Ronn Lauritzen's third IMCA Modified win in four weeks at Independence Motor Speedway highlighted a great Saturday night of racing that saw 96 cars do battle in 19 events in under three hours.
Lauritzen started in the fifth row, but found himself in the top five a few laps into the 20-lapper. Following an early caution, Lauritzen worked into second and took over the lead when front-runner Kevin Pittman was sidelined with mechanical problems. Lauritzen took charge on the seventh lap and never looked back as he drove to his third win of the season, all coming since June 22.
It was the sixth career Modified win for Lauritzen in weekly racing history in Independence, placing him in a tie for 24th all-time with Corey Dripps, Craig Haupt, Garry Stuber and Todd Jensen. It was his first career win during the month of July.
Curt Martin extended his all-time wins lead in the Late Model division. Martin slipped past Greg Kastli in lapped traffic with four laps to go on his way to the 94th Late Model win of his weekly racing career in Independence. It was his 27th win during the month of July - the most for a single driver in a single month in track history. It was also Martin's second trip to victory lane on the date July 13.
All-time, Martin's 94 wins at Independence trail only Vern Jackson, who leads the list with 95 wins at the speedway. Jackson's wins have come from a combined six different divisions.
Quinton Miller held off a hard-charging Chris Luloff to score his first win of the season in the IMCA Hobby Stock division. Miller led the entirety of the 15-lapper to earn the ninth Hobby Stock victory of his career at the speedway. All-time, Miller is now tied for 10th in Hobby Stock wins with Ken Irvine and Nick Wroten.
Miller also became the first driver in division history at the speedway to earn at least one win in each of seven consecutive seasons. Miller has won either one or two features every season since 2007. Prior to Miller's newly-established mark, Patrick Stansbery held the record with six straight seasons with at least one Hobby Stock win a year from 1998-2003.
Sean Johnson started 10th and made a quick run through the field to challenge in the 18-lap IMCA Stock Car feature. Johnson reeled in leader Jason Hocken at the midway point, then made his way to the front three laps later to drive to his second win of the year. Johnson now owns multiple Stock Car wins in five of the last six years at the speedway.
All-time, Johnson has 27 Stock Car wins to his credit in Independence, leaving him four shy of Brian Irvine for second on the division's list. Overall, Johnson's 27 wins place him 14th on the track's all-time wins list. He is two wins shy of Chris Wessner for 13th.
Kip Siems took the lead from Dave Schulze midway through the 15-lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature to drive to his second win of the season. Siems now own three SportMod wins in weekly racing history in Independence, which places him in a tie with Brennen Chipp, Chris Luloff and Ray Lundry for seventh all-time.
Merv Chandler earned his first win of the season in the IMCA Sport Compact division. Chandler assumed command from Travis Ross just past the halfway point of that 12-lapper to earn his third career Sport Compact win at the speedway. He is now tied with Steve Miedke for second on that list. Chandler also became the first driver to win at least one feature in each of the first two seasons the Sport Compacts have competed in Independence.
Sunday night, the 19th annual Hogan Memorial will take place at Benton County Speedway in Vinton. If you haven't already made plans or checked out the details of that event, be sure to look over the information in the flyer at the top of this page. I will assist track announcer Bucky Doren on the microphone Sunday for the biggest event of the season in Vinton.
This coming week is the 2013 Buchanan County Fair in Independence. In addition to the seventh annual Dick Frye Memorial Saturday night, a loaded grandstand schedule leads up to the weekly racing program. The return of the Eve of Destruction will get things started Wednesday night, which will feature a Hound and Hare race, along with a rollover contest. Thursday will be the annual demolition derby, followed by the NTPA truck and tractor pull on Friday. For a complete list of fair events and activities, visit www.buchanancountyfair.org.
I hope to see all of you Sunday in Vinton!
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