Welcome to Independence Motor Speedway’s monthly newsletter. On or near the first of every month during the racing season, you will receive a complete recap of the previous month’s action on the 3/8-mile oval.

Included regularly will be an overview of driver accomplishments, statistics, trivia and an upcoming events calendar.

This is the final monthly newsletter of the 2007 season. The remaining events on this year’s schedule include the 4th annual Indee Outlaw Special on Saturday, October 6, followed by the annual awards banquet on November 10. Details for those events will be released in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your support of Independence Motor Speedway!


AUGUST REVIEW

Weekly Racing

After a perfect July, Mother Nature remained a constant threat at the speedway throughout the month of August. For the first time in three years, an event following mid-season was rained out when August 4 fell to poor weather. Rain also threatened the August 18 Back-to-School Night event and the August 25 Season Championships, however a break from the rains and diligent track prep allowed racing to go an as scheduled.



When all was said and done, 15 nights of racing comprised the 2007 weekly points season and 36 different drivers graced victory lane. Three drivers celebrated the first track championships of their careers while two more earned their second career track titles.



I.M.C.A. Late Models – Four weeks after earning his first career win in the division, Levi Benn picked up his second victory on August 11. Terry Neal made his second appearance at the season on August 18 and remained perfect in his pair of appearances as he drove to the winner’s circle. Points leader Darren Ackerman wrapped up his title run with a win in the main event on championship night. Ackerman earned three victories on the season to claim his second career track championship. He shared the track championship with Curt Martin in 2004.



I.M.C.A. Modifieds – After winning the final feature in July, J.D. Auringer started August with his second straight win in the division. First-year driver Bret Ladehoff earned his first win in the division at the speedway one week later and Vern Jackson earned win number two with a win on championship night. Auringer capped a late season rally to nip Jerry Luloff by one point for the track championship. Following the July 14 show, Auringer sat 22 points behind Luloff in the standings, however Auringer reeled of five straight top-three finishes to close the season to come away with the title, the first of his career.



I.M.C.A. Stock Car – Jarod Weepie was the only driver to pick up multiple wins in the month of August. He earned those two wins to open the month of August. Brian Irvine capped the season with a win on championship night. Irvine led all drivers at the speedway with eight feature wins in 2007. Weepie’s consistency, however, carried him to his second career track title. He was the only driver in the division with 15 top-10s in 15 nights of racing. In fact, Weepie’s worst finish this season was a seventh place run on May 12. He earned championship honors by 37 points over Irvine. Weepie also won the division title in 2005.



I.M.C.A. Hobby Stocks – Points leader Josh Irvine had bookend victories in the month of August. After opening the month with his fourth win of the season, Irvine charged to the win on championship night to close the season, picking up the track title in the process. His margin of victory over second place Rod Grother, 48 points, was the largest of any division champion this season. Between Irvine’s victories, Jeremiah Wilson earned his first career win at the speedway on August 18.



B Modifieds – Throughout the month of July, four different drivers earned wins in the B mods. That streak continued through the first two weeks of August when two drivers became first-time winners at the speedway. Kyle Bentley picked up his first win at the speedway on August 11 and Marty Rouse followed suit one week later with the first win of his career. Joe Docekal broke the string of six straight different winners when he took the win during championship night. Tony Olson took his 15 top-10 finishes to the top of the standings as he earned track championship honors by 13 points over Docekal, the first championship of his career.





Climate Seal Insulation Indee Open Series

Rain was also a factor in Indee Open Series action during the month of action. The series resumed on August 1 at Independence as a make-up from the June rainout at the speedway, however the July fair race in Independence was not rescheduled after it was rained out. The series concluded on August 28 just prior to a downpour a few minutes after the final checkered flag waved.



Late Models – Series points leader Chad Simpson earned his second win of the season on August 1. It was his fifth consecutive top-four finish in series action, which dated back to the May 2 season opener. By virtue of taking the green flag in his heat race on August 28, Simpson wrapped up the series points title. Simpson appeared to be on his way to the win during the August 28 finale, when he and Ace Ihm, also a two-time series winner this season, got together at the front of the field. Heavy damage on Simpson’s machine ended his strong season-long run while Ihm’s hopes for victory ended in a barrel roll in turn two at the speedway. Brian Harris came away the victor in only his second appearance in series action this season. It was his first career win in the series.



