Stats Blitz! Final numbers from Independence Motor Speedway

Welcome to the final installment of the 2012 Stats Blitz for Independence Motor Speedway! The statistics included here are through all 15 nights of weekly racing (14 nights for Late Models). There are some all-time statistics included at the end, dating back to 1967. While the track opened in 1965, my records date back to the beginning of the 1967 season. All of the “all-time” statistics include races from only the six divisions that currently compete today. Modifieds started competing in 1983, Hobby Stocks in 1989, Stock Cars in 1993 and SportMods in 2008. Sport Compacts joined the weekly program just after mid-season this year. The information included for the Late Models dates back to 1967.

All photos included here are courtesy of Scott Tjabring of Action Track Photography, the official track photographer of the speedway for the last 10-plus years. This season was the last for Scott and his wife, Donette, as they have chosen to spend more time with their family away from the race track. Words can not express how grateful we have been over the last decade to have Scott and Donette on our team. On behalf of the track crew, our drivers and fans, a million thanks go out to Scott and Donette for their dedication and friendship!

END OF AN ERA - Scott and Donette Tjabring of Action Track Photography were presented a plaque on the final night of racing this season at Independence Motor Speedway. It was just a small gesture of appreciation in recognition of all they've done for our drivers, crews and fans the last 10-plus years. Thank you, Scott and Donette! Your hard work and dedication have been greatly appreciated!

Around two dozen photos were added to break up the monotony of my 13,000-plus word rant. That's right, settle in, it's a long one. In fact, it covered over 50 pages of a Microsoft Word document...

Following the numbers from 2012, which are directly below, I added the season totals to the all-time statistics. New records and other interesting all-time marks are listed at the end of this blog. When you get to the historical data, all changes due to the accomplishments during the 2012 season will be pink in color. Grab a drink and kick back, this Blitz is the longest (and most informative) yet. Without further delay, here is the final Stats Blitz of 2012. Enjoy!

Car Count

Division - Average - High - Low

Late Model - 19.6 - 22 - 17

Modified – 19.9 - 29 - 17

Stock Car – 16.8 - 25 - 14

SportMod – 20.3 - 27 - 16

Hobby Stock – 23.1 - 27 - 17

Sport Compact – 9.5 - 13 - 7 (added with six weeks remaining)

TOTAL – 104.8 - 124 - 90

Points

* 220 drivers earned points this season.

* Among those 220 drivers, 79 different hometowns were represented.

* No driver held the points lead all 15 weeks:

Tyler Bruening (Late Model): Led following weeks 1, 4-5, 9-14

Mark Schulte (Modified): Weeks 1-5, 7-15

Sean Johnson (Stock Car): Weeks 2-15

Danny Dvorak (SportMod): Weeks 4, 6-15

Justin Stander (Hobby Stock): Weeks 3-12, 14-15

Merv Chandler (Sport Compact): Weeks 4-6
* Despite the close season-long battles in many divisions, for the first time in history four eventual track champions led at the end of every calendar month of the season. 
* Danny Dvorak was the first SportMod champ to lead the points at the end of every calendar month.
* Tyler Bruening has been the Late Model points leader at the end of 10 of the last 12 calendar months, dating back to May of 2010.
* For the second straight year, each track champion earned either their first or second Indee title. None of the titlists own more than two track championships at the speedway.

IN THE HUNT (Due to their short season, Sport Compact statistics are not included.)

* 20 drivers remained in the top-10 in the points every week of the season. Those drivers included:

Late Model (4): Joel Brasch, Tyler Bruening, Drew Johnson, Curt Martin;

Modified (5): Troy Cordes, Patrick Flannagan, Adam Johnson, Ronn Lauritzen, Mark Schulte;

Stock Car (3): Norman Chesmore, Sean Johnson, Jarod Weepie;

SportMod (6): Jim Buhlman, Danny Dvorak, Matt McCahen, Rick Paulson, Dave Schulze, Sam Wieben;

Hobby Stock (2): Nathan Christie, Justin Stander.

POINT MAN - Nathan Christie (#26) was one of two Hobby Stock drivers to remain in the top 10 in the division's standings for the entire 2012 season. In fact, Christie was the only driver in the division to remain in the top 10 in points in each of the last two seasons at the speedway. He sat no lower than eighth in points following any week of competition since the start of the 2011 campaign. 

* 8 drivers remained in the top-5 in the points every week of the season. Those drivers included:

Late Model (2): Tyler Bruening, Curt Martin;

Modified (2): Ronn Lauritzen, Mark Schulte;

Stock Car (2): Norman Chesmore, Sean Johnson;

SportMod (2): Danny Dvorak, Sam Wieben;

Hobby Stock (0): None.

SWINGIN' SAM - Sam Wieben (#198) remained in the hunt all season in the IMCA SportMod division. The youngster joined track champion Danny Dvorak as the only two drivers in the division to remain in the top-5 in points all season. Wieben accomplished that despite missing two weeks late in the season.

Feature Winners

* There were 38 different feature winners in 80 feature events this season.

* The five track champions in 2012 accounted for just 21 of the 80 total feature wins.
* For the first time since 2004, there was no first-time winner in the Late Model division.
* The six Modified winners were the fewest since 2004 when there were also six different winners. The only time there were fewer winners in the division was in 1984 when four different Modified drivers visited victory lane.
* It was the first time in track history the Modifieds produced one driver with six wins (Adam Johnson) and another driver with at least four wins (Darin Duffy).
* Sean Johnson became the first Stock Car driver in track history to string together back-to-back seasons of at least eight wins. He won nine times in 2011 and eight times in 2012. The only other driver in track history to earn eight wins in consecutive seasons was Brian Irvine who won eight Hobby Stock features in back-to-back seasons in 2003 and 2004.
* The eight different SportMod winners in 2012 broke the record of seven winners during the 2009 season.
* The four first-time Hobby Stock winners in 2012 was the most for the division since there were five first-timers in 2007.

FIRST-TIMER - IMCA Stock Car driver Tim Helle was one of 15 first-time winners in Independence this season. Helle made his run to the winner's circle on May 15.

Top-10s (Due to their short season, Sport Compact statistics are not included.)

* 148 drivers earned at least one top-10 finish this season. The top-10 finishes in each division were as follows:

Late Model (28 drivers with at least one top 10): Tyler Bruening, Curt Martin (13 top-10s each); Dale Hackwell Jr., Dean Wagner (10 each); Drew Johnson, Greg Kastli, Travis Smock (8 each); Joel Brasch, Chad Lerch, Jon Passick (7 each); Greg Hunter, Tysus Pattee (6 each); Rick Dralle (5); Jeff Aikey, Luke Peskta (4 each); Luke Merfeld, Jason Rauen, Dain Sires (3 each); Darrel DeFrance, Bryan Klein, Rory Metcalf, Leon Thomsen, Scott Welsh (2 each); Dirk Hamilton, Bobby Hansen, Russell Hesse, Justin Kay, Rick Wendling (1 each);

Modified (34): Mark Schulte (15); Ronn Lauritzen (14); Patrick Flannagan (13); Adam Johnson (11); Jeff Streeter (9); Vern Jackson (8); Troy Cordes, Darin Duffy, Jerry Luloff (7 each); Dennis Betzer, Shawn Ryan (6 each); Todd Conrad, Josh Sherbon, Jason Snyder (4 each); Mike Burbridge, Keith Pittman, Johnathan Thimmesch (3 each); J.D. Auringer, Shane Burbridge, Timm Jensen, Jamie Johnson, Jerry King, Luke Miller, Kevin Pittman, Chris Snyder, Ed Thomas (2 each); Joe Docekal, Scott Hogan, Terry Johnson, Jeff Kriz, Justin O'Brien, Duane Peterson, Bill Roberts, Jason Schueller (1 each);

Stock Car (27): Sean Johnson (15); Jarod Weepie (14); Norman Chesmore (13); John Emerson, Jason Hocken (11); Tim Helle, Phil Holtz, Tony Schimmels (8 each); Russell Damme Jr., Scooter Dulin, Jason Niedert, Mike Padden, Dave Stricker, Cory Tharp, Thomas Thompson (5 each); Austin Evens, Steve Meyer (4 each); Scott Beauregard, Brian Irvine, Kevin Rose (3 each); Bryce Carey, Jerome Jacoby, Cole Mather (2 each); Jesse Brown, Kirk Fauser, Paul Fauser, Kenny Taylor (1 each);

SportMod (32): Danny Dvorak, Dave Schulze (14 each); Jim Buhlman (12); Sam Wieben (11); Lucas Lundry (10); Shane Ebaugh, Matt McCahen (9); Brennen Chipp (8); Brandon Smith, Sean Vogt (7 each); Kip Siems (6); Tyler Droste (5); Rick Paulson, Travis Peterson (4 each); Jim Aschenbrenner, Curt Hilmer, Mike Mitchell, Jared Van Deest, Alex Zwanziger (3 each); Cory Evans, Brian Hilbert (2 each); Synjun Bauer, Zac Becker, Josh Burrell, Brandon Davis, Mike Hogencamp, Austin Kaplan, Kurt Moeding, Joel Rust, Hope Schlerbach, Robert Whalen, Steve Wimer (1 each);

Hobby Stock (27): Justin Stander (15); Benji Irvine (13); Rod Grother, Marcus Wayne (11 each); Nathan Christie, Justin Wacha (9 each); Curt Graham, Quinton Miller (8 each); Vince Buchholz, Matt Lundry, Jamie Whitaker, Jeremiah Wilson, Jerome Wilson (6 each); Jim Ball, Chris Luloff (5 each); Justin Lichty, T.J. Mortenson (4 each); Nathan Ballard, Doug Laughridge, Scott Pippert (3 each); Justin Hanson, Shawn Kuennen (2 each); Randy Byerly, Jacob Floyd, Gary Gates, Erick Knutsen, Lowell Potter (1 each).

LIKE RIDING A BIKE... - Veteran IMCA Late Model driver Dean Wagner had a career year in 2012. He raced to 10 top-10 finishes this season, including three wins.

Top-5s (Due to their short season, Sport Compact statistics are not included.)

* 94 drivers earned at least one top-5 finish this season. The top-5 finishes in each division were as follows:

Late Model (22): Tyler Bruening, Curt Martin (11 each); Dean Wagner (9); Travis Smock (5); Greg Kastli (4); Dale Hackwell Jr., Jon Passick, Luke Pestka (3 each); Jeff Aikey, Rick Dralle, Greg Hunter, Bryan Klein, Chad Lerch, Rory Metcalf, Jason Rauen (2 each); Joel Brasch, Darrel DeFrance, Dirk Hamilton, Drew Johnson, Justin Kay, Luke Merfeld, Dain Sires (1 each);

Modified (19): Ronn Lauritzen, Mark Schulte (13 each); Adam Johnson (9); Darin Duffy (7); Troy Cordes, Vern Jackson (5 each); Patrick Flannagan, Jerry Luloff (4 each); Shawn Ryan (3); J.D. Auringer, Dennis Betzer (2 each); Mike Burbridge, Todd Conrad, Jerry King, Kevin Pittman, Josh Sherbon, Chris Snyder, Jason Snyder, Jeff Streeter (1 each);

Stock Car (15): Sean Johnson (15); Jason Hocken (10); Norman Chesmore, John Emerson, Jarod Weepie (8); Phil Holtz (5); Scooter Dulin, Tim Helle, Tony Schimmels (4 each); Brian Irvine, Steve Meyer, Kevin Rose (2 each); Jason Niedert, Mike Padden, Dave Stricker (1 each);

SportMod (19): Danny Dvorak (10); Sam Wieben (9); Lucas Lundry (8); Dave Schulze (7); Jim Buhlman, Shane Ebaugh (6 each); Tyler Droste (5); Brennen Chipp, Matt McCahen, Kip Siems (4 each); Jim Aschenbrenner, Brandon Smith, Alex Zwanziger (2 each); Curt Hilmer, Austin Kaplan, Travis Peterson, Joel Rust, Jared Van Deest, Sean Vogt (1 each);

Hobby Stock (19): Benji Irvine (11); Justin Stander (9); Quinton Miller, Marcus Wayne (6 each); Chris Luloff (5); Curt Graham, Rod Grother, Jamie Whitaker, Jeremiah Wilson (4 each); Nathan Ballard, Vince Buchholz, Justin Lichty, Scott Pippert (3 each); Jim Ball, Nathan Christie, Justin Wacha, Jerome Wilson (2 each); Justin Hanson, Doug Laughridge (1 each).

