap seven. On the restart, Droste swept beneath McCahen to take the lead, en route to the victory. McCahen, Dave Schulze, Danny Dvorak and Shane Ebaugh rounded out the top five.
SportMod Season Championship Scenarios
1. Tyler Droste: Droste carries a 26-point lead into championship night. Simply taking the green flag in that event will earn Droste his first-ever track championship.
2. Danny Dvorak: Droste must fail to take the green flag in Saturday's feature and Dvorak must finish within six positions of Jim Buhlman to win the track title.
3. Jim Buhlman: Droste must fail to take the green flag in Saturday's feature and Buhlman must beat Dvorak by seven positions to take the track title. All other drivers have been mathematically eliminated.
Cautions plagued the IMCA Hobby Stock feature, forcing it to time out after only eight laps. Shawn Kuennen held the early advantage and led throughout a quartet of stoppages while Quinton Miller worked through the field from a fifth row start. Miller took the lead following a lap six restart and held the point until the final caution waved just past the midway point.
It was Miller's second win this season and the seventh of his career. He moved into a tie with Justin Lichty for 12th on the all-time list.
Hobby Stock Season Championship Scenarios
1. Vince Buchholz: A top-20 finish will lock up the second track title for Buchholz. He is looking to become only the third Hobby Stock driver in track history with multiple titles in the division.
2. Chris Wiltse: Wiltse must finish 20 positions ahead of Buchholz, at least one position ahead of Grother, within two positions of Whitaker, within five positions of Lichty (four positions if Lichty wins the feature) and within eight positions of Steve Wiltse (seven positions if Steve Wiltse wins the feature) to earn his first track title.
3. Rod Grother: Grother must finish 20 positions ahead of Buchholz, at least one position ahead of Chris Wiltse, within two positions of Whitaker (must finish second if Whitaker wins the feature), within five positions of Lichty (four positions if Lichty wins the feature) and within eight positions of Steve Wiltse (seven positions if Steve Wiltse wins the feature) to earn his second straight track title.
4. Jamie Whitaker: Assuming Buchholz takes the green flag in the feature, Whitaker must finish in the top two to have any shot at winning the track title. Combined with this, Buchholz would need to finish 24th or worse (23rd or worse if Whitaker wins the feature) and Whitaker must beat Chris Wiltse by three positions and beat Rod Grother by three positions (only two positions if Whitker wins the feature).
5. Justin Lichty: For Lichty to win the track title, Buchholz would need to fail to take the green flag in next week's feature and Lichty must also beat Chris Wiltse by six positions (only five positions if Lichty wins the feature), beat Rod Grother by six positions (only five positions if Lichty wins the feature), beat Whitaker by three positions and finish within three positions of Steve Wiltse.
6. Steve Wiltse: For Steve Wiltse to win the track title, Buchholz would need to fail to take the green flag in next week's feature and Wiltse must also beat Chris Wiltse by nine positions (eight if Steve Wiltse wins the feature), beat Rod Grother by nine positions, beat Whitaker by six positions and beat Lichty by four positions (three positions if Steve Wiltse wins the feature.) All other drivers have been mathematically eliminated.
The number of feature wins breaks any ties in the standings. If drivers are still tied, then most second place finishes, third place finishes, etc. will determine the tie breaker. Also, since championship features are lined up straight-up based on total season points, the same tie-breaker criteria is used for lineups. For instance, although Chris Wiltse and Rod Grother are tied for second in the Hobby Stock points, Wiltse will be lined up outside of the front row for the feature since his two feature wins this season is better than Grother's one feature win. On the points sheet for next week's races, the ties are broken and drivers are listed in the order they will line up.
Whew! After all of that, I sure as hell hope we don't get rained out next weekend! Although season championship racing traditionally offers only feature events, next week's schedule will be loaded with activities. Along with the features, the "challenge" will be offered to the top four in the standings in each division. Each driver in the top four will be given the chance to double his winnings if any elect to start at the tail and come through to win his respective feature.
In addition, there will be beer specials for Budweiser Night, plus there will be a candy dash for the kids. Bill Horn Memorial Dash races will also be held in each of the five divisions. The $100 winners of those dashes will have the opportunity to take part in an Australian Pursuit, which will award $250 to the winner.
If you want an additonal take on Independence, fellow Positively Racing blogger Danny Rosencrans brought a group to Independence last night. While it was Danny's first time at Indee for a weekly show, it was the first time ever at Indee for another in his party. He will have his thoughts up later Racin' Down the Road. Thanks for making the three-plus hour trip to join us, Danny!
Up next for me is a trip to Benton County Speedway tonight. After scoring two weeks ago and announcing last week, I may venture up to the flagstand and hang out with flagman John Huff for tonight's show. It's a beautiful day outside so come on out to the races!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Dysart delivers two feature winners at Benton County Speedway
A pair of drivers from the Tama county community of Dysart celebrated victories Sunday night at Benton County Speedway. Joe Docekal scored his second IMCA Modified win in the last three weeks while Curt Hilmer drove to his first IMCA SportMod win of the season.
Jerry Dedrick set the pace at the drop of the green in the 20-lap Modified main event while Mike Burbridge quickly moved into a challenge for the lead from his third row start. Burbridge put the nose of his #11B to the inside of Dedrick and came away with the lead following a lap two restart.
Burbridge held the point through a myriad of cautions over the next four laps while Troy Cordes and Joe Docekal advanced through the field to settle into second and third, respectively. Following the final stoppage on lap six, Cordes went to work on the high side while Docekal ran down low. Docekal inched ahead of Cordes on the eighth circuit, then flew past Burbridge for the lead at the midway point.
Docekal pulled away from the field and hid in lapped traffic to score the victory. Ronn Lauritzen, who started in the fifth row, made a great run through traffic to finish second ahead of Burbridge. Docekal's victory, combined with a 13th place finish by points leader Scott Hogan, cut Docekal's deficit nearly in half. Entering the night, Hogan held a 25-point lead, however Docekal unofficially pulled to within 13 points entering the final four weeks of the season.
1. 12D Joe Docekal
2. 10K Ronn Lauritzen
3. 11B Mike Burbridge
4. 71 Troy Cordes
5. 22 Brandon Banks
6. F7 Patrick Flannagan
7. 91 Shawn Ryan
8. T23 Tony Olson
9. 7 Todd Jensen
10. 17 Dawn Krall
11. 5 Jerry Dedrick
12. 25 Shawn Fisher
13. 33D Scott Hogan
14. 111 Buster Pate
15. 71M Tim McBride
A trio of cautions prior to the completion of the first lap slowed action in the IMCA SportMod feature. Pole-sitter Curt Hilmer took command each time the green flag waved, only to see those efforts thwarted when the yellow waved.
Hilmer took command again on the first long green flag run with Jared Van Deest and Brad Iverson in pursuit. Hilmer extended his advantage while that pair battled for position until Drew Fish and Duane Van Deest entered the battle for second.
Another trio of cautions slowed the event following lap six, however Hilmer held his position on each ensuing restart. Duane Van Deest made his way into second prior to a lap seven yellow, but was unable to catch Hilmer as the Dysart driver earned his first win of the season when the race timed out after the final caution on lap nine.
1. 22H Curt Hilmer
2. 80V Duane Van Deest
3. 505 Racer Hulin
4. 9X Austin Lucas
5. 3R Danny Dvorak
6. 8I Brad Iverson
7. 00 Jim Buhlman
8. 21X Kyle Brown
9. K0 Ken Kositzky
10. 08 Bryan Rodman
11. J2 Dave Schulze
12. 3D Drew Fish
13. 3 Dave McCalla
14. 33 Ed O'Brien
15. 95 Mike McDonald
16. 11 Jody Mitchell
17. 28P Rick Paulson
18. K3 Kyle Olson
19. 3B Brian Anderson
20. B7 Blake Carson
21. 80 Jared Van Deest
22. 72L Brett Lowry
23. 11Z Justin Zimmerman
24. 81 Jesse Belez
IMCA Hobby Stock points leader Scott Pippert drove to his 11th win on the Vinton quarter-mile this season, but it took most of the 15-lap distance to get the job done.
Pole-sitter Kyle Parizek held the early lead while Nathan Ballard worked through the field from a fifth row starting spot. Ballard made his way around the leader following a mid-race caution and just before the final yellow flag waved.
On the restart, Parizek chased Ballard out front until contact between the two sent Ballard sideways to the infield on the backstretch. He regrouped and kept moving just before Parizek spun in front of the field exiting turn four to bring out the caution.
Ballard regained the point for the restart as Pippert found himself in third after starting alongside Ballard in the fifth row. When racing resumed, Pippert made his way beneath Russell Damme Jr. for second and then made his bid for the lead as the flying green waved. Pippert pulled away to score the victory and extend his points lead.
1. 47 Scott Pippert
2. 29 Nathan Ballard
3. 4JR Russell Damme Jr.
4. 77 Rod Grother
5. 25 Doug Laughridge
6. 45 Justin Wacha
7. 2P Cale Petersen
8. 67 Justin Stander
9. 07 Jacob Keiser
10. 78 Matt Brown
11. 55 Vince Buchholz
12. 17K Kyle Parizek
13. 76S Adam Streeter
Phil Holtz took the win in a caution-free IMCA Stock Car feature that took just over four minutes to complete. Andrew Burk made his way to the front from a second row starting spot to lead the first lap. He continued to show the way until mechanical problems slowed him on lap four.
Holtz, who was already making his way to the front on the low groove, took charge after starting in the third row. Holtz led the remainder of the event to score his first win of the season ahead of a hard-charging Bob Ahrendsen and Justin Temeyer.
1. 7H Phil Holtz
2. 6X Bob Ahrendsen
3. 56T Justin Temeyer
4. 3T Scooter Dulin
5. 99D Damon Murty
6. 8 Curtis Roster
7. 15 Norman Chesmore
8. 287 John Emerson
9. 17R Rick Kriegel
10. 10 John Schaefer
11. 09M Brett Mather
12. 9E Austin Evens
13. 76 Mike Galli
14. 76X Chad Siems
15. 9 Dave Ballsteadt
16. 20B Andrew Burk
Steve Miedke was a wire-to-wire winner in the IMCA Sport Compact division. From his second row starting spot, Miedke took command on the first circuit, then held off the challenges of Nathan Chandler and Brett Vanous to score his fourth win of the season. It was Miedke's first win since suffering a scary rollover a couple months ago. Points leader Merv Chandler raced from a sixth row start to come home third.
1. 11 Steve Miedke
2. 35 Brett Vanous
3. 1 Merv Chandler
4. 8M Jacob McVay
5. 2XX Dallas Chandler
6. 22T Travis Losenicky
7. 3S Craig Streeter
8. 83 Travis Ross
9. 36DD Gary Peiffer
10. A1 Louis Trachta
11. 22 Nathan Chandler
12. 07X Tyler Whalen
13. 00W Bill Whalen Jr.
14. 51 Bryce Bailey
15. K12 Cody Swanson
16. 07 Joe Goodenbauer
17. 2ND Brad Chandler
18. 80 Terry Sandberg
Special thanks to track announcer Bucky Doren and race director Dana Benning for asking me to fill in for Bucky tonight. Next week is Autism Awareness Night at the races. A minimum of 13 bicycles will be given away, plus bike races are scheduled for the kids. Stickfort Construction is sponsoring the night's events.
There is no mid-week racing on my schedule for the upcoming week. Although I was initially planning on heading to the State Fair for the Deery Brothers Summer Series event tomorrow for my 50th race of the season, my body (not to mention my employer) will probably enjoy the night away from the track. My next scheduled venture is to return to Independence on Saturday night for the next-to-last weekly race for 2011 at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds. Have a great week!
Jerry Dedrick set the pace at the drop of the green in the 20-lap Modified main event while Mike Burbridge quickly moved into a challenge for the lead from his third row start. Burbridge put the nose of his #11B to the inside of Dedrick and came away with the lead following a lap two restart.
Burbridge held the point through a myriad of cautions over the next four laps while Troy Cordes and Joe Docekal advanced through the field to settle into second and third, respectively. Following the final stoppage on lap six, Cordes went to work on the high side while Docekal ran down low. Docekal inched ahead of Cordes on the eighth circuit, then flew past Burbridge for the lead at the midway point.
Docekal pulled away from the field and hid in lapped traffic to score the victory. Ronn Lauritzen, who started in the fifth row, made a great run through traffic to finish second ahead of Burbridge. Docekal's victory, combined with a 13th place finish by points leader Scott Hogan, cut Docekal's deficit nearly in half. Entering the night, Hogan held a 25-point lead, however Docekal unofficially pulled to within 13 points entering the final four weeks of the season.
1. 12D Joe Docekal
2. 10K Ronn Lauritzen
3. 11B Mike Burbridge
4. 71 Troy Cordes
5. 22 Brandon Banks
6. F7 Patrick Flannagan
7. 91 Shawn Ryan
8. T23 Tony Olson
9. 7 Todd Jensen
10. 17 Dawn Krall
11. 5 Jerry Dedrick
12. 25 Shawn Fisher
13. 33D Scott Hogan
14. 111 Buster Pate
15. 71M Tim McBride
A trio of cautions prior to the completion of the first lap slowed action in the IMCA SportMod feature. Pole-sitter Curt Hilmer took command each time the green flag waved, only to see those efforts thwarted when the yellow waved.
Hilmer took command again on the first long green flag run with Jared Van Deest and Brad Iverson in pursuit. Hilmer extended his advantage while that pair battled for position until Drew Fish and Duane Van Deest entered the battle for second.
Another trio of cautions slowed the event following lap six, however Hilmer held his position on each ensuing restart. Duane Van Deest made his way into second prior to a lap seven yellow, but was unable to catch Hilmer as the Dysart driver earned his first win of the season when the race timed out after the final caution on lap nine.
1. 22H Curt Hilmer
2. 80V Duane Van Deest
3. 505 Racer Hulin
4. 9X Austin Lucas
5. 3R Danny Dvorak
6. 8I Brad Iverson
7. 00 Jim Buhlman
8. 21X Kyle Brown
9. K0 Ken Kositzky
10. 08 Bryan Rodman
11. J2 Dave Schulze
12. 3D Drew Fish
13. 3 Dave McCalla
14. 33 Ed O'Brien
15. 95 Mike McDonald
16. 11 Jody Mitchell
17. 28P Rick Paulson
18. K3 Kyle Olson
19. 3B Brian Anderson
20. B7 Blake Carson
21. 80 Jared Van Deest
22. 72L Brett Lowry
23. 11Z Justin Zimmerman
24. 81 Jesse Belez
IMCA Hobby Stock points leader Scott Pippert drove to his 11th win on the Vinton quarter-mile this season, but it took most of the 15-lap distance to get the job done.