Modifieds – Joey Schaefer earned his first series win of the season on August 1 at Independence and the fourth series win of his career. J.D. Auringer earned his first career series victory on August 28 and broke the bank in the process. Due to his perfect attendance at series races this season, Auringer pocketed $2,100 as he led the 20-lap finale in its entirety. By virtue of a second place showing in the finale, Ron Barker clinched the modified points championship.



Stock Cars – In the stock car division’s only series appearance at Independence this season, Tom Schmitt came away with an impressive victory over a hard-charging Damon Murty. The stock cars were originally scheduled to be a part of the July fair race at the speedway that was rained out.



B Modifieds – The B mods were a part of two series races in August. Joe Docekal won a close-fought battle with Tony Olson to win during the August 1 make-up event. Olson then closed out the season with a win of his own during the August 28 finale.





INDEE FAST FACTS

Weekly Racing

I.M.C.A. Late Models

*** Luke Goedert (9), Jeff Aikey (5), Curt Martin (5), Darren Ackerman (4), Darin Burco (4), Levi Benn (2), Tyler Bruening (2) and Rick Dralle (2) were the only drivers with multiple top-3 feature finishes.

*** Darren Ackerman finished in the top-10 in each of the division's 14 feature races.

*** 17 drivers led at least one lap of A-feature competition - Darren Ackerman, Jeff Aikey, Levi Benn, Joel Brasch, Tyler Bruening, Darin Burco, Rick Dralle, Luke Goedert, Dirk Hamilton, Drew Johnson, Greg Kastli, Curt Martin, Terry Neal, Jon Passick, Tysus Pattee, Travis Smock, Randy Wheeler.

*** Feature winners led 219 out of 351 total feature laps.

*** Darren Ackerman was the only driver to complete all 351 laps of A feature competition.

*** 5 drivers remained in the top-10 in the points standings every week of the season - Darren Ackerman, Darin Burco, Luke Goedert, Dale Hackwell Jr., Jon Passick.

*** The starting position to produce the best average feature finish - 8 (outside 4th row): Drivers starting in this position had an average feature finish of 7.21.

*** 31 drivers earned at least one hard charger point.

*** 17 different drivers earned at least one heat win and 27 drivers earned at least one top-3 finish in a heat race (37 total heats).

*** Dale Hackwell Jr. has qualified for the most consecutive feature events - 147 (every feature since he entered the division in 1998).



I.M.C.A. Modifieds

*** J.D. Auringer (8), Jerry Luloff (7), Troy Cordes (7), Vern Jackson (7), Max Corporon (3), Brett Ladehoff (3), Adam Bolin (2), Todd Conrad (2), Scott Hogan (2) and Adam Johnson (2) were the only drivers with multiple top-3 feature finishes.

*** 16 drivers led at least one lap of A-feature competition - J.D. Auringer, Adam Bolin, Todd Conrad, Troy Cordes, Max Corporon, George Cunha, Scott Hogan, Vern Jackson, Adam Johnson, Brett Ladehoff, Jerry Luloff, Rob Olson, Mel Saffran, Dain Sires, Jason Snyder and Ed Thomas.

*** Feature winners have led 184 out of 303 total feature laps.

*** J.D. Auringer completed the most laps of A feature competition – 302 out of 303 total laps.

*** 5 drivers remained in the top-10 in the points standings every week of the season - J.D. Auringer, Troy Cordes, Max Corporon, Vern Jackson, Jerry Luloff.

*** The starting position to produce the best average feature finish - 8 (outside 4th row): Drivers starting in this position had an average feature finish of 6.93.

*** 38 drivers earned at least one hard charger point.

*** 15 different drivers earned at least one heat win and 28 drivers earned at least one top-3 finish in a heat race (43 total heats).

*** Jerry Luloff has qualified for the most consecutive feature events - 160 (his last miss was on July 5, 1997).



I.M.C.A. Stock Cars

*** Brian Irvine (9), Jarod Weepie (8), Sean Johnson (7), Tony Schimmels (5), Justin Temeyer (5), Norman Chesmore (3), Steve Meyer (2) and Roger Samec (2) were the only drivers with multiple top-3 feature finishes.

*** 10 drivers led at least one lap of A-feature competition - Brian Irvine, Sean Johnson, Shane Manson, Jason Niedert, Tony Schimmels, Justin Temeyer, Richard Quail, Kevin Rose, Eric Weber and Jarod Weepie.

