Mid-Season champions were crowned Saturday at Independence Motor Speedway. A strong field of 111 race teams filled the pits for the eighth night of weekly racing this season.
A new qualifying format was introduced for the mid-season event, which allowed points leaders to battle head-to-head in their qualifiers. Heat lineups were inverted based on season point totals, which put points leaders in the same heat races. How they finished their heat was how they lined up for feature racing.
Ronn Lauritzen continued his recent hot streak in the IMCA Modified division. After starting on the pole following his "fast heat" win, Lauritzen set sail in the 20-lap feature. Lauritzen pulled away from traffic after a number of early race restarts, then dominated the event during a long green flag run. He beat Vern Jackson to the checkers by a near-straightaway margin.
Lauritzen, who also won last Sunday in Vinton and Friday night in Marshalltown, has now won two straight in Independence. He became the 21st Modified driver in track history to win consecutive features.
With five wins for his career in Independence, Lauritzen now ranks tied for 28th on the all-time list with Keith Pittman, Larry Schmidt and Tom Fitzpatrick. It was Lauritzen's third career win during the month of June in Indee and his first Mid-Season title at the speedway.
Tyler Bruening topped the IMCA Late Model headliner for his fifth win of the season. Bruening chased leader Curt Martin and Jon Passick for much of that 25-lapper before a lap 14 caution allowed Bruening to work the high side into the lead. Bruening took the lead on the 16th circuit, then held off a hard-charging Darren Ackerman by less than a car-length to score the win.
Bruening has now won 17 times in weekly racing history in Independence, tying him with Ackerman for ninth on the all-time list. It was Bruening's eighth career win during the month of June and his second straight Mid-Season crown at the speedway.
Jarod Weepie fought off the furious challenges of numerous drivers to take top honors in the IMCA Stock Car division. From his outside front row start, Weepie kept John Emerson, Jason Hocken, Norman Chesmore, Tim Helle and Sean Johnson at bay. Emerson and Hocken challenged late, however Weepie held on by less than a car-length over both of those competitors to take the exciting victory.
It was Weepie's 19th career Stock Car win in Independence, his first since August 28, 2010. He now sits alone in fourth on the division's all-time list in Independence. He has won seven times in his career during the month of June and Saturday's win was his first Mid-Season title.
Brennen Chipp scored his third win of the season in the IMCA Northern SportMods. Front row starters Danny Dvorak and Kip Siems split time at the front of the pack before Chipp worked into contention from a third row start. Chipp made his way into the lead following a lap 12 restart to drive to victory.
The third win in weekly racing history for Chipp, he now sits tied for seventh on the track's all-time list with Chris Luloff and Ray Lundry. It was his first Mid-Season title.
For the seventh straight week, the Hobby Stock winner didn't make his way to the front of the pack until the last half of that 15-lapper. Chris Luloff worked the low side past points leader and race-long leader Benji Irvine with five laps to go on his way to victory.
The win was Luloff's 26th career trip to the winner's circle in a Hobby Stock at the speedway, the most all-time. Luloff has now won 10 times during the month of June in Independence, the only Hobby Stock with double-digit victories in any month in track history. It was his second Mid-Season crown and the first since his first win in Independence on June 19, 2004. Including his SportMod wins from a few years ago, Luloff has won 29 times in his career in Independence. He sits tied with Chris Wessner for 12th on the track's all-time wins list.
Adam Gates earned his sixth straight win in IMCA Sport Compact action. Much like the previous five wins, Gates took the lead early, then drove away in dominant fashion. His six straight wins tied a track record, which was set by Jack Mitchell in the IMCA Modifieds in 1984, then later matched by Stock Car drivers Dan Trimble and Larry Portis. His seven career wins in Independence are the most all-time for the Sport Compacts.
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John Emerson pulled double duty Saturday night. In addition to his Stock Car, Emerson wheeled the #25 IMCA Late Model of Kenny Pint. After failing to start his heat, Emerson started at the tail of the 21-car starting field and drove to an impressive 12th place finish. For those wondering, yes, drivers are allowed to carry Late Model and Stock Car licenses at the same time, per IMCA.
Dating back to June 12, 2010, there have been 16 consecutive weekly programs run in the month of June at the speedway. That's the second longest stretch in track history for that calendar month. The record is 17 straight June programs during a stretch from 1979 to 1983.
The month of June also contained five Saturdays this season, making it the 22nd time in a history that a five-Saturday month was successfully completed without a rainout. The last time? June of 2012, which also had five Saturdays of racing without a rainout.
Ironcially, as we head into July next weekend, which is historically the driest month, we have had at least one rainout each of the last four years during that month.
I'll have more numbers sometime this week during the end-of-the-month Stats Blitz. I'll try to assemble mid-season stats when time allows between the Deery Series this Tuesday at Independence and the Thursday holiday.
Tonight, it's Hawaiian Night/Fuzzy Friends Night/Albert Auto Night at Benton County Speedway. In addition to the Limbo contest (in which, despite rumors, I am NOT a participant), IMCA Late Models will return for their second night of action on the Vinton oval. It's my last night this season filling in for regular track announcer Bucky Doren, who is wrapping up his season as coach for his son's baseball team. I hope to see you there!
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