DRIVE FOR FIVE - IMCA Modified driver Ronn Lauritzen (#10K) raced to 13 top-5 finishes in 15 nights of racing. He matched track champion Mark Schulte in number of top-5 finishes in the division.

Top-3s (Due to their short season, Sport Compact statistics are not included.)

* 72 drivers earned at least one top-3 finish this season. The top-3 finishes in each division were as follows:

Late Model (15): Tyler Bruening (9); Curt Martin (6); Dean Wagner (5); Travis Smock (4); Luke Pestka (3); Dale Hackwell Jr., Greg Hunter, Greg Kastli, Bryan Klein, Chad Lerch (2 each); Jeff Aikey, Rory Metcalf, Jon Passick, Jason Rauen, Dain Sires (1 each);

Modified (12): Adam Johnson, Mark Schulte (8 each); Darin Duffy (7); Ronn Lauritzen (6); Troy Cordes (5); Shawn Ryan (3); Patrick Flannagan, Vern Jackson (2 each); Jerry King, Jerry Luloff, Kevin Pittman, Josh Sherbon;

Stock Car (11): Sean Johnson (15); John Emerson, Jason Hocken (6 each); Jarod Weepie (4); Norman Chesmore, Tim Helle, Phil Holtz (3 each); Brian Irvine (2); Mike Padden, Tony Schimmels, Dave Stricker (1 each);

SportMod (18): Danny Dvorak (8); Lucas Lundry, Sam Wieben (7 each); Tyler Droste (4); Jim Buhlman, Kip Siems (3 each); Shane Ebaugh (2); Jim Aschenbrenner, Brennen Chipp, Curt Hilmer, Austin Kaplan, Matt McCahen, Travis Peterson, Joel Rust, Dave Schulze, Brandon Smith, Jared Van Deest, Alex Zwanziger (1 each);

Hobby Stock (16): Benji Irvine (9); Chris Luloff, Justin Stander (5 each); Quinton Miller (4); Vince Buchholz, Scott Pippert, Jeremiah Wilson (3 each); Nathan Ballard, Rod Grother, Marcus Wayne, Jerome Wilson (2 each); Jim Ball, Nathan Christie, Curt Graham, Doug Laughridge, Justin Lichty (1 each).

TO THE FRONT - First-year IMCA Hobby Stock driver Benji Irvine led the division in top-3 finishes in 2012. His nine top-3s was four more than any other Hobby Stock driver.

Feature Lap Leaders

* 84 drivers led at least one lap of feature competition.

* Division lap leaders included:

Late Model (13 total different lap leaders): Dean Wagner (54 laps led); Travis Smock (53); Tyler Bruening (46); Bryan Klein (42); Greg Hunter (33); Chad Lerch, Luke Pestka (25 each); Greg Kastli, Curt Martin, Rory Metcalf (19 each); Jeff Aikey (15); Dirk Hamilton (3); Jon Passick (2);

Modified (16): Adam Johnson (91 laps led); Darin Duffy (41); Ronn Lauritzen (33); Patrick Flannagan (30); Shawn Ryan (26); Mark Schulte (23); Jerry Luloff (13); Mike Burbridge (11); Vern Jackson (9); Johnathan Thimmesch (8); Kevin Pittman (7); Troy Cordes, Josh Sherbon (6 each); Mike Manson (3); Jeff Kriz (2); Todd Conrad (1);

Stock Car (15): Sean Johnson (101 laps led); John Emerson (75); Tim Helle (24); Norman Chesmore (16); Jason Hocken, Dave Stricker (14 each); Tony Schimmels (12); Phil Holtz (5); Jesse Brown (4); Roger Ciesielski, Brian Irvine (3 each); Austin Evens, Jason Niedert, Mike Padden (2 each); Kenny Taylor (1);

SportMod (14): Danny Dvorak (69 laps led); Kip Siems (35); Tyler Droste (30); Austin Kaplan, Matt McCahen, Travis Peterson (15 each); Lucas Lundry (14); Joel Rust (9); Jim Aschenbrenner (7); Jim Buhlman, Austin Moyer (5 each); Rick Paulson (4); Shane Ebaugh (3); Brandon Smith (1);

Hobby Stock (18): Chris Luloff (62 laps led); Justin Stander (32); Benji Irvine (22); Nathan Ballard (16); Rod Grother (14); Curt Graham, Quinton Miller (13 each); Jim Ball, Vince Buchholz (9 each); Nathan Christie, Jerome Wilson (6 each); Scott Pippert (5); Shawn Kuennen (4); Justin Ginther, Justin Lichty, Marcus Wayne (3 each); Jamie Whitaker (2); Matt Lundry (1);

Sport Compact (8): Steve Miedke (37 laps led); Merv Chandler (15); Brad Chandler (4); Travis Ross (3); Nathan Chandler, Duayne Herb, Steve Miedke (2 each); Dave Fangman (1).

LEADER OF THE PACK - Adam Johnson (#24R) led more IMCA Modified feature laps than any other driver. He led 91 laps en route to a division-leading six feature wins in 2012.

Heat Races

* There were 80 different heat race winners in 173 heat races.

* 38 drivers won multiple heat races this season.

* The heat race winners in each division were as follows:

Late Model (16 winners in 38 heats): Dean Wagner (9); Greg Hunter (6); Tyler Bruening, Greg Hunter (4 each); Rick Dralle (3); Dirk Hamilton, Greg Kastli, Rory Metcalf (2 each); Jeff Aikey, Joel Brasch, Dale Hackwell Jr., Drew Johnson, Bryan Klein, Chad Lerch, Curt Martin, Tysus Pattee (1 each);

Modified (17 winners in 33 heats): Johnathan Thimmesch (5); Ronn Lauritzen (4); Adam Johnson, Mark Schulte (3 each); Mike Burbridge, Troy Cordes, Darin Duffy, Vern Jackson, Jeff Kriz (2 each); J.D. Auringer, Todd Conrad, Patrick Flannagan, Jerry King, Jerry Luloff, Josh Sherbon, Jason Snyder, Jeff Streeter (1 each);

Stock Car (13 winners in 27 heats): John Emerson (9); Jason Hocken (6); Tim Helle (2); Roger Ciesielski, Phil Holtz, Brian Irvine, Sean Johnson, Jason Niedert, Mike Padden, Tony Schimmels, Paul Shepherd, Dave Stricker, Dan Trimble (1 each);

SportMod (13 winners in 38 heats): Tyler Droste, Danny Dvorak, Shane Ebaugh, Kip Siems (5 each); Jim Aschenbrenner, Curt Hilmer, Sam Wieben (2 each); Jim Buhlman, Brian Hilbert, Lucas Lundry, Matt McCahen, Joel Rust, Dave Schulze (1 each);

Hobby Stock (18 winners in 38 heats): Benji Irvine, Justin Stander (5 each); Rod Grother, Chris Luloff (4 each); Jim Ball, Nathan Ballard, Vince Buchholz, Curt Graham, Justin Lichty, Jeremiah Wilson (2 each); Shawn Kuennen, Matt Lundry, Quinton Miller, Scott Pippert, Billy Rhoades, Marcus Wayne, Jamie Whitaker, Jerome Wilson (1 each);

Sport Compact (3 winners in 5 heats): Steve Miedke (3); Merv Chandler, Nathan Chandler (1 each).

NO SWEAT - John Emerson won a track high nine heat races in 13 attempts this season. No other driver had more than seven heat wins.

Efficiency Stats

* A total of 254 races were run this season.

* A total of 2,837 laps were completed.

* A total of 249 caution flags were thrown.

Cautions Per Race Ratio

Sport Compact: 4 cautions in 11 races (0.36 cautions per race)

Hobby Stock: 49 / 53 (0.92)

Late Model: 50 / 52 (0.96)

Modified: 48 / 49 (0.98)

Stock Car: 43 / 42 (1.02)

SportMod: 55 / 47 (1.17)

Race Laps Per Caution Ratio

Sport Compact: 95 laps with 4 cautions (average of 23.75 green flag laps between cautions)

Late Model: 657 / 50 (13.14)

Modified: 576 / 48 (12.00)

Stock Car: 494 / 43 (11.49)

Hobby Stock: 532 / 49 (10.86)

SportMod: 483 / 55 (8.78)

Races with No Caution Flags

Sport Compact: 7 of 11 went flag-to-flag without a caution (63.63%)

Late Model: 29 / 52 (55.76%)

Hobby Stock: 28 / 53 (52.83%)

Modified: 25 / 49 (51.02%)

Stock Car: 21 / 42 (50.00%)

SportMod: 23 / 47 (48.93%)

133 of 254 races went green to checkers without a caution.

Feature Cautions

Stock Car: 37 of 43 total cautions have been thrown in feature races (86.04%)

Late Model: 40 / 50 (80.00%)

SportMod: 43 / 55 (78.18%)

Modified: 37 / 48 (77.08%)

Sport Compact: 3 / 4 (75.00%)

Hobby Stock: 36 / 49 (73.46%) 

196 of 249 total cautions were thrown during feature racing.

Average Lap of First Feature Caution

Late Model: 8.00

Sport Compact: 6.83

Hobby Stock: 5.27

Stock Car: 4.93

Modified: 4.80

SportMod: 4.80

THREE-WIDE - Two and three-wide racing was common throughout the season in Independence, but the caution flag was not. The caution flag per race ratio was the lowest it's been in at least 10 years at the speedway.

Since the year 1967...

* 673 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 6.9 events.

* 443 Modified feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 80 different winners. On average, a new Modified winner visits victory lane every 5.5 events.

* 291 Stock Car feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 43 different winners. On average, a new Stock Car winner visits victory lane every 6.8 events.

* 66 SportMod feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 17 different winners. On average, a new SportMod winner visits victory lane every 3.8 events.

* 352 Hobby Stock feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 90 different winners. On average, a new Hobby Stock winner visits victory lane every 3.9 events.

* 6 Sport Compact feature events have been complete in weekly competition with 3 different winners. On average, a new Sport Compact winner visits victory lane every 2.0 events.

* Overall, in the last 45 seasons, 1,831 features have been completed in the six 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: Drew Johnson has qualified for 49 consecutive features. His last miss was July 11, 2009.

Modified: Patrick Flannagan has qualified for 46 consecutive features. His last miss was August 8, 2009.

Stock Car: Norman Chesmore has qualified for 102 consecutive features. His last miss was July 9, 2005.

Hobby Stock: Rod Grother has qualified for 44 consecutive features. His last miss was August 22, 2009.

SportMod: Jim Buhlman has qualified for all 66 features dating back to the first one at the speedway on June 21, 2008.

STORMIN' NORMAN - IMCA Stock Car driver Norman Chesmore (#15) owns the longest streak of feature races at the speedway. He has made it into every Stock Car feature in the last 102 weekly events held in Independence. That dates back over seven seasons.

