Independence, Iowa (May 7th, 2022) - Independence Motor Speedway finally roared to life on Saturday Night with Opening Night after losing a total of four nights in the month of April, the month of May brought some good fortune. Originally scheduled to compete on the 3/8 mile banked oval was the Haulin' with Hoker Trucking SLMR East Series, however series officials cancelled their portion of the program but speedway officials remained determined to get the season started and added the IMCA Late Models back on the card.
A beautiful sunny day led for a great night to having some racing and if you open it they will come. One hundred-thirty one race cars signed in for Opening Night. Track Manager Justin Temeyer and crew did a fantastic job with the racing surface and it showed all night, as they went two and three wide racing leaving fans on the edge of their seat with some very exciting and close finishes. Even one Limited Late Model of Chase Brunscheen, that runs at Dubuque was on hand to hot lap. The final checkered flag flew at 10:49pm
Brady Hilmer and Brandon Tharp led the field to green the Burco Sales IMCA Sport Mods 15 lap feature event. Hilmer grabbed the lead on lap one but Tharp took it away on lap two. Tony Olson and Cole Suckow joined the battle for the race lead with Hilmer and Tharp. Tony Olson took the race on lap six when Tharp left the door open, Tharp wrestled it back on lap seven. Tharp held off all challengers until a caution on lap 12 for Ethan Krall spinning in turn three and four. Tharp got a great restart and kept Hilmer and Suckow at bay to take the feature win. Hilmer finished second, Kyle Olson got by Suckow for third, Suckow was fourth and Kip Siems was fifth.
Next up was the "Class Too Tough Too Tame" the Dominator Chassis IMCA Stock Cars 20 lap feature. Rookie Kaden Reynolds and defending track champion Tom Schmitt battled it out for the race lead with Reynolds grabbing the top spot until cautions began to plague the feature. The first caution was on lap four for Stephen Streeter in turn four, next one on lap five for Riley Hanson. Tenth place starter Cole Mather worked his way through the field and engaged in a three car battle for the race lead. Mather took the top spot away on lap six, Reynolds took it back on lap seven just before the caution come out again when Brandon Jacoby, Hanson and Streeter on the front stretch. On the restart, Tom Schmitt clipped an infield tractor tire and broke the front end forcing the caution to come out again. Reynolds and Mather swapped the lead a few times down the stretch until the caution came out again on lap 18 for Buck Swanson in turn four. Reynolds looked to be cruising on to take win however the caution came out again on lap 19 for Jacoby on the backstretch. Mather got a great restart and dueled Reynolds to grab the lead. Mather went on to take the feature win. Reynolds crossed in second however was disqualified a rev box infraction. Twelfth place starter Jason Doyle was now credited for second, Jarod Weepie was third, Kevin Rose was fourth and Tyler Carey was fifth.
Andrew Bieber wrestled the early race lead in the Waterloo Auto Parts Sport Compacts 12 lap feature event from fellow front row starter Travis Losenicky. Just after one lap was scored in the books the caution came out for Cody Jordan and Chris Pittman sitting in turn four. Bieber and Losenicky battled it out for the race lead with Bieber holding tough until lap five. Losenicky used the top side to take over the race lead but the caution came out again on lap six for Jeremy Wheeler, Korey Lana and Justin Hempstead in turn four. Losenicky held off Bieber and Blake Driscol on the restart but the caution came out again on lap eight for Jaice Tuttle in the back stretch. Losenicky was not to be denied as he went on to take the feature win ahead of Driscol, Bieber, Trystin Belthuis and Aaron Swearingen.
In the Waterloo Auto Parts Indee Cars (Micro Mods) 12 lap feature event, Matt Dugan grabbed the early race lead but just after the first lap was scored the caution came out for Kyle Pearson and Carson James being hooked in turns three and four. On the restart, the caution came out again when Jake Steere and Dave Rosburg got together in turn two. Ethan Steere took the top spot away on the restart, shortly after lap two was score, the caution came out when Skyler Dugan in turn four. Ethan Steere was determined not to be denied but once again caution came out on lap five for Colton Osborn coming to a stop on the front stretch. Ethan Steere held off Matt Dugan and Chad Dugan to claim the win. Chad Dugan finished second, Matt Dugan was third, eleventh place starter Dale Schwamman finished fourth and Carson James came back to finish fifth.
Bradly Graham led the first ten laps of the Albert Auto IMCA Hobby Stocks 15 lap feature fending off several challenges from Brett Vanous. Vanous took the race lead just before the caution came out on lap 11 when Luke Bird went for a spin cycle off the top of turn four. Vanous dealt with Graham and Daniel Wauters on the restart but the caution came out again on lap 12 when Briar Kriegel spun in turn two. Vanous and Wauters battled it out the final three laps with Vanous trying to fend off Wauters. Wauters would beat Vanous in a photo finish at the line to grab the win. Vanous finished second. Graham. Dreu Kueker and Jim Ball Jr. round out the top five.
