Mother Nature strikes again, rain cuts short Vinton program

I’m not sure if Mother Nature has taken on a strong disliking for stock car racing or if she’s just a really big fan of double features. Whatever it is, she threw a wrench into another track’s racing program Sunday night.

After forcing the postponement of all five features Saturday night at Independence Motor Speedway, there were still nearly four features left to complete Sunday night at Benton County Speedway before heavy rain fell on the Vinton quarter-mile.

Prior to the suspension of the program, three of seven feature events were completed, including those for the IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Compacts and IMCA Late Models.

A strong field of 15 Late Models turned out for their second appearance of the season in Vinton as part of the IMCA Late Model Sunday Series. Among the field were national points leader Todd Cooney and defending national champion Justin Kay, who is also currently leading the standings in the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models.

The race came down to that pair of drivers and they put on a whale of a show until the checkers waved.

Richie Gustin redrew the pole position for the 20-lap feature with Kay in row two and Cooney in row three. Gustin paced the field through a pair of early stoppages while Cooney raced into the runner-up spot following a lap six restart with Kay right behind him.

Cooney worked around Gustin on the eighth circuit before caution slowed action once again on lap 10. Kay restarted alongside Gustin and took over second place a short time later.

Cooney and Kay pulled away from traffic and engaged in a terrific battle for the lead. Kay surged ahead on the low side in turns one and two before Cooney used a slingshot move in turns three and four to regain control in the final laps.

The leaders jockeyed for position and swapped grooves numerous times before Cooney raced the outside line off turn four to a narrow win, his second in Vinton since Late Models returned to action in Vinton last summer. Charlie McKenna came from the fourth row and made a late push on the leaders to finish a close third.

First-year IMCA Stock Car driver Matt Brown held the lead throughout the early stages of that 15-lapper.

From his pole position start, Brown raced the top side to lead the pack while Justin Stander, Scott Pippert and Damon Murty gave chase. Stander worked beneath Brown following a lap six restart while Pippert and Murty challenged.

Pippert slipped beneath Stander for the lead one lap later and set the pace before Murty used the same move to take the lead from him with five laps to go.

Murty sailed to the win, his third of the year and the 64^th of his career in weekly racing history in Vinton. Murty has now won at least three features per year in each of the last 11 seasons at the speedway. His 64 wins are the most all-time in the division in Vinton. Thirteen of Murty’s wins have come during the month of June.

Nathan Chandler’s first appearance in Vinton in a number of weeks resulted in a familiar finish for the IMCA Sport Compact veteran. Chandler took the lead early and then sailed to a convincing win ahead of Gary Peiffer and Bill Whalen Jr. in that 10-lapper.

His second win of the season, Chandler now owns 47 Sport Compact victories in weekly racing history in Vinton to lead all drivers. Chandler has multiple wins in each of the last seven seasons at the speedway.

Of his 47 wins, Chandler has won 11 times in the month of June. He also has 11 wins each during the months of May and July.

The rain halted action five laps into the 15-lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature. That feature will pick up where it left off next Sunday night. The make-up features for the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Hobby Stocks and BCS Micro Mods will also be held next week, along with a complete program for the six weekly divisions. That’s right, 10 features will be scheduled for next week. In addition, next week’s program is Gary’s Auto Mid-Season Championship night with bike giveaways for the kids.

These last two rainy nights will lead to an action-packed weekend next weekend for race fans in eastern Iowa. In addition to all of Sunday night’s action in Vinton, two of the five features rained out in Independence Saturday night will be made up next weekend when the Modifieds and Stock Cars will have their double feature night.

Yes, 17 feature events are slated for next weekend alone between the two tracks, including double IMCA Modified features both nights. If you haven’t been to Indee or Vinton in a while, you will definitely get your money’s worth next weekend.

Before the busy weekend next weekend, don’t forgot about this Tuesday’s special in Independence when the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models makes its annual stop. IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Hobby Stocks will also compete July 1.

Of course, in two weeks, the 20^th annual Hogan Memorial will take center stage in Vinton and there are also county fair races to account for in the coming weeks, plus the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and XSAN Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds during the month of July in Independence.

Confused yet? Need a breather? Here is a list of race dates just for Independence and Vinton for the month of July:

Tuesday, July 1 / Independence – Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models, plus IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Hobby Stocks;

Saturday, July 5 / Independence – Make-up features for IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Stock Cars, plus complete program for IMCA Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Hobby Stocks;

Sunday, July 6 / Vinton – Make-up features for IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks and BCS Micro Mods, plus complete program for IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, IMCA Sport Compacts and BCS Micro Mods;

Saturday, July 12 / Independence – Make-up features for IMCA Late Models, IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Hobby Stocks, plus complete program for IMCA Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Hobby Stocks (increased prize money also on the line for the regular Hobby Stock feature as part of Saturday Showcase series);

Sunday, July 13 / Vinton – 20^th annual Hogan Memorial, including 40-lap IMCA Modified feature, plus weekly program for IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Hobby Stocks;

Wednesday, July 16 / Independence – Buchanan County Fair special, featuring IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks and BCS Micro Mods;

Sunday, July 20 / Vinton – Weekly racing program for IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, IMCA Sport Compacts and BCS Micro Mods;

Thursday, July 24 / Independence – World of Outlaws Late Models Series and XSAN Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds;

Thursday, July 24 / Vinton – Benton County Fair special (classes to be announced);

Saturday, July 26 / Independence – Weekly racing program for IMCA Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Hobby Stocks;

Sunday, July 27 / Vinton – Benton County Fair, including weekly racing for IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, IMCA Sport Compacts, BCS Micro Mods and the IMCA Late Model Sunday Series.

This doesn’t even account for “non-racing events” at both tracks during the county fairs.

Additional Benton County Fair events in Vinton include the Night of Destruction on Friday, July 25 and the annual Demolition Derby and Rollover Contest the following night Saturday, July 26.

Other Buchanan County Fair specials in Independence include the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling Truck/Tractor Pull on Thursday, July 17, plus the Night of Destruction (Demo Derby and Trailer Races) on Friday, July 18. Country music star Chris Cagle will be performing live at the fairgrounds Saturday, July 19, in Independence so we will not be racing that evening. For information on the concert and other fair events in Independence, visit www.buchanancountyfair.org. Oh, yeah, don't forget that RAGBRAI will also be making an overnight stop in Independence on Friday, July 25.

Of course, there are a ton of other events scheduled in the month of July, including the incredibly full week of Modified racing that starts with the Hogan Memorial in Vinton (July 13). That week alone includes Hawkeye Dirt Tour stops at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson (July 14) and Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa (July 15), followed by another big money show for Modifieds in Oskaloosa on Wednesday (July 16) of that week, before culminating with the Harris Clash in Knoxville (July 17).

With the Independence Day holiday this Friday, the special events calendar is full for this week, as well. The 19th annual Stock Car Shootout is this Wednesday and Thursday in Oskaloosa and will include the Merv Chandler Memorial. A memorial event for Chandler will also be held on the asphalt at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids this Saturday, July 5, featuring a 42-lap $2,000-to-win show for IMCA Sport Compacts. 

You can check out the entire list of special events on the calendar page at Positively Racing.

The heat and feature results from Sunday night in Vinton are below, however they include only results from the three divisions that were run to completion. While heat races were run in the Modified, SportMod, Hobby Stock and Micro Mod divisions Sunday night, they are not included here, but will be included next Sunday night following the completion of their features.