Pole-sitter Kyle Parizek held the early lead while Nathan Ballard worked through the field from a fifth row starting spot. Ballard made his way around the leader following a mid-race caution and just before the final yellow flag waved.
On the restart, Parizek chased Ballard out front until contact between the two sent Ballard sideways to the infield on the backstretch. He regrouped and kept moving just before Parizek spun in front of the field exiting turn four to bring out the caution.
Ballard regained the point for the restart as Pippert found himself in third after starting alongside Ballard in the fifth row. When racing resumed, Pippert made his way beneath Russell Damme Jr. for second and then made his bid for the lead as the flying green waved. Pippert pulled away to score the victory and extend his points lead.
1. 47 Scott Pippert
2. 29 Nathan Ballard
3. 4JR Russell Damme Jr.
4. 77 Rod Grother
5. 25 Doug Laughridge
6. 45 Justin Wacha
7. 2P Cale Petersen
8. 67 Justin Stander
9. 07 Jacob Keiser
10. 78 Matt Brown
11. 55 Vince Buchholz
12. 17K Kyle Parizek
13. 76S Adam Streeter
Phil Holtz took the win in a caution-free IMCA Stock Car feature that took just over four minutes to complete. Andrew Burk made his way to the front from a second row starting spot to lead the first lap. He continued to show the way until mechanical problems slowed him on lap four.
Holtz, who was already making his way to the front on the low groove, took charge after starting in the third row. Holtz led the remainder of the event to score his first win of the season ahead of a hard-charging Bob Ahrendsen and Justin Temeyer.
1. 7H Phil Holtz
2. 6X Bob Ahrendsen
3. 56T Justin Temeyer
4. 3T Scooter Dulin
5. 99D Damon Murty
6. 8 Curtis Roster
7. 15 Norman Chesmore
8. 287 John Emerson
9. 17R Rick Kriegel
10. 10 John Schaefer
11. 09M Brett Mather
12. 9E Austin Evens
13. 76 Mike Galli
14. 76X Chad Siems
15. 9 Dave Ballsteadt
16. 20B Andrew Burk
Steve Miedke was a wire-to-wire winner in the IMCA Sport Compact division. From his second row starting spot, Miedke took command on the first circuit, then held off the challenges of Nathan Chandler and Brett Vanous to score his fourth win of the season. It was Miedke's first win since suffering a scary rollover a couple months ago. Points leader Merv Chandler raced from a sixth row start to come home third.
1. 11 Steve Miedke
2. 35 Brett Vanous
3. 1 Merv Chandler
4. 8M Jacob McVay
5. 2XX Dallas Chandler
6. 22T Travis Losenicky
7. 3S Craig Streeter
8. 83 Travis Ross
9. 36DD Gary Peiffer
10. A1 Louis Trachta
11. 22 Nathan Chandler
12. 07X Tyler Whalen
13. 00W Bill Whalen Jr.
14. 51 Bryce Bailey
15. K12 Cody Swanson
16. 07 Joe Goodenbauer
17. 2ND Brad Chandler
18. 80 Terry Sandberg
Special thanks to track announcer Bucky Doren and race director Dana Benning for asking me to fill in for Bucky tonight. Next week is Autism Awareness Night at the races. A minimum of 13 bicycles will be given away, plus bike races are scheduled for the kids. Stickfort Construction is sponsoring the night's events.
There is no mid-week racing on my schedule for the upcoming week. Although I was initially planning on heading to the State Fair for the Deery Brothers Summer Series event tomorrow for my 50th race of the season, my body (not to mention my employer) will probably enjoy the night away from the track. My next scheduled venture is to return to Independence on Saturday night for the next-to-last weekly race for 2011 at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds. Have a great week!
Kastli wins, matches history at Independence Motor Speedway
The calendar offered some eerie coincidences for a pair of drivers Saturday night at Independence Motor Speedway. For one, a trip to the winner's circle matched an all-time record at the speedway while another driver's victory came six years to the date of his first win.
In the IMCA Late Model division, Greg Kastli drove to his 41st career win in weekly racing at Independence - 32 years, one month and 14 days after his first win in the division on June 30, 1979. That span of 11,732 days exactly matches the span between the first and final feature wins for Red Dralle at the speedway. The span is the longest between first and last (most recent?) wins of all drivers in Independence track history.
At the start of the 25-lap feature, first-year Late Model driver and pole-sitter Russell Hesse shot into the lead. He quickly pulled away from the field, leaving Tysus Pattee, Curt Martin and Joel Brasch to battle for second. Kastli, meanwhile, was racing through traffic from a fifth row start and into the top three after just three laps.
Running the low groove, Kastli swept past Pattee for second at the five lap mark, then worked to run down the leader. Kastli reeled in Hesse and was making his move for the lead when the race's first caution waved on lap 10.
On the restart, Kastli made his way around Hesse to take command before the caution flag waved a final time on the following lap when Hesse spun in turn four. Kastli then pulled away from Jon Passick to score the milestone win. Passick ran second ahead of Curt Martin, Jeff Aikey and Darren Ackerman.
Passick took over the points lead since points leader Tyler Bruening was absent from the night's program. Bruening was serving as best man in a college friend's wedding in Wisconsin and was probably one of few who was hoping for a rain out on Saturday. Your friends need to schedule their social events a little better, Tyler!
Sean Johnson also had Father Time on his side Saturday night. The IMCA Stock Car driver earned his seventh feature win of the season and the 15th of his career at Independence on the six-year anniversary of his first win at the speedway.
Front row starter Tim Helle took the early lead in the 15-lapper. Helle paced the field by a few car-lengths while Norman Chesmore, Jason Niedert, John Emerson, Austin Evens, Kirk Fauser and Johnson battled three-wide, two rows deep behind him. The caution flag slowed the action when Evens spun in turn four on the fourth lap.
On the restart, Helle continued to show the way as Johnson drove the low line to the front in his #8R. Johnson swept beneath his competitors and into the top three by lap eight, then rocketed past Helle and Chesmore to snare the lead as the front-runners exited lap four on the following lap.
Johnson pulled away to lead the remainder of the event to score the victory ahead of Helle, Chesmore, points leader Jarod Weepie and Fauser. His track-leading seventh win of the season and the 15th of his career at Independence, Johnson moved into a tie for sixth on the all-time list with Tom Schmitt. He now sits a single win behind Larry Portis for fifth in that category.
Just two weeks ago, Johnson and his brother Adam shared the spotlight when both drivers won features in their respectrive divisions. They repeated that feat Saturday as Adam Johnson took top honors in the 20-lap IMCA Modified main event.
Outside front row starter Keith Pittman took the early lead and paced the field through two early cautions. On a lap four restart, Troy Cordes, who started inside of row five, made his way around Pittman to assume the lead. Cordes led while Johnson, who started in the seventh row, was making his way through traffic. By the time the final caution waved on lap eight, Johnson was sitting in third place.
Running the low groove when racing resumed, Johnson stayed close to Cordes, then took advantage when Cordes pushed in turn four on the ninth lap. Johnson took command at that point and led the remainder of the event to score the victory, his third of the season. Cordes crossed the line in second ahead of Darin Duffy, who started in the sixth row. Shawn Ryan and Ronn Lauritzen completed the top five.
Johnson's win marked the first time this season that a driver won a feature after failing to qualify for the point invert in his heat. The seventh Modified win of his career at Independence, Johnson is now tied for 14th on the all-time wins list with Deon Turner, Ed Thomas, John Light, Mark Noble, Max Corporon, Mike Sampson, Ron Barker and Tim McBride.
A pair of drivers led wire-to-wire in their respective divisions to earn feature victories. In the IMCA SportMod division, Jim Aschenbrenner took command at the drop of the green from his pole position starting spot. Aschenbrenner fought off the challenges of Jim Buhlman and then Tyler Droste to earn his first-ever SportMod win.
Droste made a late charge through traffic from his fifth row start to battle for the lead following a lap 12 caution in the 15-lapper. Droste's bid came up a bumper short at the line as the points leader settled for second. Buhlman, Matt McCahen and Brennen Chipp rounded out the top five. Aschenbrenner became the 14th different SportMod winner in the division's four year history at the track.
Chris Luloff soared to his second straight win in the IMCA Hobby Stock division and third victory in the last five weeks. From his outside second row start, Luloff took charge by the completion of the first lap, then drove away from the field to score the convincing win. Steve Wiltse edged out Chris Wiltse by half of a car-length for second. Points leader Vince Buchholz and Justin Wacha completed the top five.
Only two weeks of racing remain on the calendar for Independence and three divisions have extremely close points battles. The leading contenders in the Modifieds, Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks are separated by single digits atop the standings, so the final two weeks of racing should provide more than its share of excitement.
Up next for me is a return trip to Benton County Speedway in Vinton for another Sunday of action on the quarter-mile. Hope to see you there!
In the IMCA Late Model division, Greg Kastli drove to his 41st career win in weekly racing at Independence - 32 years, one month and 14 days after his first win in the division on June 30, 1979. That span of 11,732 days exactly matches the span between the first and final feature wins for Red Dralle at the speedway. The span is the longest between first and last (most recent?) wins of all drivers in Independence track history.
At the start of the 25-lap feature, first-year Late Model driver and pole-sitter Russell Hesse shot into the lead. He quickly pulled away from the field, leaving Tysus Pattee, Curt Martin and Joel Brasch to battle for second. Kastli, meanwhile, was racing through traffic from a fifth row start and into the top three after just three laps.
Running the low groove, Kastli swept past Pattee for second at the five lap mark, then worked to run down the leader. Kastli reeled in Hesse and was making his move for the lead when the race's first caution waved on lap 10.
On the restart, Kastli made his way around Hesse to take command before the caution flag waved a final time on the following lap when Hesse spun in turn four. Kastli then pulled away from Jon Passick to score the milestone win. Passick ran second ahead of Curt Martin, Jeff Aikey and Darren Ackerman.
Passick took over the points lead since points leader Tyler Bruening was absent from the night's program. Bruening was serving as best man in a college friend's wedding in Wisconsin and was probably one of few who was hoping for a rain out on Saturday. Your friends need to schedule their social events a little better, Tyler!
Sean Johnson also had Father Time on his side Saturday night. The IMCA Stock Car driver earned his seventh feature win of the season and the 15th of his career at Independence on the six-year anniversary of his first win at the speedway.
Front row starter Tim Helle took the early lead in the 15-lapper. Helle paced the field by a few car-lengths while Norman Chesmore, Jason Niedert, John Emerson, Austin Evens, Kirk Fauser and Johnson battled three-wide, two rows deep behind him. The caution flag slowed the action when Evens spun in turn four on the fourth lap.
On the restart, Helle continued to show the way as Johnson drove the low line to the front in his #8R. Johnson swept beneath his competitors and into the top three by lap eight, then rocketed past Helle and Chesmore to snare the lead as the front-runners exited lap four on the following lap.
Johnson pulled away to lead the remainder of the event to score the victory ahead of Helle, Chesmore, points leader Jarod Weepie and Fauser. His track-leading seventh win of the season and the 15th of his career at Independence, Johnson moved into a tie for sixth on the all-time list with Tom Schmitt. He now sits a single win behind Larry Portis for fifth in that category.
Just two weeks ago, Johnson and his brother Adam shared the spotlight when both drivers won features in their respectrive divisions. They repeated that feat Saturday as Adam Johnson took top honors in the 20-lap IMCA Modified main event.
Outside front row starter Keith Pittman took the early lead and paced the field through two early cautions. On a lap four restart, Troy Cordes, who started inside of row five, made his way around Pittman to assume the lead. Cordes led while Johnson, who started in the seventh row, was making his way through traffic. By the time the final caution waved on lap eight, Johnson was sitting in third place.
Running the low groove when racing resumed, Johnson stayed close to Cordes, then took advantage when Cordes pushed in turn four on the ninth lap. Johnson took command at that point and led the remainder of the event to score the victory, his third of the season. Cordes crossed the line in second ahead of Darin Duffy, who started in the sixth row. Shawn Ryan and Ronn Lauritzen completed the top five.
Johnson's win marked the first time this season that a driver won a feature after failing to qualify for the point invert in his heat. The seventh Modified win of his career at Independence, Johnson is now tied for 14th on the all-time wins list with Deon Turner, Ed Thomas, John Light, Mark Noble, Max Corporon, Mike Sampson, Ron Barker and Tim McBride.
A pair of drivers led wire-to-wire in their respective divisions to earn feature victories. In the IMCA SportMod division, Jim Aschenbrenner took command at the drop of the green from his pole position starting spot. Aschenbrenner fought off the challenges of Jim Buhlman and then Tyler Droste to earn his first-ever SportMod win.
Droste made a late charge through traffic from his fifth row start to battle for the lead following a lap 12 caution in the 15-lapper. Droste's bid came up a bumper short at the line as the points leader settled for second. Buhlman, Matt McCahen and Brennen Chipp rounded out the top five. Aschenbrenner became the 14th different SportMod winner in the division's four year history at the track.
Chris Luloff soared to his second straight win in the IMCA Hobby Stock division and third victory in the last five weeks. From his outside second row start, Luloff took charge by the completion of the first lap, then drove away from the field to score the convincing win. Steve Wiltse edged out Chris Wiltse by half of a car-length for second. Points leader Vince Buchholz and Justin Wacha completed the top five.
Only two weeks of racing remain on the calendar for Independence and three divisions have extremely close points battles. The leading contenders in the Modifieds, Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks are separated by single digits atop the standings, so the final two weeks of racing should provide more than its share of excitement.
Up next for me is a return trip to Benton County Speedway in Vinton for another Sunday of action on the quarter-mile. Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Richards wins first-ever World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at Independence Motor Speedway
At around 1 p.m. on Monday afternoon, nobody believed we'd be racing on Monday night at Independence Motor Speedway. After two-tenths of an inch of rain fell in the morning hours, another soaker came through just past the lunch hour which dropped an additional half inch of rain on the Buchanan County Fairgrounds. Additional, pesky sprinkles throughout the afternoon had everyone in disbelief at the track - the first-ever appearance of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series was postponed by rain in mid-July... there was no way rain could throw a wrench into the works in early August, too, was there?
The disbelief at the thought of two mid-summer storms turned into relief when the sun came out and allowed for a fantastic night of racing at the speedway.
After Chad Simpson set the track record of 14.665 seconds, Josh Richards topped the field of 34 Late Models to earn the victory in the speedway's milestone event. Richards started outside of the front row and held off mid and late-race challenges from Rick Eckert to take the $10,000 top prize in the 50-lap feature.