*** Feature winners have led 204 out of 310 total feature laps.

*** Jarod Weepie was the only driver to complete all 310 laps of feature competition.

*** 4 drivers remained in the top-10 in the points standings every week of the season - Brian Irvine, Steve Meyer, Tony Schimmels, Jarod Weepie.

*** The starting position to produce the best average feature finish - 3 (inside 2nd row): Drivers starting in this position had an average feature finish of 5.40.

*** 27 drivers earned at least one hard charger point.

*** 14 different drivers earned at least one heat win and 21 drivers earned at least one top-3 finish in a heat race (27 total heats).

*** Jarod Weepie has qualified for the most consecutive feature events - 99 (his last miss was on June 9, 2001).



I.M.C.A. Hobby Stocks

*** Josh Irvine (8), Vince Buchholz (6), Rod Grother (4), Jeremiah Wilson (4), Chris Luloff (3), Matt Brown (2), Justin Lichty (2), Bill Meyer (2), Quinton Miller (2), Wes Stanek (2) and Jamie Whitaker (2) and were the only drivers with multiple top-3 feature finishes.

*** 16 drivers led at least one lap of A-feature competition - Jim Ball, Vince Buchholz, Brandon Davis, Jeremy Floyd, Rod Grother, Josh Irvine, Justin Lichty, Chris Luloff, John Meyer, Travis Michels, Quinton Miller, Micheal Smith, Joe Sprague, Greg Sweerin, Dave Wheeler, Jeremiah Wilson.

*** Feature winners led 153 out of 222 total feature laps.

*** Josh Irvine completed the most laps of A feature competition – 209 out of 222 total laps.

*** 2 drivers remained in the top-10 in the points standings every week of the season - Rod Grother, Josh Irvine.

*** The starting position to produce the best average feature finish - 3 (inside 2nd row): Drivers starting in this position have an average feature finish of 5.60.

*** 35 drivers earned at least one hard charger point.

*** 17 different drivers earned at least one heat win and 27 drivers earned at least one top-3 finish in a heat race (37 total heats).

*** Josh Irvine has qualified for the most consecutive feature events - 25 (his last miss was on May 27, 2006).



B Modifieds

*** Joe Docekal (12), Josh Sherbon (7), Kyle Bentley (6), Tony Olson (6), Travis Brown (5) and Jim Buhlman (4) were the only drivers with multiple top-3 feature finishes.

*** 14 drivers led at least one lap of A-feature competition - John Bates, Kyle Bentley, Jim Buhlman, Craig Cordes, Joel Cox, Joe Docekal, Mary Handberg, Russell Hesse, Tony Olson, Marty Rouse, Josh Sherbon, Chris Snyder, Josh Steere, Alan Wessels.

*** Feature winners led 144 out of 225 total feature laps.

*** Tony Olson was the only driver to complete all 225 laps of feature competition.

*** 7 drivers remained in the top-10 in the points standings every week of the season - Kyle Bentley, Travis Brown, Jim Buhlman, Joe Docekal, Tony Olson, Marty Rouse, Alan Wessels.

*** The starting position to produce the best average finish - 10 (outside 5th row): Drivers starting in this position have an average feature finish of 4.73.

*** 31 drivers earned at least one hard charger point.

*** 13 different drivers have earned at least one heat win and 17 drivers earned at least one top-3 finish in a heat race (29 totals heats).

*** Travis Brown and Marty Rouse have qualified for the most consecutive feature events - 30 (the last miss for each was on August 20, 2005).



Stat Shakeup

*** Of the 74 features this season, 40 winners came from an inside row starting position and 34 came from the outside.

*** 128 drivers earned at least one top-10 feature finish this season.

*** A total of 291 races were run for a total of 3,043 laps.

*** 13 different drivers held his division’s points lead for at least one week.

*** There were 76 different heat race winners in 173 heat races this season.

*** Since the start of the 2000 season, there have been 131 different feature winners in the 529 feature races. On average, there is a “first-time” winner every 4.04 races.

*** Darren Ackerman (late models), Jarod Weepie (stock cars) and Tony Olson (B modifieds) were the only drivers to earn top-10 feature finishes in every feature event in their respective divisions this season.