RESULTS

IMCA LATE MODEL

Feature: 1. 30 Todd Cooney, Des Moines; 2. 15K Justin Kay, Wheatland; 3. 22 Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake; 4. 87 John Emerson, Waterloo; 5. 70 Jerry King, Waterloo; 6. 9 Bobby Hansen, Center Point; 7. 15C Curt Schroeder, Ames; 8. 23 Paul Conrad, Colo; 9. 21B Joel Brasch, Dunkerton; 10. 5W Tom Hanson, Vinton; 11. 23B Jeramia Boynton, La Porte City; 12. 32X Chris Snyder, Raymond; 13. 19G Richie Gustin, Gilman; 14. 32 Curtis Glover, Des Moines; 15. 60 Dean Wagner, Evansdale.

Heat one: 1. McKenna; 2. Cooney; 3. Wagner; 4. Brasch; 5. Kay; 6. Conrad; 7. Hanson.

Heat two: 1. Emerson; 2. King; 3. Gustin; 4. Hansen; 5. Schroeder; 6. Glover; 7. Conrad; DNS Snyder.

IMCA STOCK CAR

Feature: 1. 99D Damon Murty, Chelsea; 2. 47 Scott Pippert, Elberon; 3. 67 Justin Stander, Shellsburg; 4. 8 Curtis Roster, Vinton; 5. 15 Norman Chesmore, Rowley; 6. 62G Adam Gebel, Cedar Falls; 7. 8B Scott Beauregard, Brandon; 8. 76 Mike Galli, Urbana; 9. 171 Buck Swanson, Waterloo; 10. 99 Erick Knutsen, Cedar Rapids; 11. 38 Matt Brown, Marion; 12. 31S Paul Shepherd, Marengo.

Heat one: 1. Stander; 2. Pippert; 3. Brown; 4. Knutsen; 5. Gebel; DNS Roster.

Heat two: 1. Murty; 2. Chesmore; 3. Galli; 4. Shepherd; 5. Beauregard; 6. Swanson.

IMCA SPORT COMPACT

Feature: 1. 22 Nathan Chandler, Norway; 2. 36DD Gary Peiffer, Troy Mills; 3. 00W Bill Whalen Jr., Riverside; 4. 3S Craig Streeter, Vinton; 5. 99J Jeremy Lerch, Vinton; 6. 33B Zach Brenner, Dubuque; 7. 007 Adam Gates, Marion.

Heat one: 1. Chandler; 2. Peiffer; 3. Gates; 4. Streeter; 5. Whalen; 6. Lerch; 7. Brenner.

That will take care of Sunday night's recap. I apologize that it wasn't posted earlier, however the storm that came through Vinton left my internet down periodically throughout the night. I decided to let the storm run its course before losing all electricity shortly after 1 a.m.

A brief loss of power is nothing compared to what a number of people are experiencing tonight. I saw a number of photos on facebook of flooded streets and homes in eastern Iowa as a result of the storm, along with a number of damaged structures. Thoughts are with everyone affected by the latest round of powerful weather.

For those who are able to make it, say hello Tuesday night at the Deery show in Independence and, as always, thanks for reading!

Rain halts action in Independence, double features scheduled

Every season, it seems we talk about how rain plays a pivotal role in more race nights than ever before. Fighting the elements has become the norm for race tracks throughout the Midwest in recent years and this season is no exception.

Entering Saturday night's show at Independence Motor Speedway, rain directly affected or was in the forecast for all but a couple of our 11 events. One weekly show was canceled due to rain and most of the rest had us checking the radar on race day. Quite frankly, with the wet spring and summer we've experienced, we've been very fortunate to lose only one show to the weather through the first half of the season.

It finally got the best of us Saturday night as we were forced to stop action when heavy rain put a halt on the show at the end of the qualifying races.

We made it a lot deeper into Saturday night's show than I expected. With the radar looking bleak since well before the gates opened, it was in the back of our minds that we were fighting a losing battle by prepping the track, starting concessions and eventually opening the gates. Of course, we'd seen it a number of times before - many times this season alone - when the rain would break up before it reached the fairgrounds or it veered off in another direction making it possible to complete the program.

We didn't get so lucky Saturday night.

As a result, qualifying was completed, leaving us with features to make up in all five divisions. We opted to scatter those make-up features over the next two weeks in order to keep from running too late into the night. Even though we have a weekend program and we race on Saturday night, we have no desire to upset the non-racing residents of Independence by racing toward the midnight hour.

What we opted to do is run the Modified and Stock Car make-up features next Saturday, July 5 and the make-up features for the Late Models, Hobby Stocks and SportMods the following Saturday, July 12.

We chose to run them in that order because the Late Models, Hobby Stocks and SportMods are already part of this Tuesday's Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models special in Independence. Details for that event are available at www.independencemotorspeedway.com.

There have been a couple of questions concerning Saturday night's program that always seem to come up when rain stops a show after it's already started. I'll do my best to answer those questions here:

What makes a complete show?
Seeing every heat and feature run to completion would be ideal, but we all know that doesn't always happen.

In Independence, the completion of all qualifying events means the show is complete. We almost didn't make it Saturday night, but all qualifying events were scored complete.

The biggest question about Saturday night's heat races came when we cut the number of laps in two Late Model heat races after a number of cars left the track. In both instances, we were down to only qualified cars. We ran three heats and took the top four from each to the season average point invert for the evening's scheduled feature.

As we have done for many years in Independence, if attrition plays a role and we are left with only qualified cars on the track, we will cut back the number of laps. Threat of rain or not, this has always been in place in Independence and we have consistently done it this way for many years. We do this to prevent the possibility of drivers tearing up their equipment since all remaining cars are qualified.

Since the final heat on the track Saturday night was a Late Model heat with four drivers left running and all were qualified for the invert when the rain stopped the show, the program was deemed complete. The feature starting positions for the non-finishers of that event were already determined by how they were scored in that heat.

Since all qualifying was complete, the show was considered complete, meaning double features would be scheduled over the coming weeks and rain checks would not be honored for those events.

Why aren't rain checks good for next week since it rained Saturday night?
Nobody wants to see a show suspended by rain after racing has started. Not only is it an inconvenience on the night it occurs, but it throws a wrench into scheduling make-up events.

A track is essentially left with three options when a program is rain-shortened and none of them are perfect solutions, however we felt the decision we made was in the best interest of both racers and fans.

Option 1 - Complete the show through make-up features
The first option is what we chose to do, and that is to pick up where we left off Saturday night - with five features left to run. To do that, you aren't cancelling the remainder of an event, you're just postponing it. In the end, Saturday's program will still be completed; it just won't happen in a matter of a few short hours. It'll happen over the course of a couple weeks.

This means we will still be running a complete show each of the next two weeks in addition to the remainder of the show we started Saturday night. That will be three complete programs over the span of three weeks. The only difference is, you won't be able to wrap a bow around each one and dedicate one individual program to one individual race night.

That's three programs with three purses being awarded to the drivers and three programs being offered to race fans. That means there are three nights of admission fees that need to be collected. If you believe that we should run double features over the next two weeks, yet honor rain checks from Saturday night and, in the end, charge admission for only two shows when three are being offered, race tracks simply can't afford to do that.

Saturday night's program will not go down as a rainout. There will be feature winners, there will be purse money paid to the 96 drivers who signed in. The payout for the next two Saturdays will equal the purse money for three complete events. As I said, three events will be run, they're just going to be run differently in the same time frame.

Option 2 - Start over/scratch all of Saturday's qualifying events
The second option a promoter could choose is to cancel the program and start from scratch the following week, which means rain checks would be valid, however it would also mean the rain-shortened show "never happened."

In that instance, the racers would be out their money for the fuel burned making the trip to the track, the fuel burned on the track, the tire wear and the mechanical wear on their cars with nothing to show for it except a pit pass the following week, all for one purse check at the end of the night.