For Richards, it was his sixth series win of the season and second in three days following a victory in the 24th annual USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., on Saturday night.
Eckert was able to stay close to Richards following a mid-race caution as the leaders encountered lapped cars, which they battled throughout most of the second half of the event. Although the traffic kept the leaders close, and also allowed Clint Smith and Brian Birkhofer to stay within a straightaway of the frontrunners, Richards proved why he's been the man to beat of late as he drove to the win.
Darin Duffy started in the seventh row of the IMCA Modified feature, but methodically made his way through traffic and into a challenge for the lead in the waning laps to take home the $1,000 winner's share. Duffy drove the high line around race-long leader Justin O'Brien in the final stages of the 35-lapper to earn the thrilling win.
Although the weather looked doubtful for much of the day, the evening offered a great program for the packed house as the final checkers waved just prior to 10:30. Special thanks to the entire WoO crew. They are a great group of folks who were fantastic to work with!
That's all for tonight. Complete results are listed below and, for a detailed report of the night's action, visit www.independencemotorspeedway.com.
After a couple days off, my focus will turn back to the Corn Belt Clash Late Model Series at the end of the week. We're headed north to Redwood Speedway in Redwood Falls, Minn., on Thursday, then Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn., on Friday for a Minnesota doubleheader. Hope to see you there!
LATE MODEL
Feature / 50 laps (starting positions)
1. (2) 1 Josh Richards (Shinnston, W. Va.)
2. (5) 24 Rick Eckert (York, Pa.)
3. (10) 44 Clint Smith (Senoia, Ga.)
4. (4) 15B Brian Birkhofer (Muscatine)
5. (3) 19H Austin Hubbard (Seaford, Del.)
6. (1) 21 Billy Moyer (Batesville, Ark.)
7. (6) 25F Jason Feger (Bloomington, Ill.)
8. (20) 11 Pat Doar (New Richmond, Wis.)
9. (19) 32C Vic Coffey (Caledonia, N.Y.)
10. (12) 29 Darrell Lanigan (Union, Ky.)
11. (18) 1* Chub Frank (Bear Lake, Pa.)
12. (16) 21B Chip Brindle (Chatsworth, Ga.)
13. (21) 28 Dennis Erb Jr. (Carpentersville, Ill.)
14. (22) 71D Ron Davies (Warren, Pa.)
15. (24) 22 Jill George (Cedar Falls)
16. (14) 98 Jason Rauen (Farley)
17. (17) 99JR Frankie Heckenast Jr. (Orland Park, Ill.)
18. (8) 19 Tim Fuller (Watertown, N.Y.)
19. (7) 39 Tim McCreadie (Watertown, N.Y.)
20. (9) 25S Chad Simpson (Mount Vernon)
21. (13) 31 Jason Utter (Columbus Junction)
22. (23) 1L John Lobb (Frewsburg, N.Y.)
23. (15) 32 Chris Simpson (Oxford)
24. (11) 25 Shane Clanton (Locust Grove, Ga.)
First heat (10 laps, 4 qualify, 2 redraw): 1. Hubbard; 2. Birkhofer; 3. Chad Simpson; 4. Utter; 5. Heckenast; 6. 45 Curt Martin (Independence); 7. 77 Jason McBride (Carbondale, Ill.); 8. Erb; DNS 15H Jeremiah Hurst (Dubuque).
Second heat: 1. Eckert; 2. Moyer; 3. Smith; 4. Rauen; 5. 50 Denny Eckrich (Tiffin); 6. Coffey; 7. George; 8. 1D Don O’Neal (Martinsville, Ind.); DNS 38S Dain Sires (Cedar Falls).
Third heat: 1. Richards; 2. McCreadie; 3. Clanton; 4. Chris Simpson; 5. Frank; 6. Doar; 7. 93 Jay Johnson (West Burlington); 8. Davies.
Fourth heat: 1. Feger; 2. Fuller; 3. Lanigan; 4. Brindle; 5. 16 Tyler Bruening (Decorah); 6. Lobb; 7. 11X Ace Ihm (Hazel Green, Wis.); 8. 78 Rick Wendling (Hazleton).
First B feature (3 transfer): 1. Heckenast; 2. Coffey; 3. Erb; 4. Eckrich; 5. O’Neal; 6. Martin; 7. McBride; 8. George; 9. Sires; DNS Hurst.
Second B feature: 1. Frank; 2. Doar; 3. Davies; 4. Lobb; 5. Bruening; 6. Johnson; 7. Wendling; 8. Ihm.
MODIFIED
Feature / 35 laps (starting positions)
1. (13) 19D Darin Duffy (Hazleton)
2. (2) 12J Justin O’Brien (West Union)
3. (7) 18 Jerry Luloff (Independence)
4. (6) 64 Vern Jackson (Waterloo)
5. (3) 24R Adam Johnson (Independence)
6. (1) 91 Shawn Ryan (Waterloo)
7. (17) 37B Ron Barker (Dubuque)
8. (11) 19G Richie Gustin (Gilman)
9. (19) 27M Mark Schulte (Delhi)
10. (5) 10K Ronn Lauritzen (Jesup)
11. (14) 70 Jerry King (Waterloo)
12. (20) 11B Mike Burbridge (Delhi)
13. (12) 5R Bill Roberts Jr. (Burlington)
14. (8) 71 Troy Cordes (Dunkerton)
15. (16) 00 J.D. Auringer (Evansdale)
16. (9) 8 Tony Snyder (Readlyn)
17. (22) 85 Johnathan Thimmesch (Independence)
18. (21) 57B Dennis Betzer (Central City)
19. (18) 12D Joe Docekal (Dysart)
20. (15) 1 Al Wolfgram (Boone)
21. (23) 41P Keith Pittman (Waterloo)
22. (24) 11JR Ben Chapman (Clarence)
23. (4) 83 Kellen Chadwick (West Union)
24. (10) 01 Ed Thomas (Waterloo)
First heat (8 laps, 4 qualify, 3 redraw): 1. Jackson; 2. Chadwick; 3. Thomas; 4. Duffy; 5. Flannagan; 6. Docekal; 7. 12EH Riley Emmel (Estivan, Canada); 8. Burbridge.
Second heat: 1. Johnson; 2. Lauritzen; 3. Cordes; 4. King; 5. Schulte; 6. Barker; 7. Pittman.
Third heat: 1. Richie Gustin; 2. Ryan; 3. Snyder; 4. Wolfgram; 5. 26 Luke Miller (Dubuque); 6. Thimmesch; 7. 19 Jimmy Gustin (Marshalltown).
Fourth heat: 1. O’Brien; 2. Luloff; 3. Roberts; 4. Auringer; 5. Betzer; 6. Chapman; 7. 15 Matt Stagman (Lancaster, Wis.).
B Feature (8 transfer): 1. Barker; 2. Docekal; 3. Schulte; 4. Burbridge; 5. Betzer; 6. Thimmesch; 7. Pittman; 8. Chapman; 9. Flannagan; 10. Miller; DNS Emmel; DNS Jimmy Gustin; DNS Stagman.
The disbelief at the thought of two mid-summer storms turned into relief when the sun came out and allowed for a fantastic night of racing at the speedway.
After Chad Simpson set the track record of 14.665 seconds, Josh Richards topped the field of 34 Late Models to earn the victory in the speedway's milestone event. Richards started outside of the front row and held off mid and late-race challenges from Rick Eckert to take the $10,000 top prize in the 50-lap feature.
For Richards, it was his sixth series win of the season and second in three days following a victory in the 24th annual USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., on Saturday night.
Eckert was able to stay close to Richards following a mid-race caution as the leaders encountered lapped cars, which they battled throughout most of the second half of the event. Although the traffic kept the leaders close, and also allowed Clint Smith and Brian Birkhofer to stay within a straightaway of the frontrunners, Richards proved why he's been the man to beat of late as he drove to the win.
Darin Duffy started in the seventh row of the IMCA Modified feature, but methodically made his way through traffic and into a challenge for the lead in the waning laps to take home the $1,000 winner's share. Duffy drove the high line around race-long leader Justin O'Brien in the final stages of the 35-lapper to earn the thrilling win.
Although the weather looked doubtful for much of the day, the evening offered a great program for the packed house as the final checkers waved just prior to 10:30. Special thanks to the entire WoO crew. They are a great group of folks who were fantastic to work with!
That's all for tonight. Complete results are listed below and, for a detailed report of the night's action, visit www.independencemotorspeedway.com.
After a couple days off, my focus will turn back to the Corn Belt Clash Late Model Series at the end of the week. We're headed north to Redwood Speedway in Redwood Falls, Minn., on Thursday, then Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn., on Friday for a Minnesota doubleheader. Hope to see you there!
LATE MODEL
Feature / 50 laps (starting positions)
1. (2) 1 Josh Richards (Shinnston, W. Va.)
2. (5) 24 Rick Eckert (York, Pa.)
3. (10) 44 Clint Smith (Senoia, Ga.)
4. (4) 15B Brian Birkhofer (Muscatine)
5. (3) 19H Austin Hubbard (Seaford, Del.)
6. (1) 21 Billy Moyer (Batesville, Ark.)
7. (6) 25F Jason Feger (Bloomington, Ill.)
8. (20) 11 Pat Doar (New Richmond, Wis.)
9. (19) 32C Vic Coffey (Caledonia, N.Y.)
10. (12) 29 Darrell Lanigan (Union, Ky.)
11. (18) 1* Chub Frank (Bear Lake, Pa.)
12. (16) 21B Chip Brindle (Chatsworth, Ga.)
13. (21) 28 Dennis Erb Jr. (Carpentersville, Ill.)
14. (22) 71D Ron Davies (Warren, Pa.)
15. (24) 22 Jill George (Cedar Falls)
16. (14) 98 Jason Rauen (Farley)
17. (17) 99JR Frankie Heckenast Jr. (Orland Park, Ill.)
18. (8) 19 Tim Fuller (Watertown, N.Y.)
19. (7) 39 Tim McCreadie (Watertown, N.Y.)
20. (9) 25S Chad Simpson (Mount Vernon)
21. (13) 31 Jason Utter (Columbus Junction)
22. (23) 1L John Lobb (Frewsburg, N.Y.)
23. (15) 32 Chris Simpson (Oxford)
24. (11) 25 Shane Clanton (Locust Grove, Ga.)
First heat (10 laps, 4 qualify, 2 redraw): 1. Hubbard; 2. Birkhofer; 3. Chad Simpson; 4. Utter; 5. Heckenast; 6. 45 Curt Martin (Independence); 7. 77 Jason McBride (Carbondale, Ill.); 8. Erb; DNS 15H Jeremiah Hurst (Dubuque).
Second heat: 1. Eckert; 2. Moyer; 3. Smith; 4. Rauen; 5. 50 Denny Eckrich (Tiffin); 6. Coffey; 7. George; 8. 1D Don O’Neal (Martinsville, Ind.); DNS 38S Dain Sires (Cedar Falls).
Third heat: 1. Richards; 2. McCreadie; 3. Clanton; 4. Chris Simpson; 5. Frank; 6. Doar; 7. 93 Jay Johnson (West Burlington); 8. Davies.
Fourth heat: 1. Feger; 2. Fuller; 3. Lanigan; 4. Brindle; 5. 16 Tyler Bruening (Decorah); 6. Lobb; 7. 11X Ace Ihm (Hazel Green, Wis.); 8. 78 Rick Wendling (Hazleton).
First B feature (3 transfer): 1. Heckenast; 2. Coffey; 3. Erb; 4. Eckrich; 5. O’Neal; 6. Martin; 7. McBride; 8. George; 9. Sires; DNS Hurst.
Second B feature: 1. Frank; 2. Doar; 3. Davies; 4. Lobb; 5. Bruening; 6. Johnson; 7. Wendling; 8. Ihm.
MODIFIED
Feature / 35 laps (starting positions)
1. (13) 19D Darin Duffy (Hazleton)
2. (2) 12J Justin O’Brien (West Union)
3. (7) 18 Jerry Luloff (Independence)
4. (6) 64 Vern Jackson (Waterloo)
5. (3) 24R Adam Johnson (Independence)
6. (1) 91 Shawn Ryan (Waterloo)
7. (17) 37B Ron Barker (Dubuque)
8. (11) 19G Richie Gustin (Gilman)
9. (19) 27M Mark Schulte (Delhi)
10. (5) 10K Ronn Lauritzen (Jesup)
11. (14) 70 Jerry King (Waterloo)
12. (20) 11B Mike Burbridge (Delhi)
13. (12) 5R Bill Roberts Jr. (Burlington)
14. (8) 71 Troy Cordes (Dunkerton)
15. (16) 00 J.D. Auringer (Evansdale)
16. (9) 8 Tony Snyder (Readlyn)
17. (22) 85 Johnathan Thimmesch (Independence)
18. (21) 57B Dennis Betzer (Central City)
19. (18) 12D Joe Docekal (Dysart)
20. (15) 1 Al Wolfgram (Boone)
21. (23) 41P Keith Pittman (Waterloo)
22. (24) 11JR Ben Chapman (Clarence)
23. (4) 83 Kellen Chadwick (West Union)
24. (10) 01 Ed Thomas (Waterloo)
First heat (8 laps, 4 qualify, 3 redraw): 1. Jackson; 2. Chadwick; 3. Thomas; 4. Duffy; 5. Flannagan; 6. Docekal; 7. 12EH Riley Emmel (Estivan, Canada); 8. Burbridge.
Second heat: 1. Johnson; 2. Lauritzen; 3. Cordes; 4. King; 5. Schulte; 6. Barker; 7. Pittman.
Third heat: 1. Richie Gustin; 2. Ryan; 3. Snyder; 4. Wolfgram; 5. 26 Luke Miller (Dubuque); 6. Thimmesch; 7. 19 Jimmy Gustin (Marshalltown).
Fourth heat: 1. O’Brien; 2. Luloff; 3. Roberts; 4. Auringer; 5. Betzer; 6. Chapman; 7. 15 Matt Stagman (Lancaster, Wis.).
B Feature (8 transfer): 1. Barker; 2. Docekal; 3. Schulte; 4. Burbridge; 5. Betzer; 6. Thimmesch; 7. Pittman; 8. Chapman; 9. Flannagan; 10. Miller; DNS Emmel; DNS Jimmy Gustin; DNS Stagman.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Hulin comes away with unexpected win at Benton County Speedway
For the second night in-a-row, the driver in the cat bird's seat came away with the win in the IMCA SportMod divsion. After Danny Dvorak's last lap triumph last night at Independence, Racer Hulin also made what may be called an unexpected trip to the winner's circle at Benton County Speedway on Sunday.
