Auringer tops 20th annual Hogan Memorial at Benton County Speedway

J.D. Auringer earned his second career Hogan Memorial win Sunday night at Benton County Speedway - and he did it in convincing fashion.

The IMCA Modified driver redrew the outside front row starting spot and took the lead at the drop of the green. He led all 40 laps and took home $3,850 for his efforts in the 20th annual event. (complete results follow below)

Auringer extended his advantage to a full straightaway while fourth row starting Hunter Marriott made his way into second. Dan Chapman, who started right behind Marriott, settled into third as Auringer approached slower traffic.

The top three ran in that formation when the yellow flag waved for a mandatory caution on lap 20. During that time, all cars stopped on the front stretch and crews had five minutes to make any changes to the cars.

When racing resumed, Auringer again built a straightaway lead before Marriott eventually broke free from Chapman in the battle for second. Marriott trimmed a little off of the huge deficit, however Auringer masterfully worked his way through traffic to score the victory.

Auringer, also the 2007 event champ, joined four-time winner Scott Hogan and two-time winner Timm Jensen as the only repeat winners in the event's 20-year history.

Mike Jergens earned one of the 26 qualifying spots by winning one of two B features. He advanced 13 positions to finish fourth to take home hard charger honors. Richie Gustin completed the top five.

HOGAN MEMORIAL IMCA MODIFIEDS  
1. (2) 00J J.D. Auringer, Waterloo - Dating back to 2003, Auringer has qualified for 10 of the last 12 events, including the last six. Auringer led the list of seven past champions who started Sunday night's 40-lapper.

2. (7) 62 Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo. - Marriott led the list of nine first-time qualifiers in 2014. 

3. (9) 1 Dan Chapman, Clarence - Chapman has qualified for the last six Hogan Memorials. His average finish is 12.17. His third place run Sunday night was his second best in the event.

4. (17) 37 Mike Jergens, Plover - Jergens was a first-time qualifier in 2014.

5. (5) 19G Richie Gustin, Gilman - The 2012 event winner, Gustin has qualified for five straight Hogan Memorials, finished in the top 10 each of the last four years and in the top five each of the last three years. 

6. (11) 10C Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa - The defending race winner, Carter has qualified for the Hogan Memorial three consecutive years. He has averaged a fourth place finish the three times he has qualified for the event.

7. (10) 21K Kyle Brown, Kellogg - Brown has also qualified for the Hogan Memorial three consecutive years. His seventh place run Sunday night was his career best in the event.

8. (1) 10M Jeremy Mills, Garner - Mills was a first-time qualifier in 2014.

9. (16) 71 Troy Cordes, Dunkerton - A 14-time Hogan Memorial qualifier, Cordes finished in the top 10 for the 11th time Sunday night. Cordes has qualified for 12 of the last 13 events and has an all-time average finish of 7.07 in his 14 feature appearances.

10. (18) 12D Joe Docekal, Dysart - Docekal has qualified for five straight Hogan Memorial features and has finished in the top 10 three straight years.

11. (19) 25 Jake Bowman, Maquoketa - Bowman has qualified each of the last three years. Sunday's 11th place finish was the best of his career.

12. (4) 20L Zach Less, Hopkinton - Less was a first-time qualifier in 2014.

13. (21) 4TW Tim Ward, Gilbert, Ariz. - Ward was a first-time qualifier in 2014.

14. (12) 10K Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup - Lauritzen, a five-time qualifier, has made the feature four years in-a-row.

15. (13) 61 Bruce Hanford, Davenport - Hanford was a first-time qualifier in 2014.

16. (22) 33D Scott Hogan, Vinton - A 15-time qualifier for the event, Hogan has qualified 11 straight years. 
17. (3) 83G Josh Gilman, Earlham - Gilman was a first-time qualifier in 2014.

18. (8) 8 Tony Snyder, Readlyn - Snyder was a first-time qualifier in 2014.

19. (24) 64 Vern Jackson, Waterloo - The 2004 champion, Jackson has qualified eight times and each of the last two years.

20. (15) 26J Joel Rust, Grundy Center - Rust was a first-time qualifier in 2014.

21. (14) 70 Mitch Morris, Eldridge - Morris has qualified twice in the last three years.