Stuff Nobody Should Know…

* Of the 80 feature winners, 46 came from inside starting spots and 34 from the outside.

* The Modified and Sport Compact divisions did not produce a single feature winner from the pole position.

* Five times the Stock Car feature winner came from outside of row four. No other starting position produced more than three feature winners within a single division. 
* Not a single SportMod feature winner came from the second row. All of the other divisions produced at least one winner from each second row starting spot.

* Ten different starting positions produced the 15 SportMod feature winners. 
* No starting position in the Stock Cars produced more than three winners.

* 102 different drivers cracked the top-10 in his division’s points for at least one week this season.

* 16 different drivers held or shared their division's points lead at some point during the season.

* Sean Johnson (Stock Car) was the only driver to win a feature after failing to qualify for the point invert in his heat race - and he did it twice. He won from the 16th starting spot on May 26 and the 12th starting spot on June 23.
* Justin Stander's (Hobby Stock) final seven finishes, in order, were: 1, 4, 2, 4, 4, 4, 1. Stander finished in only six different positions all season. He had three wins, two seconds, four fourths, one sixth, one seventh and four eighth place finishes.

* Adam Johnson's (Modified) final seven feature finishes, in order, were: 1, 5, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2.
* Sean Johnson (Stock Car) never finished outside the top three all season. His 15 feature finishes, in order, were: 3, 1, 2, 1, 3, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1. His last finish outside the top two came on June 9. Johnson's average finish for the entire 15-week season was 1.67.

* Merv Chandler ran in the top three in each of the six nights of competition for the Sport Compacts. He had two wins, two seconds and two third place finishes.
* Greg Hunter (Late Model) won his final four heat races of the season.
* Benji Irvine (Hobby Stock) finished in the top three of all but one of his heat races.
* A car with an 8 in its number led during 14 of 15 Stock Car features and for 191 of 278 total Stock Car feature laps.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING...

Okay, here it is, the impact 2012 had on the grand scheme of things - the track history of the speedway. As I mentioned at the top of the blog, all changes, new records or matched records are included in pink text. Again, the numbers listed below relate to weekly points races only. Special events are not included in any statistics provided in the Stats Blitz.

LATE MODEL (1967-2012, 46 seasons)

NOTE: My records go back to the start of the 1967 season. The 1965 and 1966 seasons are not included in any of the statistics listed below.

HE'S STILL GOT IT - Curt Martin added another win to his already impressive wins total in Late Model competition in Independence. The all-time leader in feature wins in weekly racing history at the speedway, Martin now has 93 trips to victory lane. This includes only weekly points races and does not include Deery Series, Indee Open or other non-points specials.

Feature Wins (97 drivers)

1. Curt Martin 93

2. Gary Crawford 46

3. Ed Sanger 43

4. Greg Kastli 41

5. Rick Wendling 34

6. Jim Burbridge 32

7. Red Dralle 22

8. Greg Hunter 20

T9. Chub Liebe 16

T9. Darren Ackerman 16

11. Denny Osborn 15

T12. Bill Zwanziger 14

T12. Darin Burco 14

T14. Glen Martin 13

T14. Kevin Pittman 13

16. Tyler Bruening 12

T17. Al "Doc" Mayner 10

T17. Darin Duffy 10

T17. Red Droste 10

T20. Bill Barthelmes 9

T20. Jeff Aikey 9

T22. Dan Nesteby 8

Dean Wagner 8

Joe Schaefer 8

25. Curt Hansen 7

26. Dale Stolte 6

T27. Chad Lerch 5

Dale Hackwell Jr. 5

Les Verly 5

Rick Dralle 5

Terry Neal 5

Travis Smock 5

T33. Bill Beckman 4

Cal Swanson 4

Dennis Dugan 4

Karl Sanger 4

T37. Dave Bentley 3

Dave Gerner 3

Dave Thorsten 3

Gary Henderson 3

LaVern Carey 3

Luke Pestka 3

Tom Fitzpatrick 3

Tysus Pattee 3

Wes Merritt 3

T46. Bob Hesse 2

Bob Hilmer 2

Bryan Klein 2

Dan Forsyth 2

Dick Schiltz 2

Gary Tigges 2

Jack Mitchell 2

John Connolly 2

Jon Passick 2

Larry Schmidt 2

Layne Meyer 2

Levi Benn 2

Luke Goedert 2

Luke Merfeld 2

Lynn Idler 2

Paul Fitzpatrick 2

Randy Wheeler 2

Rob Toland 2

Ty Burger 2

T65. Bernard Reinking 1

Blaine Blessing 1

Brad Osborn 1

Darrell Sells 1

Dave Bedard 1

Dave Merfeld 1

Dave Noble 1

Dave Plum 1

Dave Stricker 1

Dave Trower 1

Dennis Schwake 1

Dick Heiden 1

Drew Johnson 1

Em Fretheim 1

Greg Bruening 1

Jason Rauen 1

Jim Burger 1

Jim Decker 1

Jim Gallery 1

Joel Brasch 1

John Weers 1

Josh McGowan 1

Ken Kennedy 1

Klaus Stricker 1

Larry Wasserfort 1

Randy Frush 1

Rich Picha 1

Roger Bruggeman 1

Roger Klingfus 1

Scott Welsh 1

Steve Auringer 1

Tom Hughes 1

Vern Jackson 1

TWO-TIMER - Tyler Bruening (#16) earned his second IMCA Late Model track crown in the last three years. (He was a friend's wedding away from becoming just the fourth Late Model driver in track history to win three straight titles after missing a night in 2011.)

Track Champions

1967 Chub Liebe

1968 Red Droste

1969 Red Droste

1970 Ed Sanger

1971 Ed Sanger

1972 Curt Hansen

1973 Ed Sanger

1974 Bill Barthelmes

1975 Denny Osborn

1976 Gary Crawford

1977 Gary Crawford

1978 Gary Crawford

1979 Gary Crawford

1980 Jim Burbridge

1981 Greg Kastli

1982 Jim Burbridge

1983 Greg Kastli

1984 Curt Martin

1985 Curt Martin

1986 Curt Martin

1987 Rick Wendling

1988 Greg Hunter

1989 Denny Osborn

1990 Curt Martin

1991 Curt Martin

1992 Greg Hunter

1993 Gary Crawford

1994 Greg Kastli

1995 Rick Wendling

1996 Rick Wendling

1997 Curt Martin

1998 Kevin Pittman

1999 Curt Martin

2000 Darin Burco

2001 Greg Kastli

2002 Greg Kastli

2003 Greg Kastli

2004 Curt Martin / Darren Ackerman

2005 Curt Martin

2006 Curt Martin

2007 Darren Ackerman

2008 Dale Hackwell Jr.

2009 Darren Ackerman

2010 Tyler Bruening

2011 Jon Passick

2012 Tyler Bruening

Most consecutive seasons with win (includes 3+ seasons)

18 - Curt Martin (1990-2007)

9 - Gary Crawford (1974-1982)

8 - Greg Kastli (1996-2003)

8 - Glen Martin (1973-1980)

8 - Darren Ackerman (2004-2011)

7 - Jim Burbridge (1986-1992)

7 - Ed Sanger (1968-1974)

6 - Darin Burco (1996-2001)

6 - Chub Liebe (1967-1972)

5 - Red Dralle (1982-1986)

5 - Red Dralle (1974-1978)

5 - Greg Hunter (1997-2001)

5 - Curt Hansen (1969-1973)

4 - Rick Wendling (1987-1990)

4 - Rick Dralle (2007-2010)

4 - Red Droste (1967-1970)

4 - Jim Burbridge (1980-1983)

4 - Greg Hunter (1986-1989)

4 - Gary Crawford (1984-1987)

4 - Al "Doc" Mayner (1970-1973)

3 - Tyler Bruening (2006-2008)

3 - Rick Wendling (1982-1984)

3 - Kevin Pittman (1996-1998)

3 - Jeff Aikey (2005-2007)

3 - Greg Kastli (1981-1983)

3 - Greg Hunter (1993-1995)

3 - Ed Sanger (1984-1986)

3 - Ed Sanger (1980-1982)

3 - Denny Osborn (1996-1998)

3 - Darin Duffy (2003-2005)

3 - Bill Zwanziger (1968-1970)

3 - Bill Barthelmes (1974-1976)

3 - Arthur Nesteby (1974-1976)

3 - Tyler Bruening (2010-?)

3 - Travis Smock (2010-?)

Most consecutive seasons with win (active)

3 - Tyler Bruening (2010-?)

3 - Travis Smock (2010-?)

SMOCK THAT! - Travis Smock earned three wins in 2012 and joined Tyler Bruening as the only IMCA Late Model drivers at the speedway with at least one win in each of the past three seasons.

First-time winners per month

27 - June

24 - July

23 - August

22 - May

1 - April

1 - September

Total features

673

Total winners

97

Longest win streak (same season)

3 - Gary Crawford (1977, 1979, 1985, 1993)

3 - Ed Sanger (1972, 1973, 1973)

3 - Curt Martin (1992, 1999, 2004)

3 - Rick Wendling (1996, 1996)

Longest win streak (over two seasons)

4 - Ed Sanger (1973-1974)

Most wins in single season

8 - Ed Sanger (1973); 8 - Curt Martin (2002)

Most number of different winners in a season

12 - 1975

11 - 1970

10 - 1976, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1994, 1999, 2007, 2010, 2011

Most consecutive different winners (same season)

9 - 1975

Most consecutive different winners (two seasons)

9 - 1975-1976, 1979-1980

Most consecutive different winners to start season

8 - 1970, 1985

Most consecutive different winners to end season

9 - 1975

Most opening night feature wins

14 - Curt Martin (1984, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2012)

4 - Ed Sanger (1971, 1974, 1978, 1981)

3 - Glen Martin (1967, 1973, 1975)

3 - Bill Barthelmes (1969, 1970, 1976)

3 - Rick Wendling (1982, 1995, 1996)

2 - Gary Crawford (1987, 2003)

2 - Greg Hunter (1993, 1997)

2 - Greg Kastli (2001, 2005)

1 - Red Droste (1968)

1 - Chub Liebe (1972)

1 - Dave Trower (1977)

1 - Tom Fitzpatrick (1979)

1 - Al "Doc" Mayner (1980)

1 - Gary Henderson (1983)

1 - Jeff Aikey (1988)

1 - Red Dralle (1989)

1 - Dean Wagner (2004)

1 - Darren Ackerman (2008)

1 - Rob Toland (2009)

1 - Travis Smock (2010)

1 - Tyler Bruening (2011)

Most season championship feature wins

8 - Curt Martin (1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2005)

5 - Ed Sanger (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1981)

4 - Rick Wendling (1982, 1987, 1995, 1996)

3 - Gary Crawford (1977, 1978, 1993)

2 - Red Droste (1967, 1969)

2 - Joe Schaefer (1974, 1975)

2 - Darren Ackerman (2007, 2009)

2 - Tyler Bruening (2008, 2010)

1 - Red Dralle (1985)

1 - Paul Fitzpatrick (1968)

1 - Kevin Pittman (1994)

1 - Jim Burbridge (1980)

1 - Greg Kastli (1999)

1 - Greg Hunter (1988)

1 - Glen Martin (1979)

1 - Jon Passick (2011)

Most points nights (season)

19 (1997)

Fewest points night (season)

9 (2008)