As for the fans, instead of paying for three tickets to see three complete shows over the course of three weeks, they'd pay for two complete shows and see two complete shows after spending gas money on three separate trips to and from the race track. Nobody would win if we said Saturday night's heat races "never happened."

Option 3 - Start over, but pay tow money for the rainout
We could have added up the total prize money and dispensed it evenly among all drivers who were present in each division Saturday night. Doing so would have essentially scrapped the heat races that were held and then we'd have started over next week.

To do that though, the same amount of purse money would have been distributed as on a normal night and rain checks would not have been honored the following week. No points would have been awarded, no features would have been run and it would have been just like option number two - "never happened."

In that scenario, everyone would have felt like they came out on the short end of the stick. The fans for being charged admission fees, but not seeing features and drivers for not getting the chance to earn more than an equal amount of prize money as everyone else in their division that night.

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I understand the people who may have come out on the shortest end of Saturday's program were those individuals who attended Saturday night's races and are unable to attend the next two weeks. In the end, though, 14 of 19 events were completed Saturday night and there was fantastic racing throughout the heats that beat the rain.

The people who were unable to attend Saturday, but are able to join us for either of the next two programs will get more than their money's worth as we will have seven features July 5 and eight features July 12.

As I said earlier, there is no perfect solution to a rain-shortened program, but I believe the option we chose is in the best interest of both drivers and fans.

I've also received a couple questions about the 50/50 money that was collected before the monsoon hit Saturday night. Since a winning ticket number was not announced, the money collected Saturday night will be put toward next Saturday's drawing. The winning number will be drawn from all tickets sold during both events.

Sunday, it's back to Benton County Speedway in Vinton for the second appearance of the season for the IMCA Late Models, along with IMCA sanctioned Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, Northern SportMods and Sport Compacts, plus the BCS Micro Mods.

The Gary's Auto Mid-Season Championships, originally scheduled for last week, were rained out and have been postponed until next Sunday, July 6 in Vinton.

Tuesday, it's back to Independence for the Deery Series event. The tour has not seen a repeat winner yet this season. Will that streak continue or will the first repeat winner of the season make his way to victory lane in Independence?

As always, thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Gustin, Ackerman go back-to-back at Independence Motor Speedway

Jenae Gustin stayed with her winning ways Saturday night at Independence Motor Speedway. Gustin, who has now won two straight and four of the last five IMCA Northern SportMod features in Independence, earned some extra spending cash with Saturday night's win. The SportMod division was this month's featured class in the Saturday Showcase.

From her fifth row starting spot, Gustin made her way into a battle for the lead with Lucas Lundry a handful of laps into the 15-lapper. The front-runners fought in lapped traffic and swapped the lead a number of times before Gustin pulled away to the dominant win.

With five SportMod wins to her credit in weekly racing history in Independence (all in the last 49 days, mind you), she is now tied for fifth on the division's wins list with Lundry and Joel Rust. Gustin is only the second SportMod driver in track history to win four events in five weeks. Josh Sherbon did it toward the end of the 2010 season.

Gustin can make more history next week with another win. No SportMod driver has won three straight in the division's seven-plus year history at the speedway. She is also closing in on Tyler Droste's track record of seven wins in a single season, which he set in 2011.

Darren Ackerman also won his second straight feature in the IMCA Late Model division. Ackerman took advantage of a mid-race restart which forced Sean Johnson's straightaway lead to disappear.

Ackerman made his way around Johnson as the white flag waved to drive to victory, his third in the last four weeks. Ackerman previously won back-to-back features one other time in his career - July 18 and 25, 2009.

With 21 Late Model wins in his weekly racing career in Independence, Ackerman now sits alone in eighth on the all-time list.

He, too, can make history with a win next week. Only four Late Model drivers in track history have ever won three straight features - Ed Sanger, Gary Crawford, Curt Martin and Rick Wendling. Martin was the last to do it in 2004. No Late Model driver has won four straight.

While Ackerman has been the man to beat as of late, he has never won more than three features in a single season in Independence. His three wins so far this year match the mark he set in 2007 and repeated in 2009. Coincidentally, he also won track titles both of those seasons...

Speaking of Late Model points, if you haven't already checked them out, they are tight! In fact, the top six in the standings are separated by a mere nine points. Click here to check them out. 

Justin Wacha became the third different driver to get his first Independence IMCA Hobby Stock win this season. He is the 93rd different Hobby Stock winner all-time at the speedway.

After starting in the middle of the pack, Wacha reeled in leader Benji Irvine in the last few laps and inched ahead at the line to score the victory. He now owns two career Hobby Stock victories, his first coming at Benton County Speedway just over a year ago on June 9, 2013.

Wacha is the 20th Hobby Stock driver in Independence track history to get his first win during the month of June.

Take a look at the top of the Hobby Stock points, too. That's another close battle.

Troy Cordes tightened up the points in the Performance Bodies IMCA Modified division, as well. Cordes dominated that 20-lapper to earn his first win of the year by a straightaway and pull within a single point of leader Scott Hogan.

With the win, Cordes now has 32 Modified wins in weekly racing history at the speedway, which places him third all-time.

Cordes' win Saturday night nearly fell on the 20th anniversary of his first win in Independence... in the Hobby Stock division on June 18, 1994. When also considering that win, his 33 wins in weekly racing history at the speedway tie Cordes with Chris Luloff for 10th all-time.

Cordes must have a thing for the month of June as this was his 10th Modified win during that calendar month. Plus, his first Modified win in Indee came in the month of June nearly 18 years ago - June 29, 1996.

Brian Irvine earned his second win in as many appearances this season in the IMCA Stock Car division. Irvine started outside of row six, made his way into the lead a handful of laps into the 18-lapper and then checked out to drive to victory.

Irvine's 33 Stock Car wins in Independence place him second all-time at the speedway. When combined with 16 Hobby Stock wins, Irvine has earned 49 victories in weekly racing history at the speedway. He is one victory shy of tying Greg Kastli for fifth all-time.

Saturday's program was sponsored by Karsyn's Krusaders and Three Wide Media. I was one of five individuals honored to be asked by Jessica Miller of Karsyn's Krusaders to be an honorary flagman for the features. I was able to throw the green flag for the Hobby Stock feature in memory of my father, who lost a brief battle with lung cancer on May 14, 2011.

With the wet weather throughout the week, the last place I was expecting to spend my Saturday evening was at the races. Mother Nature offered a reprieve Saturday and Don Burkey had the track in tip-top shape yet again. Not only was the racing fantastic, but a huge crowd turned out despite the warm temperatures and threat of more rain. Thanks to everyone who came out to support Saturday's show!

The weekly program at Benton County Speedway is on tap for Sunday. I hope to see you there!

Burbridge, Gates, Ritter end streaks at Benton County Speedway

A pair of drivers were looking to extend winning streaks Sunday night, but both came to an end during the racing program at Benton County Speedway. (complete results follow below)

In the IMCA Modifieds, Troy Cordes was hoping to become just the ninth driver in track history to earn three straight wins in the division on the Vinton quarter-mile. After emerging late from the staging area, Cordes started the 12-car event from the tail, one row farther back than he was expected.

Jesse Belez took the lead from his pole position start when the green flag waved to start the 20-lapper. He was quickly pressured by Mike Burbridge, who started behind him. Burbridge raced the low groove into the lead on lap three while Scott Hogan was making his way to the front from a fourth row start.

Hogan settled into the runner-up spot on lap five and quickly went to work on cutting into Burbridge's half-straightaway lead. Cordes made his way into fourth on the eighth circuit while Hogan closed the gap on the leader.

