A pair of all-time wins leaders and three drivers enjoying recent hot streaks made their way to the winner's circle Sunday night at Benton County Speedway.
Nathan Chandler (IMCA Sport Compact) and Damon Murty (IMCA Stock Car) extended their career wins leads in their respective divisions while Scott Pippert (IMCA Hobby Stock), Curt Hilmer (IMCA SportMod) and Mike Burbridge (IMCA Modified) continued their recent success on the Vinton quarter-mile. (Complete results follow at the end.)
Feature action began in the IMCA Sport Compact division in an event that forced Nathan Chandler to borrow the car of fellow competitor Bill Whalen Jr. Chandler, who destroyed his car a week ago, was shaking down a new machine during qualifying. After mechanical problems forced him to trailer his #22 after his heat, Chandler borrowed Whalen's #00W for the 12-lap feature.
Per IMCA rules, a driver is allowed to borrow a fellow competitor's car for the feature as long as there is not a track rule prohibiting driver changes. No such rule exists in Vinton, so Chandler was allowed to drive Whalen's car, providing, A) Chandler start at the tail of the feature (which is where he lined up before a fellow competitor elected to start at the tail), and B) Whalen agree to give up all points for the event and not be awarded an appearance toward his season point average.
Travis Ross held the early lead when the green flag waved until he slid high in turn two on the second lap. That allowed Merv Chandler to pass for the top spot exiting the corner. While Merv led, Nathan was quickly working his way through the pack and into second on lap four.
By the time Nathan made it into the runner-up spot, Merv was enjoying a few car-lengths over the field. Nathan cut into that deficit and pulled onto the leader's rear bumper when the flying green waved. On the white flag lap, Nathan dropped to the low side as the leaders ran door-to-door before Nathan escaped with the lead and eventual win.
It was Nathan Chandler's ninth win at the speedway in weekly racing this season. He now stands alone with the most Sport Compact wins in a single season in Vinton, surpassing the previous record of eight wins held by Jena Barthelmes and Gary Peiffer. That pair of drivers established the mark in 2007. For his career, Chandler now has 33 Sport Compact wins in weekly racing history in Vinton. That number is six more than Peiffer, who is second in that category.
Pole-sitter Justin Wacha held the early lead in the 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. He paced the field until Doug Laughridge worked the low side into the lead one lap later. Following a lap two caution, Laughridge held the point while Scott Pippert was making his way through traffic from a fourth row start. Pippert worked the low side into the top three until the next stoppage on lap six.
On the restart, Pippert quickly worked past Wacha for second while Laughridge ran out front. Running the low side, Pippert reeled in the leader, completely erasing the gap on lap nine. With Laughridge running the high side, the front pair ran side-by-side until Pippert escaped turn two with the lead on lap 12, moments before the event's final caution.
On the restart, Pippert held off Laughridge for his third straight win and his sixth in the last seven events. The victory was Pippert's 10th of the season in weekly racing at the speedway. He joined IMCA Modified driver Jack Mitchell as the only drivers in track history with 10-plus wins in multiple seasons. Pippert's 10-win seasons have come in back-to-back years, as did Mitchell's in 1982 and 1983. All-time Pippert now owns 45 career weekly points wins in the division in Vinton. With five weeks to go, he is now within three victories of Vince Buchholz atop the all-time list.
Prior to the night, when IMCA SportMod driver Curt Hilmer was asked if he could win for the third Sunday in a row, his simple reply was, "I doubt it." Prior to next Sunday's event, I imagine he'll be asked if he can make it four straight Sunday drives to victory lane.
A trio of cautions slowed the first couple of laps in the 15-lap feature. Jesse Belez held the top spot while Hilmer chased him from a third row starting spot. Hilmer settled into second on lap two, then worked the low side of Belez to take the lead before another caution on lap four.
When racing resumed, Hilmer again went to work on the low side of the smooth, slick oval, while Belez ran up top. Although Hilmer pulled ahead by a few car-lengths, Belez stayed close and occasionally closed the gap on the leader until the final caution waved on lap eight.
On the final restart, Hilmer pulled away from his pursuers to take the win, his second straight at the track, becoming the 10th SportMod driver in track history to earn consecutive wins. While it was his third straight win on Sundays, it was Hilmer's third win in the last four points events, a stretch that includes the Thursday, July 26, points race during the Benton County Fair. Had a flat tire not ended his run early during that event, he may very well have been celebrating his fourth straight win Sunday night.