22. (20) 92 Tyler Droste, Waterloo - Droste has qualified two straight years.

23. (23) 01 Ed Thomas, Waterloo - Thomas has qualified for a record 17 straight times and is the only driver in history to compete in all 20 Hogan Memorials.

24. (25) F7 Patrick Flannagan, Cedar Rapids - Flannagan has qualified 15 consecutive years.

25. (26) 80 Jerry Dedrick, Vinton - Dedrick has qualified four straight years.

26. (6) 505 Racer Hulin, Laurel - Hulin has qualified each of the last two years. 

Heat one (3 qualify, 2 redraw): 1. Snyder; 2. Less; 3. Carter; 4. Droste; 5. Jergens; 6. 11B Mike Burbridge, Delhi; 7. Cordes; 8. Hogan; 9. 415 Josh Barta, Cedar Falls.

Heat two: 1. Hulin; 2. D. Chapman; 3. Lauritzen; 4. Ward; 5. 71W Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.; 6. 23JR Nick Roberts, Des Moines; 7. 21 Brennen Chipp, Waterloo; 8. 4G Kevin Goben, Sherrard, Ill.; 9. K1 Kyle Krampe, Baxter.

Heat three: 1. Marriott; 2. Gustin; 3. Hanford; 4. Flannagan; 5. 12 Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo.; 6. Thomas; 7. 14 Tom Hanson, Vinton; 8. 14J Joey Franklin, Las Vegas, Nev.; 9. Jackson.

Heat four: 1. Gilman; 2. Auringer; 3. Morris; 4. 81 Jesse Belez, Marengo; 5. 19SB Lance Mari, Imperial, Cal.; 6. Dedrick; 7. 10 Kaleb Bentley, Fairbank; 8. 57B Dennis Betzer, Central City; 9. 3C Max Corporon, Marion.

Heat five: 1. Mills; 2. Brown; 3. Rust; 4. Docekal; 5. 77M Jeff Mueller, New London; 6. Bowman; 7. 1JR Ben Chapman, Clarence; 8. 23 J.J. Scott, Iowa City; 9. 7M Mike Weikert Jr., Muscatine.

First B feature (3 transfer): 1. Cordes; 2. Docekal; 3. Droste; 4. Roberts; 5. Waterman; 6. Flannagan; 7. Jackson; 8. Mari; 9. Goben; 10. Dedrick; 11. B. Chapman; 12. Barta; 13. Betzer; 14. Hanson; 15. Weikert.

Second B feature: 1. Jergens; 2. Bowman; 3. Ward; 4. Mueller; 5. Hogan; 6. Burbridge; 7. Franklin; 8. Bentley; 9. Corporon; 10. Thomas; 11. Chipp; 12. Scott; DNS Belez; DNS Drake; DNS Krampe.

Provisionals: Hogan (past champion and track points), Thomas (past champion), Jackson (past champion), Flannagan (track points), Dedrick (track points). 

IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks and BCS Micro Mods were also on-hand for weekly points racing. Four first-time Hogan Memorial winners in those divisions also celebrated in victory lane.

Justin Stander chose the perfect time to earn his first career win in the IMCA Stock Car division. The first-year Stock Car driver raced the high side to victory in a thrilling 15-lapper.

Paul Shepherd assumed the early command from his second row starting spot. He worked the low side to the front while Stander, who started alongside Shepherd, challenged Curtis Roster and Jay Schmidt for second.

Shepherd enjoyed a few car-lengths over the field while Norman Chesmore and Justin Temeyer joined the battle for the runner-up spot. Stander, Schmidt, Chesmore and Temeyer ran in door-to-door, nose-to-tail formation for a number of laps before Stander pulled away from that group on the high side.

Shepherd, who was running low, continued to show the way while Stander reeled him in. Stander drew even with the leader late and surged ahead off the top of turn four on the final lap to take the exciting victory. 

With the win, Stander became the 33rd different Stock Car winner in weekly racing history at the speedway, dating back to the start of the 2001 season. He became the most recent first-time winner since Scott Pippert got his first win May 5, 2013. That span of 434 days is the longest between first-time Stock Car winners in track history.

Stander became the sixth different Stock Car winner on Hogan Memorial night in the 14 seasons they have been a part of the event.