Most 2 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

14 - Curt Martin

4 - Ed Sanger

4 - Jim Burbridge

3 - Rick Wendling

3 - Bill Zwanziger

2 - Gary Crawford

2 - Greg Kastli

2 - Chub Liebe

2 - Darin Duffy

1 - Red Dralle

1 - Greg Hunter

1 - Darin Burco 

1 - Glen Martin

1 - Kevin Pittman

1 - Darren Ackerman

1 - Red Droste

1 - Bill Barthelmes

1 - Arthur Nesteby

1 - Rick Dralle

1 - Tyler Bruening

1 - Travis Smock

Most 3 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

4 - Gary Crawford

3 - Ed Sanger

3 - Curt Martin

2 - Rick Wendling

Most 4 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

None

Season championship winners/points champion (same season)

6 - Curt Martin (1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1997, 2005)

3 - Ed Sanger (1970, 1971, 1973)

3 - Gary Crawford (1977, 1978, 1993)

3 - Rick Wendling (1987, 1995, 1996)

2 - Darren Ackerman (2007, 2009)

1 - Red Droste (1969)

1 - Jim Burbridge (1980)

1 - Greg Hunter (1988)

1 - Denny Osborn (1989)

1 - Darin Burco (2000)

1 - Tyler Bruening (2010)

1 - Jon Passick (2011)

Seasons with no back-to-back feature winners

1980, 1989, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2007

Bookend wins (won opener and SC features in same season)

6 - Curt Martin (1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1998, 2002)

3 - Rick Wendling (1982, 1995, 1996)

2 - Ed Sanger (1971, 1981)

Most days between first and most recent/last feature wins

11732 - Red Dralle (32 years, 1 month, 14 days)

11732 - Greg Kastli (32 years, 1 month, 14 days)

11004 - Rick Wendling (30 years, 1 month, 17 days)

10584 - Gary Crawford (28 years, 11 months, 22 days)

10227 - Curt Martin (28 years)

9912 - Denny Osborn (27 years, 1 month, 20 days)

9828 - Jeff Aikey (26 years, 11 months, 27 days)

8414 - Dean Wagner (23 years, 13 days)

8330 - Ed Sanger (22 years, 9 months, 21 days)

7728 - Jim Burbridge (21 years, 1 month, 26 days)

Average number of different winners per season

8.13

Average number of race nights per season

14.63

Monthly sweeps (minimum of 3 races run that month)

July 1996 - Rick Wendling (3 races)

Beginnings and Ends

1984 - Karl Sanger (last win), Curt Martin (first win)

1986 - Bill Zwanziger (last win), Greg Hunter (first win)

1992 - Jim Burbridge (last win), Darin Burco (first win)

2001 - Greg Hunter (last win), Darren Ackerman (first win)

2002 - Denny Osborn (last win), Dale Stolte (first win)

2003 - Gary Crawford and Red Dralle (last wins), Darin Duffy (first win)

Won 2 features during season of 1st weekly Independence win
(Again, my records only go back to 1967. Dates with question marks indicate earliest wins on record.)

Ed Sanger (1968?)

Paul Fitzpatrick (1968?)

Joe Schaefer (1969?)

Red Dralle (1971)

Arthur Nesteby (1972)

Gary Crawford (1974)

Denny Osborn (1975)

Greg Kastli (1979)

Tom Fitzpatrick (1979)

John Connolly (1981)

Wes Merritt (1985)

Dennis Dugan (1988)

Dave Gerner (1989)

Dan Forsyth (1992)

Layne Meyer (1995)

LaVern Carey (2002)

Tyler Bruening (2006)

Terry Neal (2007)

Levi Benn (2007)

Jon Passick (2010)

Won 3 features during season of 1st career win

Cal Swanson (1968?)

Darin Duffy (2003)

Chad Lerch (2009)

Won 4 features during season of 1st career win

Red Droste (1967?)

Won 5 features during season of 1st career win

Chub Liebe (1967?)

Curt Martin (1984)

Season opener win following championship night win the season before

6 - Curt Martin (1984-1985, 1990-1991, 1991-1992, 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 2005-2006)

2 - Ed Sanger (1970-1971, 1973-1974)

1 - Red Droste (1967-1968)

1 - Rick Wendling (1995-1996)

1 - Darren Ackerman (2007-2008)

1 - Tyler Bruening (2010-2011)

Most recent 2-time feature winner in a season

2012 - Tyler Bruening, Chad Lerch

Most recent 3-time feature winner in a season

2012 - Travis Smock, Dean Wagner

Most recent 4-time feature winner in a season

2006 - Curt Martin

Most recent 5-time feature winner in a season

2001 - Greg Kastli

Most recent 6-time feature winner in a season

2005 - Curt Martin

Most recent 7-time feature winner in a season

2004 - Curt Martin

Most recent 8-time feature winner in a season

2002 - Curt Martin

Years no driver earned first career feature win in division

1990, 1991, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2012

MODIFIED (1983-2012, 30 seasons)

The 2012 season was the 30th consecutive season for the IMCA Modified division in Independence. It is the longest running IMCA sanctioned division at any track in the country.

LEADER OF THE PACK - Darin Duffy earned four IMCA Modified feature wins in 2012 on his way to the top of the division's all-time wins list at Independence. Dating back to 2001, Duffy has now spent three separate stretches at the top of that category.

Feature Wins (80 drivers)

1. Darin Duffy 41

2. Vern Jackson 39

3. Troy Cordes 28

4. Tom Bartholomew 22

5. Jerry Luloff 21

6. Jack Mitchell 19

7. Adam Johnson 14

T8. Duane Van Deest 13

T8. Steve Droste 13

10. Scott Hogan 11

11. Timm Jensen 9

T12. Greg Kastli 8

T12. Joey Schaefer 8

T12. Kevin Pittman 8

T15. Deon Turner 7

T15. Ed Thomas 7

T15. John Light 7

T15. Mark Noble 7

T15. Max Corporon 7

T15. Mike Sampson 7

T15. Ron Barker 7

T15. Tim McBride 7

T23. Corey Dripps 6

Craig Haupt 6

Garry Stuber 6

J.D. Auringer 6

Todd Jensen 6

T28. Keith Pittman 5

Larry Schmidt 5

Tom Fitzpatrick 5

T31. Dan Bohr 4

Don Erger 4

Jason Snyder 4

Jeff Barkdoll 4

Justin O'Brien 4

Mike Krall 4

T37. Owen Grube 3

Randy Trefz 3

Ronn Lauritzen 3

Travis Heyer 3

T41. Adam Bolin 2

Dave Bentley 2

Dennis Fink 2

Jamie Aikey 2

Jerry King 2

Jim Abben 2

Johnathan Thimmesch 2

Kevin Peverill 2

Merlin Benning 2

Mike Schulte 2

Patrick Flannagan 2

Shawn Ryan 2

T53. Arlo Becker 1

Ben Metcalf 1

Brett Ladehoff 1

Buck Swanson 1

Cory Bauer 1

Dean Mahlstedt 1

Dennis Betzer 1

Denny Ansel 1

Dick Feckers 1

Doug Hillson 1

John Irwin 1

Ken Irvine 1

Kenny Hoeppner 1

Kevin Schroeder 1

Larry Engen 1

Mark Schulte 1

Merv Chandler 1

Mike Burbridge 1

Richard Von Krog 1

Richie Gustin 1

Ron Becker 1

Ron Hurst 1

Ron Little 1

Shawn Fisher 1

Tim Donlinger 1

Todd McCombs 1

Tom Hanson 1

Tony Olson 1

TOP MOD - Mark Schulte drove to his first career Independence Motor Speedway track title in the IMCA Modified division. Schulte became the 16th different division champ at the speedway in the 30 years the IMCA Modifieds have competed in Independence. He was also the fourth straight different titlist in the division.

Track Champions

1983 Jack Mitchell

1984 Jack Mitchell

1985 Duane Van Deest

1986 Greg Kastli

1987 Mark Noble

1988 Craig Haupt

1989 Tom Bartholomew

1990 Tom Bartholomew

1991 Tom Bartholomew

1992 Tom Bartholomew

1993 Owen Grube

1994 Steve Droste

1995 Steve Droste

1996 Steve Droste

1997 Scott Hogan

1998 Scott Hogan

1999 Jerry Luloff

2000 Jerry Luloff

2001 Darin Duffy / Jerry Luloff

2002 Troy Cordes

2003 Scott Hogan

2004 Vern Jackson

2005 Jerry Luloff

2006 Jerry Luloff

2007 J.D. Auringer

2008 Troy Cordes

2009 Darin Duffy

2010 Troy Cordes

2011 Adam Johnson

2012 Mark Schulte
 

Most consecutive seasons with win

10 - Jerry Luloff (1996-2005)

9 - Vern Jackson (2000-2008)

7 - Tom Bartholmoew (1986-1992)

6 - Troy Cordes (2002-2007)

6 - Darin Duffy (1997-2002)

5 - Duane Van Deest (1990-1994)

4 - Steve Droste (1993-1996)

4 - Scott Hogan (1994-1997)

4 - Max Corporon (2007-2010)

4 - Jerry Luloff (2007-2010)

4 - Deon Turner (1989-1992)

4 - Darin Duffy (2009-?)

3 - Scott Hogan (2002-2004)

3 - Ron Barker (1987-1989)

3 - Owen Grube (1992-1994)

3 - Corey Dripps (1995-1997)

Most consecutive seasons with win (active)

4 - Darin Duffy (2009-?)

First-time winners per month

26 - May

18 - June

17 - August

14 - July

5 - April

Total features

443

Total winners

80

Longest win streak (same season)

6 - Jack Mitchell (1984)

Longest win streak (over seasons)

4 - Steve Droste (1995-1996)

Most wins in single season

10 - Jack Mitchell (1984)

Most number of different winners in a season

11 (1994, 15-week season)

Career track championships

5 - Jerry Luloff (1999, 2000, co-2001, 2005, 2006)

4 - Tom Bartholomew (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992)

3 - Steve Droste (1994, 1995, 1996)

3 - Scott Hogan (1997, 1998, 2003)

3 - Troy Cordes (2002, 2008, 2010)

2 - Jack Mitchell (1983, 1984)

2 - Darin Duffy (co-2001, 2009)

1 - Vern Jackson (2004)

1 - Owen Grube (1993)

1 - Mark Noble (1987)

1 - J.D. Auringer (2007)

1 - Greg Kastli (1986)

1 - Duane Van Deest (1985)

1 - Craig Haupt (1988)

1 - Adam Johnson (2011)

1 - Mark Schulte (2012)

Most consecutive different winners (same season)

8 - 1992, 1993 (3 separate times within 1993 season)

Most consecutive different winners (two seasons)

9 - 1992-1993; 1993-1994

Most consecutive different winners to start season

8 - 1993

Most consecutive different winners to end season

8 - 1993

Most opening night feature wins

3 - Vern Jackson (2001, 2003, 2008)

2 - Steve Droste (1995, 1996)

1 - Jack Mitchell (1983)

1 - Mike Krall (1984)

1 - Tom Fitzpatrick (1985)

1 - Greg Kastli (1986)

1 - Todd Jensen (1987)

1 - Craig Haupt (1988)

1 - Kevin Pittman (1989)

1 - John Irwin (1990)

1 - Larry Schmidt (1991)

1 - Deon Turner (1992)

1 - Tim Donlinger (1993)

1 - Duane Van Deest (1994)

1 - Travis Heyer (1997)

1 - Jerry Luloff (1998)

1 - Garry Stuber (1999)

1 - Troy Cordes (2000)

1 - Jerry King (2002)

1 - Scott Hogan (2004)

1 - Joey Schaefer (2005)

1 - Jason Snyder (2006)

1 - J.D. Auringer (2007)

1 - Max Corporon (2009)

1 - Richie Gustin (2010)

1 - Mike Burbridge (2011)

1 - Mark Schulte (2012)

Most season championship feature wins

5 - Darin Duffy (1997, 1998, 2009, 2010, 2012)

3 - Tom Bartholomew (1990, 1991, 1992)