In his career, Hilmer has won six times in the SportMod division in points racing at the speedway. That places him in a tie for fifth on the all-time list with Kurt Hogan and Racer Hulin. He sits two wins shy of Drew Fish for fourth.
Prior to Sunday night, Damon Murty hadn't been to victory lane in two-and-a-half months. When the final checkers waved in the IMCA Stock Car feature, Murty returned for the fourth time this season to the place with which he is very familiar.
Russell Damme Jr. held the early lead in the 15-lapper while his nearest competitors ran four-wide behind him for second. Norman Chesmore took over that position until he went around in turn four to bring out the race's only caution on lap three.
On the restart, Damme set the pace with Jason Deshaw in tow. Deshaw wasted no time making his way to the inside of the leader to take over the top spot entering turn one. Deshaw held the point while Murty was battling through traffic from his fifth row starting spot.
Murty closed in on Deshaw at the nine lap mark, then swept to the outside to take the lead one lap later. Deshaw remained close and was able to pull alongside the leader numerous times over the final laps, including the final corner, however Murty held on at the stripe for victory.
The triumph marked eight consecutive seasons of four-plus wins for Murty in Vinton, the most of any Stock Car driver. He also holds the Stock Car record for wins during the month of August, which now stands at 13. Sunday night's trip to the winner's circle was Murty's division leading 54th in Vinton alone.
The IMCA Modifieds rolled onto the speedway for the evening's finale on a smooth track that was as slick as glass. The surface was ideal if you possessed two qualities - the ability to wheel a race car and the patience to endure the 20-lap distance.
Outside front row starter Jerry Dedrick took the lead at the drop of the green while Shane Burbridge, Tom Hanson and Mike Burbridge raced for second. Hanson ran the top side into the runner-up spot on the third circuit, leaving the Burbridges to fight for third. Mike Burbridge won that battle on lap four while Hanson was closing in on Dedrick.
Hanson motored to the outside of Dedrick on lap six while Mike pulled away from Shane in the Burbridge battle. With Hanson leading in the top groove, Mike Burbridge ran the low groove past Dedrick for second just shy of the midway point. Burbridge then quickly reeled in Hanson and dropped to the inside of the leader on the back stretch. Burbridge held the lead at the line just prior to a lap 10 caution.
On the restart, Burbridge again went to work down low with Hanson up top. The leaders ran wheel-to-wheel over the final half of the event, swapping the lead numerous times before Burbridge inched ahead in the waning moments to take the win. Jerry Luloff and Ronn Lauritzen, who both started in row five, made impressive runs through the pack to finish third and fourth, respectively.
It was Mike Burbridge's second straight win in Vinton and his third in the last four weeks. He became the first driver to win three times in four weeks since Scott Hogan won three straight features in May of 2010. His division-leading fourth win of the season, Burbridge now owns back-to-back seasons with at least four wins. Hogan was also the last to do that during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
Burbridge now owns eight career Modified wins in Vinton, which ties him for 17th on the all-time list with Joey Schaefer, Kevin Pittman and Mike Sampson. He is two wins behind Darin Duffy, Don Erger and Jeff Barkdoll, who are in a three-way tie for 14th on that list.
While some may not like a slick track, tonight's surface showcased the drivers who possess what it takes to compete. Two, three and sometimes four-wide racing was common throughout the night. Another terrific job by Don Burkey on his track prep. Let's hope for another excellent surface tomorrow in Independence!
Monday is the big day for race fans at Independence Motor Speedway as the World of Outlaws Late Model Series will be making its second-ever appearance on the 3/8-mile oval. A $10,000 prize will be awarded to the winner of Monday night's 50-lapper. A number of drivers who competed at this weekend's USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway indicated their plans to attend Monday's show. In addition to the Late Models, IMCA Modifieds will be competing for a $1,000 winner's share and $200-to-start in that 25-lap event. Monday promises to be a memorable night in Independence so make plans to join us! Gates open at 4 p.m., hot laps at 6:45 with qualifying and racing to follow!