Hogan reeled in Burbridge at the midway point as Cordes made his way around Belez for third - a full straightaway behind the leaders.

Hogan continued to pester Burbridge on the low side of the speedway, but was unable to sneak beneath him for the lead. While the leaders battled, Cordes was gaining on them, but running out of time when he spun in turns one and two on lap 15, essentially ending his bid for the threepeat.

When racing resumed, Hogan changed lanes and tried to get a run on Burbridge on the high side, however Burbridge led the event in its entirety to take the win, his first of the year.

Burbridge, who has now won at least one Modified feature in each of the last four seasons, owns 12 Modified wins in his weekly racing career in Vinton. He is tied with Patrick Flannagan, Robbie Schmuecker and Tim McBride for 11th on the all-time list.

His third career win during the month of June, Burbridge's victory Sunday night came just a few days following the anniversary of his first Vinton win, which he earned on June 5, 2011.

The list of drivers who have earned three straight Modified wins in weekly racing action in track history will remain at eight for the time being. Those drivers, who have accomplished the feat a combined 12 times, are listed at the bottom of this blog.

Bill Whalen Jr. was looking to set a new standard for consecutive IMCA Sport Compact wins in Vinton. He was in search of his fifth straight win Sunday night, however Adam Gates played the role of spoiler.

From his pole position start, Gates built a huge early lead while Whalen worked through traffic from a third row starting spot.

Whalen made his way into second on lap two of the 10-lapper, but Gates had checked out and sailed to his first win in Vinton since May 29, 2011. His two victories place him in a tie for 11th on the track's all-time Sport Compact wins list with Bryan Klein, David Moorman, Dennis Preston, Justin Wacha and Neil Nabholz.

Entering the night, there had been six different winners in as many weeks to open the season in the IMCA Northern SportMod division, which matched the mark set at the start of the 2007 season. Shawn Ritter ended the streak of different winners as he earned his second trip to victory lane.

From his second row starting spot, Ritter worked past front row starters Brandon Morris and Jake Salisbury to assume command by the end of the first lap. Ritter held the point through a handful of cautions over the first five laps while Danny Dvorak made his way into the runner-up spot after starting in row four.

Ritter, who was battling a loose car throughout the event, attempted to protect the low groove while Dvorak closely challenged. Dvorak tried numerous times both high and low to work past the leader, but was unable to get the job done as Ritter held on for victory.

Ritter, who led all 15 laps in each of his two victories this season, now has three career SportMod wins in Vinton. He is tied with Chris Luloff, Damon Murty, Ken Kositzky and Shane Ebaugh for 15th on the all-time list.

Norman Chesmore picked up his second win of the year in the 15-lap IMCA Stock Car feature. From a fifth row starting spot, Chesmore raced his way into second just before the caution flag waved with five laps complete.

He chased leader Buck Swanson when racing resumed and was able to work beneath the leader when Swanson got loose exiting turn four on lap seven. Chesmore worked the low side of Swanson and took the lead the next time past the flagstand. Chesmore survived a couple more stoppages over the final half of the event to secure the win.

With the victory, Chesmore has won multiple features in six separate seasons in Vinton. He remains fourth on the career wins list at the speedway with 22 trips to the winner's circle. Seven of those wins have come during the month of June.

Nathan Ballard's seasons of highs and lows continued Sunday night. The IMCA Hobby Stock driver has as many DNFs as he does victories through seven weeks this season. He righted the ship once again by picking up his third win of the year.

Fellow front row starter Justin Wacha set the pace over the first half of the 15-lapper before Ballard was able to work around the leader on lap nine. Ballard then held off late pressure from Benji Irvine to score the victory.

With nine career Hobby Stock wins in weekly racing in Vinton, Ballard finished the night tied with Todd Temeyer for 15th on the all-time list. It was his second win during the month of June. His other June win was also his first win at the speedway and came nearly seven years ago (June 17, 2007).

Don Erger led all 10 laps of the BCS Micro Mod feature to earn his first career win in the division. Although it was his first win in a Micro Mod, Erger has been no stranger to victory lane in Vinton - he has now won at least one feature in four different divisions at the speedway.

In weekly racing alone, Erger won in the Compact Modifieds (twice in 1997), Pro Stocks (five times from 1999-2000) and IMCA Modifieds (10 times from 2002-2009), bringing his total to 18 career wins in Vinton.

Here is the chronological list of Modified drivers with at least three consecutive wins in weekly racing history at Benton County Speedway:

Arlo Becker (1979): The first Modified driver with a three-race winning streak, Becker did it in the first three races after Rick Brinkema won the first-ever IMCA Modified feature in June of 1979;
Dave Venenga (1980): The first three wins of Venenga's career came in the final three events of the 1980 season;
Jack Mitchell (1981): This streak in 1981 was a four race winning streak, the first of its kind for the Modifieds in Vinton;
Jack Mitchell (1983): This was also a four-race winning streak for Mitchell and took place in the first four events of the 1983 season;
Jack Mitchell (1983): No, you're not seeing double... Mitchell had a second streak of at least three straight wins in 1983. In fact, this streak was a FIVE race winning streak and is separate from the four-race streak he had to open the season. The only thing preventing the two from becoming one longer winning streak was a June 12 win that season by Mike Krall;
Kevin Pittman (1990): Pittman earned a four race winning streak to start the 1990 season. That year marked the reopening of the track for weekly racing after it closed at the end of the 1983 season.
Kevin Pittman (1990): Pittman also had a three race winning streak later in 1990, which was separate from his four race winning streak to start the year.
Darin Duffy (2000): Duffy opened the year with wins in the first three weeks of the season. If not for Vern Jackson's first BCS Modified win May 21 of that year, Duffy may have had a six race winning streak to his credit. He won five of the first six Modified features that year.
Vern Jackson (2001): Following the Hogan Memorial Mid-Season Championship program in 2001 and prior to the Benton County Fair races, Jackson reeled off the first of two career three race winning streaks.
Vern Jackson (2004): Jackson's second three race winning streak in the Modifieds ended with a photo finish victory over Troy Cordes in the Hogan Memorial Mid-Season Championship special.
J.D. Auringer (2007): In another Hogan Memorial-related note, Auringer's three race winning streak started with the 2007 Hogan Memorial Mid-Season Championship victory. 
Scott Hogan (2010): The last Modified driver to win three straight features in Vinton, Hogan's wins came on May 2, 9 and 16 of that year.

Note: The Hogan Memorial was a weekly points race from 1995-2007. Auringer was the last to win the event as part of weekly points racing. Although the Hogan Memorial stayed part of the Mid-Season Championship program for a couple more years as a non-points event for Modifieds, it was moved to a July date in 2010 and has remained there ever since. Speaking of which... the 20th edition of the Hogan Memorial is scheduled for next month on Sunday, July 13. How was that for a segue?

And now, for Sunday's results...

RESULTS
IMCA MODIFIED
Feature: 1. 11B Mike Burbridge, Delhi; 2. 33D Scott Hogan, Vinton; 3. 81 Jesse Belez, Marengo; 4. 12D Joe Docekal, Dysart; 5. 10K Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup; 6. 00J J.D. Auringer, Waterloo; 7. 20L Zach Less, Hopkinton; 8. 71 Troy Cordes, Dunkerton; 9. F7 Patrick Flannagan, Cedar Rapids; 10. 7 Todd Jensen, Waterloo; 11. 415 Josh Barta, Cedar Falls; 12. 80 Jerry Dedrick, Vinton.
Heat one: 1. Lauritzen; 2. Auringer; 3. Flannagan; 4. Cordes; 5. Belez; 6. Barta.
Heat two: 1. Hogan; 2. Burbridge; 3. Less; 4. Docekal; 5. Jensen; 6. Dedrick.