3 - Jerry Luloff (1999, 2002, 2004)

2 - Vern Jackson (2005, 2007)

2 - Troy Cordes (2000, 2006)

2 - Steve Droste (1994, 1995)

2 - Jack Mitchell (1983, 1984)

2 - Duane Van Deest (1985, 1986)

1 - Scott Hogan (1996)

1 - Ron Barker (1989)

1 - Owen Grube (1993)

1 - Mark Noble (1987)

1 - Johnathan Thimmesch (2008)

1 - Craig Haupt (1988)

1 - Adam Johnson (2011)

Rained out twice (2001, 2003)

Track champion with fewest feature wins

0 - Scott Hogan (1998), Jerry Luloff (2006), Troy Cordes (2008, 2010)

Most points nights (season)

19 - 1997

Fewest points night (season)

7 - 1986

Most 2 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

7 - Darin Duffy

Most 3 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

3 - Darin Duffy

Most 4 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

1 - Adam Johnson

Most 5 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

None

Most 6 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

1 - Jack Mtchell

Season championship winners/points champion (same season)

Tom Bartholomew (1990, 1991, 1992)

Jack Mitchell (1983, 1984)

Steve Droste (1994, 1995)

Duane Van Deest (1985)

Mark Noble (1987)

Craig Haupt (1988)

Owen Grube (1993)

Jerry Luloff (1999)

Darin Duffy (2009)

Adam Johnson (2011)

Seasons with no back-to-back feature winners

1993, 1994, 2003, 2010

Bookend wins (won opener and SC features in same season)

Jack Mitchell (1983)

Craig Haupt (1988)

Steve Droste (1995)

Troy Cordes (2000)

Most days between first and most recent feature wins

7028 - Darin Duffy (19 years, 2 months, 27 days)

6608 - Timm Jensen (18 years, 1 month, 4 days)

6552 - Ed Thomas (17 years, 11 months, 9 days)

5530 - Troy Cordes (15 years, 1 month, 22 days)

5159 - Vern Jackson (14 years, 1 month, 15 days)

5089 - Jerry Luloff (13 years, 11 months, 7 days)

5054 - Deon Turner (13 years, 10 months, 2 days)

4326 - Garry Stuber (11 years, 10 months, 4 days)

4081 - Jack Mitchell (11 years, 2 months, 2 days)

3633 - Mike Sampson (9 years, 11 months, 12 days)

Average number of different winners per season

7.73

Average number of race nights per season

14.77

1st feature winner in division history

Jack Mitchell (5/21/83)

50th feature winner in division history

John Light (6/28/86)

100th feature winner in division history

Deon Turner (7/1/89)

150th feature winner in division history

Timm Jensen (8/15/92)

200th feature winner in division history

Steve Droste (7/6/96)

250th feature winner in division history

Darin Duffy (7/19/99)

300th feature winner in division history

Ben Metcalf (8/17/02)

350th feature winner in division history

J.D. Auringer (5/6/06)

400th feature winner in division history

Darin Duffy (8/29/09)

Monthly sweeps (minimum of 3 races in month)

June 1984 - Jack Mitchell (3 races)

August 1984 - Jack Mitchell (4 races)

May 1987 - Mark Noble (3 races)

Won 2 features during season of 1st career win

Tom Fitzpatrick (1983)

Mike Krall (1983)

Dennis Fink (1985)

Mike Schulte (1985)

Kevin Pittman (1986)

Larry Schmidt (1988)

Dave Bentley (1992)

Dan Bohr (1992)

Jamie Aikey (1993)

Jeff Barkdoll (1994)

Corey Dripps (1995)

Troy Cordes (1996)

Joey Schaefer (2001)

Adam Johnson (2007)

Johnathan Thimmesch (2008)

Shawn Ryan (2012)

MAKE IT A DOUBLE - Shawn Ryan (#91) had won before, but not in weekly points racing in Independence. His first career win in the weekly battles on the Indee oval came on June 23. Ryan backed up that victory with another trip to the winner's circle July 7.

Won 3 features during season of 1st career win

Travis Heyer (1997)

Justin O'Brien (2010)

Won 4 features during season of 1st career win

Vern Jackson (1997)

Won 5 features during season of 1st career win

Duane Van Deest (1985)

Craig Haupt (1988)

Won 6 features during season of 1st career win

Jack Mitchell (1983)

Won 7 features during season of 1st career win

Mark Noble (1987)

Won 8 features during season of 1st career win

Greg Kastli (1986)

Season opener win following championship night win the season before

1 - Steve Droste (1994-1995)

1 - Scott Hogan (2003-2004)

1 - Vern Jackson (2007-2008)

First-time feature winners per season

8 - 1993

6 - 1983, 1985, 1987

4 - 1996, 2003

3 - 1986, 1988, 1992, 1997, 2008

2 - 1984, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002,

      2007, 2009, 2010, 2012

1 - 1991, 1995, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011

0 - 2000

Won track championship the same year as first weekly Independence feature win

1983 - Jack Mitchell

1985 - Duane Vane Deest

1986 - Greg Kastli

1987 - Mark Noble

1988 - Craig Haupt

2012 - Mark Schulte

Won track championship the same year as final weekly Independence feature win (*still active)

1986 - Greg Kastli

1987 - Mark Noble

1996 - Steve Droste

2007* - J.D. Auringer

Earned first weekly Independence win on opening night

1983 - Jack Mitchell

1986 - Greg Kastli

1988 - Craig Haupt

1990 - John Irwin

1993 - Tim Donlinger

1997 - Travis Heyer

2010 - Richie Gustin

2011 - Mike Burbridge

2012 - Mark Schulte

Earned final weekly Independence win on opening night

1990 - John Irwin

1993 - Tim Donlinger

1994 - Duane Van Deest

2002* - Jerry King

2010* - Richie Gustin

2012* - Mark Schulte

Earned first career win on championship night

None

Earned final career win on championship night

1987 - Mark Noble

1989 - Ron Barker

2008* - Johnathan Thimmesch

Days as career wins leader (through 9/1/12)

3556 - Tom Bartholomew (8/24/91 - 5/19/01)

3346 - Jack Mitchell (5/21/83 - 7/18/92)

2142 - Vern Jackson (8/27/05 - 8/29/09)

                                  (7/31/10 - 8/14/10)

                                   (8/21/10 - 6/16/12 )

2051 - Darin Duffy (5/19/01 - 8/27/05)

                                 (8/8/09 - 8/28/10)

                                 (5/26/12 - )

Won opening night feature and track championship in the same year

2 - Steve Droste (1995, 1996)

1 - Jack Mitchell (1983)

1 - Greg Kastli (1986)

1 - Craig Haupt (1988)

1 - J.D. Auringer (2007)

1 - Mark Schulte (2012)

Most recent 2-time feature winner in a season

2012 - Shawn Ryan

Most recent 3-time feature winner in a season

2010 - Darin Duffy, Vern Jackson, Justin O'Brien

Most recent 4-time feature winner in a season

2012 - Darin Duffy

Most recent 5-time feature winner in a season

2005 - Vern Jackson

Most recent 6-time feature winner in a season

2012 - Adam Johnson

Most recent 7-time feature winner in a season

2009 - Darin Duffy

Most recent 8-time feature winner in a season

1999 - Darin Duffy

Most recent 9-time feature winner in a season

N/A

Most recent 10-time feature winner in a season

1984 - Jack Mitchell

Years no driver earned first career feature win in division

2000

STOCK CAR (1993-2012, 20 seasons)

The 2012 season was the 20th for the Stock Car division in Independence. The division was not sanctioned during its first year in 1993, but has been IMCA sanctioned each of the last 19 seasons.

STAYING POWER - Although his race nights have been limited in recent years, Dan Trimble's stay atop the all-time Stock Car wins list in Independence is far from over. Trimble competed only on opening night this season (shown above), but he still ended the season with more than twice as many career wins as anyone else.

Feature Wins (43 drivers)

1. Dan Trimble 69

2. Brian Irvine 31

3. Sean Johnson 25

T4. Jarod Weepie 18

T4. Justin Temeyer 18

6. Larry Portis 16

7. Tom Schmitt 15

8. Norman Chesmore 14

9. Chris Wessner 9

10. Ken Irvine 7

T11. Curtis Roster 5

T11. Darrin Treptow 5

T11. Lon Gadow 5

T14. Damon Murty 4

T14. Dave Stricker 4

T14. John Emerson 4

T14. Tony Schimmels 4

T18. Brad Holtkamp 3

T18. Dale Hackwell Jr. 3

T18. Forrest Frost 3

T18. Jerry Schipper 3

T18. Phil Holtz 3

T23. David Adams 2

Robert Walters 2

T25. Bernard Reinking 1

Bob Ahrendsen 1

Chad Albert 1

Cliff Gray 1

Dain Sires 1

Doug Walker 1

Eric Weber 1

Fabian Seitz 1

Jason Hocken 1

Jeff Franck 1

Kirk Fauser 1

LaVern Carey 1

Max Leonard 1

Richard Quail 1

Roger Samec 1

Scooter Dulin 1

Steve Meyer 1

Tim Helle 1

Todd Suhr 1

REPEAT OFFENDER - Sean Johnson drove to his second straight IMCA Stock Car track championship in Independence. The defending champion won in style in 2012 as the hometown driver finished no worse than third place in any of the 15 points races this season.

Track Champions

1993 Lon Gadow

1994 Dan Trimble

1995 Larry Portis

1996 Jerry Schipper

1997 Jerry Schipper

1998 Dan Trimble

1999 Dan Trimble

2000 Dan Trimble

2001 Dan Trimble

2002 Dan Trimble

2003 Dan Trimble

2004 Dan Trimble

2005 Jarod Weepie

2006 Dan Trimble

2007 Jarod Weepie

2008 Jarod Weepie

2009 Brian Irvine

2010 Jarod Weepie

2011 Sean Johnson

2012 Sean Johnson

Most consecutive seasons with win

13 - Dan Trimble (1994-2006)

8 - Jarod Weepie (2000-2007)

Most consecutive seasons with win (active)

3 - Sean Johnson (2010-?)

First-time winners per month

12 - June

11 - May

10 - July

8 - August

2 - April

Total features

291

Total winners

43

Longest win streak (same season)

6 - Dan Trimble - 7/2/94 to 8/6/94 (Norman Chesmore on 8/13/94)

6 - Larry Portis - 7/8/95 to 8/26/95 (end season)

Longest win streak (over seasons)

7 - Larry Portis - 7/8/95 to 4/27/96 (Jerry Schipper on 5/4/96)

7 - Dan Trimble - 8/14/99 to 6/3/00 (Curtis Roster on 6/10/00)

Most wins in single season

10 - Larry Portis (1995)

Most number of different winners in a season

9 - 2005 (in 16 nights)

Career track championships

9 - Dan Trimble (1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006)

4 - Jarod Weepie (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010)

2 - Jerry Schipper (1996, 1997)

2 - Sean Johnson (2011, 2012)

1 - Lon Gadow (1993)

1 - Larry Portis (1995)

1 - Brian Irvine (2009)

Most consecutive different winners (same season)

7 - 5/28/05 to 7/16/05

Most consecutive different winners (two seasons)

NA (not as long as streak directly above)

Most consecutive different winners to start season

5 - 2003 season

Most consecutive different winners to end season

6 - 2006 season

HOCKEN HAULS - After taking off a majority of the 2011 season, IMCA Stock Car driver Jason Hocken returned in fine form in 2012. He earned his first career feature win en route to a second place finish in the final standings. 