At the start of the 15-lap feature, third row starter Kyle Olson worked quickly to the lead. He paced the field for the first lap with Dave McCalla and Dave Schulze in tow. A trio of cautions slowed the action over the first five laps, which allowed fourth row starter Drew Fish to enter the battle for the lead.
Fish settled into second following the first caution on lap two, then stayed on Olson's tail through the next two stoppages. When the first long green flag run developed following the lap five restart, Fish went to the high side and made his way around Olson just shy of the midway point.
As Fish led and Olson followed, Racer Hulin ran in the third spot as he kept the leaders within his sights. Hulin reeled in Olson and made his way around the outside of the #K3 by the time the yellow waved on lap 12.
After racing resumed, Fish got loose in turn four and spun to the low side of the track, collecting Olson and Duane Van Deest, who were also top-five runners at the time. On the restart, Hulin held the point and fought off challenges from Danny Dvorak to take the exciting win.
1. 505 Racer Hulin
2. 3R Danny Dvorak
3. 00 Jim Buhlman
4. J2 Dave Schulze
5. K0 Ken Kositzky
6. 80V Duane Van Deest
7. 08 Bryan Rodman
8. 40J Jason Doyle
9. 33 Ed O'Brien
10. K3 Kyle Olson
Kyle Parizek held the early lead in the 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. From his second row starting spot, Parizek motored into the lead by the completion of lap one. As Parizek led, Rod Grother and Scott Pippert quickly worked through traffic from mid-pack starts.
Pippert ran the low line to the front, inching ahead of his foes by the completion of lap six. He led the remainder of the event uncontested to score the victory in the caution-free event. After sliding back in the top five, Grother made a nice run late to nip Parizek at the line for second. Vince Buchholz ran a close fourth.
1. 47 Scott Pippert
2. 77 Rod Grother
3. 17K Kyle Parizek
4. 55 Vince Buchholz
5. 25 Doug Laughridge
6. 45 Justin Wacha
7. 78 Matt Brown
8. 4JR Russell Damme Jr.
9. 6 Randy Vandevegte
10. 12J Jeremy Floyd
Damon Murty drove the high side to victory in the 15-lap IMCA Stock Car feature. After an unsuccessful initial attempt at trying the low groove, Murty was offered a second glance when the race was slowed for caution prior to the completion of the first lap. When the green flag waved again for the straight-up restart, however, Murty tested his luck on the high side.
Murty, who started outside of the third row, rocketed into second place by the completion of lap two, then went to work on running down Curtis Roster out front. Murty made his bid for the lead on the high side as the field exited turn four on the following circuit. From there, Murty set sail to drive to the victory ahead of Roster and Scooter Dulin.
1. 99D Damon Murty
2. 8 Curtis Roster
3. 3T Scooter Dulin
4. 6X Bob Ahrendsen
5. 56T Justin Temeyer
6. 7H Phil Holtz
7. 20B Andrew Burk
8. 15 Norman Chesmore
9. 09M Brett Mather
10. 10 John Schaefer
A trio of drivers held the lead at various points during the early stages of the 12-lap IMCA Sport Compact feature. Bryce Bailey, Brad Chandler and Steve Miedke exchanged time at the front of the field over the first few laps before Chandler was able to wrestle away the lead from Miedke at the midway point. Chandler led the final half of the event to take the win over Nathan Chandler and Brett Vanous, who started alongside each other in the fourth row.
1. 2ND Brad Chandler
2. 22 Nathan Chandler
3. 35 Brett Vanous
4. 11 Steve Miedke
5. 1 Merv Chandler
6. 51 Bryce Bailey
7. 2XX Dallas Chandler
8. 00W Bill Whalen Jr.
9. 8M Jacob McVay
10. 22T Travis Losenicky
After a pair of early cautions in the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature, Mike Burbridge pulled away from the field to score the win. Tony Olson held the early advantage as Burbridge chased the leader for two laps before taking over on lap three, just prior to the race's final caution. Burbridge led the final 17 non-stop laps to take the win over Patrick Flannagan, who worked past Olson for second as the white flag waved.
1. 11B Mike Burbridge
2. F7 Patrick Flannagan
3. T23 Tony Olson
4. 25 Shawn Fisher
5. 22 Brandon Banks
6. 12D Joe Docekal
7. 33D Scott Hogan
8. 25T Duane Peterson
9. 111 Buster Pate
10. 17 Dawn Krall
Thanks to Mick Trier, Dana Benning and the crew for another great night at Vinton. Also, thanks to Kevin Kemp for asking me to fill in for him in the scoring tower. It was my first night scoring races since June of last season for mid-season championships at Vinton. While it was enjoyable, I'll just say I don't think I miss doing it every week!
Up next is the World of Outlaws Late Model Series at Independence Motor Speedway tomorrow. Don't forget, IMCA Modifieds will also be on-hand, competing in a $1,000-to-win event. See you there!
At the start of the 15-lap feature, third row starter Kyle Olson worked quickly to the lead. He paced the field for the first lap with Dave McCalla and Dave Schulze in tow. A trio of cautions slowed the action over the first five laps, which allowed fourth row starter Drew Fish to enter the battle for the lead.
Fish settled into second following the first caution on lap two, then stayed on Olson's tail through the next two stoppages. When the first long green flag run developed following the lap five restart, Fish went to the high side and made his way around Olson just shy of the midway point.
As Fish led and Olson followed, Racer Hulin ran in the third spot as he kept the leaders within his sights. Hulin reeled in Olson and made his way around the outside of the #K3 by the time the yellow waved on lap 12.
After racing resumed, Fish got loose in turn four and spun to the low side of the track, collecting Olson and Duane Van Deest, who were also top-five runners at the time. On the restart, Hulin held the point and fought off challenges from Danny Dvorak to take the exciting win.
1. 505 Racer Hulin
2. 3R Danny Dvorak
3. 00 Jim Buhlman
4. J2 Dave Schulze
5. K0 Ken Kositzky
6. 80V Duane Van Deest
7. 08 Bryan Rodman
8. 40J Jason Doyle
9. 33 Ed O'Brien
10. K3 Kyle Olson
Kyle Parizek held the early lead in the 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. From his second row starting spot, Parizek motored into the lead by the completion of lap one. As Parizek led, Rod Grother and Scott Pippert quickly worked through traffic from mid-pack starts.
Pippert ran the low line to the front, inching ahead of his foes by the completion of lap six. He led the remainder of the event uncontested to score the victory in the caution-free event. After sliding back in the top five, Grother made a nice run late to nip Parizek at the line for second. Vince Buchholz ran a close fourth.
1. 47 Scott Pippert
2. 77 Rod Grother
3. 17K Kyle Parizek
4. 55 Vince Buchholz
5. 25 Doug Laughridge
6. 45 Justin Wacha
7. 78 Matt Brown
8. 4JR Russell Damme Jr.
9. 6 Randy Vandevegte
10. 12J Jeremy Floyd
Damon Murty drove the high side to victory in the 15-lap IMCA Stock Car feature. After an unsuccessful initial attempt at trying the low groove, Murty was offered a second glance when the race was slowed for caution prior to the completion of the first lap. When the green flag waved again for the straight-up restart, however, Murty tested his luck on the high side.
Murty, who started outside of the third row, rocketed into second place by the completion of lap two, then went to work on running down Curtis Roster out front. Murty made his bid for the lead on the high side as the field exited turn four on the following circuit. From there, Murty set sail to drive to the victory ahead of Roster and Scooter Dulin.
1. 99D Damon Murty
2. 8 Curtis Roster
3. 3T Scooter Dulin
4. 6X Bob Ahrendsen
5. 56T Justin Temeyer
6. 7H Phil Holtz
7. 20B Andrew Burk
8. 15 Norman Chesmore
9. 09M Brett Mather
10. 10 John Schaefer
A trio of drivers held the lead at various points during the early stages of the 12-lap IMCA Sport Compact feature. Bryce Bailey, Brad Chandler and Steve Miedke exchanged time at the front of the field over the first few laps before Chandler was able to wrestle away the lead from Miedke at the midway point. Chandler led the final half of the event to take the win over Nathan Chandler and Brett Vanous, who started alongside each other in the fourth row.
1. 2ND Brad Chandler
2. 22 Nathan Chandler
3. 35 Brett Vanous
4. 11 Steve Miedke
5. 1 Merv Chandler
6. 51 Bryce Bailey
7. 2XX Dallas Chandler
8. 00W Bill Whalen Jr.
9. 8M Jacob McVay
10. 22T Travis Losenicky
After a pair of early cautions in the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature, Mike Burbridge pulled away from the field to score the win. Tony Olson held the early advantage as Burbridge chased the leader for two laps before taking over on lap three, just prior to the race's final caution. Burbridge led the final 17 non-stop laps to take the win over Patrick Flannagan, who worked past Olson for second as the white flag waved.
1. 11B Mike Burbridge
2. F7 Patrick Flannagan
3. T23 Tony Olson
4. 25 Shawn Fisher
5. 22 Brandon Banks
6. 12D Joe Docekal
7. 33D Scott Hogan
8. 25T Duane Peterson
9. 111 Buster Pate
10. 17 Dawn Krall
Thanks to Mick Trier, Dana Benning and the crew for another great night at Vinton. Also, thanks to Kevin Kemp for asking me to fill in for him in the scoring tower. It was my first night scoring races since June of last season for mid-season championships at Vinton. While it was enjoyable, I'll just say I don't think I miss doing it every week!
Up next is the World of Outlaws Late Model Series at Independence Motor Speedway tomorrow. Don't forget, IMCA Modifieds will also be on-hand, competing in a $1,000-to-win event. See you there!
Smock, Dvorak surprise winners at Independence Motor Speedway
I generally follow the same routine after a Saturday night of racing at Independence. I put together my report for IMCA, calculate the points, write my blog and then go to work on updating the season stats and all-time stats. Last night, however, I changed up my routine (easier said than done for me) after an exciting night of racing that resulted in a few surprises by the time the final checkers waved.
Instead of writing my blog right after the track web site was updated, I decided to update my stats files because I figured there would be a few mentionables that I didn't want to leave out after the night's events. There turned out to be a few tidbits that I'll include in last night's recap below.
A strong field of 109 race cars filed into the pits last night to put on a show in front of a great crowd for the fifth annual Dick Frye Memorial. The event is held in honor of the late Buchanan County Fair Board president who passed away in January of 2007. Traditionally held during the Saturday night of the fair, this season's edition was postponed when the July 23 program was rained out.
Not only did the car count match last week's second best total of the season, but a season high 26 IMCA Hobby Stocks signed in to compete along with 23 IMCA Late Models, 24 IMCA Modifieds, 21 IMCA SportMods and 15 IMCA Stock Cars.
A pair of surprise winners emerged, not because those drivers aren't expected to win, but because they didn't appear to be in contention for trips to the winner's circle until the checkers waved.
In the 25-lap IMCA Late Model feature, pole-sitter Scott Welsh led at the drop of the green while Bobby Hansen and Tysus Pattee pursued. Hansen worked the low groove while Pattee went upstairs as they attempted to make their way to the front.
Pattee was dialed in on the high side as he sailed past Welsh on the sixth circuit, then proceeded to pull away from the field. As Pattee worked out front, Jon Passick was a rocket on the low side, slicing through traffic from a fifth row start before settling into second one lap after Pattee took control.
The race's only stoppage came on lap nine, which put the hard-charging Passick on Pattee's rear bumper for the restart. Pattee picked up where he left off before the yellow flag and quickly pulled away from the field when racing resumed. Passick remained in second while Travis Smock made his way past Welsh for third.
The top three remained unchanged as Pattee was enjoying a comfortable advantage. Smock, meanwhile, closed the gap on Passick for second as those two dueled for a number of laps as the race entered its final stages. This is when things got interesting.
With only a handful of laps to go, Pattee slowed on the high side of the speedway, allowing Passick and Smock to close. After Pattee eventually left the track with a broken axle, Passick and Smock worked side-by-side in what turned out to be a battle for the lead. Smock inched ahead as the flying green waved and held on for the remainder of the event to score the thrilling win. Passick ran second ahead of Greg Kastli, Darren Ackerman and points leader Tyler Bruening. It was the second career win for Smock, his first since opening night of the 2010 season. It was also Smock's ninth straight top-10 finish.
Late race excitement also played a factor in the outcome of the 15-lap IMCA SportMod main event. Front row starter Brennen Chipp held the early advantage in that race until Matt McCahen made his way by for the lead at the lap four mark.
McCahen quickly pulled away from traffic while Danny Dvorak was running the low groove to the front. Dvorak, who started in the third row, slipped beneath Kim Siems for second following a mid-race caution. Dvorak slowly cut into McCahen's lead until his efforts were assisted when the caution flag waved once again on lap 12.
On the restart, McCahen again took control with Dvorak and Siems in pursuit. Exiting turn four on the final lap, it appeared as though McCahen was set to make his first-ever trip to victory lane when his #63 slipped off the high side of the corner. This allowed Dvorak to sneak by for the victory. Just after Dvorak took the checkers, the yellow flag came out for a pile-up on the low side of turn four. Since Dvorak had taken the checkers, the rest of the field was reverted back to the running order on the white flag lap. This allowed McCahen to salvage second ahead of Siems, points leader Tyler Droste and Ray Lundry.
It was the second win for Dvorak this season and the ninth SportMod win of his career at Independence. He is now within three victories of Josh Sherbon at the top of the all-time list.
Entering the night in the IMCA Hobby Stock division, seven straight different winners graced victory lane, one short of tying the all-time record. A winner just a few weeks ago, however, Chris Luloff looked to break that cycle in the 15-lap feature.
Outside front row starter Marcus Wayne took command at the drop of the green while Luloff quickly challenged from his third row starting spot. Luloff worked beneath Wayne after just two laps to take the lead while Jamie Whitaker was making noise. From a fifth row start, Whitaker slipped past second-running Andrew Lokenvitz after only four laps.
Luloff and Whitaker ran first and second over a pair of mid-race cautions that kept the field bunched. Following the final restart on lap eight, the leaders put on a whale of a show, as the Hobby Stocks have done week-in and week-out all season.
Swapping racing grooves, the lead pair also swapped positions over the final seven circuits. Luloff held the point until Whitaker made his way beneath the leader with just five laps to go. Luloff, however, fought back on the low side to take charge as the flying green waved. He pulled away late to score the victory, his second of the season. Whitaker ran second for the third straight week and fourth time in the last five weeks. Points leader Vince Buchholz finished third ahead of Quinton Miller and Rod Grother, who drove to his eighth straight top-10 finish.
