Stats Blitz! Numbers through May at Independence Motor Speedway

Welcome to the first installment of the 2013 Stats Blitz for Independence Motor Speedway. The statistics included here are through the first three nights of weekly points racing and do not include the May 24 Open Wheel Shootout.

Car Count

Division - Average - High - Low

Late Model - 22.0 - 26 - 19

Modified – 21.7 - 24 - 18

Stock Car – 11.7 - 14 - 10

SportMod – 24.3 - 27 - 22

Hobby Stock – 21.3 - 23 - 18

Sport Compact – 11.7 - 15 - 8

TOTAL – 112.7 - 116 - 109

Points

* 161 drivers have earned points this season.

* Among those 161 drivers, 63 different hometowns have been represented.

* Tyler Bruening (Late Model), John Emerson (Stock Car) and Benji Irvine (Hobby Stock) have led their division's standings following each night this season.

IN THE HUNT

* 46 drivers have remained in the top-10 in the points every week of the season. Those drivers include:

Late Model (8): Darren Ackerman, Tyler Bruening, Dale Hackwell Jr., Dirk Hamilton, Greg Kastli, Curt Martin, Jon Passick, Dean Wagner;

Modified (6): Darin Duffy, Patrick Flannagan, Vern Jackson, Adam Johnson, Ronn Lauritzen, Jason Snyder;

Stock Car (9): Jesse Brown, Norman Chesmore, Blake Cole, John Emerson, Tim Helle, Jason Hocken, Jerome Jacoby, Sean Johnson, Jarod Weepie;

SportMod (7): Jim Buhlman, Danny Dvorak, Shane Ebaugh, Curt Hilmer, Lucas Lundry, Dakoda Sellers, Sean Vogt;

Hobby Stock (8): Jim Ball, Nathan Ballard, Vince Buchholz, Benji Irvine, Justin Lichty, Chris Luloff, Justin Stander, Jamie Whitaker;

Sport Compact (8): Merv Chandler, Dylan Clinton, Adam Gates, Zach Marmann, Mike Tedesco, Justin Vargason, Jeffrey Vislisel, A.J. Witten

* 17 drivers have remained in the top-5 in the points every week of the season. Those drivers include:

Late Model (4): Tyler Bruening, Greg Kastli, Curt Martin, Jon Passick;

Modified (0): None;

Stock Car (4): Norman Chesmore, John Emerson, Sean Johnson, Jarod Weepie;

SportMod (3): Jim Buhlman, Danny Dvorak, Lucas Lundry;

Hobby Stock (3): Nathan Ballard, Benji Irvine, Chris Luloff;

Sport Compact (3): Merv Chandler, Adam Gates, A.J. Witten.

Feature Winners

* There have been 13 different feature winners in 18 feature events this season.

* The points leaders account for just 7 of the 18 total feature wins.
* For the 10th straight season and for the 25th time in the division's 31-year history at the speedway, there were three different winners the first three weeks in the IMCA Modified division.
* John Emerson became the second Stock Car driver in track history to win the first three features of the season. The record is four straight Stock Car wins to start the season, set by Dan Trimble in 2000.
* For the second straight year and for the third time in the division's six-year history at Independence, there were three different SportMod winners to start the season. 

Top-10s

* 97 drivers have earned at least one top-10 finish this season. The number of top-10 finishes per drivers in each division are as follows:

Late Model (15 drivers with at least one top 10): Tyler Bruening, Dale Hackwell Jr., Greg Kastli, Curt Martin, Jon Passick (3 each); Darren Ackerman, Jeff Aikey, Dirk Hamilton, Chad Lerch, Dean Wagner (2 each); Rick Dralle, Luke Goedert, Luke Pestka, Dain Sires, Travis Smock (1 each);

Modified (18): Adam Johnson, Ronn Lauritzen (3 each); J.D. Auringer, Troy Cordes, Tyler Droste, Patrick Flannagan, Vern Jackson, Keith Pittman, Kevin Pittman, Jason Snyder (2 each); Mike Burbridge, Joe Docekal, Darin Duffy, Scott Hogan, Justin O'Brien, Shawn Ryan, Mark Schulte, Ed Thomas (1 each);

Stock Car (15): Norman Chesmore, John Emerson, Tim Helle, Jerome Jacoby, Sean Johnson, Jarod Weepie (3 each); Jesse Brown, Blake Cole, Ken Taylor (2 each); Austin Evens, Jason Hocken, Phil Holtz, Stefan Klym, Cole Mather, Chris Wiltse (1 each);

SportMod (17): Danny Dvorak, Lucas Lundry, Sean Vogt (3 each); Jim Buhlman, Brennan Chipp, Shane Ebaugh, Curt Hilmer, Dakoda Sellers, Kip Siems, Alex Zwanziger (2 each); Colby Heishman, Lee Kinsella, Matt McCahen, Brandon Smith, Steve Streeter, Scott Thomas, Sam Wieben (1 each).