IMCA STOCK CAR
Feature: 1. 15 Norman Chesmore, Rowley; 2. 171 Buck Swanson, Waterloo; 3. 47 Scott Pippert, Elberon; 4. 67 Justin Stander, Shellsburg; 5. 22D Jared Daggett, Marshalltown; 6. 8B Scott Beauregard, Brandon; 7. 4JR Russell Damme Jr., Waterloo; 8. 8 Curtis Roster, Vinton; 9. 4H Scott Hampton, Waterloo; 10. 19J Jay Schmidt, Tama; 11. 76 Mike Galli, Urbana; 12. 38 Matt Brown, Marion.
Heat one: 1. Swanson; 2. Brown; 3. Stander; 4. Chesmore; 5. Galli; 6. Hampton.
Heat two: 1. Damme; 2. Beauregard; 3. Schmidt; 4. Pippert; 5. Roster; 6. Daggett.

IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMOD
Feature: 1. 7SR Shawn Ritter, Keystone; 2. 3R Danny Dvorak, Vinton; 3. T23 Tony Olson, Cedar Rapids; 4. 7D Dakoda Sellers, Vinton; 5. 199 Dave Burrell, Dysart; 6. 22H Curt Hilmer, Dysart; 7. 4 Ryan Maitland, Waterloo; 8. 16K Brandon Morris, Cedar Rapids; 9. 00 Jim Buhlman, Cedar Falls; 10. T17 Tom Rawlins, Kellogg; 11. 72 Brett Lowry, Montezuma; 12. 10S John Schaefer, La Porte City; 13. 17 Dawn Krall, Evansdale; 14. 50H Steve Wimer, Toddville; 15. 42L Lonnie Mercer, Urbana; 16. CH19 Colby Heishman, Brooklyn; 17. 36 Jake Salisbury, Dunkerton; 18. J2 Dave Schulze, Keystone; 19. 22 Matt Petrzelka, Norway; 20. 57R Ryan King, Montour; 21. 19J Jenae Gustin, Marshalltown; 22. 30 Joey Schaefer, Waterloo; 23. 95 Mike McDonald, Cedar Rapids; 24. 3B Brian Anderson, Garrison.
Heat one: 1. Olson; 2. Morris; 3. Salisbury; 4. Maitland; 5. Buhlman; 6. Gustin; 7. Schulze; DNS Heishman.
Heat two: 1. Sellers; 2. Dvorak; 3. Rawlins; 4. Krall; 5. Petrzelka; 6. Schaefer; 7. Mercer; 8. McDonald.
Heat three: 1. Ritter; 2. Hilmer; 3. Schaefer; 4. Lowry; 5. King; 6. Burrell; 7. Wimer; 8. Anderson.

IMCA HOBBY STOCK
Feature: 1. 29 Nathan Ballard, Marengo; 2. 79 Benji Irvine, Stanley; 3. 45 Justin Wacha, Vinton; 4. 07 Jake Keiser, Marengo; 5. 46 Brian Happel, Vinton; 6. 17K Kyle Parizek, Belle Plaine; 7. 78 Matt Brown, Dysart; 8. 1 Scott Siems, Cedar Rapids; 9. 19B Jim Sheldon, Marion.
Heat: 1. Ballard; 2. Wacha; 3. Parizek; 4. Brown; 5. Happel; 6. Irvine; 7. Keiser; 8. Siems; 9. Sheldon.

IMCA SPORT COMPACT
Feature: 1. 007 Adam Gates, Cedar Rapids; 2. 00W Bill Whalen Jr., Riverside; 3. 01 Aaron Miller, Marshalltown; 4. 3S Craig Streeter, Vinton; 5. 36DD Gary Peiffer, Troy Mills; 6. 02 John Gill, Marshalltown; 7. 07 Joe Goodenbaur, Vinton; 8. 2M Dallas Chandler, Cedar Rapids; 9. 73B Andrew Bieber, Independence; 10. 99J Jeremy Lerch, Vinton.
Heat: 1. Gates; 2. Chandler; 3. Miller; 4. Peiffer; 5. Lerch; 6. Whalen; 7. Streeter; 8. Gill; 9. Goodenbaur; 10. Bieber.

BCS MICRO MOD
Feature: 1. 6E Don Erger, Brandon; 2. 2 Brandon Maitland, Waterloo; 3. 00 Brody Willett, Cedar Rapids; 4. Tristan Cordes, Dunkerton; 5. 111A A.J. Witten, Cedar Rapids; 6. 111 Buster Pate, Hiawatha; 7. 10 Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup.
Heat: 1. Erger; 2. Pate; 3. Maitland; 4. Lauritzen; 5. Cordes; 6. Willett; 7. Witten.

Ackerman, Shepherd among repeat winners in Independence

For the first time in seven weeks of points racing this season, there were no career first-time winners at Independence Motor Speedway. Also for the first time this year, every winner Saturday night had already been in victory lane at least once this season.

Darren Ackerman became the first driver to return to victory lane this season in the IMCA Late Model division - and he did it in dominant fashion.

Ackerman built a straightaway lead by the time he entered lapped traffic on lap eight, then pulled away from Rick Wendling and Curt Martin following a late caution to collect his second win of the season.

With 20 Late Model wins in weekly racing history in Independence, Ackerman tied Greg Hunter for eighth on the division's all-time list at the speedway. He has now won multiple features in seven separate seasons.

Ackerman's win Saturday night came five days after the 13th anniversary of his first Independence win (June 9, 2001). He has more wins in June (8) than any other calendar month.

Ackerman's 20 career wins in weekly racing at the speedway place him alone in 25th on the track's all-time list among all drivers.

Paul Shepherd broke the streak of different winners in the IMCA Stock Car division, as well, by becoming the first repeat winner this season in that division.

Phil Holtz led throughout much of the first half of the 18-lap feature while Shepherd raced into contention from a fifth row start. Shepherd took the lead following a lap eight restart to drive to the victory.

The second win of his Stock Car career in Independence, Shepherd is one of 26 drivers with multiple Stock Car wins at the speedway. He is tied with David Adams and Robert Walters for 24th on the division's wins list.

All-time, Shepherd has earned six wins in weekly racing history at the speedway, tying him for 119th on that list.

Benji Irvine was one of three drivers to earn a fourth trip to victory lane this season. Irvine started deep in the field in the 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, but made his way into the top five before a caution following lap one.

He made his way to the front when the green flag waved to drive to his first win since May 17.

Irvine now owns nine Hobby Stock wins in weekly racing at the track, tying him with Forrest Frost and Jeff Roete for 11th on the all-time list. His first career win during the month of June in Independence, Irvine has now won at least one feature each during the months of April, May, June, July and August.

His nine career wins in Independence place Irvine in a tie for 76th on the track's all-time list.

Jenae Gustin earned her fourth win of the season in the IMCA Northern SportMods. Gustin inherited the lead when the starters at the front of the pack had trouble avoiding the caution flag.

After starting in row five, Gustin led the field back to green following a lap three caution en route to the win, her fourth in her last five appearances.

Gustin's four SportMod wins tie her with Brennen Chipp and Kip Siems for seventh on the division's weekly wins list at the speedway. She is tied for 164th on the track's all-time wins list out of 461 career feature winners in Independence.

Ronn Lauritzen's dominance in the IMCA Modifieds over the last year-and-a-half continued Saturday night. He raced the high groove into contention after starting in the middle of the pack in that 20-lapper.

Lauritzen swept past J.D. Auringer and leader Ed Thomas following a mid-race restart to drive to his fourth win of the year and his ninth in the last 17 weekly races for the division in Independence.

