A pair of lead changes in the final laps of two features, plus a third at the checkers, made for an exciting night of racing at Independence Motor Speedway.
The most talked about finish came in the IMCA Modified main event. Troy Cordes started in the fifth row and worked his way into contention late in that 20-lapper. He reeled in Mark Schulte and pulled to the outside of the leader as they made their way off turn four on the final lap. Cordes surged ahead at the stripe to take the thrilling win by just a couple of feet. The finish was so exciting that Cordes was left speechless in victory lane.
The win was the second of the year for Cordes, his ninth season with multiple wins in the division at Independence. It was the second time he has won two of the first four features at the speedway. He also won twice in the first four weeks during the 2000 season.
The victory was the 30th of his career in weekly racing history at the speedway. Cordes ranks third on the all-time Modified list behind Darin Duffy and Vern Jackson. It was also his third career win in Independence during the first weekend in June. Nine of his 30 wins have come during the month of June.
All-time, when adding a Hobby Stock victory from the early 1990s, Cordes has 31 wins in weekly points racing at the speedway. That places him 11th on the career list, one shy of Jim Burbridge in 10th.
The Modified points continue to remain tight. Cordes launched into the points lead after sitting fourth to start the night. Seven other drivers remain within 10 points of Cordes and 10 drivers are within 16.
Justin Stander also used a late-race pass to drive to his first win of the season in the IMCA Hobby Stock division. Like Cordes, Stander started in the fifth row and drove into contention late in that 15-lapper.
Stander reeled in Buchholz in the waning laps, then pulled to the inside of the leader with one lap to go. Stander slipped past Buchholz at the flag stand as the white flag waved and led the final lap to secure the victory.
It was Stander's first win of the season and the fourth of his career in Independence. He now sits tied for 27th on the division's all-time list with August Bach, Benji Irvine, J.R. Kahler, Jamie Whitaker, Jarod Weepie, Paul Shepherd, Scooter Dulin and Tim Meeker. Two of Stander's four wins have come in the month of June.
Luke Pestka led most of the 25-lap IMCA Late Model feature. That was until a late caution bunched the field and put Tyler Bruening on the leader's rear bumper for the restart. Bruening ran the low groove to make his way past Pestka following the restart to drive to his third win of the season.
It was Bruening's 15th career Late Model win in Independence, moving him into a tie with Denny Osborn for 12th on the all-time list. He has now won six times during the month of June, at least twice as many as any other month.
Sean Johnson earned his first win of the season in the IMCA Stock Car division. After starting in the fourth row, Johnson made his way around leader Austin Evens for the lead following a lap three caution.
It was Johnson's 26th career Stock Car win in Independence, pulling him to within five of Brian Irvine for second on the all-time list. His 26 wins place Johnson in a tie for 13th on the track's all-time wins list. He shares that spot with Chris Luloff, Jack Mitchell and Jerry Luloff. It was Johnson's seventh career win during the month of June.
Brennen Chipp continued his recent hot streak in the IMCA Northern SportMods. Chipp worked past Kevin Hurst on a lap three restart to drive to his second win this season in weekly racing and third win overall in the last three weeks. His two weekly points wins place him ninth on the division's all-time list at the speedway.
Adam Gates led all 10 laps to earn his third win of the season in the IMCA Sport Compact division. Also the third win in his career in Independence, Gates finished the night tied with Merv Chandler atop the division's all-time wins list at the speedway.
Saturday night's program was Relay for Life Pink Night. Money was raised throughout the course of the program to help the American Cancer Society's fight against cancer. The money raised exceeded $1,400. Thank you to everyone for their support of a great cause Saturday night!
It was nice to see Milo Matthias come out of retirement. Matthias, who piloted a Hobby Stock and Stock Car at the speedway in the 1980s and 1990s, returned to racing Saturday night behind the wheel of a new IMCA Hobby Stock. Matthias, who now calls Cocoa, Fla., home, turned some laps last night, along with his son, Aaron, who is sporting a new IMCA Stock Car. For those who don't remember Matthias, he used to drive the familiar purple #87 back in the day. In fact, the last time he raced at the speedway was season championship night in 1993, nearly 20 years ago.
A big thank you to track prep guru Don Burkey on putting together an incredible racing surface once again Saturday night. Despite the heavy rains and area flooding over the past week, Don provided a smooth, multi-groove surface that gave fans their money's worth.
Two nights of racing are on tap at the speedway during the upcoming week. On Thursday, June 6, is the Entry Level Extravaganza, featuring IMCA sanctioned SportMods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts. Each of those divisions will be competing for increased purse money. Grandstand admission is $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and students. Kids 11 and under will be admitted free if accompanying a paid adult. Pit passes are $25.
Weekly racing will resume Saturday, June 8, during Ferguson Enterprises Scout Night. All Boy, Girl and Cub Scouts who wear their uniforms to the races will be admitted for free. They will also receive a free hot dog and juice box. A candy dash, sponsored by Superior Cleaning Services and Independence Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, will be held during intermission. In addition, a handful of drivers will have their cars on display near the grandstands so the kids can get a close look at them before racing gets underway.
A press release detailing both of those events will be posted on the track web site, www.independencemotorspeedway.com, sometime Monday.
Tonight, it's a return to Benton County Speedway in Vinton for another night of weekly racing. With track announcer Bucky Doren in the middle of the busy season coaching his son's baseball team, I'll call the action and provide a recap later tonight. Have a great Sunday!
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