When you look at the list of Saturday's winners at Independence Motor Speedway, you'll see a number of milestones were reached that crossed a very broad spectrum. Consider, one of the drivers kept his perfect streak alive this season by winning his third feature in as many weeks and two more earned their second wins of the season. On the flip side, two drivers got their first wins in quite some time Saturday night, while another made his first-ever trip to the winner's circle in Independence.
John Emerson continued his hot streak in the IMCA Stock Car division. After starting in row three, Emerson raced the low side into the lead on the second lap, then pulled away to score the convincing win. It was his third win in three nights this season.
Emerson became the first Stock Car driver since Dan Trimble in 2000 to win the first three events of a season. Trimble won the first four Stock Car features that year, so Emerson can match history with a win next week.
Emerson became the ninth driver in division history at the speedway to put together a winning streak of at least three races. He joined Trimble, Brian Irvine, Sean Johnson, Justin Temeyer, Larry Portis, Tom Schmitt, Chris Wessner and Lon Gadow on that list.
It was the seventh Stock Car win of Emerson's career in Independence, which moved him into a tie with Ken Irvine for 10th all-time at the speedway.
Benji Irvine took command when leaders Nathan Ballard and Chris Luloff made contact late in the IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Irvine motored around the leaders to take charge on the 11th of 15 laps to secure his second win of the season.
The fourth Hobby Stock victory of his career in Independence, Irvine is now tied with numerous drivers for for 27th on the division's wins list. Tied with him at four wins apiece are August Bach, J.R. Kahler, Jamie Whitaker, Jarod Weepie, Paul Shepherd, Scooter Dulin and Tim Meeker.
Irvine's four wins have each come in different calendar months - April, May, July and August.
Adam Gates was the other driver to make a return trip to victory lane this season. Gates topped the 12-lap IMCA Sport Compact feature to earn his second flag-to-flag triumph of 2013. With the win, the second of his career in Independence, Gates moved into a tie with Merv Chandler for second on the division's all-time wins list at the speedway.
J.D. Auringer earned his first IMCA Modified win in nearly six years. After racing through the pack to put himself into contention, Auringer broke free from Troy Cordes following a mid-race caution to drive to his first win since August 11, 2007.
That span of 2,107 days between wins is the fourth longest in Modified history at the speedway. The three longest spans between wins at Independence in the Modified division belong to Darin Duffy, Jack Mitchell and Ed Thomas. Duffy went 2,548 days between wins from June 1, 2002 to May 23, 2009, the longest such span in division history at the speedway. Mitchell went 2,212 days between wins from July 2, 1988 to July 23, 1994. Thomas was one week shy of tying Mitchell's mark as he went 2,205 days between wins from July 15, 2000 to July 29, 2006.
The seventh Modified win of his career in weekly racing history at the speedway, Auringer now sits tied for 15th on the all-time list with Deon Turner, Ed Thomas, John Light, Mark Noble, Max Corporon, Mike Sampson, Ron Barker and Tim McBride.
Coincidentally, the last time Auringer won a Modified feature in Independence was also the year of his track championship there.
Rick Dralle held off Tyler Bruening in a thrilling IMCA Late Model feature. After building a huge early lead, Dralle was unable to run away and hide when a handful of cautions slowed action in the 25-lapper. Dralle, however, was able to hold the lead for all 25 laps by fending off Bruening by a few feet at the checkers.
The win was Dralle's first since July 3, 2010 and was the sixth of his career in Independence. The win moved him into a tie with Dale Stolte for 26th on the division's wins list.
Sam Wieben earned his first-ever trip to victory lane in Independence in the IMCA Northern SportMod division. Wieben led at the drop of the green, then fought off pressure from Brennen Chipp and Alex Zwanziger to become the division's 19th winner all-time at the speedway. For Wieben, who picked up a win at Marshalltown last season, it was his second career SportMod win.
Wieben is one of 11 drivers with a single SportMod win at the track, placing him in a tie for ninth on that list.
Next weekend will be a busy one at Independence. The first-ever appearance of the Brockway Mechanical & Roofing Sprint Invaders Series will headline the Open Wheel Shootout on Friday, May 24. That event will include unsanctioned Modifieds and SportMods. Details of that event are located in the flyer posted at the top of this page.
Weekly racing will return the following night, Saturday, May 25.
For a complete list of special events during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, be sure to visit the calendar page at Positively Racing.
The wet weather has held off so far today, so I hope to see everyone at Benton County Speedway in Vinton tonight for another night of weekly racing!
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