Much like Stander, Sam Wieben won in thrilling fashion in the 15-lap IMCA Northern SportMod main. 

Kurt Hogan held the early lead after starting outside of row one. Hogan set the pace while Wieben worked from a third row starting spot.

Wieben settled into second on the fourth lap while points leader Brett Lowry pressured from the bottom. That pair split around Hogan with five laps to go as they entered a three wide battle off turn two. 

Wieben took command down the back stretch and then held off Lowry to earn his second win of the season, also the second of his career on the Vinton quarter-mile.

His two wins place Wieben in a tie with Bob Ebaugh, Brett Root, Joe Docekal, Kurt Moeding, Kyle Wahlert, Mike Krall, Rod McDonald and Ryan Maitland for 20th on the track's all-time SportMod wins list.

Wieben became the seventh different SportMod winner in the 10 years the division has been a part of the Hogan Memorial and the sixth straight different SportMod winner in the event.

Although the high side worked for many throughout the night, which is where Brian Happel can usually be found on Sunday nights in Vinton, the IMCA Hobby Stock driver raced the low groove to victory in that 15-lapper.

Happel assumed command on lap three from leader Nathan Ballard to drive to his second win of the season and the 11th of his career in weekly racing history at the speedway.

All-time, Happel's 11 Hobby Stock victories tie him with Jerry Luloff, Matt Brown, Scooter Dulin and Steve Meyer for eighth on the track's wins list. Happel currently sits as the only driver in the division with multiple wins in each of the last two seasons. 

With his first win during the Hogan Memorial, Happel became the 14th different Hobby Stock winner in event history. The division has taken part in all 20 Hogan Memorial events.

Don Erger earned his second straight win and third win of the year in the BCS Micro Mod division. Erger raced from row two into the lead by the completion of the first lap and then led the entire 10-lap distance to score the victory. 

Hogan Memorial Notes:

The 40-lap Modified feature was broken down into two 20-lap segments, as has been the case the last few years. The 40-lapper was completed in an incredible 24 minutes, which included the mandatory lap 20 caution. Each 20-lap caution-free segment took approximately six minutes to complete. In fact, all 26 starters were still running at the midway point and 23 of them were on the lead lap. Simply incredible.

As always, the Hogan Memorial brought out the best drivers in the region, plus a few from other parts of the country. In all 124 drivers signed in to compete Sunday night, including an impressive 45 IMCA Modifieds representing six states. The entire program, which consisted of 22 events, started at 6 p.m. and was completed at 9:49.

It is amazing to think not only how big the Hogan Memorial has grown in its 20 years, but how important the event has become. It's more than a race, it's a celebration. What started as a tribute to the memory of Dick Hogan shortly after his passing in 1995 has become a celebration of racing family.

Scott and Jolyne Hogan and Scott's sister, Terri Shafer, will be the first to tell you this event isn't about the Hogan name, it's about our racing community. The tireless effort the Hogan family puts into this event is simply astounding. The long list of sponsors who are eager to give back to racers and fans says a lot about the Hogan family and the huge crowd that turns out year-in and year-out shows how special this event has become.

Thank you to Scott, Jolyne and Terri for making this event a must-see every season and for making the 20th annual Hogan Memorial the best yet.

Before you scroll through the results listed below, take a few moments to read through the list of sponsors who help make the Hogan Memorial so special every year. It is their generosity that has allowed the event to grow into one of the premier events in the region. 

2014 HOGAN MEMORIAL SPONSORS

MODIFIED

Position Sponsors: Bob & Kathy Gove; Ted Usher & Deb Wheeler; Dave Kelchen/Vinton Fareway; Post Family; Tenacity Graphics; CarQuest; Jolly's; John & Carol Noe; Jim & Paige Ford and Family, in memory of Kenny Ford; Keith & Teresa Lindsey; Peyton Laughridge & Lillian Springer; Sheds by Leroy; Performance Bodies; Doug, Julia & Hayden Laughridge; Sperry Engines; Brett & Virginia Root and Family; Derek Noe & Dana Elliott; The Manternachs; Tyler Roberts; G&G Auto Parts; TJ & Jane Johnson.

