Season Championships bring 2012 to a close at Independence

I've heard it from a number of people recently and I couldn't disagree with them more - "Lining up by points doesn't make for good racing." That theory was proven wrong Saturday night during Budweiser Season Championships at Independence Motor Speedway.

As has been tradition for many years in Independence, features only were held on the final night of points racing with the division leaders scheduled to start on the pole. The top four in points in each division were given the opportunity to start at the tail with the chance to double their money if they came all the way through the field to win. While only a couple of drivers took that challenge, the racing remained competitive throughout the night.

The IMCA Hobby Stocks were the first to roll onto the speedway for their championship event. Points leader Justin Stander held the pole position while Benji Irvine, who trailed by 11 points, started outside of row one.

Irvine got the jump early, but Stander remained close before sweeping to the outside of the leader following a mid-race caution. Stander drove the high side to the victory and his first-ever track championship. Irvine ran second ahead of Quinton Miller, who made a nice run from a sixth row start.

His third win of the season, it was also Stander's third career win in Independence. He now sits tied for 34th on the all-time list with a variety of drivers, which include Adam Johnson, Chad Clubine, Chris Wiltse, Danny Dvorak, Derek Reisner, Don Arnold, Jason Goedken, John Meyer, Matt Brown, Milo Matthias, Quinton Reinking and Zac Boehmer.

With the victory, Stander was the fifth Hobby Stock driver in track history to win mid-season and season championship features and the track championship in the same season. Others to accomplish that included Forrest Frost (1992), Chris Wessner (1995), Doug Otto (1999) and Josh Irvine (2007, 2009).

Stander became the fifth straight different track champion in the division in Indee and the 21st different Hobby Stock titlist in the 24 seasons the division has been part of the weekly program at the speedway.

Stander also became just the fifth Hobby Stock champion in track history to win the title the same season he earned his first feature win at the speedway. Others on that list include Steve Holthaus (1989), Adam Johnson (1997), Doug Otto (1999) and Josh Irvine (2007).

Points leader Danny Dvorak wrapped up the IMCA SportMod track championship when he took the green flag in that 20-lapper. Dvorak shot into the early lead and led that even in its entirety to earn his fifth win of the season, en route to the track title.

The 14th win of his career, Dvorak extended his advantage atop the all-time wins list to two victories ahead of Josh Sherbon and Tyler Droste. Dvorak also became the first driver in the division's five-year history in Independence to earn his second SportMod crown. He was the inaugural track champion in 2008.

Like Stander, in addition to the points title, Dvorak won mid-season and season championship features. He became the first SportMod driver to do so in Independence and he became just the second SportMod champion (Tyler Droste, 2011) to wrap up the points title in victory lane on championship night.

Sean Johnson put a cap on one of the most impressive runs in track history in the IMCA Stock Car division. Johnson, who already had the track championship clinched entering the night, held off Norman Chesmore and then Phil Holtz to drive to his track-leading eighth feature win of the season. It was Johnson's 15th top-three finish in 15 nights this season. This hadn't been accomplished in at least the last 24 seasons at the speedway in any division.

It was Johnson's second straight Stock Car title, making him the first back-to-back titlist at the speedway since Jarod Weepie won consecutive Stock Car titles in 2007 and 2008.

The 25th win of his career, Johnson is now just six wins shy of Brian Irvine for second on the division's all-time list. When it comes to overall career wins at the speedway, Johnson is now tied for 15th with Chris Luloff, who earned 25 combined wins in Hobby Stock and SportMod competition.

Johnson joined Dan Trimble (1994, 1999, 2000), Larry Portis (1995) and Brian Irvine (2009) as the only Stock Car drivers to sweep mid-season, season championship and track championship honors in the same season.

Two points separated the front-runners at the top of the IMCA Modified standings at the start of the night. Mark Schulte held that slim edge over Ronn Lauritzen as the points leaders took the green from the front row in that 25-lapper.

