After inclement weather wiped out our racing plans for last weekend, we decided to take advantage of a delightful Saturday with a trip to Independence, Iowa Motor Speedway. The Mike Van Genderen and Dana Benning promoted fairgrounds facility opened their season with a seven class program highlighted by a visit by the Pro Late Models. There would also be points racing in five IMCA classes, Modifieds, Sport Mods, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, and Sport Compacts. In addition, the always entertaining American Iron Racing Series would make a special appearance. The addition of fresh clay to what was a bit of a sandy surface would make racing something of a new experience for even long time competitors on the three eighths mile oval. With all this in mind, the track held an open practice on Friday. This all came after the first night of the scheduled five night Frostbuster traveling mini series was canceled on Wednesday, April 3 due to wet conditions.
One hundred and nineteen race teams checked in with twenty two Stock Cars and twenty two Sport Compacts leading the way, meaning no B Mains were necessary. Surprisingly and disappointing I imagine to fans, promoters and the series director, only eight Pro Late Models came to the special non points season opener.
Seventeen heat races clicked off in about one hour and five minutes thanks to minimal yellow flags and a rapid fire process from one heat to the next. Track personnel then took around twenty minutes to manicure the surface ahead of the seven main events.
So we were feature racing before 8:30. From there, however the pace slowed considerably. In an attempt perhaps to encourage drivers to use the top half of the track and widen the racing groove, a dose of water followed the first five features, requiring the cars to turn multiple laps to run in the moisture. Because of or in spite of, the track took on "character" as the night went on. Still the racing was competitive with side by side action and drivers advancing through the field.
Sport Compacts would be up first, twenty one cars came to the track for fourteen laps, although Clayton Loeb would park in the infield ahead of the green flag. After a false start, Jake Anderson would lead the pack as lap one was scored. Korey Lana used a slower car to his advantage, grabbing the point at the halfway mark. Two laps later, Mason City visitor Devin Jones would grab the top spot, then begin to pull away as Tyler Mannion came up to battle Lana for second. As the white flag waved, it was replaced by the caution for debris setting up a green, white, checkers finish. Jones again drove off to pick up the win, while Anderson rebounded to second when Lana had a mechanical issue. Ryan Bryant advanced eight positions to third, followed by Tyler and Christopher Mannion.
All but one of the seventeen A.I.R.S. competitors lined up for sixteen laps. Tracy Quigley paced the opening circuit, giving way to hard charging Matthew Hirst and Travis Heier. Heier was able to move to the front as a pair of cautions came at lap nine. As those three battled, Doug Yates began to make his presence felt, and he nosed by Heier at the checkers in what was either a Ford Torino or Mercury Cyclone. Heier was runner up in his Maverick followed by Quigley, Bruce Yoerger and Brian Gade.
The Sport Mod count was also surprisingly low at an even dozen, and they ran a caution free eighteen laps. Pole sitter Brandon Tharp would lead this one flag to flag, and was a happy camper in victory lane. Tony Olson, who should probably pay me to stay away, as he always seems to have issues when I am in attendance, suddenly dove to the infield after climbing to second about lap five. Seventh starting Cole Suckow managed to clear traffic and was closing on the leader before running out of laps. Kyle Olson, Curt Smeins, and Brady Hilmer completed the first five.
All twenty two Stock Cars contested a lively battle marked by a false start and three yellow flags, Veteran Vern Jackson shot from the outside pole to lead early, before his row one mate Chris Luloff took over about lap five. Meanwhile, visitor John Oliver Jr. was working his way forward, moving to third after starting in row three. As those three waged a fierce battle, Jarod Weepie and Tom Schmitt closed the gap to make a five car scrum. The caution came as Jackson retook the lead about lap fourteen. On the restart, Oliver Jr. had a tire come apart ending his run and Luloff also had issues as well. Back under green, Schmitt moved to the lead and held on through a caution for debris to take the win after starting in ninth. Jackson followed ahead of Weepie, tenth starting Leah Wroten and eleventh starting Ty Hill. Young hot shoe Kaden Reynolds had problems in his heat race, lined up in row eleven and charged forward as high as third before falling to fifth on the final restart, then slowing in a cloud of smoke in the final corner, dropping to tenth in the final rundown.
Modifieds would be next, all nineteen on hand for twenty laps. Troy Cordes drew the pole start and shot to a commanding lead. He held on through yellow flags around laps four and six before a multi car pile up culled the herd on lap seven. Clearly the class of the field on this night, Cordes again put his #71C well out front before a final caution set up a green, white checkers finish. Troy would cruise to the win in front of Jeff Aikey, Patrick Flannagan, Brennen Chipp, Jerry King, and Josh Fisher, the only cars still running at the checkers.
With the racing surface now particularly challenging, it was decided to forego more water, and "tickle" the surface instead ahead of the sixteen lapper for all but one of the nineteen Hobby Stocks. With the improved surface, only one yellow flag on lap two would slow the action. Quinton Miller would hold serve until Joren Fisher took over on lap seven. Fisher opened a sizable lead in front of an entertaining battle for second between Adam Streeter and Bradly Graham. Graham would see his run come to an end with four laps remaining. But this race belonged to sixth starting Fisher. Streeter held on for runner up honors, besting Miller, Brad Graham, and Tyler Ball.
Twenty laps for the Pro Late Models would close out the program. Dalton Simonsen checked in with a sharp looking #60, but he had smoke rolling from under the hood in hot laps, ending his night. Bobby Hansen and local legend Curt Martin drew the front row with Martin powering to the lead. At the mid point, it was Martin, Hansen, Logan Duffy, and heat winner Sean Johnson leading the way. One lap later, the only caution came as a slowing Lance Mish came to a halt over the top of turn one. The first attempt at the Delaware style restart was called back when Duffy charged around Martin too early, but on the next try he still was able to use the outside line to take over the lead. Logan then put distance between his #14 and the field, driving to the win. Rookie Late Model driver Tyler Sommerlot ducked to the infield with two laps to go, leaving a five car finish of Duffy, Martin, Hansen, Johnson, and Brandon Davis.
Even with the delays, the final checkers came around 10:30. All in all, a pleasant night with close racing on what looks to be an extremely fast surface. And for sure, Indee is a fine facility with plenty of seating and great sight lines. Unfortunately, at least on this night, the scoreboard was not working, and the P. A. system could use some work, things that I am sure will be addressed as the season gets going. Indee features regular Saturday night racing from here on out, and for those looking for an extra fix, this will be season two for their unique series of Monday Madness races. Thanks to MVG, Dana, and the helpful ladies at the pit shack for an enjoyable Saturday night of racing three hours from home!
Weather permitting, the upcoming week is chock full of outstanding events at some of our favorite Iowa venues like Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, 34 Raceway in West Burlington, and Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. Decisions, decisions!
Great write-up as usual. That scoreboard hasn't worked in probably 15 years...maybe this year (but likely not).
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