Aikey, Dripps, Schmitt take Indee Open Series wins at Independence Motor Speedway
By Ryan Clark

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (May 3) – A full field of 102 cars thrilled the crowd as the Indee Open Series took its first green flag of the season at Independence Motor Speedway. The series, now in its sixth season, kicked off its first of eight events for 2006.

Thirty-two late models were on-hand for the series opener, each vying for one of 24 starting spots in the 40-lap feature grid. Series rookie Chad Simpson paced the field at the start of the event and took command early, followed by veterans Terry Neal and Dale Stolte.

Simpson attempted to distance himself from the field as he entered lapped traffic on the 10th circuit. Neal and Stolte chased the leader through the backmarkers as the race’s first caution flew on lap 15. Simpson took charge once again on the ensuing restart as Jeff Aikey worked his way through the field. With Simpson out front, 12th-place starter Aikey moved into third by the time the race’s only other stoppage occurred on lap 19.

One lap later, following the two-wide restart, Aikey motored around the high side of Neal for second and set his sights on Simpson. The two engaged in a side-by-side battle for the a couple of trips around the fast 3/8-mile oval until Aikey nabbed the lead on lap 22.

Aikey encountered lapped traffic with just 10 laps to go, allowing Simpson to keep him within his sights. In the meantime, Rob Toland worked his way through traffic and into third after starting the event seventh. Aikey proved to be too strong as he held off all challenges to score the victory. Simpson and Toland rounded out the top three.

In modified action, pole-sitter Corey Dripps assumed the early lead. Dripps paced the filed through a trio of early cautions before Kevin Pittman challenged for the top spot a handful of laps into the 30-lapper. Pittman edged ahead on lap six and started to distance himself from the pack until a miscue left him mired in eighth on lap nine.

Dripps assumed control once again while Joey Schaefer, Jeff Morris and Jerry King battled behind him. Schaefer took the lead one lap later and held the advantage until Dripps made his way back out front at the midway point.

Dripps maintained his edge over the field for the remainder of the event to take the victory ahead of Pittman, who charged through the pack to steal runner-up honors. Morris crossed the line in third.

Justin Temeyer took the early lead in the 25-lap stock car headliner. From his third row start, Temeyer wasted little time putting his No. 56T machine at the front of the pack. As Temeyer paced the field, Tom Schmitt and Dan Trimble battled for second.

Schmitt was able to break away and make his way into the lead with only five laps remaining, just prior to the race’s final caution. Schmitt led the remaining handful of laps to score the win ahead of Trimble and Temeyer.

The next Indee Open Series event is scheduled for Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, at the speedway. Gates will open early at 3 p.m. for the special holiday show. Hot laps are scheduled for 5 and the first green flag is set to fly at 6.


RESULTS

LATE MODEL

First heat – 1. 25 Chad Simpson, Mt. Vernon; 2. 28C Terry Neal, Ely; 3. 11 Ace Ihm, Hazel Green, Wis.; 4. 16 Tyler Bruening, Decorah; 5. 77X Kurt Kile, Nichols; 6. 22 Jill George, Cedar Falls; 7. 15 Matt Strassheim, Burlington; 8. 69B Joel Brasch, Dunkerton; 9. 53 Darren Ackerman, Waterloo.

Second heat – 1. 77 Jeff Aikey, Waterloo; 2. 86 Rick Dralle, Waterloo; 3. 39 Rob Toland, Hillsdale, Ill.; 4. 88 Kevin Kile, West Liberty; 5. 17A Joe Zrostlik, Long Grove, 6. 4B Brian Lillie, Independence; 7. 4 Leon Thomsen, Waverly; 8. 8 Randy Wheeler, Cedar Falls.

Third heat – 1. 41J Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque; 2. 45 Curt Martin, Independence; 3. 99D Darrel DeFrance; 4. 56 Andy Eckrich, Iowa City; 5. 19 Darin Duffy, Hazleton; 6. 06X Rick Wendling, Hazleton; 7. 80 Jerry Dedrick, Vinton; 8. 33 Kevin Kirkpatrick, Waterloo; 9. 25M Bobby Moyer, Dubuque.

Fourth heat – 1. 73 Greg Kastli, Waterloo; 2. 78 Dale Stolte, Springville; 3. 145 Dale Hackwell Jr., Washburn; 4. 32 Chris Simpson, Marion; 5. 06 Dean Wagner, Evansdale; 6. 9 Bobby Hansen, Center Point; 7. 14B Levi Benn, Dyersville; 8. 17 Brian Hunter, Independence.

First B feature – 1. Ackerman; 2. Kurt Kile; 3. Strassheim; 4. Brasch; 5. Thomsen; 6. George; 7. Zrostlik; 8. Lillie; DNS Wheeler.

Second B feature – 1. Duffy; 2. Wagner; 3. Hansen; 4. Wendling; 5. Kirkpatrick; 6. Dedrick; 7. Moyer; 8. Hunter; 9. Benn.

A feature – 1. Aikey; 2. Chris Simpson; 3. Toland; 4. Kevin Kile; 5. Neal; 6. Duffy; 7. Stolte; 8. Martin; 9. Ackerman; 10. Kastli; 11. Ihm; 12. Kurt Kile; 13. Chris Simpson; 14. Eckrich; 15. Hurst; 16. DeFrance; 17. Bruening; 18. Strassheim; 19. Hackwell; 20. Hansen; 21. Wendling; 22. Brasch; 23. Dralle; 24. Wagner.