Brennen Chipp wrestled the race lead from pole sitter Kellie Drury in the Performance Bodies IMCA Modifieds 20 lap feature and was followed by Ronn Lauritzen, Brunson Behning and Troy Cordes. The first caution came out on lap six for Jordan Hicks spinning in turn three. Chipp held off Behning and Laurtizen until the caution came out again on lap ten for Dennis Betzer in turn four. Behning took the race lead on lap 11 before a pair of cautions, first for Patrick Flannagan in turn one and then for Betzer in turn two. Behning held off Chipp and Lauritzen on the restart. Joel Rust challenged Behning for the race lead as he got by Chipp and Laurtizen. Rust using the inside and Behning using the outside, Behning hung on to the race lead. Behning crossed the finish line and became the 36th different IMCA Modified opening night winner in the 40 year history of the division at Indee. Rust, Cordes, Drew Janssen and Lauritzen was second through fifth respectively.
Final feature of the night was the 25 lap Dunlap Motors IMCA Late Models feature and before a single lap was scored the caution came out when Sean Johnson got crossed up in turn four forcing Chase Jermeland to spin out. On the restart, Veteran Curt Martin and Gage Neal led the field to the green flag with Martin taking the top spot. Martin was followed by Logan Duffy and they begin to pull away from the rest of the field. The caution came out on lap 14 when Jerod Ballhagen spun in turn four. Martin fended off Duffy and Dalton Simonsen on the restart initial but Simonsen used the top side to get by Martin on lap 16. Simonsen slipped up with two go allowing Martin to take back the race lead. Martin went on to take the win and admitted in victory lane, that he about blew it for Martin it is his 98th weekly win at Indee not counting specials. Simonsen finished second, Greg Kastli finished third, Duffy fell back to fourth and Colton Leal was fifth.
Next Saturday Night will feature Double Sport Compact features at the Independence Motor Speedway. All weekly classes will be in competition Dunlap Motors IMCA Late Models, Performance Bodies IMCA Modifieds, Dominator Chassis IMCA Stock Cars, Burco Sales IMCA Sport Mods, Albert Auto Service IMCA Hobby Stocks, Waterloo Auto Parts Indee Cars and Waterloo Auto Parts Sport Compacts. Pits Open at 4p, Grandstands Open at 4:30p, Hot Laps at 5:45p, Racing at 6p.
For more information about Independence Motor Speedway check out jjamracing.net or independencemotorspeedway.myracepass.com or like the Facebook page Independence Motor Speedway or contact promoter Mick Trier at (515) 201-5526 or Track manager Justin Temeyer at (563) 920-2867.
Independence Motor Speedway
Opening Night
Saturday May 7th, 2022
IMCA LATE MODELS
presented by Dunlap Motors
Feature (25 laps) : 1. 45-Curt Martin (Independence); 2. 60-Dalton Simonsen (Fairfax); 3. 73-Greg Kastli (Waterloo); 4. 98-Logan Duffy (Independence); 5. 13JR-Colton Leal (Dubuque); 6. 12N-Gage Neal (Ely); 7. 62-Brandon Davis (Waterloo); 8. 8R-Sean Johnson (Independence); 9. 192-Chase Jermeland (Decorah); 10. 72-Jerod Ballhagen (Allison); 11. 44D-Dustin Wilkinson (Freeport, Ill.); 12. 1425-Leah Wroten (Independence); 13. 17-Andrew Chelf (Lost Nation); DNS 26-Preston Stoecker (Stratford).
Heat 1 (8 laps) : 1. Johnson; 2. Duffy; 3. Neal; 4. Ballhagen; 5. Leal; 6. Chelf; 7. Jermeland.
Heat 2 (8 laps) : 1. Martin; 2. Kastli; 3. Simonsen; 4. Davis; 5. Wroten; 6. Wilkinson; 7. Stoecker.