*** 74 drivers spent at least one week in the top 10 of his/her division's points standings this season.

*** Only 4 of 15 modified feature winners came from an outside starting position. J.D. Auringer earned all four of those wins and they comprised all of his feature wins this year.

*** Jarod Weepie led all drivers at the speedway with 13 top-five finishes.

*** Joe Docekal led all drivers at the speedway with 12 top-3 finishes.

*** 30 drivers qualified for every feature event this season.

*** The deepest starting position to produce a feature winner this season was 15th (inside 8th row) – Josh Irvine, I.M.C.A. hobby stocks, May 5.

*** 73 drivers led at least one alp of A feature competition.





Climate Seal Insulation Indee Open Series

The following statistics include all 36 events in the history of the Indee Open Series, dating back to May 30, 2001.



Late Models

*** The late models have taken part in all 36 series events. A total of 16 different drivers have earned victories in the division. Those winners include:

Jeff Aikey, Waterloo (7 wins)

Curt Martin, Independence (7)

Terry Neal, Ely (4)

Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque (3)

Steve "Ace" Ihm, Hazel Green, Wis. (2)

Greg Kastli, Waterloo (2)

Chad Simpson, Mt. Vernon (2)

Darin Duffy, Hazleton (1)

Andy Eckrich, Iowa City (1)

Tommy Elston, Keokuk (1)

Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill. (1)

Bobby Hansen, Center Point (1)

Brian Harris, Davenport (1)

Kevin Kile, West Liberty (1)

Bobby Moyer, Dubuque (1)

Rob Toland, Hillsdale, Ill. (1)



*** Terry Neal currently leads all drivers with four consecutive top-10 finishes. Darin Duffy, Kevin Kile and Darrel DeFrance have each earned two straight top-10s.

*** Curt Martin is the career leader in top-3 finishes (15), top-5s (20) and top-10s (26).

*** 71 drivers have earned at least one top-10 finish in feature action, 45 drivers have earned at least one top-5 and 36 drivers have earned at least one top-3.



Modifieds

*** The modifieds have taken part in 31 series events. A total of 17 different drivers have earned victories in the division. Those winners include:

Kevin Pittman, Waterloo (5 wins)

Joey Schaefer, Waterloo (4)

Dan Bohr, Decorah (3)

Troy Cordes, Raymond (3)

Ron Barker, Dubuque (2)

Corey Dripps, Waterloo (2)

Mark Schulte, Delhi (2)

J.D. Auringer, Waterloo (1)

Mike Darnall, West Union (1)

Bob Dominacki, Bettendorf (1)

Darin Duffy, Hazleton (1)

Todd Hanson, Clear Lake (1)

Todd Ihde, Decorah (1)

Layne Meyer, West Union (1)

Jeff Morris, Long Grove (1)

Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn. (1)

Steve Wetter, Platteville, Wis. (1)





*** Ron Barker, Kevin Pittman and Mark Schulte currently lead all drivers with six consecutive top-10 finishes. J.D. Auringer and Jerry King have each earned five straight top-10s. Jeff Morris and Jerry Luloff have each earned two straight top-10s.

*** Kevin Pittman is the career leader in top-3 finishes (13), top-5s (17) and top-10s (23).

*** 80 drivers have earned at least one top-10 finish in feature action, 46 drivers have earned at least one top-5 and 31 drivers have earned at least one top-3.





CIRCLE TRACK TRIVIA

When considering each individual car, how many total laps were completed during the weekly Saturday racing program in A feature competition this season?



(Answers appear below the schedule of upcoming events.)


UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, October 6 – Indee Outlaw Special (sponsored by Coca-Cola and eCreative Group) –Late Models, Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, B Modifieds – Gates Open at 3 p.m., Hot Laps at 5, Racing at 5:30.

Saturday, November 10­ – 2007 Awards Banquet – Buchanan County Fairgrounds 4-H Building



TRIVIA ANSWER:

A total of 179 drivers completed at least one lap of A feature competition. When combining each of these drivers’ lap totals, a grand total of 21,345 laps were completed in A feature competition this season. When also considering hot laps, heat races and B features, it is estimated that around 50,000 individual laps were completed on the speedway in weekly racing alone in 2007. Coincidentally, 190 drivers competed at least once in weekly competition this season, meaning all but 11 drivers completed at least one green flag lap of A feature racing.