RESULTS
IMCA MODIFIED
Feature - 1. 11B Mike Burbridge; 2. 1XX Tom Hanson; 3. 18 Jerry Luloff; 4. 10K Ronn Lauritzen; 5. 33D Scott Hogan; 6. 21K Kyle Brown; 7. 12D Joe Docekal; 8. T23 Tony Olson; 9. 80 Jerry Dedrick; 10. 1J Jeff Streeter; 11. 7S Robbie Schmuecker; 12. 14B Shane Burbridge; 13. 7 Todd Jensen; 14. 17 Dawn Krall; 15. F7 Patrick Flannagan; 16. 98 Jason Snyder; 17. 7T Tim McBride; 18. 57B Dennis Betzer; DNS 71 Troy Cordes.
First heat - 1. Docekal; 2. McBride; 3. M. Burbridge; 4. Luloff; 5. Schmuecker; 6. Olson.
Second heat - 1. S. Burbridge; 2. Lauritzen; 3. Flannagan; 4. Betzer; 5. Krall; 6. Snyder; 7. Jensen.
Third heat - 1. Hanson; 2. Dedrick; 3. Brown; 4. Hogan; 5. Streeter; DNS Cordes.
IMCA STOCK CAR
Feature - 1. 99D Damon Murty; 2. 21DE Jason Deshaw; 3. 19J Jay Schmidt; 4. 8 Curtis Roster; 5. 7H Phil Holtz; 6. 4JR Russell Damme Jr.; 7. 9E Austin Evens; 8. 76 Mike Galli; 9. G1 Mike Padden; 10. 17 Jason Niedert; 11. 52 Nathan Wood; 12. 4 Cory Tharp; 13. 09X Cole Mather; 14. 15 Norman Chesmore.
First heat - 1. Roster; 2. Holtz; 3. Damme; 4. Murty; 5. Deshaw; 6. Padden; 7. Evens.
Second heat - 1. Schmidt; 2. Chesmore; 3. Wood; 4. Galli; 5. Mather; 6. Tharp; DNS Niedert.
IMCA SPORTMOD
Feature - 1. 22H Curt Hilmer; 2. 81 Jesse Belez; 3. 00 Jim Buhlman; 4. 21 Brennen Chipp; 5. S16 Kip Siems; 6. J2 Dave Schulze; 7. 1JR Ben Chapman; 8. 3R Danny Dvorak; 9. K3 Kyle Olson; 10. B3 Russ Olson; 11. 42C Larry Clausen; 12. CH19 Colby Heishman; 13. 28P Rick Paulson; 14. 7D Dakoda Sellers; 15. 57R Ryan King; 16. 42L Lonnie Mercer; 17. 35C Casey Heil; 18. 95 Mike McDonald; 19. 16K Brandon Morris; 20. 3B Brian Anderson; 21. T17 Tom Rawlins.
First heat - 1. Chipp; 2. McDonald; 3. Belez; 4. K. Olson; 5. Morris; 6. King; 7. Heil.
Second heat - 1. Dvorak; 2. Paulson; 3. Buhlman; 4. Chapman; 5. Clausen; 6. Heishman; DNS R. Olson.
Third heat - 1. Hilmer; 2. Schulze; 3. Rawlins; 4. Siems; 5. Mercer; 6. Sellers; 7. Anderson.
IMCA HOBBY STOCK
Feature - 1. 47 Scott Pippert; 2. 25 Doug Laughridge; 3. 46 Brian Happel; 4. 78 Matt Brown; 5. 2P Cale Petersen; 6. 45 Justin Wacha; 7. 14J Jacob Floyd; 8. 2 Nick Welch; 9. 07 Jacob Keiser; 10. 12J Jeremy Floyd.
Heat - 1. Laughridge; 2. Wacha; 3. Keiser; 4. Brown; 5. Happel; 6. Petersen; 7. Jeremy Floyd; 8. Welch; 10. Jacob Floyd.
IMCA SPORT COMPACT
Feature - 1. 22 Nathan Chandler; 2. 2 Merv Chandler; 3. 22T Travis Losenicky; 4. 11 Steve Miedke; 5. 83 Travis Ross; 6. 3S Craig Streeter; 7. 03 Neil Nabholz; 8. 111 A.J. Witten; 9. 57 Duayne Herb.
DNS 07 Joe Goodenbour.
Heat - 1. Ross; 2. Miedke; 3. Streeter; 4. Losenicky; 5. M. Chandler; 6. 00W Bill Whalen Jr.; 7. Nabholz; 8. Witten; 9. Herb; 10. Goodenbour; 11. N. Chandler.
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