Jon Passick took advantage of a late restart to drive to his first IMCA Late Model win of the year at Independence Motor Speedway.
Passick, who started in the fourth row, worked himself into third place and was closing in on leaders Rick Dralle and Luke Pestka when the caution flag waved on lap 21 of 25. On the restart, Passick worked to the outside of the leaders, who had a terrific battle for the top spot prior to the yellow, to challenged for the lead.
Dralle and Pestka swapped the lead when racing resumed before Passick drove the low side to the front as the white flag waved. Passick went on to score the win, the third of his career and his first since locking up the 2011 points title during the August 27, 2011 season championship program.
Passick was the seventh straight different Late Model winner Saturday night in Independence and now sits tied for 37th on the speedway's Late Model wins list with Dave Bentley, Dave Gerner, Dave Thorsten, Gary Henderson, LaVern Carey, Luke Merfeld, Luke Pestka, Tom Fitzpatrick, Tysus Pattee and Wes Merritt.
Troy Cordes scored his third win of the year in the Performance Bodies IMCA Modified division. Cordes took the lead from Mike Burbridge following a lap two restart to drive to victory. Mark Schulte powered into second from a fourth row start to come home second. Cordes was the fifth straight different winner in the division.
The three wins for Cordes this year are his most since a six-win 2006 season. He remains third on the all-time IMCA Modified wins list in Independence with 31 trips to the winner's circle. It was his ninth career win at the speedway during the month of August.
When including his Hobby Stock win from 1994, his 32 career wins tie Cordes for 10th all-time in Independence with Jim Burbridge and Chris Luloff.
Luloff earned his 32nd all-time win in Independence in the IMCA Hobby Stock division Saturday night. Luloff took the lead from Matt Lundry in the waning laps of that 15-lapper to drive to his seventh win of the year.
Luloff's 29 Hobby Stock wins are best all-time in Independence. His second straight win in the division, Luloff now owns seven streaks of at least two wins at the speedway. Saturday's win was his career eighth during the month of August. His 32 career wins also include three SportMod wins during the 2009 season.
Jason Hocken took his first win of the year in a caution-free IMCA Stock Car feature. Hocken took control from Kevin Rose on the fourth lap and led the remainder of the 18-lapper to take his second career win. Hocken is now one 25 Stock Car drivers all-time with multiple wins in Independence. He is tied with David Adams and Roberts Walters for 23rd on the career list. Hocken was the fifth straight different Stock Car feature winner at the speedway.
Kip Siems drove to his third win of the year in the IMCA Northern SportMod headliner. Siems worked beneath Kevin Hurst in turn two on the seventh circuit to drive to the victory.
With four SportMod wins in his career, Siems sits tied with Joel Rust for sixth on the all-time list. He owns one win each during the months of May, June, July and August.
Merv Chandler raced to the early lead, then held off Adam Gates to win his second IMCA Sport Compact feature of the year. Chandler has now won two Sport Compact features in each of the two years the division has competed in Independence. He remains the only drive to win a feature both years. Chandler's four division wins in Independence place him second on the all-time list.
Tonight, it's back to Benton County Speedway in Vinton for the weekly racing program before heading back to Independence tomorrow for what is being considered the biggest event in track history. A few World of Outlaws Late Model Series drivers have already rolled into town for tomorrow's show. They will be joined by the Karl Performance Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds. Event details are at www.independencemotorspeedway.com.
Have a great Sunday and I hope to see you in Vinton and Indee!
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