Most opening night feature wins

5 - Dan Trimble (1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2006)

3 - Brian Irvine (2005, 2007, 2009)

2 - Larry Portis (1995, 1996)

2 - Tom Schmitt (2003, 2004)

1 - Lon Gadow (1993)

1 - Ken Irvine (1997)

1 - Jarod Weepie (2001)

1 - Fabian Seitz (2002)

1 - Norman Chesmore (2008)

1 - Justin Temeyer (2010)

1 - Sean Johnson (2011)

1 - Phil Holtz (2012)

Most season championship feature wins

7 - Dan Trimble (1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005)

3 - Brian Irvine (2007, 2008, 2009)

2 - Jarod Weepie (2006, 2010)

2 - Sean Johnson (2011, 2012)

1 - Lon Gadow (1993)

1 - Larry Portis (1995)

1 - Darrin Treptow (1997)

1 - Tom Schmitt (2004)

(Rained out twice - 2001, 2003)

Track champion with fewest feature wins

0 - Jerry Schipper (1997), Jarod Weepie (2008)

Most points nights (season)

19 - 1997 (only season on record with no rainouts)

Fewest points night (season)

9 - 2008 (Wind storm destroyed grandstands in spring)

Most 2 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

9 - Dan Trimble (13 drivers with 2 race win streak)

Most 3 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

3 - Dan Trimble (6 drivers with 3 race win streak)

Most 4 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

2 - Brian Irvine (2 drivers with 4 race win streak)

Most 5 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

1 - Chris Wessner, Sean Johnson

Most 6 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

1 - Larry Portis and Dan Trimble (2 drivers with 6 race win streak)

Season championship winners/points champion (same season)

5 - Dan Trimble (1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002)

2 - Sean Johnson (2011, 2012)

1 - Lon Gadow (1993)

1 - Larry Portis (1995)

1 - Brian Irvine (2009)

1 - Jarod Weepie (2010)

Seasons with no back-to-back feature winners

2006

Bookend wins (won opener and SC features in same season)

4 - Dan Trimble (1994, 1998, 1999, 2000)

2 - Brian Irvine (2007, 2009)

1 - Lon Gadow (1993)

1 - Larry Portis (1995)

1 - Tom Schmitt (2004)

1 - Sean Johnson (2011)

Most days between first and most recent feature wins

6258 - Dan Trimble (17 years, 1 month, 18 days)

5488 - Norman Chesmore (15 years, 9 days)

3668 - Jarod Weepie (10 years, 16 days)

3612 - Justin Temeyer  (9 years, 10 months, 21 days)

2576 - Sean Johnson (7 years, 19 days)

2163 - Tony Schimmels (5 years, 11 months, 3 days)

1898 - Tom Schmitt (5 years, 2 months, 9 days)

1855 - Brian Irvine (5 years, 29 days)

1435 - Curtis Roster (3 years, 11 months, 5 days)

1393 - Ken Irvine (3 years, 9 months, 24 days)

Average number of different winners per season

5.80

Average number of race nights per season

14.55

1st feature winner in division history

Lon Gadow (4/24/93)

50th feature winner in division history

Larry Portis (7/20/96)

100th feature winner in division history

Tom Schmitt (7/10/99)

150th feature winner in division history

Tom Schmitt (4/26/03)

200th feature winner in division history

Jarod Weepie (5/27/06)

250th feature winner in division history

Brian Irvine (5/15/10)

Monthly sweeps (minimum of 3 races run that month)

August 1993 - Lon Gadow (3 races)

July 1994 - Dan Trimble (5 races)

August 1995 - Larry Portis (4 races)

July 2007 - Brian Irvine (4 races)

August 2011 - Sean Johnson (4 races)

Won 2 features during season of 1st career win

Norman Chesmore (1993)

Dale Hackwell Jr. (1994)

David Adams (1997)

Robert Walters (1998)

Tom Schmitt (1999)

Dave Stricker (2002)

Won 3 features during season of 1st career win

Forrest Frost (1993)

Darrin Treptow (1997)

Chris Wessner (1998)

Brad Holtkamp (2002)

Damon Murty (2005)

Won 4 features during season of 1st career win

Justin Temeyer (2001)

Brian Irvine (2005)

John Emerson (2012)

Won 5 features during season of 1st career win

Lon Gadow (1993)

Won 9 features during season of 1st career win

Dan Trimble (1994)

Won 10 features during season of 1st career win

Larry Portis (1995)

Season opener win following championship night win the season before

3 - Dan Trimble (1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2005-2006)

1 - Larry Portis (1995-1996)

1 - Brian Irvine (2008-2009)

First-time feature winners per season

6 - 2005

4 - 1993, 1994, 2002

3 - 1997, 1998, 2000, 2012

2 - 1995, 2001

1 - 1996, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

Won track championship the same year as first career feature win

1993 - Lon Gadow

1994 - Dan Trimble

1995 - Larry Portis

Won track championship the same year as final career feature win (*still active)

1993 - Lon Gadow

2010* - Jarod Weepie

2012* - Sean Johnson

Earned first career win on opening night

1993 - Lon Gadow

1994 - Dan Trimble

1995 - Larry Portis

2002 - Fabian Seitz

2005 - Brian Irvine

Earned final career win on opening night

2002 - Fabian Seitz

2008* - Norman Chesmore

Earned first career win on championship night

None

Earned final career win on championship night

1993 - Lon Gadow

2010* - Jarod Weepie

2012* - Sean Johnson

Days as career wins leader (through 9/1/12)

6580 - Dan Trimble (7/16/94 - 6/8/96, 6/29/96 - 8/3/96, 8/24/96 - current)

651 - Lon Gadow (4/24/93 - 7/23/94)

350 - Larry Portis (4/27/96 - 5/11/96, 5/18/96 - 7/6/96, 7/20/96 - 5/3/97)

Won opening night feature and track championship in the same year

5 - Dan Trimble (1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2006)

1 - Lon Gadow (1993)

1 - Larry Portis (1995)

1 - Brian Irvine (2009)

1 - Sean Johnson (2011)

Most recent 2-time feature winner in a season

2011 - Dave Stricker

Most recent 3-time feature winner in a season

2010 - Brian Irvine

Most recent 4-time feature winner in a season

2012 - John Emerson

Most recent 5-time feature winner in a season

2003 - Dan Trimble

Most recent 6-time feature winner in a season

2004 - Tom Schmitt

Most recent 7-time feature winner in a season

1998 - Dan Trimble

Most recent 8-time feature winner in a season

2012 - Sean Johnson

Most recent 9-time feature winner in a season

2011 - Sean Johnson

Most recent 10-time feature winner in a season

1995 - Larry Portis

SPORTMOD (2008-2012, 5 seasons)

After running an unsanctioned B Mod division from 2004-2007, the track switched to the IMCA SportMod division at the start of the 2008 season.

DVORAK DOUBLE - Danny Dvorak moved to the top of the all-time IMCA SportMod wins list at the speedway on his way to the 2012 track championship. Doing so, Dvorak became the first driver in track history with multiple SportMod titles. He was the inaugural champion in 2008.

Feature Wins (17 drivers)

1. Danny Dvorak 14

T2. Josh Sherbon 12

T2. Tyler Droste 12

4. Austin Kaplan 6

5. Lucas Lundry 4

T6. Chris Luloff 3

T6. Joel Rust 3

T6. Ray Lundry 3

T9. Austin Lucas 1

T9. Jim Aschenbrenner 1

T9. Jim Buhlman 1

T9. Joe Docekal 1

T9. Kip Siems 1

T9. Kurt Hogan 1

T9. Kyle Bentley 1

T9. Matt McCahen 1

T9. Travis Peterson 1 

Track Champions

2008 Danny Dvorak

2009 Kyle Bentley

2010 Austin Kaplan

2011 Tyler Droste

2012 Danny Dvorak

Most consecutive seasons with win

4 - Josh Sherbon (2008-2011)

4 - Lucas Lundry (2009-?)

3 - Tyler Droste (2010-?)

2 - Danny Dvorak (2008-2009)

2 - Austin Kaplan (2009-2010)

Most consecutive seasons with win (active)

4 - Lucas Lundry (2009-?)

3 - Tyler Droste (2010-?)

 MR. CONSISTENT - Lucas Lundry has earned exactly one SportMod feature win in each of the last four seasons. He is the only driver in the division with a win every year over that span. 

First-time winners per month

6 - July

5 - August

3 - June

3 - May

0 - April

Total features

66

Total winners

17

Longest win streak (over seasons)

NA

Most wins in single season

7 - Tyler Droste (2011)

6 - Josh Sherbon (2010)

5 - Danny Dvorak (2012)

4 - Danny Dvorak (2009)

4 - Tyler Droste (2012)

Most number of different winners in a season

8 - 2012 (in 15 nights)

Career track championships

2 - Danny Dvorak (2008, 2012)

1 - Kyle Bentley (2009)

1 - Austin Kaplan (2010)

1 - Tyler Droste (2011)

Most consecutive different winners (same season)

6 - 6/27/09 to 8/8/09

Most consecutive different winners (two seasons)

NA (not as long as streak directly above)

Most consecutive different winners to start season

3 - 2009 and 2012 seasons

Most consecutive different winners to end season

5 - 2008 and 2012 seasons

Most opening night feature wins

2 - Josh Sherbon (2008, 2009)

1 - Austin Lucas (2010)

1 - Tyler Droste (2011)

1 - Austin Kaplan (2012)

Most season championship feature wins

2 - Tyler Droste (2010)

1 - Joel Rust (2009)

1 - Jim Buhlman (2008)

1 - Danny Dvorak (2012)

Track champion with fewest feature wins

0 - Kyle Bentley (2009)

Most points nights (season)

15 - 2012

Fewest points night (season)

9 - 2008

Most 2 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

3 - Josh Sherbon (all in 2010 season); Tyler Droste (all in 2011 season)

1 - Chris Luloff (2009)

1 - Austin Kaplan (2010)

1 - Danny Dvorak (2012)

Most 3 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

None

Most 4 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

None

Season championship winner/points champion (same season)

1 - Tyler Droste (2011)

1 - Danny Dvorak (2012)

Seasons with no back-to-back feature winners

2008

Bookend wins (won opener and SC features in same season)

Tyler Droste (2011)

Most days between first and most recent feature wins

1519 - Danny Dvorak (4 years, 1 month, 1 day)

1134 - Joel Rust (3 years, 1 month, 7 days)

1120 - Lucas Lundry (3 years, 24 days)

1113 - Josh Sherbon (4 years, 1 month, 27 days)

1001 - Austin Kaplan (2 years, 8 months, 27 days)

700 - Tyler Droste (1 year, 11 months)

392 - Ray Lundry (1 year, 27 days)

DROSTE DELIVERS - Although he only competed in Independence six nights in 2012, Tyler Droste earned four feature wins. All 12 of his wins in Independence have come since championship night in 2010. 

Average number of different winners per season

6.40

Average number of race nights per season

13.20

1st feature winner in division history

Josh Sherbon (6/21/08)

50th feature winner in division history

Tyler Droste (8/20/11)

Monthly sweeps (minimum of 3 races run that month)

None

Won 2 features during season of 1st career win

Austin Kaplan (2009)

Joel Rust (2009)

Ray Lundry (2010)

Won 3 features during season of 1st career win

Josh Sherbon (2008)

Danny Dvorak (2008)

Chris Luloff (2009)

Season opener win following championship night win the season before

Tyler Droste (2010-2011)

First-time feature winners per season

5 - 2008, 2009

3 - 2010, 2012

1 - 2011

Won track championship the same year as first career feature win

2008 - Danny Dvorak

Won track championship the same year as final career feature win (*still active)

2012* - Danny Dvorak

Earned first career win on opening night

2007 - Josh Sherbon

2010 - Austin Lucas

Earned final career win on opening night

2010* - Austin Lucas

Earned first career win on championship night

2008 - Jim Buhlman

2010 - Tyler Droste

Earned final career win on championship night

2008* - Jim Buhlman

2012* - Danny Dvorak

Days as career wins leader (through 9/1/12)

1064 - Josh Sherbon (6/21/08 - 8/2/08, 8/16/08 - 6/20/09, 7/17/10 - 6/30/12)

805 - Danny Dvorak (7/5/08 - 7/12/08, 7/19/08 - 5/2/09, 5/23/09 - 7/31/10, 6/16/12 - ?)