Lauritzen took the early advantage and distanced his lead before Schulte, Darin Duffy and Adam Johnson closed the gap. Lauritzen's lead disappeared when contact from a lapped car allowed his pursuers to sneak by late in the event.

Duffy ran the low groove to the lead to earn the victory, his fourth of the season. The 41st win of his career in weekly racing in Independence, Duffy is now two victories ahead of Vern Jackson at the top of the all-time list. Schulte came home third to clinch his first Independence track championship and the ninth Modified track title of his career.

Schulte became the 16th different Modified champion in the 30 years the division has competed at the speedway. He is the fourth straight different titlist and the sixth different Mod champ in the last seven seasons.

Merv Chandler held on to become the first IMCA Sport Compact track champion in track history, but he had to chase Steve Miedke through the field to get the job done. Chandler and Miedke were a number of drivers in the division to arrive after the 6 p.m. cut-off time and were forced to start the 12-lapper from the back of the pack. They were joined at the back by Brad Chandler, who was making his first-ever appearance at the speedway.

Travis Ross held the early lead from his pole position start while Miedke and Brad Chandler worked through the 12-car pack. Miedke was the first to make his way around Ross for the lead as Brad Chandler followed him to the front. Miedke and Chandler engaged in a terrific battle out front before Chandler broke free late to take the exciting win.

Miedke chased Chandler to the checkers with Merv Chandler close behind in third. Merv Chandler lost one point in the final run-down, but held on to earn the track title by two points over Miedke.

The points season for the IMCA Late Model division ended August 26, leaving Tyler Bruening as the track champion for the second time in the last three years. Despite the end to their points season, the Late Models were invited to take part in a non-points draw/redraw special on championship night.

Curt Martin took the lead partway through that 30-lapper while Dean Wagner and Greg Kastli pursued. Kastli took advantage of a late caution to drive around Martin on his way to the exciting win. Martin ran second ahead of Jon Passick.

Nostalgia Late Models joined the championship program with Brad Huff taking the win in a replica of Glen Martin's 1964 Chevelle. Although Huff held off Dan Beer (in a replica of Ed Sanger's 1970 Camaro) at the line to take the win, Huff's throttle stuck which sent him off the track in turn one and into the guard rail. Although there was damage to Huff's #44, he was uninjured.

It was a terrific night of championship racing in Independence. The only race that wasn't in doubt until the final lap was Dvorak's dominant win in the SportMods. Great job to all drivers!

Saturday marked the end of an era at the speedway as Scott and Donette Tjabring of Action Track Photography ended their run as the official track photographers after more than 10 years. Their support and friendship to both drivers and track crew will be greatly missed. Best of luck in the future to both of them. You're always welcome to return to Indee, even if you want to leave the camera and "photo albums" at home!

It was a great first season for the speedway under the direction of new promoters Darin Burco and Todd Summers. The entire S&B Promotions crew has showed all season it will do what it takes to return Independence to its glory days. The time and commitment S&B has put into the track promises nothing but a bright future. Thanks to Darin, Todd and their families for all they've done this year. It was a blast to work for you!

Saturday night's program brought an end to the 2012 season at the speedway. There was a special event tentatively scheduled for September, however that race date has been removed from the calendar. Our next event at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds will be the annual awards banquet, scheduled for Saturday, November 17. Details on that event will be sent out in the coming weeks. Check the track's web site and facebook page for details as the banquet date approaches.

Tonight, it's off to Benton County Speedway for the final night of racing in Vinton before the September 16 season championships. Early tomorrow morning, it's off to Boone Speedway for the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals. In Boone, I'll join Jerry Vansickle and Chet Christner to call the action all week at the 30th annual event.

Due to the delayed championship night in Indee, the final Stats Blitz will not be compiled or posted until after Super Nationals. Look for that report (hopefully) sometime next week. It should be a doozy as I'll provide the updated lists of all-time feature and track championship winners.

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend! I'll see you in Boone!