For Luloff, it was the 17th Hobby Stock win of his career at Independence. The victory moved him past Brian Irvine for second on the all-time list. He now sits just three wins shy of tying Chris Wessner at the top over the division's 23-year history at the speedway.
Sean Johnson continued his dominance in the IMCA Stock Car division. After Jason Niedert and Tim Helle swapped the lead over the first two laps of the 15-lapper, Johnson worked into the lead from his fourth row start just prior to the race's only caution on lap three.
On the restart, Johnson pulled away from the field to win in convincing fashion ahead of Justin Temeyer. Mike Padden crossed the line in third, however he was disqualified for an illegal engine. This moved Kirk Fauser into the third finishing spot. Phil Holtz and points leader Jarod Weepie completed the top five.
It was Johnson's track-leading sixth feature win this season and the 14th of his career in the division. The victory moved him into a tie with Norman Chesmore for seventh on the all-time list. Johnson is now within a single victory of Tom Schmitt and within two wins of Larry Portis in that category.
Despite problems with the caution flag for the second straight week, the IMCA Modified feature offered some great racing in that 20-lap event. Pole-sitter Sean Rupp held the early advantage as he paced the field through a trio of stoppages over the first three laps. When racing resumed following the third caution, Ronn :Lauritzen entered the battle out front after starting in the third row.
Lauritzen worked past Rupp on lap six, just before the caution flag waved again. Following another pair of cautions on lap seven, Lauritzen set sail and pulled away from the field. Meanwhile, Patrick Flannagan, who started in the ninth row, made his way into second at the mid-way point.
Flannagan quickly went to work on cutting into Lauritzen's straightaway lead. He trimmed the margin to a couple car-lengths however he couldn't get any closer as Lauritzen drove to the victory. Flannagan and Rupp completed the top three. Tony Snyder and Johnathan Thimmesch ran fourth and fifth, repsectively.
It was Lauritzen's second Modified win at Independence. Ironically, while his first win came on his 50th night in a race car on August 22, 2009, his second career win at the speedway made him the 50th different Modified driver in track history with multiple wins. A busy guy behind the wheel this season, it was Lauritzen's 55th start in 2011.
Track promoter Cam Granger offered up $500 of additional incentives in honor of the Dick Frye Memorial. He gave $100 in random bonus money to five mystery positions, one position in each feature. The positions awarded the money were related to Frye's birthdate. Earning the extra cash were Luke Peskta (Late Model), Dennis Betzer (Modified), Paul Fauser (Stock Car), Tyler Droste (SportMod) and Vince Buchholz (Hobby Stock).
Prior to the night's events, all 109 cars pulled onto the front stretch in honor of the late Frye. Following a moment of silence, Frye's eight year old grandson, Carson, wowed the crowd by singing the national anthem, a duty he has proudly performed each year at the Memorial.
Tonight, I'll be back at Benton County Speedway in Vinton. I've been dusting off my scoring pen as I am scheduled to fill in for scorer Kevin Kemp tonight. Tomorrow, the World of Outlaws Late Models will be making its first-ever visit to Independence in an event that was postponed last month due to rain. IMCA Modifieds will also be competing for a $1,000 winner's share. Then, on Thursday, Corn Belt Clash action continues for a two-day swing in Minnesota. On Thursday, the Late Model tour heads to Redwood Speedway in Redwood Falls before a Friday stop at Chateau Raceway in Lansing. I'll have reports on all of those events right here at Positively Racing. See you at the races!
Instead of writing my blog right after the track web site was updated, I decided to update my stats files because I figured there would be a few mentionables that I didn't want to leave out after the night's events. There turned out to be a few tidbits that I'll include in last night's recap below.
A strong field of 109 race cars filed into the pits last night to put on a show in front of a great crowd for the fifth annual Dick Frye Memorial. The event is held in honor of the late Buchanan County Fair Board president who passed away in January of 2007. Traditionally held during the Saturday night of the fair, this season's edition was postponed when the July 23 program was rained out.
Not only did the car count match last week's second best total of the season, but a season high 26 IMCA Hobby Stocks signed in to compete along with 23 IMCA Late Models, 24 IMCA Modifieds, 21 IMCA SportMods and 15 IMCA Stock Cars.
A pair of surprise winners emerged, not because those drivers aren't expected to win, but because they didn't appear to be in contention for trips to the winner's circle until the checkers waved.
In the 25-lap IMCA Late Model feature, pole-sitter Scott Welsh led at the drop of the green while Bobby Hansen and Tysus Pattee pursued. Hansen worked the low groove while Pattee went upstairs as they attempted to make their way to the front.
Pattee was dialed in on the high side as he sailed past Welsh on the sixth circuit, then proceeded to pull away from the field. As Pattee worked out front, Jon Passick was a rocket on the low side, slicing through traffic from a fifth row start before settling into second one lap after Pattee took control.
The race's only stoppage came on lap nine, which put the hard-charging Passick on Pattee's rear bumper for the restart. Pattee picked up where he left off before the yellow flag and quickly pulled away from the field when racing resumed. Passick remained in second while Travis Smock made his way past Welsh for third.
The top three remained unchanged as Pattee was enjoying a comfortable advantage. Smock, meanwhile, closed the gap on Passick for second as those two dueled for a number of laps as the race entered its final stages. This is when things got interesting.
With only a handful of laps to go, Pattee slowed on the high side of the speedway, allowing Passick and Smock to close. After Pattee eventually left the track with a broken axle, Passick and Smock worked side-by-side in what turned out to be a battle for the lead. Smock inched ahead as the flying green waved and held on for the remainder of the event to score the thrilling win. Passick ran second ahead of Greg Kastli, Darren Ackerman and points leader Tyler Bruening. It was the second career win for Smock, his first since opening night of the 2010 season. It was also Smock's ninth straight top-10 finish.
Late race excitement also played a factor in the outcome of the 15-lap IMCA SportMod main event. Front row starter Brennen Chipp held the early advantage in that race until Matt McCahen made his way by for the lead at the lap four mark.
McCahen quickly pulled away from traffic while Danny Dvorak was running the low groove to the front. Dvorak, who started in the third row, slipped beneath Kim Siems for second following a mid-race caution. Dvorak slowly cut into McCahen's lead until his efforts were assisted when the caution flag waved once again on lap 12.
On the restart, McCahen again took control with Dvorak and Siems in pursuit. Exiting turn four on the final lap, it appeared as though McCahen was set to make his first-ever trip to victory lane when his #63 slipped off the high side of the corner. This allowed Dvorak to sneak by for the victory. Just after Dvorak took the checkers, the yellow flag came out for a pile-up on the low side of turn four. Since Dvorak had taken the checkers, the rest of the field was reverted back to the running order on the white flag lap. This allowed McCahen to salvage second ahead of Siems, points leader Tyler Droste and Ray Lundry.
It was the second win for Dvorak this season and the ninth SportMod win of his career at Independence. He is now within three victories of Josh Sherbon at the top of the all-time list.
Entering the night in the IMCA Hobby Stock division, seven straight different winners graced victory lane, one short of tying the all-time record. A winner just a few weeks ago, however, Chris Luloff looked to break that cycle in the 15-lap feature.
Outside front row starter Marcus Wayne took command at the drop of the green while Luloff quickly challenged from his third row starting spot. Luloff worked beneath Wayne after just two laps to take the lead while Jamie Whitaker was making noise. From a fifth row start, Whitaker slipped past second-running Andrew Lokenvitz after only four laps.
Luloff and Whitaker ran first and second over a pair of mid-race cautions that kept the field bunched. Following the final restart on lap eight, the leaders put on a whale of a show, as the Hobby Stocks have done week-in and week-out all season.
Swapping racing grooves, the lead pair also swapped positions over the final seven circuits. Luloff held the point until Whitaker made his way beneath the leader with just five laps to go. Luloff, however, fought back on the low side to take charge as the flying green waved. He pulled away late to score the victory, his second of the season. Whitaker ran second for the third straight week and fourth time in the last five weeks. Points leader Vince Buchholz finished third ahead of Quinton Miller and Rod Grother, who drove to his eighth straight top-10 finish.
For Luloff, it was the 17th Hobby Stock win of his career at Independence. The victory moved him past Brian Irvine for second on the all-time list. He now sits just three wins shy of tying Chris Wessner at the top over the division's 23-year history at the speedway.
Sean Johnson continued his dominance in the IMCA Stock Car division. After Jason Niedert and Tim Helle swapped the lead over the first two laps of the 15-lapper, Johnson worked into the lead from his fourth row start just prior to the race's only caution on lap three.
On the restart, Johnson pulled away from the field to win in convincing fashion ahead of Justin Temeyer. Mike Padden crossed the line in third, however he was disqualified for an illegal engine. This moved Kirk Fauser into the third finishing spot. Phil Holtz and points leader Jarod Weepie completed the top five.
It was Johnson's track-leading sixth feature win this season and the 14th of his career in the division. The victory moved him into a tie with Norman Chesmore for seventh on the all-time list. Johnson is now within a single victory of Tom Schmitt and within two wins of Larry Portis in that category.
Despite problems with the caution flag for the second straight week, the IMCA Modified feature offered some great racing in that 20-lap event. Pole-sitter Sean Rupp held the early advantage as he paced the field through a trio of stoppages over the first three laps. When racing resumed following the third caution, Ronn :Lauritzen entered the battle out front after starting in the third row.
Lauritzen worked past Rupp on lap six, just before the caution flag waved again. Following another pair of cautions on lap seven, Lauritzen set sail and pulled away from the field. Meanwhile, Patrick Flannagan, who started in the ninth row, made his way into second at the mid-way point.
Flannagan quickly went to work on cutting into Lauritzen's straightaway lead. He trimmed the margin to a couple car-lengths however he couldn't get any closer as Lauritzen drove to the victory. Flannagan and Rupp completed the top three. Tony Snyder and Johnathan Thimmesch ran fourth and fifth, repsectively.
It was Lauritzen's second Modified win at Independence. Ironically, while his first win came on his 50th night in a race car on August 22, 2009, his second career win at the speedway made him the 50th different Modified driver in track history with multiple wins. A busy guy behind the wheel this season, it was Lauritzen's 55th start in 2011.
Track promoter Cam Granger offered up $500 of additional incentives in honor of the Dick Frye Memorial. He gave $100 in random bonus money to five mystery positions, one position in each feature. The positions awarded the money were related to Frye's birthdate. Earning the extra cash were Luke Peskta (Late Model), Dennis Betzer (Modified), Paul Fauser (Stock Car), Tyler Droste (SportMod) and Vince Buchholz (Hobby Stock).
Prior to the night's events, all 109 cars pulled onto the front stretch in honor of the late Frye. Following a moment of silence, Frye's eight year old grandson, Carson, wowed the crowd by singing the national anthem, a duty he has proudly performed each year at the Memorial.
Tonight, I'll be back at Benton County Speedway in Vinton. I've been dusting off my scoring pen as I am scheduled to fill in for scorer Kevin Kemp tonight. Tomorrow, the World of Outlaws Late Models will be making its first-ever visit to Independence in an event that was postponed last month due to rain. IMCA Modifieds will also be competing for a $1,000 winner's share. Then, on Thursday, Corn Belt Clash action continues for a two-day swing in Minnesota. On Thursday, the Late Model tour heads to Redwood Speedway in Redwood Falls before a Friday stop at Chateau Raceway in Lansing. I'll have reports on all of those events right here at Positively Racing. See you at the races!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Birkhofer best in Corn Belt Clash at Cedar Lake Speedway
Brian Birkhofer turned a Thursday night warm-up session into a $5,000 payday as the Muscatine, Iowa, driver won the Dart Corn Belt Clash Late Model Series presented by Cen-Pe-Co Lubricants feature at Cedar Lake Speedway. The event kicked off the 24th annual USA Nationals on the famed 3/8-mile oval in New Richmond, Wisconsin, and guaranteed Birkhofer a starting spot in the $50,000-to-win 100-lapper on Saturday.
Birkhofer, who won the first of five heats, started on the pole of the 10-lap fast dash. His win in the dash resulted in an outside second row starting spot for the 50-lap feature when he drew the #2 during the invert draw.
From his outside front row start, Birkhofer used the high side to drive to the lead. From there, he held off the early challenges of Jimmy Mars, Rick Eckert and then Mars once again following a pair of early restarts to drive to his first-ever series win.
Mars and Eckert swapped the runner-up spot during the early stages before Mars pulled ahead for good following the second stoppage. Clint Smith and Chris Simpson completed the top five.
FEATURE (50 laps / with starting positions)
1. (2) 15B Brian Birkhofer (Muscatine, Iowa)
2. (1) 28M Jimmy Mars (Menomonie)
3. (5) 24 Rick Eckert (York, Pennsylvania)
4. (4) 44 Clint Smith (Senoia, Georgia)
5. (7) 32 Chris Simpson (Oxford, Iowa)
6. (10) 25 Chad Simpson (Mt. Vernon, Iowa)
7. (3) 11 Pat Doar (New Richmond)
8. (18) 1R Josh Richards (Shinnston, West Virginia)
9. (15) 58X A.J. Diemel (Nichols)
10. (20) 777 Jared Landers (Batesville, Arkansas)
11. (6) 39 Tim McCreadie (Watertown, New York)
12. (8) 2 Brady Smith (Solon Springs)
13. (23) 9T Tim Isenberg (Marshfield)
14. (11) 1 Brian Shirley (Chatham, Illinois)
15. (13) 98 Jason Rauen (Farley, Iowa)
16. (19) 18H Ronny Lee Hollingsworth (Northport, Alabama)
17. (24) 1* Chub Frank (Bear Lake, Pennsylvania)
18. (12) 32C Vic Coffey (Caledonia, New York)
19. (9) 31 Jason Utter (Columbus Junction, Iowa)
20. (14) 71 Andrew McKay (Eden Prairie, Minnesota)
21. (17) 93 Ray Moore (Haughton, Louisiana)
22. (25) 22 Jill George (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
23. (26) 18 Dustin Hapka (Grand Forks, North Dakota)
24. (16) 89S Mike Spatola (Manhattan, Illinois)
25. (21) 21 Billy Moyer (Batesville, Arkansas)
26. (22) 15 Steve Francis (Ashland, Kentucky)
While working in the Corn Belt registration trailer, the biggest topic of discussion on the night was the draw/redraw format used by the series. Many of the touring Late Model drivers are not only used to time trial qualifying, they weren't overly excited at the "chance" involved in drawing random numbers to determine qualifying heat race lineups. In fact, of the 49 drivers signed in to compete at Cedar Lake, four didn't even make an attempt to qualify after they realized why they had drawn a number.
