It was Budweiser Season Championship night at Independence Motor Speedway, and Tom Schmitt was up for the 'Challenge' in the IMCA Burco Sales Stock Car main event on August 27, 2016

Tom Schmitt Wins at Independence (Photo: Speedway Souvenir)
Tom Schmitt Wins at Independence (Photo: Speedway Souvenir)
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Schmitt came into the night with the 2016 track championship locked up, but he said before the race that he wanted to give the fans a show, so he accepted the back row challenge. Schmitt gave up his front row starting spot to start in the back. If he won, he would double his money.

Roger Cielieski (also eligible for the back row challenge) was scheduled to start fourth, and too wanted to entertain the crowd. He accepted the same challenge, and boy did those two drivers put on a show and entertain the masses.

The two drivers worked their way through the field closing in on the leader every lap. Despite only seeing one caution period (lap 5 of 20), Schmitt & Cielieski found themselves battling for the lead during the final five laps. Schmitt held of Cielieski for the narrow win. Early race leader Jarod Weepie finished third followed by Norman Chesmore and Scooter Dulin.

Sean Johnson led all 30 laps of the IMCA Budweiser Late Model A-Main. Ben Seeman pursued Johnson, but Johnson was able to navigate through lap traffic quicker and opened up a commanding lead. A caution flag waved on lap 20 (of 30). On the restart, Johnson was able to distance himself from Seeman for the win. Seeman came home in second. Curt Martin finished third. Darren Ackerman was fourth.

Tyler Droste took the back row challenge hoping to double his money thanks to a track bonus and extra money that Travis Smock of People's Company offered up. Droste ended up finishing fifth.

The IMCA Performance Bodies Modified points chance was the tightest battle heading into the final points night at the Independence Motor Speedway. Ronn Lauritzen held a mere seven-point lead over Scott Hogan. Hogan led the first three laps until Lauritzen wrestled the top spot away. Lauritzen would lead the final 17 laps for the win, and he iced the 2016 Modified track championship. JD Auringer finished second. Hogan was third followed by Zach Less and Ryan Maitland.

Benji Irvine led all fifteen laps of the IMCA Christie Door Company Hobby Stock A-Main. Justin Lichty and Justin Hansen hounded the leader the entire race, but neither had enough to push past Irvine. Lichty and Hansen finished second and third respectively. Neal Miller came home fourth. Quinton Miller started 18th, and he finished an impressive 5th.

Tony Olson is in the hunt for the IMCA Northern SportMod National Championship, and he edged a little closer to that goal with his win during the A-Main at Independence on August 27. Olson lead all 15 laps as he earned his 27th win on the year. Joey Schafer drove from his 16th place starting spot to apply pressure on Olson for the win, but he settled for second. Jim Buhlman finished third. Dakoda Sellers drove from 11th to finish fourth, and Mitch Manternach started 12th to finish fifth.

Olson was crowned the 2016 IMCA Albert Auto SportMod champion at Independence.

Erger stole the lead away from eventual RCZ Enterprises Indee Car track Champion Cole McNeal during a lap four restart, and he would cruise to the win. Cole Suckow and Dallon Murty rounded out the top three.

The 2016 point season has wrapped up at the Independence Motor Speedway, but there is still one more night of racing planned at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds speed plant. On Saturday, September 17, the track will host one more night of racing before they close the gates for the season. The night will be sponsored by Albert Auto, and more details will be released soon.

Photo Courtesy: Speedway Souvenir

INDEPENDENCE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
BUDWEISER SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP
INDEPENDENCE, IA
AUGUST 27, 2016

Budweiser Late Models

Season Championship Main Event: 30 laps

PosStartDriverHometownCar
11Sean JohnsonIndependence, IA8R
22Ben SeemannWaterloo, IA60
34Curt MartinIndependence, IA45
47Darren AckermanElk Run Heights, IA53
513Tyler DrosteWaterloo, IA31
69Travis SmockIndependence, IA1
78Rory MetcalfIowa City, IA2
85Dirk HamiltonJesup, IA77
910Luke PestkaRobins, IA99
103Russ HesseWaterloo, IA83H
1111Mark HurstDenver, IA44
1214Jon PassickWaterloo, IA2P
136Greg KastliWaterloo, IA73
1412Kenny PintIndependence, IA25