IMCA MODIFIEDS
presented by Performance Bodies
Feature (20 laps) : 1. 37B-Brunson Behning (Calamus); 2. 26J-Joel Rust (Grundy Center); 3. 71-Troy Cordes (Dunkerton); 4. 127-Drew Janssen (Pella); 5. 10K-Ronn Lauritzen (La Porte City); 6. 21-Brennen Chipp (Dunkerton); 7. 6-Jed Freiburger (Dubuque); 8. 4-Ryan Maitland (Waterloo); 9. 32-Chris Snyder (Dunkerton); 10. 38C-Kellie Drury (Eldora); 11. 80-Jerry Dedrick (Vinton); 12. 70-Jerry King (Waterloo); 13. 5-Jason Morehouse (Evansdale); 14. 3S-Adam Shelman (Traer); 15. F7-Patrick Flannagan (Cedar Rapids); 16. 12-Bret Ramsey (Waterloo); 17. 57H-Richard Hines (Waterloo); 18. 11B-Mike Burbridge (Delhi); 19. 57B-Dennis Betzer (Central City); 20. 3-Jason Schueller (Dubuque); 21. 22H-Jordan Hicks (Delmar).
Heat 1 (8 laps) : 1. Hicks; 2. Janssen; 3. Schueller; 4. Dedrick; 5. Snyder; 6. Shelman; 7. Morehouse.
Heat 2 (8 laps) : 1. Chipp; 2. Lauritzen; 3. Rust; 4. Cordes; 5. Maitland; 6. Betzer; 7. Ramsey.
Heat 3 (8 laps) : 1. Behning; 2. Freiburger; 3. King; 4. Drury; 5. Hines; 6. Flannagan; 7. Burbridge.
IMCA STOCK CARS
presented by Dominator Chassis
Feature (20 laps) : 1. 74C-Cole Mather (Oelwein); 2. 40J-Jason Doyle (Marion); 3. 3-Jarod Weepie (Dunkerton); 4. 22K-Kevin Rose (Waterloo); 5. 85R-Tyler Carey (Nashua); 6. 14C-Leah Wroten (Independence); 7. 115-Hannah Chesmore (Rowley); 8. 20B-Matt Burmeister (Denver); 9. 4JR-Russell Damme Jr. (Waterloo); 10. 55X-Brett Maasdam (Sully); 11. JR3-Jason Hocken (Independence); 12. 13J-Brandon Jacoby (Waterloo); 13. 171-Buck Swanson (Reinbeck); 14. 18-Tom Schmitt (Independence); 15. 63-Rick Fasse (Urbandale); 16. 1X-Stephen Streeter (Madera, Calif.); 17. 4R-Riley Hanson (Vinton); DQ 1-Kaden Reynolds (Cedar Rapids).
Heat 1 (8 laps) : 1. Reynolds; 2. Hanson; 3. Weepie; 4. Wroten; 5. Chesmore; 6. Damme Jr.
Heat 2 (8 laps) : 1. Doyle; 2. Hocken; 3. Rose; 4. Swanson; 5. Burmeister; 6. Jacoby.
Heat 3 (8 laps) : 1. Schmitt; 2. Mather; 3. Maasdam; 4. Fasse; 5. Carey; 6. Streeter.
IMCA SPORT MODS
presented by Burco Sales
Feature (15 laps) : 1. B21-Brandon Tharp (Vinton); 2. 22JR-Brady Hilmer (Dysart); 3. K3-Kyle Olson (Cedar Rapids); 4. 75-Cole Suckow (Cresco); 5. 16SS-Kip Siems (Cedar Falls); 6. 00-Colby Fett (Algona); 7. 33-Tim Fobian (Dike); 8. 68-Will Wolf (Evansdale); 9. 88K-Kole Quam (Waterloo); 10. 59-Josh Fisher (La Porte City); 11. 17-Ethan Krall (Evansdale); 12. 42-Chris Lewis (Marion); 13. 82T-Brett Thomas (Cedar Rapids); 14. T23-Tony Olson (Cedar Rapids); 15. 28R-Carl Reninger (Cedar Falls); DNS 13-Robert Patava (Vinton); DNS 88N-Nate Albrant (Clear Lake); DNS 64-Vern Jackson (Waterloo).
Heat 1 (8 laps) : 1. Tony Olson; 2. Siems; 3. Thomas; 4. Wolf; 5. Jackson; 6. Fett.
Heat 2 (8 laps) : 1. Tharp; 2. Kyle Olson; 3. Suckow; 4. Albrant; 5. Reninger; 6. Lewis.
Heat 3 (8 laps) : 1. Patava; 2. Hilmer; 3. Fobian; 4. Quam; 5. Kral; 6. Fisher.