Won opening night feature and track championship in the same year

1 - Tyler Droste (2011)

Most recent 2-time feature winner in a season

2010 - Ray Lundry

Most recent 3-time feature winner in a season

2010 - Austin Kaplan

Most recent 4-time feature winner in a season

2012 - Tyler Droste

Most recent 5-time feature winner in a season

2012 - Danny Dvorak

Most recent 6-time feature winner in a season

2010 - Josh Sherbon

Most recent 7-time feature winner in a season

2011 - Tyler Droste

Years no driver earned first career feature win in division

N/A - Every year, at least one SportMod driver has earned his first career feature win

HOBBY STOCK (1989-2012, 24 seasons)

The Hobby Stock division was introduced to Independence at the start of the 1989 season. It ran unsanctioned its first year, then was IMCA sanctioned for individual seasons in 1990 and 1994. The division has been IMCA sanctioned since the start of the 2002 season.

LULOFF LEADS - One of his four straight wins during the month of June catapulted Chris Luloff to the top of the all-time wins list in the Hobby Stock division in Independence. Luloff supplanted Chris Wessner at the top of the list. Wessner, whose last Hobby Stock win came August 24, 1996, had been the division's wins leader since July 8, 1995.

Feature Wins (90 drivers)

1. Chris Luloff 22

2. Chris Wessner 20

3. Brian Irvine 16

4. Josh Irvine 13

T5. Patrick Stansbery 11

T5. Vince Buchholz 11

T7. Ken Irvine 10

T7. Nick Wroten 10

T7. Rick Johnson 10

T10. Forrest Frost 9

T10. Jeff Roete 9

12. Quinton Miller 8

T13. Justin Lichty 7

T13. Rod Grother 7

T15. Chris Schares 6

T15. Steve Holthaus 6

T15. Tim Bartholomew 6

T15. Todd Temeyer 6

T19. Bret Dage 5

T19. David Rice 5

T19. Doug Otto 5

T19. Jerry Luloff 5

T19. Justin Temeyer 5

T19. Kevin Hoehne 5

T19. Lon Gadow 5

T19. Rick Suckow 5

T27. August Bach 4

J.R. Kahler 4

Jamie Whitaker 4

Jarod Weepie 4

Paul Shepherd 4

Scooter Dulin 4

Tim Meeker 4

T34. Adam Johnson 3

Chad Clubine 3

Chris Wiltse 3

Danny Dvorak 3

Derek Reisner 3

Don Arnold 3

Jason Goedken 3

John Meyer 3

Justin Stander 3

Matt Brown 3

Milo Matthias 3

Quinton Reinking 3

Zac Boehmer 3

T47. Benji Irvine 2

Bill Meyer 2

Brandon Davis 2

Butch Reid 2

Dwan Waddell 2

Jeff Wedemeier 2

Jim Achenbrenner 2

Joel Brasch 2

John Roete 2

Josh Steere 2

Nathan Ballard 2

Scott Pippert 2

Shane Ebaugh 2

Wes Stanek Jr. 2

T61. Brad Forbes 1

Brian Happel 1

Cliff Tharp 1

Craig Coventry 1

Curt Graham 1 

Dale Hackwell Jr. 1

Duane Duffy 1

Greg Sweerin 1

Guy Stacy 1

Jason Rohde 1

Jeremiah Wilson 1

Jim Ball Jr. 1

Joe Sprague 1

Kevin Robinson 1

Kyle Scheel 1

Lloyd Bacon 1

Mark Butler 1

Max Leonard 1

Micheal Smith 1

Mike Ihde 1

Perry Thomsen 1

Randy Wheeler 1

Roger Ciesielski 1

Ron Hufford 1

Russell Damme Jr. 1

Ryan Bochmann 1

Steve Farr 1

Steve Wiltse 1

Travis Michels 1

Troy Cordes 1

STAND ON IT - Justin Stander (#67) drove to his first career track championship in the IMCA Hobby Stock division. He became the 21st different Hobby Stock champ in the division's 24-year history at the speedway. Stander was also the fifth straight different Hobby Stock titlist.

Track Champions

1989 Steve Holthaus

1990 Lon Gadow

1991 Jerry Luloff

1992 Forrest Frost

1993 Bret Dage

1994 Kevin Hoehne

1995 Chris Wessner

1996 Todd Temeyer

1997 Adam Johnson

1998 Nick Wroten

1999 Doug Otto

2000 Jeff Roete

2001 Scooter Dulin

2002 Patrick Stansbery

2003 Vince Buchholz

2004 Brian Irvine

2005 Patrick Stansbery

2006 Paul Shepherd

2007 Josh Irvine

2008 Chris Luloff

2009 Josh Irvine

2010 Rod Grother

2011 Vince Buchholz

2012 Justin Stander

Most consecutive seasons with win

6 - Patrick Stansbery (1998-2003)

6 - Quinton Miller (2007-?)

Most consecutive seasons with win (active)

6 - Quinton Miller (2007-?)

MILLER TIME - Quinton Miller earned his eighth career feature win this season, extending his streak to at least one win in each of the last six seasons. That mark tied former division champion Patrick Stansbery for the most consecutive seasons with at least one win. 

First-time winners per month

27 - July

21 - May

19 - June

19 - August

4 - April

Total features

352

Total winners

90

Longest win streak (same season)

5 - Chris Wessner (1995), Nick Wroten (1998)

Longest win streak (over seasons)

7 - Brian Irvine (2003-2004)

Most wins in single season

9 - Chris Wessner (1995)

Most number of different winners in a season

11 (2006, in 14 nights)

Career track champions
2 - Patrick Stansbery (2002, 2005)
2 - Josh Irvine (2007, 2009)
2 - Vince Buchholz (2003, 2011)
1 - Steve Holthaus (1989)
1 - Lon Gadow (1990)
1 - Jerry Luloff (1991)
1 - Forrest Frost (1992)
1 - Bret Dage (1993)
1 - Kevin Hoehne (1994)
1 - Chris Wessner (1995)
1 - Todd Temeyer (1996)
1 - Adam Johnson (1997)
1 - Nick Wroten (1998)
1 - Doug Otto (1999)
1 - Jeff Roete (2000)
1 - Scooter Dulin (2001)
1 - Brian Irvine (2004)
1 - Paul Shepherd (2006)
1 - Chris Luloff (2008)
1 - Rod Grother (2010)
1 - Justin Stander (2012)

Most consecutive different winners (same season)

8 (2005)

Most consecutive different winners (two seasons)

7 (1990-1991, 2001-2002)

Most consecutive different winners to start season

6 (2002, 2010)

Most consecutive different winners to end season

8 (2005)

Most opening night feature wins

2 - Lon Gadow (1990, 1991)

2 - Chris Wessner (1995, 1996)

1 - Ken Irvine (1989)

1 - Forrest Frost (1992)

1 - Rick Johnson (1993)

1 - Kevin Hoehne (1994)

1 - Jason Rohde (1997)

1 - Danny Dvorak (1998)

1 - Doug Otto (1999)

1 - Jeff Roete (2000)

1 - Patrick Stansbery (2001)

1 - John Meyer (2002)

1 - J.R. Kahler (2003)

1 - Brian Irvine  (2004)

1 - Josh Steere (2005)

1 - Rod Grother (2006)

1 - Micheal Smith (2007)

1 - Chris Luloff (2008)

1 - Josh Irvine (2009)

1 - August Bach (2010)

1 - Scott Pippert (2011)

1 - Nathan Ballard (2012)

Most season championship feature wins

3 - Chris Wessner (1994, 1995, 1996)

2 - Chris Luloff (2006, 2008)

2 - Josh Irvine (2007, 2009)

1 - Ken Irvine (1989)

1 - Rick Suckow (1990)

1 - Derek Reisner (1991)

1 - Forrest Frost (1992)

1 - Rick Johnson (1993)

1 - Tim Bartholomew (1997)

1 - Nick Wroten (1998)

1 - Doug Otto (1999)

1 - Patrick Stansbery (2000)

1 - Jeff Wedemeier (2002)

1 - Brian Irvine (2004)

1 - Rod Grother (2005)

1 - Jamie Whitaker (2010)

1 - Vince Buchholz (2011)

1 - Justin Stander (2012)

Track champion with fewest feature wins

0 - Patrick Stansbery (2005); 0 - Rod Grother (2010)

Most points nights (season)

19 (1997)

Fewest points night (season)

9 (2008)

Most 2 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

4 - Chris Wessner

Most 3 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

1 - Chris Wessner, Brian Irvine, Chris Luloff, Vince Buchholz, Kevin Hoehne, J.R. Kahler

Most 4 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

1 - Brian Irvine, Josh Irvine, Chris Luloff

Most 5 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

1 - Chris Wessner, Nick Wroten

Season championship winners/points champion (same season)

Josh Irvine (2007, 2009)

Forrest Frost (1992)

Chris Wessner (1995)

Nick Wroten (1998)

Doug Otto (1999)

Brian Irvine (2004)

Chris Luloff (2008)

Vince Buchholz (2011)

Justin Stander (2012)

Seasons with no back-to-back feature winners

1993, 2005, 2008

Bookend wins (won opener and SC features in same season)

Chris Wessner (1995, 1996)

Ken Irvine (1989)

Forrest Frost (1992)

Rick Johnson (1993)

Doug Otto (1999)

Brian Irvine (2004)

Chris Luloff (2008)

Josh Irvine (2009)

Most days between first and most recent feature wins

6664 - Vince Buchholz (18 years, 2 months, 29 days)

2947 - Rod Grother (8 years, 11 months, 25 days)

2926 - Chris Luloff (8 years, 4 days)

2191 - Todd Temeyer (5 years, 11 months, 30 days)

2170 - John Meyer (5 years, 11 months, 9 days)

2107 - Derek Reisner (5 years, 9 months, 7 days)

1904 - Jeff Roete (5 years, 2 months, 16 days)

1855 - Quinton Miller (5 years, 28 days)

1848 - Patrick Stansbery (5 years, 22 days)

1491 - Rick Johnson (4 years, 30 days)

Average number of different winners per season

7.63

Average number of race nights per season

14.67

1st feature winner in division history

Ken Irvine (4/29/89)

50th feature winner in division history

Rick Suckow (6/6/92)

100th feature winner in division history

Chris Wessner (8/26/95)

150th feature winner in division history

Jarod Weepie (8/22/98)

200th feature winner in division history

Guy Stacy (6/8/02)

250th feature winner in division history

Bill Meyer (7/9/05)

300th feature winner in division history

Josh Irvine (6/20/09)

350th feature winner in division history

Benji Irvine (8/11/12)

Monthly sweeps (minimum of 3 races run that month)

July 1995 - Chris Wessner (3 races)

July 2002 - J.R. Kahler (3 races)

May 2004 - Brian Irvine (3 races)

Won 2 features during season of 1st career win

Derek Reisner (1991)

Butch Reid (1996)

Tim Meeker (1997)

Jarod Weepie (1998)

Jeff Wedemeier (2002)

John Roete (2002)

Paul Shepherd (2005)

Josh Steere (2005)

Justin Lichty (2007)

Quinton Miller (2007)