Lap Sponsors: Stevo & Julie Lessig and Family; in memory of Merv Chandler; Steve & Sue Laughridge, in memory of Dick & Janet Hogan; Weikert Iron & Metal; Bob & Kathy Gove; Dick Bridge; Danika Johnson; Pete & Jill Buschmann; Chuck & Genny Flatberg; in memory of Denny Thomas; Thomas Tax Service; Ted Usher & Deb Wheeler; Aaron & Amanda Burkey; Cassill Motors; Derek Noe & Dana Elliott; in memory of Grandpa Burkey; Total Balance; Brad & Jackie Shaw and Family; Stoney Leonard Family; Bret & Tina Nelson; Sperry Engines; Manatts; Tenacity Graphics; Performance Bodies; Stadium Bar & Grill; G&G Auto Parts; Ehlinger's; Theisen's; Brett Whitson; John's Tire; Doug &Danielle Robison; Dave Kelchen/Vinton Fareway; Nick's TV & Appliance; Benton County Fair Board; Cheri Osborn; Drew Hogan.

Heat Race Sponsors: $100 to each heat race winner, courtesy of Victory Chassis (heats 1 and 2), Walt & Deane Stout (heat 3), Cassill Motors (heats 4 and 5).

Hard Charger: RonDaVoo Lounge & Deli ($250 Modifieds, $125 SportMods, $125 Stock Cars); Mahr Transportation ($250 Modifieds);

Winner Bonus: Scott Pippert Trucking ($100 each to winners of the Modified, Stock Car, SportMod and Hobby Stock features); J&V NAPA ($100 to Stock Car winner); Tenacity Graphics/Travis Brown awarded a free wrap to the winners of the Modified and SportMod features (a value of $625 each).

Additional Purse Money: Tony, Bina Kramer & Family of Tulchu Seafoods provided an additional $1,000 to the Modified purse; Greg Peacock Construction (in memory of Barry Peacock) added $600 in to the Modified, Stock Car and SportMod purses.

Other Bonuses: IMCA offered a $250 bonus to the lap 20 leader of the Modified feature and also awarded a Hoosier tire; Seegy's awarded a $75 gift card to a Modified driver in a random drawing (Hunter Marriott); Fauser Oil awarded a barrel of fuel to Modified driver in a random drawing (Josh Gilman).
Past Champion Bonus: Richie Gustin offered $50 to the Modified winner if the winner was a past champion.

Grandstand prizes: $100 Frisbee (1st place Modified finisher); $75 Frisbee (2nd place Modified finisher); $50 Frisbee (3rd place Modified finisher); (5) $10 gift cards to Stadium Bar & Grill; (2) $50 Fareway gift cards; T-shirts and three gift cards from Total Balance, courtesy of Julie Lessig and Lisa Hopkins; 100 candy bags to kids; 10 backpacks to kids.

And now, onto the rest of the results from Sunday night... 

RESULTS

IMCA STOCK CAR

Feature: 1. 67 Justin Stander, Shellsburg; 2. 31S Paul Shepherd, Marengo; 3. 56T Justin Temeyer, Independence; 4. 19J Jay Schmidt, Tama; 5. 15 Norman Chesmore, Rowley; 6. 7H Phil Holtz, Manchester; 7. 99D Damon Murty, Chelsea; 8. 1X Michael Peterson, Montezuma; 9. 47 Scott Pippert, Elberon; 10. 12 Duayne Herb, Marion; 11. 76 Mike Galli, Urbana; 12. 22K Kevin Rose, Waterloo; 13. 8B Scott Beauregard, Brandon; 14. 44 Brett Timmerman, Wapello; 15. 38 Matt Brown, Marion; 16. 20M Perry Misner, Garden City, Kan.; 17. 87A Aaron Matthias, Fairbank; 18. 62G Adam Gebel, Cedar Falls; 19. 4JR Russell Damme Jr., Waterloo; 20. 32D Dave Sires, Cedar Falls; 21. Curtis Roster, Vinton.

First heat: 1. Temeyer; 2. Schmidt; 3. Chesmore; 4. Shepherd; 5. Herb; 6. Beauregard; 7. Brown; 8. Galli; 9. Sires; 10. Misner.

Second heat: 1. Holtz; 2. Stander; 3. Roster; 4. Peterson; 5. Timmerman; 6. Matthias; 7. Pippert; 8. Rose; 9. Damme; 10. Gebel; 11. Murty. 

IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMOD

Feature: 1. 198 Sam Wieben, Dysart; 2. 72 Brett Lowry, Montezuma; 3. MR09 Kurt Hogan, Vinton; 4. T23 Tony Olson, Cedar Rapids; 5. S16 Kip Siems, Cedar Falls; 6. 36 Jacob Salisbury, Dunkerton; 7. 3R Danny Dvorak, Vinton; 8. 95 Mike McDonald, Cedar Rapids; 9. 15B Troy Burkhart, Urbana; 10. 22H Curt Hilmer, Dysart; 11. 43 Creston Williams, Newhall; 12. 96 Lucas Lundry, Maynard; 13. 35 Kyle Bentley, Independence; 14. 7D Dakoda Sellers, Vinton; 15. J2 Dave Schulze, Keystone; 16. 22 Matt Petrzelka, Norway; 17. 00 Jim Buhlman, Cedar Falls; 18. 777 Jaime Duinink, Pella; 19. 7SR Shawn Ritter, Keystone; 20. 16K Brandon Morris, Cedar Rapids; 21. K3 Kyle Olson, Cedar Rapids; 22. 199 Dave Burrell, Dysart.

Heat one: 1. Hilmer; 2. Bentley; 3. Buhlman; 4. Ritter; 5. Duinink; 6. 6T Siraj Thomason, Montezuma; 7. CH19 Colby Heishman, Brooklyn; DNS 25 Travis Peterson, Gladbrook.

Heat two: 1. Burkhart; 2. Hogan; 3. Wieben; 4. Sellers; 5. Dvorak; 6. Williams; 7. 42L Lon Mercer, Urbana; DNS 57R Ryan King, Montour.

Heat three: 1. Salisbury; 2. 19J Jenae Gustin, Marshalltown; 3. Lowry; 4. McDonald; 5. Lundry; 6. Petrzelka; 7. 4 Ryan Maitland, Waterloo; 8. 7 Carter VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa; 9. 6K Lee Rouse, Atkins.

Heat four: 1. K. Olson; 2. T. Olson; 3. Siems; 4. Morris; 5. 17 Dawn Krall, Evansdale; 6. Schulze; 7. 339 Kevin Hurst, Janesville; 8. 10S John Schaefer, La Porte City; 9. Burrell.

B feature: 1. Dvorak; 2. Duinink; 3. Petrzelka; 4. Williams; 5. Hurst; 6. Gustin; 7. Schulze; 8. Schaefer; 9. Peterson; 10. Maitland; 11. VanDenBerg; 12. Krall; 13. Thomason; 14. Heishman; 15. Rouse; 16. Mercer; 17. Burrell; DNS King. 

IMCA HOBBY STOCK

Feature: 1. 46 Brian Happel, Vinton; 2. 29 Nathan Ballard, Marengo; 3. 19 Bill Bonnett, Knoxville; 4. 79 Benji Irvine, Stanley; 5. 07 Jacob Keiser, Marengo; 6. 78 Matt Brown, Dysart; 7. 17K Kyle Parizek, Belle Plaine; 8. 4P Matt Pohlman, Keystone; 9. 35B Shawn Kuennen, Hazleton; 10. 45 Justin Wacha, Vinton; 11. 55 Vince Buchholz, Tama; 12. 09 Brad Forbes, Waterloo; 13. 48 Brock Beeter, Minot, N.D.; 14. 91 Chris Moore, Fairfax; 15. 1 Scott Siems, Cedar Rapids; 16. 357 Brett Vanous, Quasqueton; 17. 75D Dale Kite, Keystone; 18. 7P Jordan Peters, Des Moines.

Heat one: 1. Happel; 2. Brown; 3. Irvine; 4. Kuennen; 5. Peters; 6. Vanous; 7. Moore; 8. Kite; 9. Wacha.

Heat two: 1. Ballard; 2. Keiser; 3. Parizek; 4. Bonnett; 5. Pohlman; 6. Beeter; 7. Forbes; 8. Buchholz; 9. Siems. 

BCS MICRO MOD 

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

Heat: 1. Erger; 2. Pate; 3. Willett; 4. Maitland; 5. Cordes; 6. Witten.