Hobby Stock (15): Jim Ball, Nathan Ballard, Benji Irvine, Chris Luloff, Justin Stander, Jamie Whitaker (3 each); Shawn Kuennen, Justin Lichty, Quinton Miller (2 each); Vince Buchholz, Curt Graham, Josh Irvine, T.J. Mortenson, Justin Wacha, Jeremiah Wilson;

Sport Compact (17): Merv Chandler, Jeffrey Vislisel (3 each); Dylan Clinton, Adam Gates, Derek Ihde, Travis Ross, Mike Tedesco, Justin Vargason, A.J. Witten (2 each); Mitchell Balik, Brad Chandler, Travis Losenicky, Zach Marmann, Reggie Rema, Will Schott, Dakota Schroyer, Nick West.

Top-5s 

* 54 drivers have earned at least one top-5 finish this season. The number of top-5 finishes per driver in each division are as follows:

Late Model (10): Tyler Bruening, Greg Kastli (3 each); Curt Martin (2); Jeff Aikey, Rick Dralle, Dale Hackwell Jr., Dirk Hamilton, Jon Passick, Luke Pestka, Travis Smock (1 each);

Modified (10): J.D. Auringer, Troy Cordes, Vern Jackson, Adam Johnson, Kevin Pittman (2 each); Tyler Droste, Darin Duffy, Patrick Flannagan, Mark Schulte, Jason Snyder (1 each);

Stock Car (7): Norman Chesmore, John Emerson, Sean Johnson, Jarod Weepie (3 each); Jesse Brown, Tim Helle, Jason Hocken (1 each);

SportMod (9): Jim Buhlman, Brennen Chipp, Danny Dvorak, Shane Ebaugh, Lucas Lundry, Kip Siems (2 each); Dakoda Sellers, Sam Wieben, Alex Zwanziger (1 each);

Hobby Stock (8): Nathan Ballard, Benji Irvine, Chris Luloff (3 each); Justin Stander (2); Vince Buchholz, Shawn Kuennen, T.J. Mortenson, Justin Wacha (1 each);

Sport Compact (10): Merv Chandler (3); Dylan Clinton, Adam Gates, A.J. Witten (2 each); Mitchell Balik, Brad Chandler, Reggie Rema, Travis Ross, Will Schott, Justin Vargason (1 each);

Top-3s 

* 32 drivers have earned at least one top-3 finish this season. The number of top-3 finishes per driver in each division are as follows:

Late Model (6): Tyler Bruening (3); Greg Kastli (2); Jeff Aikey, Rick Dralle, Dale Hackwell Jr., Jon Passick (1 each);

Modified (6): J.D. Auringer, Troy Cordes, Kevin Pittman (2 each); Darin Duffy, Patrick Flannagan, Vern Jackson (1 each);

Stock Car (5): John Emerson, Sean Johnson (3 each); Norman Chesmore, Jason Hocken, Jarod Weepie (1 each);

SportMod (6): Brennen Chipp, Danny Dvorak, Lucas Lundry (2 each); Shane Ebaugh, Kip Siems, Sam Wieben (1 each);

Hobby Stock (3): Nathan Ballard, Benji Irvine, Chris Luloff (3 each);

Sport Compact (6): Merv Chandler (3); Adam Gates (2); Brad Chandler, Dylan Clinton, Reggie Rema, Justin Vargason (1 each).

Feature Lap Leaders

* 24 drivers have led at least one lap of feature competition.

* Division lap leaders include:

Late Model (3 total different lap leaders): Tyler Bruening (36 laps led), Rick Dralle (25), Jon Passick (14);

Modified (5): Troy Cordes (28 laps led); J.D. Auringer (18); Darin Duffy (12); Mike Burbridge, Patrick Flannagan (1 each);

Stock Car (3): John Emerson (42 laps led), Sean Johnson (6), Tim Helle (3);

SportMod (4): Brennen Chipp (16 laps led), Sam Wieben (15), Lucas Lundry (9), Shane Ebaugh (6);

Hobby Stock (7): Benji Irvine (17 laps led), Chris Luloff (9), Nathan Ballard (6), Quinton Miller (5), Vince Buchholz (4), Justin Wacha (3), Shawn Kuennen (1);

Sport Compact (2): Adam Gates (24 laps led), Dylan Clinton (12).

Heat Races

* There have been 30 different heat race winners in 43 heat races.

* 12 drivers have won multiple heat races this season.

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

Late Model (7 winners in 9 heats): Luke Pestka, Tyler Bruening (2 each); Rick Dralle, Dirk Hamilton, Chad Lerch, Dean Wagner, Rick Wendling (1 each);

Modified (6 winners in 8 heats): Troy Cordes, Vern Jackson (2 each); J.D. Auringer, Mike Burbridge, Ronn Lauritzen, Shawn Ryan (1 each);

Stock Car (4 winners in 4 heats): Norman Chesmore, John Emerson, Tim Helle, Sean Johnson (1 each);

SportMod (6 winners in 9 heats): Brennen Chipp, Danny Dvorak, Kevin Hurst (2 each); Kip Siems, Brandon Smith, Sam Wieben (1 each);

Hobby Stock (4 winners in 8 heats): Benji Irvine (3); Nathan Ballard, Chris Luloff (2 each); Shawn Kuennen (1);

Sport Compact (3 winners in 5 heats): Dylan Clinton, Adam Gates (2 each); Justin Vargason (1).