As I explained the procedure for the evening's events to a number of drivers and crews, the reactions I witnessed weren't exactly pleasant. One driver explained to me that a draw/redraw format might be good for a weekly show or for a regular CBC series race, however it wasn't a good idea when racers of this "caliber" were competing against each other. This driver indicated that even the best of the best would struggle to qualify if starting at the back of a heat with similar drivers.
My reaction to this was what my reaction always has been to those who prefer time trial qualifying and/or a passing points system. The show is for the fans and the drivers are there to entertain. In short, time trials are boring and generally result in lackluster heat races anyway when they are lined up based on fast times. As for passing points, they take the enjoyment out of the show. No race fan wants to decipher who qualified based on where a driver started versus where that driver finished compared to the other competitors.
I think our conversation went south when I made a simple comment - "You did come here to race, right?"
I did a little number crunching on last night's draws, lineups and finishes. The most glaring thing that jumped out at me to "defend" the draw/redraw format was the driver who drew the worst number of the night. While there were 49 drivers in attendance, 48 drivers drew for their starting spot. (One driver forgot to draw and started at the back of a heat.) Of the 48 who drew, however, Josh Richards drew the worst number of the field, putting him in the final starting spot of the 10-car third heat (which turned into a nine-car heat when one driver opted not to start).
The top four finishers in each heat qualified for the feature, with the top two qualifying for the fast dash. Richards drove from a last place starting spot to a fourth place finish, which landed him 18th on the starting grid for the feature. From there, Richards drove to an eighth place finish. I'd say going from a 48th place draw to an eighth place feature finish makes it possible to out-race your draw.
Also, for those who didn't make it out of their heats, there were two last-chance races. The top two finishers from each of the last chance races tagged the tail of the heat race qualifiers for the feature. The rank of the original draw numbers of the four B feature transfers to the feature were 28, 30, 34 and 36... out of 48. None of those qualifiers came from the top half of the draw and, yes, there were plenty of the top-half draw cars in the field.
When not counting the two provisional starters for the feature, who qualified based on CBC points, there were 24 "qualified" cars in the main event. Of those 24 cars, 11 were in the bottom half of the original draw pool. That's one car shy of half the feature field coming from the bottom half of the draw. You can split hairs over it not being an even 50-50 split from top to bottom, if you insist.
While the draw did seem to bring with it some unnecessary attention last night, I want to thank the entire CLS crew for their hospitality. Special thanks goes out to track announcer Chris Stepan for taking care of the announcing duties for the Late Models while I worked on results, lineups and payout.
After a night off tonight, it's back to Independence Motor Speedway on Saturday for the rescheduled Dick Frye Memorial. Then, on Sunday, I'll be back at Benton County Speedway in Vinton prior to a return trip to Independence on Monday for the rescheduled World of Outlaws Late Model Series. It should be a great three days of racing!
Thanks for reading.
Birkhofer, who won the first of five heats, started on the pole of the 10-lap fast dash. His win in the dash resulted in an outside second row starting spot for the 50-lap feature when he drew the #2 during the invert draw.
From his outside front row start, Birkhofer used the high side to drive to the lead. From there, he held off the early challenges of Jimmy Mars, Rick Eckert and then Mars once again following a pair of early restarts to drive to his first-ever series win.
Mars and Eckert swapped the runner-up spot during the early stages before Mars pulled ahead for good following the second stoppage. Clint Smith and Chris Simpson completed the top five.
FEATURE (50 laps / with starting positions)
1. (2) 15B Brian Birkhofer (Muscatine, Iowa)
2. (1) 28M Jimmy Mars (Menomonie)
3. (5) 24 Rick Eckert (York, Pennsylvania)
4. (4) 44 Clint Smith (Senoia, Georgia)
5. (7) 32 Chris Simpson (Oxford, Iowa)
6. (10) 25 Chad Simpson (Mt. Vernon, Iowa)
7. (3) 11 Pat Doar (New Richmond)
8. (18) 1R Josh Richards (Shinnston, West Virginia)
9. (15) 58X A.J. Diemel (Nichols)
10. (20) 777 Jared Landers (Batesville, Arkansas)
11. (6) 39 Tim McCreadie (Watertown, New York)
12. (8) 2 Brady Smith (Solon Springs)
13. (23) 9T Tim Isenberg (Marshfield)
14. (11) 1 Brian Shirley (Chatham, Illinois)
15. (13) 98 Jason Rauen (Farley, Iowa)
16. (19) 18H Ronny Lee Hollingsworth (Northport, Alabama)
17. (24) 1* Chub Frank (Bear Lake, Pennsylvania)
18. (12) 32C Vic Coffey (Caledonia, New York)
19. (9) 31 Jason Utter (Columbus Junction, Iowa)
20. (14) 71 Andrew McKay (Eden Prairie, Minnesota)
21. (17) 93 Ray Moore (Haughton, Louisiana)
22. (25) 22 Jill George (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
23. (26) 18 Dustin Hapka (Grand Forks, North Dakota)
24. (16) 89S Mike Spatola (Manhattan, Illinois)
25. (21) 21 Billy Moyer (Batesville, Arkansas)
26. (22) 15 Steve Francis (Ashland, Kentucky)
While working in the Corn Belt registration trailer, the biggest topic of discussion on the night was the draw/redraw format used by the series. Many of the touring Late Model drivers are not only used to time trial qualifying, they weren't overly excited at the "chance" involved in drawing random numbers to determine qualifying heat race lineups. In fact, of the 49 drivers signed in to compete at Cedar Lake, four didn't even make an attempt to qualify after they realized why they had drawn a number.
As I explained the procedure for the evening's events to a number of drivers and crews, the reactions I witnessed weren't exactly pleasant. One driver explained to me that a draw/redraw format might be good for a weekly show or for a regular CBC series race, however it wasn't a good idea when racers of this "caliber" were competing against each other. This driver indicated that even the best of the best would struggle to qualify if starting at the back of a heat with similar drivers.
My reaction to this was what my reaction always has been to those who prefer time trial qualifying and/or a passing points system. The show is for the fans and the drivers are there to entertain. In short, time trials are boring and generally result in lackluster heat races anyway when they are lined up based on fast times. As for passing points, they take the enjoyment out of the show. No race fan wants to decipher who qualified based on where a driver started versus where that driver finished compared to the other competitors.
I think our conversation went south when I made a simple comment - "You did come here to race, right?"
I did a little number crunching on last night's draws, lineups and finishes. The most glaring thing that jumped out at me to "defend" the draw/redraw format was the driver who drew the worst number of the night. While there were 49 drivers in attendance, 48 drivers drew for their starting spot. (One driver forgot to draw and started at the back of a heat.) Of the 48 who drew, however, Josh Richards drew the worst number of the field, putting him in the final starting spot of the 10-car third heat (which turned into a nine-car heat when one driver opted not to start).
The top four finishers in each heat qualified for the feature, with the top two qualifying for the fast dash. Richards drove from a last place starting spot to a fourth place finish, which landed him 18th on the starting grid for the feature. From there, Richards drove to an eighth place finish. I'd say going from a 48th place draw to an eighth place feature finish makes it possible to out-race your draw.
Also, for those who didn't make it out of their heats, there were two last-chance races. The top two finishers from each of the last chance races tagged the tail of the heat race qualifiers for the feature. The rank of the original draw numbers of the four B feature transfers to the feature were 28, 30, 34 and 36... out of 48. None of those qualifiers came from the top half of the draw and, yes, there were plenty of the top-half draw cars in the field.
When not counting the two provisional starters for the feature, who qualified based on CBC points, there were 24 "qualified" cars in the main event. Of those 24 cars, 11 were in the bottom half of the original draw pool. That's one car shy of half the feature field coming from the bottom half of the draw. You can split hairs over it not being an even 50-50 split from top to bottom, if you insist.
While the draw did seem to bring with it some unnecessary attention last night, I want to thank the entire CLS crew for their hospitality. Special thanks goes out to track announcer Chris Stepan for taking care of the announcing duties for the Late Models while I worked on results, lineups and payout.
After a night off tonight, it's back to Independence Motor Speedway on Saturday for the rescheduled Dick Frye Memorial. Then, on Sunday, I'll be back at Benton County Speedway in Vinton prior to a return trip to Independence on Monday for the rescheduled World of Outlaws Late Model Series. It should be a great three days of racing!
Thanks for reading.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Stats Blitz! Numbers through July at Independence Motor Speedway
Welcome to the third installment of the 2011 Stats Blitz! Throughout the year, I’ll offer month-by-month updates of all things statistical at Independence Motor Speedway. The statistics included here are through 10 nights of weekly racing (the end of July).
There are some all-time statistics included, dating back to 1967. While the track was believed to have opened in 1965, my records date back to the beginning of the 1967 season. All of the “all-time” statistics here include races from only the five divisions that currently compete weekly at the speedway. Modifieds started competing in 1983, Hobby Stocks in 1989, Stock Cars in 1993 and SportMods in 2008. The information included for the Late Models dates back to 1967.
As always, special thanks to track photographer Scott Tjabring of Action Track Photography for allowing me to use his photos. Check out his excellent work at Action Track Photos. This month, there are a few "oldies" thrown in. Thanks to Mark Jacobs of Speed Shots and Les Houser for offering up old pics.
Car Count
Division - Average - High - Low
Late Model – 22.0 - 29 - 18
Modified – 25.6 - 29 - 20
Stock Car – 15.7 - 18 - 13
SportMod – 17.6 - 24 - 13
Hobby Stock – 21.3 - 23 - 19
TOTAL – 102.2 - 111 - 96
Points
* 181 drivers have earned points so far this season.
* 63 different hometowns are represented on the points sheet.
* Points leaders account for eight of the 50 total feature wins through 10 weeks. Jerry Luloff (Modifieds), Jarod Weepie (Stock Cars) and Vince Buchholz (Hobby Stocks) lead the standings in their respective divisions, but have yet to record a feature win in 2011.
IN THE HUNT
* 27 drivers have remained in the top-10 in the points following all 10 weeks of the season. Those drivers include:
Late Model (4): Darren Ackerman, Tyler Bruening, Jon Passick, Travis Smock;
Modified (6): Mike Burbridge, Troy Cordes, Patrick Flannagan, Adam Johnson, Jerry Luloff, Tony Olson;
Stock Car (6): Norman Chesmore, Austin Evens, Tim Helle, Sean Johnson, Dave Stricker, Jarod Weepie;
SportMod (6): Jim Buhlman, Tyler Droste, Danny Dvorak, Lucas Lundry, Ray Lundry, Josh Sherbon;
Hobby Stock (5): August Bach, Vince Buchholz, Nathan Christie, Chris Wiltse, Steve Wiltse.
* 13 drivers have remained in the top-5 in the points following all 10 weeks of the season. Those drivers include:
Late Model (3): Darren Ackerman, Tyler Bruening, Travis Smock;
Modified (2): Patrick Flannagan, Adam Johnson;
Stock Car (4): Norman Chesmore, Sean Johnson, Dave Stricker, Jarod Weepie;
SportMod (3): Tyler Droste, Lucas Lundry, Ray Lundry;
Hobby Stock (1): Vince Buchholz.
Feature Winners
* There have been 31 different feature winners in 50 feature events this season.
* There have been five different winners the last five weeks in both the Late Model and Modified divisions.
Making history…
Late Model: Tyler Bruening carries a 22-point lead into the final month of the season. The defending track champion in the division, Bruening looks to become the first back-to-back titlist in the Late Models since Curt Martin won three straight from 2004-2006. Martin was also the last Late Model driver to record his first two track championships in back-to-back seasons. He did that in 1984-1985, then won the division again in 1986.
Stock Car: Jarod Weepie is seeking his fifth Stock Car championship in the last seven years. Entering August, Weepie carries a slim eight-point margin over both Sean Johnson and Dave Stricker. While it is uncommon for a track champion to win a title without a feature win, Weepie hasn't even finished in the top two of a feature yet this season. His consistency has carried him to the top as he has scored four third place finishes and a pair each of fourth, fifth and eighth place finishes through 10 weeks.
SportMod: Tyler Droste leads the points heading the final month of the 2011 season. In the closest points battle at the track this season, there are five other drivers within 16 points of his lead. All 10 SportMod feature wins have come from the top six in points. The only driver in that group without a win yet this season is Jim Buhlman, however seven straight top-5 finishes from June 4 to July 16 have kept him in the hunt. Danny Dvorak, currently sixth in points, is the only driver in the top six who has won the SportMod title at Indee (2008). Droste ended June sitting fourth in the standings, however five straight top-3 finishes, including three wins, have propelled him to the top of the standings.
Hobby Stock: Entering the July 30 racing program, Vince Buchholz held the largest lead of any points leader at the speedway, a 17 point margin. The only driver in the division to possess top-10 finishes through the first nine nights of the season, Buchholz' streak came to an end on July 30 when he left the feature early and was scored 18th. Despite that finish, Buchholz still holds a slim two-point margin over Chris Wiltse and an eight-point edge over Jamie Whitaker. The 2003 Hobby Stock champion, Buchholz is looking to become just the third driver in the 23-year history of the division at Independence to earn a second track title (Patrick Stransbery in 2002 and 2005; Josh Irvine in 2007 and 2009). The biggest mover in the division, Whitaker sat eighth in points at the end of June. He used four straight top-three finishes in July (and six top-threes in the last seven nights), to launch to third in the standings. Likewise, Wiltse has kept pace with five straight top-10s.
* 5 drivers have earned top-10 finishes in all 10 features:
Late Model (0): None; Tyler Bruening, Jon Passick and Travis Smock lead the division with nine top-10s;
Modified (1): Jerry Luloff;
Stock Car (1): Jarod Weepie;
SportMod (3): Danny Dvorak, Lucas Lundry, Ray Lundry;
Hobby Stock (0): None; Vince Buchholz leads the division with nine top-10s.
Top-5s
* 80 drivers have earned at least one top-5 finish this season.
* No drivers have earned top-5 finishes in all features this season. The drivers with the most top-5 feature finishes in each division are as follows:
Late Model: Tyler Bruening (7);
Modified: Adam Johnson, Jerry Luloff (6 each);
Stock Car: Jarod Weepie (8);
SportMod: Josh Sherbon (8);
Hobby Stock: Vince Buchholz, Justin Lichty, Jamie Whitaker (6 each).
GOING STREAKING
The longest current top-5 streak in each division includes:
Late Model: Tyler Bruening (3 straight top-5 finishes);
Modified: Adam Johnson (3);
Stock Car: Jarod Weepie (2);
SportMod: Tyler Droste, Josh Sherbon (5 each);
Hobby Stock: Jamie Whitaker (4).