MODIFIED

First heat – 1. 26P Kevin Pittman, Waterloo; 2. 70 Jerry King, Waterloo; 3. F7 Patrick Flannagan, Cedar Rapids; 4. 11B Mike Burbridge, Delhi; 5. 17 Brian Krall, Readlyn; 6. 81 K.C. Ansel, Dubuque; 7. 85 Johnathan Thimmesch, Aurora; 8. 2P Jon Passick, Waterloo; 9. 83C Todd Conrad, Cedar Rapids.

Second heat – 1. 71 Troy Cordes, Raymond; 2. 2 Joey Schaefer, Waterloo; 3. 27M Mark Schulte, Delhi; 4. 3 Jason Schueller, Dubuque; 5. 25 Shawn Fisher, Garrison; 6. 93 Craig Haupt, Sumner; 7. 18 Skip Culbertson, Dubuque; 8. 9 Leon Wilson, Hopkinton; 9. 37B Ron Barker, Dubuque.

Third heat – 1. 41P Keith Pittman, Waterloo; 2. 40 Brett Root, Vinton; 3. 14B Shane Burbridge, Manchester; 4. 28T Todd Ihde, Decorah; 5. 4S Garry Stuber, Waterloo; 6. 01K Ronn Lauritzen, Jesup; 7. 24R Adam Johnson, Independence; 8. 66 Dan Bohr, Decorah.

Fourth heat – 1. 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo; 2. 01 Ed Thomas, Waterloo; 3. 91 Shawn Ryan, Waterloo; 4. 98 Jason Snyder, Dunkerton; 5. 92 Steve Droste, Waterloo; 6. 22P Dave Plum, Waterloo; 7. 67 Randy Coghlan, Toddville; 8. 48 Ron Scally Jr., Waterloo.

Fifth heat – 1. 7 Jeff Morris, Long Grove; 2. 7M Mike Darnall, West Union; 3. 57B Dennis Betzer, Central City; 4. 30 Mark Massey, Worthington; 5. 9L Tim Current, Dubuque; 6. 00 J.D. Auringer, Waterloo; 7. 1R Ryan York, Racine, Minn.; 8. 2R Rory Becker, Bernard.

First B feature – 1. Snyder; 2. Current; 3. Thimmesch; 4. Fisher; 5. Wilson; 6. Becker; 7. Lauritzen; 8. M. Burbridge; DNS Coghlan.

Second B feature – 1. Schueller; 2. Bohr; 3. Massey; 4. Culbertson; 5. Ansel; 6. Stuber; 7. Conrad; DNS Plum; DNS York.

Third B feature – 1. Johnson; 2. Krall; 3. Ihde; 4. Auringer; 5. Passick; 6. Haupt; 7. Droste; DNS Scally; DNS Barker.

A feature – 1. Dripps; 2. Kevin Pittman; 3. Morris; 4. Schulte; 5. King; 6. Schueller; 7. Current; 8. Thomas; 9. Darnall; 10. Snyder; 11. Betzer; 12. Thimmesch; 13. Krall; 14. Ihde; 15. Schaefer; 16. Keith Pittman; 17. Ryan; 18. Root; 19. Massey; 20. S. Burbridge; 21. Johnson; 22. Bohr; 23. Flannagan; 24. Cordes.



STOCK CAR

First heat – 1. 12 Shawn Bangs, Canton, Minn.; 2. 18 Tom Schmitt, Independence; 3. 8R Sean Johnson, Independence; 4. 56T Justin Temeyer, Independence; 5. 40 Shay Curtin, Cresco; 6. 8 Mike Kelly, Lanesboro, Minn.; 7. 17 Chad Halverson, Decorah; 8. 11R Roger Samec, New Hartford; 9. 12I Ken Irvine, Oelwein.

Second heat – 1. 20 Dan Trimble, Fairbank; 2. 6 Tom Hovey, Decorah; 3. 7G Jason Goedken, Fairbank; 4. 33 Kevin Donlan, Decorah; 5. 8K Jerry Merkes, Farley; 6. 38 Dain Sires, Cedar Falls; 7. 10 Bryan Webb, Decorah; 8. JR3 Jason Hocken, Independence; 9. 55 Chris Litscher, Stanwood.

Third heat – 1. 69 Jake Ludeking, Decorah; 2. 21M Shane Manson, Manchester; 3. 26 Brian Irvine, Oelwein; 4. 12J Justin O’Brien, Volga; 5. 83Z Larry Portis, Nora Springs; 6. 41 Darin Balk, Waucoma; 7. 38X Trent Vrchoticky, Columbus Junction; 8. 3 Jarod Weepie, Dunkerton.

Feature – 1. Schmitt; 2. Trimble; 3. Temeyer; 4. Hovey; 5. O’Brien; 6. B. Irvine; 7. Curtin; 8. Weepie; 9. Bangs; 10. Kelly; 11. Vrchoticky; 12. Donlan; 13. Johnson; 14. Sires; 15. Litscher; 16. Halverson; 17. Portis; 18. Balk; 19. Ludeking; 20. Samec; 21. Goedken; 22. Manson; 23. Merkes; 24. Hocken; 25. Webb; DNS K. Irvine.