Schmitt From the Back for the Win at Independence [Watch]
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
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
Pos | Start | Driver | Hometown | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Sean Johnson | Independence, IA | 8R |
2 | 2 | Ben Seemann | Waterloo, IA | 60 |
3 | 4 | Curt Martin | Independence, IA | 45 |
4 | 7 | Darren Ackerman | Elk Run Heights, IA | 53 |
5 | 13 | Tyler Droste | Waterloo, IA | 31 |
6 | 9 | Travis Smock | Independence, IA | 1 |
7 | 8 | Rory Metcalf | Iowa City, IA | 2 |
8 | 5 | Dirk Hamilton | Jesup, IA | 77 |
9 | 10 | Luke Pestka | Robins, IA | 99 |
10 | 3 | Russ Hesse | Waterloo, IA | 83H |
11 | 11 | Mark Hurst | Denver, IA | 44 |
12 | 14 | Jon Passick | Waterloo, IA | 2P |
13 | 6 | Greg Kastli | Waterloo, IA | 73 |
14 | 12 | Kenny Pint | Independence, IA | 25 |
Performance Bodies Modifieds
Season Championship Main Event: 20 laps
Pos | Start | Driver | Hometown | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Ronn Lauritzen | Jesup, IA | 10K |
2 | 3 | JD Auringer | Evansdale, IA | 00J |
3 | 2 | Scott Hogan | Vinton, IA | 33D |
4 | 4 | Zach Less | Manchester, IA | 20L |
5 | 6 | Ryan Maitland | Waterloo, IA | 4 |
6 | 8 | Brandon Maitland | Waterloo, IA | 2 |
7 | 5 | Patrick Flannagan | Cedar Rapids, IA | F7 |
8 | 11 | Ed Thomas | Waterloo, IA | 01 |
9 | 7 | Jason Morehouse | Evansdale, IA | 5 |
10 | 17 | Brett Ladehoff | Marshalltown, IA | 12X |
11 | 14 | Robert Whalen | Nashau, IA | 23W |
12 | 10 | Dennis Betzer | Central City, IA | 57B |
13 | 9 | Todd Jensen | Waterloo, IA | 7 |
14 | 16 | Kevin Hurst | Janesville, IA | 339 |
15 | 12 | Trent Jochimson | Cedar Rapids, IA | 3 |
16 | 13 | Austin Emry | Grinnell, IA | 68C |
17 | 15 | Justin Buhler | Oelwein, IA | 17 |
Albert Auto Sport Mods
Season Championship Main Event: 20 laps
Pos | Start | Driver | Hometown | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Tony Olson | Cedar Rapids, IA | T23 |
2 | 16 | Joey Schaefer | Waterloo, IA | 2 |
3 | 2 | Jim Buhlman | Cedar Falls, IA | 00 |
4 | 11 | Dakoda Sellers | Vinton, IA | 7D |
5 | 12 | Mitch Manternach | Earlville, IA | 1M |
6 | 9 | Kyle Bentley | Fairbank, IA | 35 |
7 | 18 | Kyle Olson | Cedar Rapids, IA | K3 |
8 | 3 | Ryan King | Montour, IA | 57R |
9 | 7 | Tristan Cordes | Dinkerton, IA | 71 |
10 | 17 | Brian Schrage | Cresco, IA | 14 |
11 | 6 | Sean Vogt | watkins, IA | 29 |
12 | 14 | Scott Meyers | Newhaul, IA | 71M |
13 | 8 | Steve Wimer | Toddville, IA | 50H |
14 | 15 | Mike Mitchell | Cedar Rpids, IA | 11M |
15 | 5 | Andy Hunter | Independance, IA | 11A |
16 | 4 | Chris Lewis | Marion, IA | 42 |
17 | 13 | Nate Smith | Cedar Falls, IA | 19BX |
18 | 10 | Jason Foye | Hiawatha, IA | 03 |
Burco Sales Stock Cars
Season Championship Main Event: 20 laps
Pos | Start | Driver | Hometown | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 13 | Tom Schmitt | Independence, IA | 18 |
2 | 14 | Roger Ciesielski | Waterloo, IA | 37C |
3 | 1 | Jarod Weepie | Dunkerton, IA | 3 |
4 | 2 | Norman Chesmore | Rowley, IA | 15 |
5 | 11 | Scooter Dulin | Cedar Rapids, IA | 3T |
6 | 5 | Russell Damme Jr. | Waterloo, IA | 4JR |
7 | 12 | Kevin Rose | Waterloo, IA | 22K |
8 | 6 | Corey Brown | Hiawahta, IA | 88 |
9 | 8 | Scott Hampton | Waterloo, IA | 61 |
10 | 10 | Matt Burmeister | Denver, IA | 20B |
11 | 7 | Austin Evens | Independence, IA | 9E |
12 | 4 | Chris Luloff | Independence, IA | 18L |
13 | 3 | Jason Hocken | Independence, IA | JR3 |
14 | 9 | Rick Milks | Jesup, IA | 13 |
Christy Door Co. Hobby Stocks
Season Championship Main Event: 15 laps
Pos | Start | Driver | Hometown | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Benji Irvine | Oelwein, IA | 79 |
2 | 7 | Justin Lichty | Waterloo, IA | 166 |
3 | 3 | Justin Hanson | Hawkeye, IA | 23J |
4 | 4 | Neal Miller | Evansdale, IA | 98 |
5 | 18 | Quinton Miller | Independence, IA | 73 |
6 | 2 | Shawn Kuennen | Hazelton, IA | 35B |
7 | 11 | Brian Happel | Van Horne, IA | 46 |
8 | 5 | Tyler Ollendieck | Tripoli, IA | 24T |
9 | 6 | Jim Ball Jr | Independence, IA | 7B |
10 | 14 | Brett Knapp | Waukon, IA | 25 |
11 | 8 | Rob Twaites | Waterloo, IA | 16 |
12 | 13 | Jerome Wilson | Waterloo, IA | 64 |
13 | 15 | Justin Ginther | Independence, IA | 20CK |
14 | 17 | Gerald Hall | Cedar Rapids, IA | 8 |
15 | 12 | Trent Newhouse | Quasqueton, IA | 7N |
16 | 16 | Amy Thomas | Brandon, IA | 53 |
17 | 9 | Jeremiah Wilson | Waterloo, IA | T64 |
18 | 10 | Leah Wroten | Independence, IA | 14C |
RCZ Enterprises Indee Cars
Season Championship Main Event: 12 laps
Pos | Start | Driver | Hometown | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 | Donny Erger | Brandon, IA | 6 |
2 | 8 | Cole Suckow | Cresco, IA | 75S |
3 | 9 | Dallon Murty | Chelsea, IA | 99D |
4 | 1 | Cole McNeal | Dysart, IA | 51 |
5 | 10 | Curt Hilmer | Dysart, IA | 15 |
6 | 6 | Carson Less | Manchester, IA | 48L |
7 | 11 | Derrick Knutsen | Cedar Rapids, IA | 15K |
8 | 3 | Russ Olson | Cedar Rapids, IA | 4 |
9 | 4 | Brady Kohrs | Independence, IA | 17 |
10 | 2 | Kaden Reynolds | Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 |
11 | 12 | Braxton Franks | Cedar Rapids, IA | 75F |
12 | 5 | Dalton Weepie | Dunkerton, IA | 3D |
13 | 13 | Buster Pate | Hiawatha, IA | 111 |