With 12 career Modified wins at the speedway, Lauritzen tied Scott Hogan for 10th on the division's all-time list. He is now tied for 55th in career wins in weekly racing history in Independence.

Lauritzen has won three of the last four Modified features at the speedway. The last to do it? You guessed it - Lauritzen also did it last season. Next week he will look to become the first Modified driver to win three straight features at the speedway since Adam Johnson won four-in-a-row toward the end of the 2012 season.

Tonight, I'm off to Benton County Speedway to fill in for announcer Bucky Doren while he enjoys Father's Day with his son on the baseball diamond. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there and I hope to see you at the races!

Salisbury sails to first SportMod win at Benton County Speedway

Entering Sunday night, Jacob Salisbury had been behind the wheel of a race car only 11 nights. In those 11 nights, his best finish was a ninth place run May 24 at Independence Motor Speedway - the only top-10 finish of his young career. Sunday night at Benton County Speedway, the rookie led all 15 laps of the IMCA Northern SportMod feature to earn his first win. (complete results below)

Salisbury took the lead at the drop of the green with Dakoda Sellers in pursuit. The lead pair quickly pulled away from the field until the caution flag waved with seven laps scored complete.

On the restart, Salisbury again took charge while Colby Heishman and Brett Lowry made their way into contention. Heishman reeled in the leader and was pressuring Salisbury when the caution flag waved again with three laps to go.

When racing resumed, Salisbury quickly pulled away from traffic, leaving Lowry to battle Heishman for the runner-up spot. Although Lowry worked the low side past Heishman for second as the white flag waved, Salisbury raced away to victory.

With the victory, Salisbury became the 48th different Northern SportMod feature winner in weekly racing history in Vinton and the fourth first-time winner through the first six weeks of the season.

Six different SportMod drivers have reached victory lane to start the season, which ties the record that was established to start the 2007 season. Of the six different drivers with SportMod wins so far this year, none of them have earned more than two career wins at the speedway.

In IMCA Modified action, Troy Cordes started in the fifth row of that 20-lap feature, but the time he spent that deep in the field was short-lived.

Exiting turn two on the first lap, Cordes ran the low groove into the top five by the middle of the back stretch. He made his way into second place two laps later.

Cordes quickly reeled in Patrick Flannagan and worked the low groove to pull even with the leader as they exited turn two on lap four. He took the lead at the flagstand and pulled away from the field to drive to victory and take over the points lead.

Also last week's Modified winner, Cordes has now won back-to-back features in the division eight separate times in his career on the Vinton oval. That leads all drivers. He has never won three straight features at the speedway.

Next week, Cordes will look to become the ninth driver in track history to win three straight Modified features in weekly racing. Any guesses on the eight who have done it? If so, comment on the link to this blog on my facebook page and I will let you know if you're right. Should all eight drivers not be correctly guessed, I'll let you know who they are next week... if Cordes wins.

So far this season, Cordes has earned three wins (all in the last four weeks), the most since his five-win season in 2009. All-time, Cordes owns 42 Modified wins in weekly racing history in Vinton, just two shy of Scott Hogan at the top of the list.

In his third appearance of the season, Justin Temeyer raced to his first win of the year in the IMCA Stock Car division. From a fourth row start, Temeyer worked through traffic while Scott Pippert challenged Adam Gebel out front.

Gebel held the early lead until Pippert worked the low side into the lead on lap three. Temeyer made his way through the pack and past Gebel just prior to the race's only caution after nine laps.

On the restart, Temeyer worked the low side of Pippert and took the top spot as the leaders exited turn two on the 11th circuit. He led the remainder of the 15-lapper to score the win.

Temeyer has now won at least one Stock Car feature in 12 of the 14 seasons the division has been part of the weekly program in Vinton. His 39 wins in Vinton place him second to Damon Murty on the division's all-time list at the speedway. Nine of those wins have come in the month of June.

Benji Irvine drove to his third win of the year in the 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Irvine worked the low groove through traffic and settled into second just prior to a caution on lap three. Irvine made his way around Justin Wacha for the lead shortly after racing resumed to drive away to victory.

With three career Hobby Stock wins in weekly racing history in Vinton, Irvine now sits tied for 34th on the all-time list with Cliff Tharp, Forrest Frost, Kris Walker and Rod Grother. Irvine has earned one win each during the months of April, May and June this season.

Bill Whalen Jr. drove to his fourth straight win and fifth victory in six weeks in the IMCA Sport Compact division. Whalen took the lead on the first lap and never looked back to drive away to victory.

Whalen's four consecutive wins tie the track record set by Nathan Chandler in 2012. Chandler matched his own mark again last season. A win for Whalen next week would establish a new Sport Compact record for consecutive wins in Vinton.

Whalen remains third on the track's all-time wins list for Sport Compacts with 16 trips to victory lane.

Buster Pate earned his second straight points win and third win of the season in the BCS Micro Mods. After chasing Brandon Maitland for the first four circuits, Pate worked the low side into the lead on the fifth lap of that 10-lapper. He ran unchallenged over the final half of the event to earn the win.

Tuesday night, I plan to attend the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models/XSAN Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds double-dip at Cedar County Raceway in Tipton. I'll call the action on XSAN for those who are unable to attend. The twinbill special in Tipton is always a fantastic show, so if you can make it to Tipton Tuesday night, you'll definitely want to make plans to be there.

Have a great week!

RESULTS
IMCA MODIFIED
Feature: 1. 71 Troy Cordes, Dunkerton; 2. 20L Zach Less, Hopkinton; 3. 33D Scott Hogan, Vinton; 4. F7 Patrick Flannagan, Cedar Rapids; 5. 10K Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup; 6. 57B Dennis Betzer, Central City; 7. 7 Todd Jensen, Waterloo; 8. 14 Tom Hanson, Vinton; 9. 80 Jerry Dedrick, Vinton; 10. 12D Joe Docekal, Dysart; 11/DNS. 7S Robbie Schmuecker, Vinton; 12/DNS. 415 Josh Barta, Cedar Falls; 13/DNS. 00 J.D. Auringer, Waterloo.
Heat one: 1. Cordes; 2. Flannagan; 3. Lauritzen; 4. Schmuecker; 5. Hanson; 6. Auringer; DNS Dedrick.
Heat two: 1. Less; 2. Docekal; 3. Hogan; 4. Betzer; 5. Barta; 6. Jensen.

IMCA STOCK CAR
Feature: 1. 56T Justin Temeyer, Independence; 2. 47 Scott Pippert, Elberon; 3. 15 Norman Chesmore, Rowley; 4. 67 Justin Stander, Shellsburg; 5. 8 Curtis Roster, Vinton; 6. 31S Paul Shepherd, Marengo; 7. 12 Duayne Herb, Cedar Rapids; 8. 8B Scott Beauregard, Brandon; 9. 62G Adam Gebel, Cedar Falls; 10. 38 Matt Brown, Marion; 11. 171 Buck Swanson, Waterloo; 12. 4JR Russell Damme Jr., Waterloo; 13. 76 Mike Galli, Urbana.
Heat one: 1. Herb; 2. Pippert; 3. Shepherd; 4. Swanson; 5. Brown; 6. Beauregard; 7. Galli.
Heat two: 1. Temeyer; 2. Chesmore; 3. Gebel; 4. Damme; 5. Stander; 6. Roster.

IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMOD
Feature: 1. 36 Jacob Salisbury, Dunkerton; 2. 72 Brett Lowry, Montezuma; 3. CH19 Colby Heishman, Brooklyn; 4. 34Z Cory Van Zante, Sully; 5. J2 Dave Schulze, Keystone; 6. 22H Curt Hilmer, Dysart; 7. 22 Matt Petrzelka, Norway; 8. 7D Dakoda Sellers, Vinton; 9. 00 Jim Buhlman, Cedar Falls; 10. 4 Ryan Maitland, Waterloo; 11. 57R Ryan King, Montour; 12. 7SR Shawn Ritter, Keystone; 13. 95 Mike McDonald, Cedar Rapids; 14. 10S John Schaefer, La Porte City; 15. 199 Dave Burrell, Dysart; 16. 16K Brandon Morris, Cedar Rapids; 17. 42L Lonnie Mercer, Urbana; 18. 198 Sam Wieben, Dysart; 19. 3B Brian Anderson, Garrison; 20. 3R Danny Dvorak, Vinton.
Heat one: 1. Schulze; 2. Hilmer; 3. Sellers; 4. Salisbury; 5. McDonald; 6. Dvorak; 7. Morris.
Heat two: 1. Heishman; 2. Maitland; 3. Van Zante; 4. Wieben; 5. King; 6. Schaefer; 7. Mercer.
Heat three: 1. Lowry; 2. Petrzelka; 3. Ritter; 4. Buhlman; 5. Burrell; 6. Anderson.

IMCA HOBBY STOCK
Feature: 1. 79 Benji Irvine, Stanley; 2. 07 Jacob Keiser, Marengo; 3. 17K Kyle Parizek, Belle Plaine; 4. 45 Justin Wacha, Vinton; 5. 46 Brian Happel, Vinton; 6. 4P Matt Pohlman, Keystone; 7. 29 Nathan Ballard, Marengo; 8. 357 Brett Vanous, Quasqueton; 9/DNS. 78 Matt Brown, Dysart.
Heat: 1. Keiser; 2. Wacha; 3. Parizek; 4. Ballard; 5. Irvine; 6. Pohlman; 7. Happel; 8. Vanous; 9. Brown.

IMCA SPORT COMPACT
Feature: 1. 00W Bill Whalen Jr., Riverside; 2. 02 John Gill, Marshalltown; 3. 3S Craig Streeter, Vinton; 4. 99J Jeremy Lerch, Vinton; 5. 4 Mike Tedesco, Jesup; 6. 73B Andrew Bieber, Independence.
Heat: 1. Gill; 2. Whalen; 3. Lerch; 4. Streeter; 5. Bieber; 6. Tedesco.

BCS MICRO MOD
Feature: 1. 111 Buster Pate, Hiawatha; 2. 2 Brandon Maitland, Waterloo; 3. 00 Brody Willett, Cedar Rapids; 4. 71 Tristan Cordes, Dunkerton; 5. 111A A.J. Witten, Cedar Rapids.
Heat: 1. Pate; 2. Maitland; 3. Willett; 4. Cordes; 5. Witten.

Chesmore dedicates win to Brandon Smith at Benton County Speedway

Norman Chesmore closed out an emotional weekend the best way he could Sunday night at Benton County Speedway. He earned his first IMCA Stock Car win of the year and dedicated the victory to friend and fellow racer Brandon Smith who died in an accident in his garage over the weekend.

Chesmore, a longtime friend of the family of Smith's girlfriend, Stephanie King, became emotional in victory lane when joined by Stephanie and her two-year-old son, Carver.

Chesmore's victory was hard-fought as he held off consistent pressure from numerous drivers on his way to victory in the 15-lapper.

After starting inside of row three, Chesmore worked the low groove into the lead by the completion of the third lap. Paul Shepherd posed his biggest challenge throughout the event while Scott Pippert and Jay Schmidt remained dialed in on the lead pair.

Shepherd pulled alongside the leader and briefly assumed command on the 12th circuit as the four leaders ran in two-wide formation two rows deep at the front of the pack. Chesmore surged ahead a short time later to regain the lead and take the win by a couple of car-lengths. 

Chesmore's victory was the 21st of his career in weekly racing history at the speedway. He ranks fourth on the division's all-time list. He has won at least one feature in each of the last three seasons in Vinton and in 11 of the 14 seasons IMCA Stock Cars have been part of the weekly racing program. Six of his 21 wins have come during the month of June.

Troy Cordes earned his second win in the last three weeks in the IMCA Modified division - and he did it in thrilling fashion.

Mike Burbridge assumed command at the drop of the green in the 20-lapper. He protected the low groove while Scott Hogan ran the same line from a third row start into second place by the completion of lap two.

While Hogan worked to keep pace with Burbridge, Cordes was working his magic in the high groove. Cordes, who started alongside Hogan, remained committed to the top side and worked around Zach Less for third place just prior to the race's only caution with 13 laps complete.

When racing resumed, Cordes again worked the top side and made his way around Hogan with five laps to go. He chipped away at Burbridge's lead and pulled even with the leader over the final two laps. With Cordes charging, Burbridge bobbled in the final set of turns on the final lap as Cordes stole the win.

With the victory, Cordes became the first Modified driver this season to earn multiple wins. He has now won multiple features in 10 separate seasons on the Vinton oval. This is his first season with multiple trips to the winner's circle since 2011.

Sunday's victory was the 41st win of his weekly racing career in Vinton, which ranks second to Hogan's 44 triumphs. Of those 41 wins, Cordes has raced to victory lane seven times in the month of June.

Ryan Maitland also pulled off a thrilling win Sunday night, fending off Danny Dvorak in the 15-lap IMCA Northern SportMod feature.

From a third row starting spot, Maitland was a rocket on the low side of the fast, smooth, quarter-mile and assumed the top spot from pole sitter John Schaefer by the completion of lap four. He quickly pulled away while Curt Hilmer gave chase and Dvorak worked through traffic from a fifth row start.

Hilmer was riding in the second spot and Dvorak made his way into the top five by the time the yellow flag waved on lap seven. After another three laps were scored complete and the caution flag waved twice more, Dvorak found himself on Maitland's rear bumper for what would be the final restart on lap 10.

Dvorak powered beneath Maitland on the restart and took charge entering the first set of turns before Maitland returned the favor in turns three and four to regain control at the flag stand. Maitland held the point for the remainder of the event to earn his first win of the season.

Maitland has now won twice in his career in weekly racing history at the speedway, placing him in a tie for 19th on the all-time list with Bob Ebaugh, Brett Root, Joe Docekal, Kurt Moeding, Kyle Wahlert, Mike Krall, Rod McDonald and last week's winner, Shawn Ritter.

Maitland, whose other win in Vinton came last August, currently stands as the only driver with SportMod wins in Vinton in both 2013 and 2014.

Nathan Ballard earned back-to-back IMCA Hobby Stock wins for the first time in his weekly racing career in Vinton. Despite his win one week ago, Ballard's struggles this season left him with a point average low enough to allow him to start on the pole of Sunday night's 15-lapper.

After the race was slowed twice for caution with only one lap scored complete, Ballard led the field back to green. He set the pace for 14 caution-free laps, leading the entire way, en route to victory lane.

With eight Hobby Stock wins in weekly racing history in Vinton, Ballard is tied with Jerry Dedrick for 16th on the all-time list. 

Ballard became the 23rd driver in track history to earn consecutive Hobby Stock features. The others include Scott Pippert (5 times); Vince Buchholz (4); Scooter Dulin (3); Brad Forbes, Danny Dvorak, Frankie Dulin, Jerry Luloff, Matt Brown and Ron Tharp (2 times each); Benji Irvine, Brad Anders, Brian Happel, Brian Irvine, Chad Koch, Curtis Roster, Heath Kusel, J.R. Kahler, Jerry Dedrick, Paul Shepherd, Rick Johnson, Steve Kesl and Stoney Leonard (1 time each).