Efficiency Stats

* A total of 61 races have been run this season.

* A total of 642 laps have been completed.

* A total of 51 caution flags have been thrown.

Cautions Per Race Ratio

Sport Compact: 2 cautions in 8 races (0.25 cautions per race)

Hobby Stock: 5 / 11 (0.45)

Stock Car: 5 / 7 (0.71)

Modified: 11 / 11 (1.00)

SportMod: 13 / 12 (1.08)
Late Model: 15 / 12 (1.25)

Race Laps Per Caution Ratio

Sport Compact: 65 laps with 2 cautions (average of 32.50 green flag laps between cautions)

Hobby Stock: 109 / 5 (21.80)
Stock Car: 83 / 5 (16.60)

Modified: 124 / 11 (11.27)

Late Model: 144 / 15 (9.60)

SportMod: 117 / 13 (9.00)

Races with No Caution Flags

Sport Compact: 6 of 8 races have gone flag-to-flag without a caution (75.00%)

Hobby Stock: 7 / 11 (63.63%)

Modified: 7 / 11 (63.63%)

Stock Car: 4 / 7 (57.14%)

SportMod: 6 / 12 (50.00%)
Late Model: 6 / 12 (50.00%)

36 of 61 races have gone green to checkers without a caution.

Feature Cautions

Sport Compact: 2 of 2 total cautions have been thrown in feature races (100.00%)
Modified: 9 / 11 (81.81%) 
Stock Car: 4 / 5 (80.00%)

SportMod: 10 / 13 (76.92%)
Late Model: 10 / 15 (66.66%)
Hobby Stock: 3 / 5 (60.00%) 

38 of 51 total cautions have been thrown during feature racing.

Average Lap of First Feature Caution 
Sport Compact: 8.33

Stock Car: 8.00 
Hobby Stock: 7.00
Modified: 2.67

Late Model: 2.33 
SportMod: 1.33

Since the year 1967...

* 676 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.

* 446 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.

* 294 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.

* 69 SportMod feature events have been completed in weekly competition with 19 different winners. On average, a new SportMod winner visits victory lane every 3.6 events.

* 355 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.

* 9 Sport Compact feature events have been complete in weekly competition with 5 different winners. On average, a new Sport Compact winner visits victory lane every 1.8 events.

* Overall, in the last 47 seasons, 1,849 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 52 consecutive features. His last miss was July 11, 2009.

Modified: Patrick Flannagan has qualified for 49 consecutive features. His last miss was August 8, 2009.

Stock Car: Norman Chesmore has qualified for 105 consecutive features. His last miss was July 9, 2005.

Hobby Stock: Vince Buchholz and Nathan Christie have qualified for 46 consecutive features. Their last miss was August 29, 2009.

SportMod: Jim Buhlman has qualified for all 69 features dating back to the first one at the speedway on June 21, 2008.

Sport Compact: Merv Chandler, Travis Ross and A.J. Witten have qualified for all nine features dating back to the first one at the speedway on July 7, 2012.

Stuff Nobody Should Know…

* Of the 18 feature winners this season, 14 came from inside starting spots and 4 from the outside.

* Every inside starting position throughout the first five rows have produced at least one feature winner this season. The only outside starting positions to produce a feature winner are outside of the first and third rows. Two winners each have come from those outside starting spots.

* No feature winners in the Hobby Stock and Sport Compact divisions have come from the front row. In fact, every Hobby Stock winner has come from the fourth or fifth row.

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

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

* Nathan Chandler, Benji Irvine and Chris Luloff are the only Hobby Stock drivers with top-three feature finishes this season. They have each finished in the top three every night through three weeks.
* Through three weeks of the season, in the Hobby Stock division, Benji Irvine has earned two wins, Nathan Ballard has earned two second place finishes, Chris Luloff has earned two third place finishes and Justin Stander has finished fourth twice.

* Benji Irvine (Hobby Stock) is the only driver at the speedway to remain perfect by winning his first three heat races this season.
* Three of 18 feature events have gone flag-to-flag without a single caution. Seven features have seen their first caution with one lap or fewer scored complete.
* During the May 18 Hobby Stock feature, four different drivers held the lead over the course of five lead changes. Both numbers are season highs in all divisions this season.
* All three of John Emerson's Stock Car wins have come from different starting positions (2, 7, 5).

And finally...
* In chronological order, Greg Kastli's Late Model feature finishes through the first three weeks of the season are 3, 3 and 4. That is also the telephone prefix (334) for the city of Independence. Following his upcoming feature finishes at the speedway, the phone number he "completes" will be called and the person who answers the phone will be offered a pair of free tickets to a Saturday night race of their choice this season.

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That will take care of the first Stats Blitz of 2013 for Independence Motor Speedway. I'll be back during the week to provide numbers through May for Benton County Speedway. Hopefully, the weather improves tomorrow so race fans in the area can spend part of their Memorial Day weekend at the track. All Saturday tracks in eastern Iowa were rained out for tonight.

Be safe this weekend, have fun and we'll see you at the races!