Top-3s
* 58 drivers have earned at least one top-3 finish this season.
* No drivers have earned top-3 finishes in all features this season. The drivers with the most top-3 feature finishes in each division are as follows:
Late Model: Tyler Bruening (6);
Modified: Vern Jackson (5);
Stock Car: Sean Johnson (5, all wins);
SportMod: Tyler Droste (7);
Hobby Stock: Jamie Whitaker (6).
Feature Lap Leaders
* 69 drivers have led at least one lap of feature competition.
* Division lap leaders include:
Late Model (13 total different lap leaders): Luke Merfeld (50 laps led), Tyler Bruening (45), Luke Pestka (33), Rob Toland (25), Curt Martin (23);
Modified (16): Vern Jackson (50 laps led), Justin O'Brien (20), Leon Wilson (16), Adam Johnson (14), Troy Cordes (13);
Stock Car (11): Sean Johnson (85 laps led); Dave Stricker (26); Kirk Fauser (14); Thomas Thompson and Paul Fauser (6 each);
SportMod (13): Tyler Droste (36 laps led); Danny Dvorak (31); Josh Sherbon (24); Lucas Lundry and Ray Lundry (13 each);
Hobby Stock (16): Jamie Whitaker (28 laps led); Chris Luloff (20); Justin Stander (16); Rod Grother (15); Scott Pippert and Steve Wiltse (14 each).
Heat Races
* There have been 62 different winners in 132 heat races.
* Tyler Bruening (Late Models) leads all drivers with eight heat wins in 10 weeks, including six straight heat wins entering August. He has finished no worse than second in a heat this season, meaning 28 of his 389 points have come in heat race competition which is 12 points more than Jon Passick, who sits second in the Late Model standings.
* Vern Jackson (Modifieds) is the only seven-timer in heat race competition. He has won his heat each of the past two weeks. No other Modified driver has more than four heat wins.
* No other driver has more than five heat wins this season. The five-time winners include Josh Sherbon (SportMods) and Chris Luloff (Hobby Stocks).
Efficiency Stats
* A total of 188 races have been run this season.
* A total of 1,990 laps have been completed.
* A total of 213 caution flags have been thrown.
* Of the 188 races this season, 93 have been caution-free.
* 155 of the 213 cautions have occurred during features.
* The Hobby Stock division (33 cautions in 39 total events) has had the best caution per race ratio by averaging .85 cautions for every race.
* The Late Model division (40 cautions in 489 total laps) has had the best caution per race lap ratio by averaging 12.23 laps of green flag racing between caution flags. The Late Model feature ran caution-free four times over a five week stretch from June 18 to July 16.
* The caution flag has flown only four times in 29 heat races for the Hobby Stocks this season and just five times in the 20 Stock Car heats.
* The Late Model division leads the way by averaging 11.40 completed laps of feature racing before the first yellow flag. The Hobby Stocks have the second best mark in this category with an average of 5.30 feature laps completed before the first caution.
Since the year 1967...
* 654 Late Model feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 97 different winners. On average, a new Late Model winner visits victory lane every 6.74 events.
* 424 Modified feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 78 different winners. On average, a new Modified winner visits victory lane every 5.43 events.
* 272 Stock Car feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 40 different winners. On average, a new Stock Car winner visits victory lane every 6.8 events.
* 47 SportMod feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 13 different winners. On average, a new SportMod winner visits victory lane every 3.61 events.
* 333 Hobby Stock feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 86 different winners. On average, a new Hobby Stock winner visits victory lane every 3.87 events.
* Overall, in the last 44-plus seasons, there have been 1,730 features completed in the five divisions that currently compete at the speedway.
Qualifying Streaks
* The longest currently active feature qualifying streaks for weekly competition in each division include:
Late Model: Darren Ackerman has qualified for 69 consecutive features. His last miss was June 3, 2006.
Modified: Jerry Luloff has qualified for 207 consecutive features. His last miss was July 5, 1997.
Stock Car: Jarod Weepie has qualified for 146 consecutive features. His last miss was June 9, 2001.
Hobby Stock: Rod Grother has qualified for 25 consecutive features. His last miss was August 22, 2009.
SportMod: Jim Buhlman has qualified for all 47 features dating back to the first one at the speedway on June 21, 2008.
Rainout Trends
* The month of July was scheduled for five race events and four of them were completed successfully. July 2, 16 and 30 remain perfect all-time at Independence as all six times each of those dates have had weekly racing scheduled, the show was successfully completed. July 23 rained out for the first time in track history this season and 1988 remains the only July 9 rainout.
THE FORECAST
* There are four dates scheduled for weekly racing in the month of August this season (6, 13, 20, 27). Of those, only August 6 and August 20 have ever rained out - August 6, 1977 and August 20, 1983. August 13 and 27 are both a perfect 5-0 for scheduled weekly racing at Independence, meaning the combined record for weekly racing on the August dates on this year's calendar is 18-2.
* There have been 22 rain-free Augusts of racing, all in the last 35 years. There have been no rainouts at Independence in the month of August since August 4, 2007. That means there have been 16 straight Saturdays of August racing at Independence. Prior to the rainout in 2007, the last August rainout was August 28, 2004, meaning 24 of the last 25 weekly races scheduled in August at Indee have been successful.
* Since 1967, there have been 172 rainouts in 809 total weekly races scheduled. The month of August has had the second-best race-to-rainout ratio as only 29 events have been rained out of the 191 scheduled. That means 84.8% of all weekly shows scheduled for the month of August have been successfully completed.
* When breaking down the season into halves where May and June comprise the first half of the season (not including any April dates) and July and August comprise the second half, historically, there are nearly half as many rainouts during the second half of the season than there are in the first half. Entering August of 2011, there have been 104 rainouts during the first half of the season and only 55 rainouts during the months of July and August.
Stuff Nobody Should Know…
* The starting spot to produce the largest number of feature winners is inside row five. That position has produced eight winners overall this season.
* The starting spot in the first five rows to produce the fewest number of feature winners is the pole position. Only one time this season (Luke Merfeld on June 11) has a feature winner started on the pole. In the previous six seasons, by the end of July there had been a combined 30 winners from the pole position.
* No feature winners have come from the front row in the Modified, Stock Car and SportMod divisions. Only three front row starters have won this season, twice in Late Models and once in Hobby Stocks. No drivers won from the front row in the month of July.
* Dave Stricker (Stock Car) and Justin Lichty (Hobby Stock) are the only drivers to have earned at least one finish in each of the top-5 finishing positions so far this season.
* Prior to his first win of the season on July 30, Quinton Miller (Hobby Stock) had three second place finishes this season to three different drivers (August Bach, Rod Grother and Chris Luloff). The only other driver at the speedway with three runner-up finishes is Jamie Whitaker (Hobby Stock). He, too, has finished second to three different winners (Chris Wiltse, Steve Wiltse and Quinton Miller).
* Of all top-10 feature finishing positions among all divisions (a combined 50 positions), only three have not produced duplicate finishes by the same driver. Huh? Well, to make it clear (I hope), through 10 weeks, there have been 10 different fifth place finishers in the Late Model division, 10 different 10th place finishers in the Late Model division and 10 different 10th place finishers in the Modified division.
* Sean Johnson (Stock Car) has led the most feature laps of any driver at the speedway this season. He has led 85 of 154 total Stock Car feature laps. Johnson has held the lead in seven of the 10 features so far this season, including each of the last three weeks. The other five combined Stock Car feature winners have led a total of 16 laps.
* Every Late Model feature winner has taken the lead by lap 15.
* A car with a letter in its number has led 151 of 154 total Stock Car feature laps.
* A car without a letter in its number has led 142 of 150 total Hobby Stock feature laps.
* Tyler Bruening (Late Model), Dave Stricker (Stock Car), Ray Lundry (SportMod) and Vince Buchholz (Hobby Stock) are the only drivers to remain in the top three of his division's points every week this season. Bruening and Buchholz have been no lower than second. Adam Johnson leads the Modifieds in this category as his lowest position this season has been fourth.
* Danny Dvorak (SportMods) has recorded nine straight top-3 finishes in heat race competition, Justin Lichty (Hobby Stock) has recorded eight straight top-3s and Chris Luloff (Hobby Stock) has recorded a top-3 heat race finish in each of the seven nights he has competed this season.
* Six features have gone caution-free this season - Late Model (4 times), Hobby Stock (1), Stock Car (1).
* Since the 1989 season, 87 track champions have been crowned among the five divisions that currently compete at Independence. Of those track champions, 64 were leading the points in their respective division at the end of July. The breakdown is as follows:
Late Model: 17 of 22 Late Model track champions held the points lead at the end of July, including Denny Osborn (1989), Curt Martin (1990, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2006), Gary Crawford (1993), Greg Kastli (1994, 2002, 2003), Rick Wendling (1995, 1996), Kevin Pittman (1998), Darren Ackerman (2007, 2009), and Tyler Bruening (2010). CURRENT LEADER: Tyler Bruening - Dating back to the start of the 2010 season, Bruening has led the Late Model points at the end of seven consecutive months. It is the longest such Late Model streak in at least the last 23 years.
Stock Car: 13 of 18 Stock Car track champions held the points lead at the end of July, including Dan Trimble (1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004), Larry Portis (1995), Jarod Weepie (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010). CURRENT LEADER: Jarod Weepie - Not including this year, in the past six seasons, Weepie has held the points lead five times heading into the final month ('05, '06, '07, '08, '10). He has earned four track titles in that time ('05, '07, '08, '10).
Hobby Stock: 17 of 22 Hobby Stock track champions held the points lead at the end of July, including Steve Holthaus (1989), Lon Gadow (1990), Jerry Luloff (1991), Forrest Frost (1992), Kevin Hoehne (1994), Chris Wessner (1995), Todd Temeyer (1996), Nick Wroten (1998), Doug Otto (1999), Scooter Dulin (2001), Patrick Stansbery (2002, 2005), Vince Buchholz (2003), Brian Irvine (2004), Josh Irvine (2007, 2009) and Chris Luloff (2008). CURRENT LEADER: Vince Buchholz - Buchholz has led the points twice entering the final month of the season ('03, '10) and earned the track title in 2003.
SportMod: All three IMCA SportMod track champions held the points lead entering the final month of the season: Danny Dvorak (2008), Kyle Bentley (2009), Austin Kaplan (2010). CURRENT LEADER: Tyler Droste - In only his second year in the division, Droste has held the points lead at the end of a calendar month twice in his career - May and July of this year. He is in search of his first career track championship.
There are some all-time statistics included, dating back to 1967. While the track was believed to have opened in 1965, my records date back to the beginning of the 1967 season. All of the “all-time” statistics here include races from only the five divisions that currently compete weekly at the speedway. Modifieds started competing in 1983, Hobby Stocks in 1989, Stock Cars in 1993 and SportMods in 2008. The information included for the Late Models dates back to 1967.
As always, special thanks to track photographer Scott Tjabring of Action Track Photography for allowing me to use his photos. Check out his excellent work at Action Track Photos. This month, there are a few "oldies" thrown in. Thanks to Mark Jacobs of Speed Shots and Les Houser for offering up old pics.
Car Count
Division - Average - High - Low
Late Model – 22.0 - 29 - 18
Modified – 25.6 - 29 - 20
Stock Car – 15.7 - 18 - 13
SportMod – 17.6 - 24 - 13
Hobby Stock – 21.3 - 23 - 19
TOTAL – 102.2 - 111 - 96
Points
* 181 drivers have earned points so far this season.
* 63 different hometowns are represented on the points sheet.
* Points leaders account for eight of the 50 total feature wins through 10 weeks. Jerry Luloff (Modifieds), Jarod Weepie (Stock Cars) and Vince Buchholz (Hobby Stocks) lead the standings in their respective divisions, but have yet to record a feature win in 2011.
IN THE HUNT
* 27 drivers have remained in the top-10 in the points following all 10 weeks of the season. Those drivers include:
Late Model (4): Darren Ackerman, Tyler Bruening, Jon Passick, Travis Smock;
Modified (6): Mike Burbridge, Troy Cordes, Patrick Flannagan, Adam Johnson, Jerry Luloff, Tony Olson;
Stock Car (6): Norman Chesmore, Austin Evens, Tim Helle, Sean Johnson, Dave Stricker, Jarod Weepie;
SportMod (6): Jim Buhlman, Tyler Droste, Danny Dvorak, Lucas Lundry, Ray Lundry, Josh Sherbon;
Hobby Stock (5): August Bach, Vince Buchholz, Nathan Christie, Chris Wiltse, Steve Wiltse.
* 13 drivers have remained in the top-5 in the points following all 10 weeks of the season. Those drivers include:
Late Model (3): Darren Ackerman, Tyler Bruening, Travis Smock;
Modified (2): Patrick Flannagan, Adam Johnson;
Stock Car (4): Norman Chesmore, Sean Johnson, Dave Stricker, Jarod Weepie;
SportMod (3): Tyler Droste, Lucas Lundry, Ray Lundry;
Hobby Stock (1): Vince Buchholz.
FRONT-RUNNER - Adam Johnson has remained in the top 5 of the IMCA Modified points all season at Independence. His two feature wins this season have kept him in contention for his first track championship in the division.
* There have been 31 different feature winners in 50 feature events this season.
* There have been five different winners the last five weeks in both the Late Model and Modified divisions.
Making history…
Late Model: Tyler Bruening carries a 22-point lead into the final month of the season. The defending track champion in the division, Bruening looks to become the first back-to-back titlist in the Late Models since Curt Martin won three straight from 2004-2006. Martin was also the last Late Model driver to record his first two track championships in back-to-back seasons. He did that in 1984-1985, then won the division again in 1986.
BACK-TO-BACK BRUENING? - Tyler Bruening is looking to repeat as track champion in the IMCA Late Model division. He is four weeks away from becoming the first repeat champion in the division in five years.
Modified: Jerry Luloff is the all-time leader in Modified track championships at Independence. Entering the 2011 season, he won four titles outright and shared one, giving him five championships. The points leader entering the final month of the season, Luloff is positioning himself to earn his sixth track championship in the division at the track. He currently has no feature wins this season, however he won his last title in 2006 without a single trip to the winner's circle. In fact, three of the last five Modified champions at Independence won their titles without a single feature win (Luloff, 2006; Troy Cordes, 2008 and 2010).
SIX PACK - Jerry Luloff is a month shy of becoming the first-ever six-time IMCA Modified track champion at the speedway. No other Modified driver currently has more than four titles.