Next week, Ballard hopes to join the list of six Hobby Stock drivers in track history who have won three straight features.

Sunday's win was the first for Ballard during the month of June. His eight wins in Vinton have come in six different calendar months. He has earned one win each during the months of April, June, July and September and two wins each in May and August.

During only one other season has Ballard won multiple Hobby Stock features in weekly racing action. He won three times in 2007, the year of his first feature win. Coincidentally, that first feature win came nearly seven years ago - June 17, 2007.

Bill Whalen Jr. continued his dominance in the IMCA Sport Compact division. Whalen took the lead at the drop of the green and led the entire 10-lap distance to earn his third straight win and his fourth of the season in Vinton.

Whalen became the fifth driver in Sport Compact history in Vinton to win three straight features. The others on that list include Nathan Chandler and Gary Peiffer (3 times each), and Jena Barthelmes and Steve Miedke (once each). A win next Sunday would match the record of four straight weekly Sport Compact wins in Vinton. That mark was set by Nathan Chandler in 2012. Chandler matched his own record with a second four-race winning streak last season.

With the win Sunday night, Whalen's four wins match his total from last season. It marks the 10th time in track history a driver has had back-to-back seasons of four or more Sport Compact victories.

His 15 Sport Compact victories in weekly racing history in Vinton ranks third among all drivers. Four of those wins have come during the month of June.

While the BCS Micro Mods took part in last weekend's program, they competed in their first-ever points race Sunday night. It was a different night, but the same result as Buster Pate drove to the win in the first weekly racing event for the division at the speedway.

Pate led all 10 laps and held off a furious charge from Don Erger to earn the victory.

Don Burkey and Shawn Fisher did another great job on the track prep for Sunday's show. Despite Mother Nature's desire to throw some pesky wind into the recipe, a splash of water during intermission eliminated the dust and the emergence of the moisture already applied to the track during regular prep time provided for an excellent surface for the features.

Many people have inquired about service times for Brandon Smith. His complete obituary and service times have been posted at http://www.richardsonfuneralservice.com/obituaries/Brandon-Smith-3/ and those who visit the link are able to express their condolences and share memories with the family. As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, even if you didn't know Brandon, you're very much a part of the racing family if you're reading this. I'm certain his loved ones would be grateful if you took a few moments to share your memories of Brandon or simply leave a few words of support.

Since I was on the go today, I logged into my blog tonight for the first time since I wrote about last night's events at Independence Motor Speedway. On facebook I saw the link had been shared over 70 times, which helped bring the total number of hits to last night's entry to over 2,200 in just 20 hours. Yes, the love we have for our racing family goes deeper than words could ever describe. To the Smith and King families, I hope you are able to take comfort in knowing that we are here for you and will forever be part of your family.

RESULTS
IMCA MODIFIED

Feature: 1. 71 Troy Cordes, Dunkerton; 2. 11B Mike Burbridge, Delhi; 3. 33D Scott Hogan, Vinton; 4. 12D Joe Docekal, Dysart; 5. 00J J.D. Auringer, Waterloo; 6. 20L Zach Less, Hopkinton; 7. 81 Jesse Belez, Marengo; 8. 7M Kurt Moeding, Mason City; 9. 57B Dennis Betzer, Central City; 10. 7 Todd Jensen, Waterloo; 11. 80 Jerry Dedrick, Vinton; 12. 415 Josh Barta, Cedar Falls; 13. F7 Patrick Flannagan, Cedar Rapids; 14. 10K Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup.

Heat one: 1. Cordes; 2. Docekal; 3. Flannagan; 4. Moeding; 5. Jensen; 6. Dedrick; 7. Belez.

Heat two: 1. Lauritzen; 2. Hogan; 3. Burbridge; 4. Auringer; 5. Less; 6. Betzer; 7. Barta.

IMCA STOCK CAR
Feature: 1. 15 Norman Chesmore, Rowley; 2. 31S Paul Shepherd, Marengo; 3. 47 Scott Pippert, Elberon; 4. 56T Justin Temeyer, Independence; 5. 19J Jay Schmidt, Tama; 6. 67 Justin Stander, Shellsburg; 7. 76 Mike Galli, Urbana; 8. 12 Duayne Herb, Cedar Rapids; 9. 99D Damon Murty, Chelsea; 10. 8 Curtis Roster, Vinton; 11. 62G Adam Gebel, Cedar Falls; 12. 8B Scott Beauregard, Brandon.

Heat one: 1. Beauregard; 2. Stander; 3. Murty; 4. Shepherd; 5. Temeyer; 6. Galli.

Heat two: 1. Pippert; 2. Chesmore; 3. Schmidt; 4. Roster; 5. Gebel; 6. Herb.

IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMOD

Feature: 1. 4 Ryan Maitland, Waterloo; 2. 22H Curt Hilmer, Dysart; 3. 3R Danny Dvorak, Vinton; 4. 22 Matt Petrzelka, Norway; 5. 95 Mike McDonald, Cedar Rapids; 6. 57R Ryan King, Montour; 7. 199 Dave Burrell, Dysart; 8. J2 Dave Schulze, Keystone; 9. 72 Brett Lowry, Montezuma; 10. 00 Jim Buhlman, Cedar Falls; 11. 7D Dakoda Sellers, Vinton; 12. 36 Jacob Salisbury, Dunkerton; 13. 3B Brian Anderson, Garrison; 14. 10S John Schaefer, La Porte City; 15. CH19 Colby Heishman, Brooklyn; 16. 42L Lonnie Mercer, Urbana.

Heat one: 1. Sellers; 2. Petrzelka; 3. Hilmer; 4. Dvorak; 5. Heishman; 6. Schulze; 7. Anderson; 8. Salisbury.

Heat two: 1. Buhlman; 2. Burrell; 3. McDonald; 4. Maitland; 5. Schaefer; 6. Lowry; 7. King; 8. Mercer.

IMCA HOBBY STOCK

Feature: 1. 29 Nathan Ballard, Marengo; 2. 78 Matt Brown, Dysart; 3. 07 Jacob Keiser, Marengo; 4. 17K Kyle Parizek, Belle Plaine; 5. 46 Brian Happel, Vinton; 6. 4P Matt Pohlman, Keystone; 7. 79 Benji Irvine, Stanley; 8. 19B Jim Sheldon, Marion; 9. 45 Justin Wacha, Vinton; 10. 357 Brett Vanous, Quasqueton.

Heat one: 1. Ballard; 2. Parizek; 3. Happel; 4. Vanous; 5. Sheldon.

Heat two: 1. Wacha; 2. Brown; 3. Keiser; 4. Irvine; 5. Pohlman.

IMCA SPORT COMPACT

Feature: 1. 00W Bill Whalen Jr., Riverside; 2. 99J Jeremy Lerch, Vinton; 3. 3S Craig Streeter, Vinton; 4. 36DD Gary Peiffer, Troy Mills; 5. 02 John Gill, Marshalltown; 6. 01 Aaron Miller, Marshalltown; 7. 07 Joe Goodenbour, Garrison.

Heat: 1. Whalen; 2. Gill; 3. Lerch; 4. Miller; 5. Peiffer; 6. Goodenbour; 7. Streeter.

BCS MICRO MODS

Feature: 1. 111 Buster Pate, Hiawatha; 2. 6E Don Erger, Brandon; 3. 00 Brody Willett, Cedar Rapids; 4. 71 Tristan Cordes, Dunkerton; 5. 2 Brandon Maitland, Waterloo.

Heat: 1. Maitland; 2. Pate; 3. Willett; 4. Cordes; 5. Erger.