Performance Bodies Modifieds

Season Championship Main Event: 20 laps

PosStartDriverHometownCar
11Ronn LauritzenJesup, IA10K
23JD AuringerEvansdale, IA00J
32Scott HoganVinton, IA33D
44Zach LessManchester, IA20L
56Ryan MaitlandWaterloo, IA4
68Brandon MaitlandWaterloo, IA2
75Patrick FlannaganCedar Rapids, IAF7
811Ed ThomasWaterloo, IA01
97Jason MorehouseEvansdale, IA5
1017Brett LadehoffMarshalltown, IA12X
1114Robert WhalenNashau, IA23W
1210Dennis BetzerCentral City, IA57B
139Todd JensenWaterloo, IA7
1416Kevin HurstJanesville, IA339
1512Trent JochimsonCedar Rapids, IA3
1613Austin EmryGrinnell, IA68C
1715Justin BuhlerOelwein, IA17

Albert Auto Sport Mods

Season Championship Main Event: 20 laps

PosStartDriverHometownCar
11Tony OlsonCedar Rapids, IAT23
216Joey SchaeferWaterloo, IA2
32Jim BuhlmanCedar Falls, IA00
411Dakoda SellersVinton, IA7D
512Mitch ManternachEarlville, IA1M
69Kyle BentleyFairbank, IA35
718Kyle OlsonCedar Rapids, IAK3
83Ryan KingMontour, IA57R
97Tristan CordesDinkerton, IA71
1017Brian SchrageCresco, IA14
116Sean Vogtwatkins, IA29
1214Scott MeyersNewhaul, IA71M
138Steve WimerToddville, IA50H
1415Mike MitchellCedar Rpids, IA11M
155Andy HunterIndependance, IA11A
164Chris LewisMarion, IA42
1713Nate SmithCedar Falls, IA19BX
1810Jason FoyeHiawatha, IA03

Burco Sales Stock Cars

Season Championship Main Event: 20 laps

PosStartDriverHometownCar
113Tom SchmittIndependence, IA18
214Roger CiesielskiWaterloo, IA37C
31Jarod WeepieDunkerton, IA3
42Norman ChesmoreRowley, IA15
511Scooter DulinCedar Rapids, IA3T
65Russell Damme Jr.Waterloo, IA4JR
712Kevin RoseWaterloo, IA22K
86Corey BrownHiawahta, IA88
98Scott HamptonWaterloo, IA61
1010Matt BurmeisterDenver, IA20B
117Austin EvensIndependence, IA9E
124Chris LuloffIndependence, IA18L
133Jason HockenIndependence, IAJR3
149Rick MilksJesup, IA13

Christy Door Co. Hobby Stocks

Season Championship Main Event: 15 laps

PosStartDriverHometownCar
11Benji IrvineOelwein, IA79
27Justin LichtyWaterloo, IA166
33Justin HansonHawkeye, IA23J
44Neal MillerEvansdale, IA98
518Quinton MillerIndependence, IA73
62Shawn KuennenHazelton, IA35B
711Brian HappelVan Horne, IA46
85Tyler OllendieckTripoli, IA24T
96Jim Ball JrIndependence, IA7B
1014Brett KnappWaukon, IA25
118Rob TwaitesWaterloo, IA16
1213Jerome WilsonWaterloo, IA64
1315Justin GintherIndependence, IA20CK
1417Gerald HallCedar Rapids, IA8
1512Trent NewhouseQuasqueton, IA7N
1616Amy ThomasBrandon, IA53
179Jeremiah WilsonWaterloo, IAT64
1810Leah WrotenIndependence, IA14C

RCZ Enterprises Indee Cars

Season Championship Main Event: 12 laps

PosStartDriverHometownCar
17Donny ErgerBrandon, IA6
28Cole SuckowCresco, IA75S
39Dallon MurtyChelsea, IA99D
41Cole McNealDysart, IA51
510Curt HilmerDysart, IA15
66Carson LessManchester, IA48L
711Derrick KnutsenCedar Rapids, IA15K
83Russ OlsonCedar Rapids, IA4
94Brady KohrsIndependence, IA17
102Kaden ReynoldsCedar Rapids, IA1
1112Braxton FranksCedar Rapids, IA75F
125Dalton WeepieDunkerton, IA3D
1313Buster PateHiawatha, IA111

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