Wes Stanek Jr. (2009)

Nathan Ballard (2012)

Benji Irvine (2012)

Won 3 features during season of 1st career win

Bret Dage (1992)

Nick Wroten (1997)

Adam Johnson (1997)

Danny Dvorak (1998)

J.R. Kahler (2002)

Justin Stander (2012)

Won 5 features during season of 1st career win

Doug Otto (1999)

Chris Luloff (2004)

Josh Irvine (2007)

Won 6 features during season of 1st career win

Steve Holthaus (1989)

Won 7 features during season of 1st career win

Ken Irvine (1989)

Won 8 features during season of 1st career win

Brian Irvine (2003)

Season opener win following championship night win the season before

2 - Chris Wessner (1994-1995, 1995-1996)

1 - Patrick Stansbery (2000-2001)

1 - Brian Irvine (2003-2004)

First-time feature winners per season

7 - 2002, 2005

6 - 1990, 2006, 2007

5 - 1989, 1993, 1997, 1999

4 - 1994, 1998, 2012

3 - 1992, 1996, 2001, 2009, 2010

2 - 1995, 2003, 2004, 2011

1 - 1991, 2000, 2008

Won track championship the same year

as first career feature win

1989 - Steve Holthaus

1997 - Adam Johnson

1999 - Doug Otto

2007 - Josh Irvine

2012 - Justin Stander

Won track championship the same year as final career feature win (*still active)

1989 - Steve Holthaus

1991 - Jerry Luloff

1992 - Forrest Frost

1994 - Kevin Hoehne

1996 - Todd Temeyer

1997 - Adam Johnson

1998 - Nick Wroten

1999 - Doug Otto

2000 - Jeff Roete

2001 - Scooter Dulin

2006 - Paul Shepherd

2009 - Josh Irvine

2012* - Justin Stander

Earned first career win on opening night

1989 - Ken Irvine

1997 - Jason Rohde

1998 - Danny Dvorak

1999 - Doug Otto

2005 - Josh Steere

2007 - Micheal Smith

Earned final career win on opening night

2003 - J.R. Kahler

2007 - Micheal Smith

2010* - August Bach

Earned first career win on championship night

1990 - Rick Suckow

Earned final career win on championship night (*still active)

1992 - Forrest Frost

1993 - Rick Johnson

1996 - Chris Wessner

1997 - Tim Bartholomew

1998 - Nick Wroten

1999 - Doug Otto

2001 - Chris Schares

2002 - Jeff Wedemeier

2009 - Josh Irvine

2010* - Jamie Whitaker

2012* - Justin Stander

Days as career wins leader (9/1/12)

6188 - Chris Wessner (7/8/95 - 6/16/12)

2282 - Ken Irvine (4/29/89 - 7/29/95)

700 - Rick Johnson (8/28/93 - 7/29/95)

84 - Chris Luloff (6/9/12 - ?)

Won opening night feature and track championship in the same year

1 - Lon Gadow (1990)

1 - Forrest Frost (1992)

1 - Kevin Hoehne (1994)

1 - Chris Wessner (1995)

1 - Doug Otto (1999)

1 - Jeff Roete (2000)

1 - Brian Irvine (2004)

1 - Chris Luloff (2008)

1 - Josh Irvine (2009)

Most recent 2-time feature winner in a season

2012 - Nathan Ballard, Benji Irvine

Most recent 3-time feature winner in a season

2012 - Justin Stander

Most recent 4-time feature winner in a season

2012 - Chris Luloff

Most recent 5-time feature winner in a season

2007 - Josh Irvine

Most recent 6-time feature winner in a season

1989 - Steve Holthaus

Most recent 7-time feature winner in a season

2009 - Josh Irvine

Most recent 8-time feature winner in a season

2004 - Brian Irvine

Years no driver earned first career feature win in division

N/A - Every year, at least one Hobby Stock driver has earned his first career feature win

SPORT COMPACT (2012, 1 season) 

After a two-week trial run in the middle of the season, the IMCA Sport Compact division was added to the weekly program on July 7. The division's brief six event history at the speedway is outlined below.

MEMORABLE MIEDKE - Steve Miedke drove to the first-ever IMCA Sport Compact feature win in Independence. He ended the season with three wins, more than any other driver.

Feature Wins (3 drivers)

1. Steve Miedke 3

2. Merv Chandler 2

3. Brad Chandler 1

SWERVY MERV - Six top-3 finishes in as many nights (including two feature wins) carried Merv Chandler (#2) to the first-ever IMCA Sport Compact track championship at the speedway. Chandler now owns three career wins in weekly racing in Independence. He also won the IMCA Modified feature... on May 26, 1984.

Track Champions

2012 Merv Chandler

Most consecutive seasons with win

1 - Steve Miedke (2012-?)

1 - Merv Chandler (2012-?)

1 - Brad Chandler (2012-?)

Most consecutive seasons with win (active)

1 - Steve Miedke (2012-?)

1 - Merv Chandler (2012-?)

1 - Brad Chandler (2012-?)

First-time winners per month

2 - July

1 - September

Total features

6

Total winners

3

Longest win streak (over seasons)

NA

Most wins in single season

3 - Steve Miedke (2012)

Most number of different winners in a season

3 - 2012 (in 6 nights)

Career track championships

1 - Merv Chandler (2012)

Most consecutive different winners (same season)

3 - 8/11/12-9/1/12

Most consecutive different winners (two seasons)

NA

Most consecutive different winners to start season

NA

Most consecutive different winners to end season

3 - 2012 season

Most opening night feature wins

1 - Steve Miedke (2012)

Most season championship feature wins

1 - Brad Chandler (2012)

Track champion with fewest feature wins

2 - Merv Chandler (2012)

Most points nights (season)

6 - 2012

Fewest points night (season)

6 - 2012

Most 2 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

1 - Steve Miedke (2012), Merv Chandler (2012)

Most 3 race win streaks (each streak within same season)

None

Season championship winners/points champion (same season)

None

Seasons with no back-to-back feature winners

None

Bookend wins (won opener and SC features in same season)

None

Most days between first and most recent feature wins

42 - Steve Miedke (1 month, 11 days)

14 - Merv Chandler (14 days)

Average number of different winners per season

3.00

Average number of race nights per season

6.00

1st feature winner in division history

Steve Miedke (7/7/12)

Monthly sweeps (minimum of 3 races run that month)

None

Won 2 features during season of 1st career win

Merv Chandler (2012)

Won 3 features during season of 1st career win

Steve Miedke (2012)

Season opener win following championship night win the season before

NA

First-time feature winners per season

3 - 2012

Won track championship the same year as first career feature win

2012 - Merv Chandler

Won track championship the same year as final career feature win

2012* - Merv Chandler

Earned first career win on opening night

2012 - Steve Miedke

Earned final career win on opening night

None

Earned first career win on championship night

2012 - Brad Chandler

Earned final career win on championship night (*still active)

2012* - Brad Chandler

Days as career wins leader (9/1/12)

56 - Steve Miedke (7/7/12 - ?)

7 - Merv Chandler (8/11/12 - 8/18/12)

Won opening night feature and track championship in the same year

None

Most recent 2-time feature winner in a season

2012 - Merv Chandler

Most recent 3-time feature winner in a season

2012 - Steve Miedke

Most recent 4-time feature winner in a season

N/A

Years no driver earned first career feature win in division

N/A - Every year, at least one Sport Compact driver has earned his first feature win

RAINOUT TRENDS

Since 1967, there have been a total of 831 weekly events scheduled at Independence from the last Saturday in April through the final Saturday in August. Of those 831 race nights, 176 were canceled. The monthly breakdown is as follows:

April: 13 rainouts in 27 events for a 51.9% success rate

May: 67 rainouts in 204 events for a 67.2% success rate

June: 37 rainouts in 197 events for an 81.2% success rate

July: 28 rainouts in 204 events for an 86.3% success rate

August: 31 events in 199 events for an 84.4% success rate

April: 7.4% of all rainouts

May: 38.1% of all rainouts

June: 21.0% of all rainouts

July: 15.9% of all rainouts

August: 17.6% of all rainouts

When considering the season in separate halves, where May and June comprise the first half of the season and July and August are the second half (I omitted April and September since they account for so few of the overall events), there have been 104 rainouts in 401 events scheduled for the first half of the season, whereas there have only been 59 rainouts in 403 events scheduled for the second half of the season. That means, historically, 63.8% of all rainouts have come during the first half of the season, nearly twice as many as in the second half.

When you consider the date range mentioned above, three to seven races have been scheduled at the speedway on each of those dates over the past 46 years. The most rainouts for a single date in the last 46 years is four. Just four dates - May 7, May 17, May 22 and June 2 - hold that dubious distinction. While no date has rained out every year, there are 30 dates that have never rained out at all.

Here is a look back at the dates that comprised the 2012 schedule, along with the rainout trends as we entered the past season. The status of the 2012 program for each date follows:

April 28: 2 successful shows in 3 attempts (66.6% success rate) / Rained out in 2012

May 5: 4 for 6 (66.6%) / Completed program in 2012

May 12: 5 for 6 (83.3%) / Completed

May 19: 4 for 6 (66.6%) / Completed

May 26: 3 for 6 (50%) / Completed

June 2: 2 for 6 (33.3%) / Completed

June 9: 4 for 6 (66.6%) / Completed

June 16: 3 for 6 (50%) / Completed

June 23: 5 for 6 (83.3%) / Completed

June 30: 5 for 6 (83.3%) / Completed

July 7: 6 for 6 (100%) / Completed

July 14: 6 for 6 (100%) / Rained out for first time in track history

July 21: 3 for 6 (50%) / Completed

July 28: 5 for 6 (83.3%) / Completed

August 4: 5 for 6 (83.3%) / Rained out

August 11: 5 for 6 (83.3%) / Completed

August 18: 4 for 6 (66.6%) / Completed

August 25: 4 for 6 (66.6%) / Rained out

You'll notice the 2012 season went against history when it came to rainouts. For the first time since 1981, there were more rainouts during the second half of the season than the first half. All three of that season's cancellations came in the second half of the season. 

If the 2013 season reflects the same scheduling pattern as previous years, the following dates will be scheduled next season. Listed with those dates below are their rainout trends over the last 46 years:

April 27: 2 successful shows in 3 attempts (66.6% success rate)

May 4: 5 for 6 (83.3%)

May 11: 4 for 6 (66.6%)

May 18: 4 for 6 (66.6%)

May 25: 4 for 6 (66.6%)

June 1: 5 for 6 (83.3%)

June 8: 5 for 6 (83.3%)

June 15: 6 for 6 (100%)

June 22: 6 for 6 (100%)

June 29: 5 for 6 (83.3%)

July 6: 6 for 6 (100%)

July 13: 5 for 6 (83.3%)

July 20: 6 for 6 (100%)

July 27: 4 for 6 (66.6%)

August 3: 5 for 6 (83.3%)

August 10: 5 for 6 (83.3%)

August 17: 6 for 6 (100%)

August 24: 6 for 6 (100%)

Years when the above dates have fallen on the schedule, the track averages 2.3 rainouts for the season, meaning 2013 could be a dryer than average season. Afterall, the average number of weekly races completed per season over the last 46 years is 14.63 out of an average of 18.1 scheduled. That means the dates that may fall on the schedule in 2013 result in one fewer rainout than an average season. Looking ahead to 2013, there are six projected dates on the schedule that have never suffered a rainout.

With that, I'm Blitzed out for 2012. Thank you to everyone for your support of the speedway this season. Have a great off-season!

Sunday, I'll be back at Benton County Speedway for Season Championship night. Next week, I'll post the first-ever season-ending Stats Blitz for the Vinton quarter-mile.

Have a great week!