IMCA HOBBY STOCKS
presented by Albert Auto
Feature (15 laps) : 1. 09-Daniel Wauters (Tipton); 2. 357-Brett Vanous (Quasqueton); 3. 2G-Bradly Graham (Victor); 4. 18X-Dreu Kueker (Maynard); 5. 7B-Jim Ball Jr (Independence); 6. 35B-Shawn Kuennen (Hazleton); 7. 06S-Adam Streeter (Walker); 8. 52-Joren Fisher (Garrison); 9. 7N-Trenton Neuhaus (Quasqueton); 10. 23-Justin Hanson (Hawkeye); 11. 55X-Corey VanDerwilt (Sully); 12. 88-Luke Bird (Winthrop); 13. 17B-Garrett Ball (Independence); 14. 9-Ryan Craven (Iowa City); 15. 17K-Briar Kriegel (Brooklyn); 16. 55T-Andrew Tyrrell (Cedar Falls); 17. 27B-Tyler Ball (Independence); 18. 73-Quinton Miller (Independence); 19. 243-Brycen Wilson (Cuba City, Wis.); 20. 5M-Austin Mehmen (Cedar Falls); DNS 11B-Brayden Bradfield (Janesville).
Heat 1 (8 laps) : 1. Jim Ball Jr.; 2. Garrett Ball; 3. Fisher; 4. Kuennen; 5. Kriegel; 6. Tyler Ball; 7. VanDerWilt.
Heat 2 (8 laps) : 1. Miller; 2. Wauters; 3. Graham; 4. Neuhaus; 5. Wilson; 6. Tyrell; 7. Bird.
Heat 3 (8 laps) : 1. Vanous; 2. Kueker; 3. Streeter; 4. Mehmen; 5. Craven; 6. Hanson; 7. Bradfield.
INDEE CARS
presented by Waterloo Auto Parts
Feature (12 laps) : 1. 20-Ethan Steere (Tripoli); 2. 1X-Chad Dugan (Garber); 3. 19-Matt Dugan (Garnavillo); 4. 25-Dale Schwamman (Fort Akinson); 5. 33-Carson James (Winthrop); 6. 1JR-Skyler Dugan (Waukon); 7. 79-Matt Dales (Oelwein); 8. 22-Mason Ash[ (Center Point); 9. 57A-David Anderson (Jesup); 10. 60K-Kyle Pearson (Maquoketa); 11. 43-Bowen Wilson (Cuba City, Wis.); 12. 31-Spencer Nelson (Rockwell); 13. 72-Kolton Osborn (Janesville); 14. 74-Dave Rosburg (Arlington); 15. 57T-Troy Andersen (Quasqueton); 16. 49-Jake Steere (Tripoli); 17. 1-Kayden Birkholz (Mason City); DNS 1R-Bobby Ruehlow (Mason City).
Heat 1 (6 laps) : 1. Schwamman; 2. Jake Steere; 3. Osborn; 4. Rosburg; 5. David Anderson; 6. Nelson.
Heat 2 (6 laps) : 1. Ruehlow; 2. Dales; 3. Troy Andersen; 4. Wilson; 5. Skyler Dugan; DNS Chad Dugan.
Heat 3 (6 laps) : 1. Ethan Steere; 2. Matt Dugan; 3. James; 4. Pearson; 5. Ash; 6. Birkholz.
SPORT COMPACTS
presented by Waterloo Auto Parts
Feature (12 Laps) : 1. 22-Travis Losenicky (Garrison); 2. 31D-Blake Driscol (Dysart); 3. 73B-Andrew Bieber (Independence); 4. 29T-Trystin Belthuis (Dysart); 5. 58-Aaron Swearingen (Monticello); 6. 70-Jacob Lamphere (Waterloo); 7. 56-Joseph Hempstead (Manchester); 8. 333-Steven Schmitz (Vinton); 9. 77-Cody Jordan (Unknown); 10. C4E-Chase Forey (Waverly); 11. 17JR-Keegan Miller (Waverly); 12. 07-Gracie Hempstead (Maquoketa); 13. T2-Jaice Tuttle (Vinton); 14. 24-Korey Lana (Center Point); 15. 69M-Jeremy Wheeler (Vinton); 16. 11H-Justin Hempstead (Manchester); 17. 81-Christopher Mannion (Waterloo); 18. 4E-Trevor Forey (Waverly); 19. 50-Mike Harris (Vinton); 20. 25-Chris Pittman (Dunkerton); DNS 29-Matt Miller (Waterloo).
Heat 1 (6 laps) : 1. Losenicky; 2. Matt Miller; 3. Schmitz; 4. Swearingen; 5. Justin Hempstead; 6. Tuttle; 7. Keegan Miller.
Heat 2 (6 laps) : 1. Bieber; 2. Mannion; 3. Lamphere; 4. Belthuis; 5. Jordan; 6. Gracie Hempstead; 7. Lana.
Heat 3 (6 laps) : 1. Wheeler; 2. Driscol; 3. Trevor Forey; 4. Joseph Hempstead; 5. Pittman; 6. Chase Forey; 7. Harris.