FIVE OF SEVEN? - Jarod Weepie is looking to earn his fifth IMCA Stock Car title at Independence in the last seven years.
UNCHARTERED TERRITORY - Tyler Droste is seeking his first career track championship in the IMCA SportMod division. He leads a close battle among six drivers heading into the final month of the season.
DOUBLE TROUBLE - Vince Buchholz is looking to become just the third Hobby Stock driver in speedway history to earn a second track title in the division.
Top-10s
* 128 drivers have earned at least one top-10 finish this season.* 5 drivers have earned top-10 finishes in all 10 features:
Late Model (0): None; Tyler Bruening, Jon Passick and Travis Smock lead the division with nine top-10s;
Modified (1): Jerry Luloff;
Stock Car (1): Jarod Weepie;
SportMod (3): Danny Dvorak, Lucas Lundry, Ray Lundry;
Hobby Stock (0): None; Vince Buchholz leads the division with nine top-10s.
PERFECT 10 - Ray Lundry has earned 10 top-10 feature finishes in the IMCA SportMod division this season to remain within striking distance of the track championship.
* 80 drivers have earned at least one top-5 finish this season.
* No drivers have earned top-5 finishes in all features this season. The drivers with the most top-5 feature finishes in each division are as follows:
Late Model: Tyler Bruening (7);
Modified: Adam Johnson, Jerry Luloff (6 each);
Stock Car: Jarod Weepie (8);
SportMod: Josh Sherbon (8);
Hobby Stock: Vince Buchholz, Justin Lichty, Jamie Whitaker (6 each).
FIVE UP HIGH - Nobody has more top-5 feature finishes this season than Josh Sherbon. The IMCA SportMod driver has earned eight top-5 finishes in 10 nights of racing.
The longest current top-5 streak in each division includes:
Late Model: Tyler Bruening (3 straight top-5 finishes);
Modified: Adam Johnson (3);
Stock Car: Jarod Weepie (2);
SportMod: Tyler Droste, Josh Sherbon (5 each);
Hobby Stock: Jamie Whitaker (4).
Top-3s
* 58 drivers have earned at least one top-3 finish this season.
* No drivers have earned top-3 finishes in all features this season. The drivers with the most top-3 feature finishes in each division are as follows:
Late Model: Tyler Bruening (6);
Modified: Vern Jackson (5);
Stock Car: Sean Johnson (5, all wins);
SportMod: Tyler Droste (7);
Hobby Stock: Jamie Whitaker (6).
HOT SHOT - Jamie Whitaker is currently on one of the hottest streaks at the speedway. The IMCA Hobby Stock driver has recorded four consecutive top-3 feature finishes and six top-3s in his last seven outings.
* 69 drivers have led at least one lap of feature competition.
* Division lap leaders include:
Late Model (13 total different lap leaders): Luke Merfeld (50 laps led), Tyler Bruening (45), Luke Pestka (33), Rob Toland (25), Curt Martin (23);
Modified (16): Vern Jackson (50 laps led), Justin O'Brien (20), Leon Wilson (16), Adam Johnson (14), Troy Cordes (13);
Stock Car (11): Sean Johnson (85 laps led); Dave Stricker (26); Kirk Fauser (14); Thomas Thompson and Paul Fauser (6 each);
SportMod (13): Tyler Droste (36 laps led); Danny Dvorak (31); Josh Sherbon (24); Lucas Lundry and Ray Lundry (13 each);
Hobby Stock (16): Jamie Whitaker (28 laps led); Chris Luloff (20); Justin Stander (16); Rod Grother (15); Scott Pippert and Steve Wiltse (14 each).
PURSUIT OF 100 - IMCA Stock Car driver Sean Johnson has led 85 laps of feature action this season, tops among all drivers at the speedway. A flag-to-flag feature win next week will give him 100 laps led for the season.
* There have been 62 different winners in 132 heat races.
* Tyler Bruening (Late Models) leads all drivers with eight heat wins in 10 weeks, including six straight heat wins entering August. He has finished no worse than second in a heat this season, meaning 28 of his 389 points have come in heat race competition which is 12 points more than Jon Passick, who sits second in the Late Model standings.
* Vern Jackson (Modifieds) is the only seven-timer in heat race competition. He has won his heat each of the past two weeks. No other Modified driver has more than four heat wins.
* No other driver has more than five heat wins this season. The five-time winners include Josh Sherbon (SportMods) and Chris Luloff (Hobby Stocks).
Efficiency Stats
* A total of 188 races have been run this season.
* A total of 1,990 laps have been completed.
* A total of 213 caution flags have been thrown.
* Of the 188 races this season, 93 have been caution-free.
* 155 of the 213 cautions have occurred during features.
* The Hobby Stock division (33 cautions in 39 total events) has had the best caution per race ratio by averaging .85 cautions for every race.
* The Late Model division (40 cautions in 489 total laps) has had the best caution per race lap ratio by averaging 12.23 laps of green flag racing between caution flags. The Late Model feature ran caution-free four times over a five week stretch from June 18 to July 16.
* The caution flag has flown only four times in 29 heat races for the Hobby Stocks this season and just five times in the 20 Stock Car heats.
* The Late Model division leads the way by averaging 11.40 completed laps of feature racing before the first yellow flag. The Hobby Stocks have the second best mark in this category with an average of 5.30 feature laps completed before the first caution.
Since the year 1967...
* 654 Late Model feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 97 different winners. On average, a new Late Model winner visits victory lane every 6.74 events.
* 424 Modified feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 78 different winners. On average, a new Modified winner visits victory lane every 5.43 events.
* 272 Stock Car feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 40 different winners. On average, a new Stock Car winner visits victory lane every 6.8 events.
* 47 SportMod feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 13 different winners. On average, a new SportMod winner visits victory lane every 3.61 events.
* 333 Hobby Stock feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 86 different winners. On average, a new Hobby Stock winner visits victory lane every 3.87 events.
* Overall, in the last 44-plus seasons, there have been 1,730 features completed in the five divisions that currently compete at the speedway.
Qualifying Streaks
* The longest currently active feature qualifying streaks for weekly competition in each division include:
Late Model: Darren Ackerman has qualified for 69 consecutive features. His last miss was June 3, 2006.
Modified: Jerry Luloff has qualified for 207 consecutive features. His last miss was July 5, 1997.
Stock Car: Jarod Weepie has qualified for 146 consecutive features. His last miss was June 9, 2001.
Hobby Stock: Rod Grother has qualified for 25 consecutive features. His last miss was August 22, 2009.
SportMod: Jim Buhlman has qualified for all 47 features dating back to the first one at the speedway on June 21, 2008.
Rainout Trends
* The month of July was scheduled for five race events and four of them were completed successfully. July 2, 16 and 30 remain perfect all-time at Independence as all six times each of those dates have had weekly racing scheduled, the show was successfully completed. July 23 rained out for the first time in track history this season and 1988 remains the only July 9 rainout.
THE FORECAST
* There are four dates scheduled for weekly racing in the month of August this season (6, 13, 20, 27). Of those, only August 6 and August 20 have ever rained out - August 6, 1977 and August 20, 1983. August 13 and 27 are both a perfect 5-0 for scheduled weekly racing at Independence, meaning the combined record for weekly racing on the August dates on this year's calendar is 18-2.
* There have been 22 rain-free Augusts of racing, all in the last 35 years. There have been no rainouts at Independence in the month of August since August 4, 2007. That means there have been 16 straight Saturdays of August racing at Independence. Prior to the rainout in 2007, the last August rainout was August 28, 2004, meaning 24 of the last 25 weekly races scheduled in August at Indee have been successful.
* Since 1967, there have been 172 rainouts in 809 total weekly races scheduled. The month of August has had the second-best race-to-rainout ratio as only 29 events have been rained out of the 191 scheduled. That means 84.8% of all weekly shows scheduled for the month of August have been successfully completed.
* When breaking down the season into halves where May and June comprise the first half of the season (not including any April dates) and July and August comprise the second half, historically, there are nearly half as many rainouts during the second half of the season than there are in the first half. Entering August of 2011, there have been 104 rainouts during the first half of the season and only 55 rainouts during the months of July and August.
Stuff Nobody Should Know…
* The starting spot to produce the largest number of feature winners is inside row five. That position has produced eight winners overall this season.
* The starting spot in the first five rows to produce the fewest number of feature winners is the pole position. Only one time this season (Luke Merfeld on June 11) has a feature winner started on the pole. In the previous six seasons, by the end of July there had been a combined 30 winners from the pole position.
* No feature winners have come from the front row in the Modified, Stock Car and SportMod divisions. Only three front row starters have won this season, twice in Late Models and once in Hobby Stocks. No drivers won from the front row in the month of July.
* Dave Stricker (Stock Car) and Justin Lichty (Hobby Stock) are the only drivers to have earned at least one finish in each of the top-5 finishing positions so far this season.
* Prior to his first win of the season on July 30, Quinton Miller (Hobby Stock) had three second place finishes this season to three different drivers (August Bach, Rod Grother and Chris Luloff). The only other driver at the speedway with three runner-up finishes is Jamie Whitaker (Hobby Stock). He, too, has finished second to three different winners (Chris Wiltse, Steve Wiltse and Quinton Miller).
* Of all top-10 feature finishing positions among all divisions (a combined 50 positions), only three have not produced duplicate finishes by the same driver. Huh? Well, to make it clear (I hope), through 10 weeks, there have been 10 different fifth place finishers in the Late Model division, 10 different 10th place finishers in the Late Model division and 10 different 10th place finishers in the Modified division.
* Sean Johnson (Stock Car) has led the most feature laps of any driver at the speedway this season. He has led 85 of 154 total Stock Car feature laps. Johnson has held the lead in seven of the 10 features so far this season, including each of the last three weeks. The other five combined Stock Car feature winners have led a total of 16 laps.
* Every Late Model feature winner has taken the lead by lap 15.
* A car with a letter in its number has led 151 of 154 total Stock Car feature laps.
* A car without a letter in its number has led 142 of 150 total Hobby Stock feature laps.
* Tyler Bruening (Late Model), Dave Stricker (Stock Car), Ray Lundry (SportMod) and Vince Buchholz (Hobby Stock) are the only drivers to remain in the top three of his division's points every week this season. Bruening and Buchholz have been no lower than second. Adam Johnson leads the Modifieds in this category as his lowest position this season has been fourth.
* Danny Dvorak (SportMods) has recorded nine straight top-3 finishes in heat race competition, Justin Lichty (Hobby Stock) has recorded eight straight top-3s and Chris Luloff (Hobby Stock) has recorded a top-3 heat race finish in each of the seven nights he has competed this season.
* Six features have gone caution-free this season - Late Model (4 times), Hobby Stock (1), Stock Car (1).
* Since the 1989 season, 87 track champions have been crowned among the five divisions that currently compete at Independence. Of those track champions, 64 were leading the points in their respective division at the end of July. The breakdown is as follows:
Late Model: 17 of 22 Late Model track champions held the points lead at the end of July, including Denny Osborn (1989), Curt Martin (1990, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2006), Gary Crawford (1993), Greg Kastli (1994, 2002, 2003), Rick Wendling (1995, 1996), Kevin Pittman (1998), Darren Ackerman (2007, 2009), and Tyler Bruening (2010). CURRENT LEADER: Tyler Bruening - Dating back to the start of the 2010 season, Bruening has led the Late Model points at the end of seven consecutive months. It is the longest such Late Model streak in at least the last 23 years.
TWICE AS NICE - Rick Wendling earned two consecutive Late Model track championships in 1985 and 1986. He is shown here during his 1985 run. Tyler Bruening hopes to join Wendling as a back-to-back titlist in the division this season. (photo courtesy of Les Houser)
Modified: 14 of 22 Modified track champions held the points lead at the end of July, including Tom Bartholomew (1989, 1992), Owen Grube (1993), Steve Droste (1994, 1996), Scott Hogan (1997, 2003), Jerry Luloff (1999, 2000, 2001, 2006), Troy Cordes (2002, 2010) and Darin Duffy (2009). CURRENT LEADER: Jerry Luloff - Not including this year, in the past 12 seasons Luloff has held the points lead six times heading into the final month ('99, '00, '01, '04, '06, '07). He has earned five track titles in that time ('99, '00, '01, '05, '06). The year he won the title after not leading the points at the end of July (2005), Luloff was second in the standings heading into the final month, 12 points behind Troy Cordes.
MID-90s MODS - No stranger to the winner's circle, Steve Droste earned three straight track championships from 1994-1996. Jerry Luloff entered the division in 1997 and is seeking his sixth title since 1999. (photo courtesy of Mark Jacobs/Speed Shots)
PORTIS POWER - Larry Portis (shown here in 1995) is one of only three IMCA Stock Car drivers to earn a track championship after leading the points entering the final month of the season. (photo courtesy of Les Houser)
Hobby Stock: 17 of 22 Hobby Stock track champions held the points lead at the end of July, including Steve Holthaus (1989), Lon Gadow (1990), Jerry Luloff (1991), Forrest Frost (1992), Kevin Hoehne (1994), Chris Wessner (1995), Todd Temeyer (1996), Nick Wroten (1998), Doug Otto (1999), Scooter Dulin (2001), Patrick Stansbery (2002, 2005), Vince Buchholz (2003), Brian Irvine (2004), Josh Irvine (2007, 2009) and Chris Luloff (2008). CURRENT LEADER: Vince Buchholz - Buchholz has led the points twice entering the final month of the season ('03, '10) and earned the track title in 2003.
WHOOP WHOOP - During both of his championship runs, Josh Irvine (shown here in 2007) led the points entering the month of August.
SportMod: All three IMCA SportMod track champions held the points lead entering the final month of the season: Danny Dvorak (2008), Kyle Bentley (2009), Austin Kaplan (2010). CURRENT LEADER: Tyler Droste - In only his second year in the division, Droste has held the points lead at the end of a calendar month twice in his career - May and July of this year. He is in search of his first career track championship.
INAUGURAL CHAMP - Danny Dvorak (yes, he drove the #45) works the low side of Travis Brown in the first season of IMCA SportMod racing at Independence in 2008. Dvorak drove to the track's first championship. No repeat winners since that time, Tyler Droste is looking to become the fourth different titlist in as many seasons.
While 64 of 87 seems to be a guarantee that the current points leaders are bound for title honors, it still leaves a few questions. Odds are, one of the current leaders will not carry home the hardware. Who will it be, if any? With the tightest points battles in recent memory heading into the final month, the last four nights of weekly racing are bound to add a little more history to the speedway.
That will take care of this month. Check back at the end of August for the final Blitz of the summer! Thanks for reading!
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