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Independence Motor Speedway’s - APRIL REVIEW.
Although poor weather forced the postponement and eventual cancellation of the annual car show and practice, the first two nights of weekly racing went on as scheduled. This season marked the first time since 2003 that the first two events on the race schedule were completed without the threat of rain.
During the off-season, over 70 loads of new clay were added to the racing surface, which provided for exciting action on the April 21 season opener.
Former track champion Joe Docekal made the season’s first trip to the winner’s circle in the B modified division. He followed that win with his second straight victory on April 28 to open the season with back-to-back wins. Along with his season championship win to end 2006, Docekal has won three straight B mod features.
I.M.C.A. hobby stock driver Micheal Smith made a trip to victory lane on opening night in his first-ever visit to the speedway. John Meyer picked up the win on April 28, scoring his third career win at the speedway.
Defending I.M.C.A. Super Nationals stock car champion Brian Irvine started 2007 where he left off in 2006 as he scored the win on opening night. The victory was his ninth in the division at the speedway. Combined with his 16 career hobby stock victories at the track, Irvine has made 25 trips to the winner’s circle in weekly competition on the 3/8-mile oval.
Jarod Weepie, the 2005 stock car track champion, was triumphant on April 28. It was the 86th consecutive stock car feature Weepie has made, dating back to June 16, 2001. He is also the leader in wins since 2000 among currently active drivers at the speedway. The win on April 28 was his 13th in weekly competition since the year 2000.
After spending the entire 2006 season in a battle atop the I.M.C.A. modified standings, J.D. Auringer positioned himself at the top of the heap once more with his opening night victory. It marked his third career sanctioned win at the speedway. Defending division champion Jerry Luloff won the April 28 modified feature in thrilling fashion with a last lap pass of Troy Cordes. Perhaps even more impressive, by qualifying for the April 28 feature, Luloff extended his track-high streak of qualifying for 145 consecutive features. Luloff’s ironman status dates back to July 11, 1997.
Although the April 21 program was a non-points night for the late model division, veteran Curt Martin showed the field the fast way around the oval to score the win. Prior to April 28, the last time Darin Burco made an appearance in weekly late model competition was May 18, 2002. He made his return to the speedway memorable as he picked up the opening night points victory.
INDEE FAST FACTS
*** Since the B Mods were introduced at the speedway in 2004, back-to-back winners have opened the season during three of those four seasons – Kurt Roose (2004), Brian Kunkle (2006), Joe Docekal (2007). Docekal and John Bates split victories to open the season in 2005.
*** Of the nine feature winners so far this season, Jerry Luloff has come from the deepest start – Inside row 6 on April 28. It was the first time since 2001 that a driver was victorious in the first two weeks of the season after starting from the fifth row or deeper.
*** In the 24 heat races through the first two weeks of the season, there have been 21 different winners.
*** Jerry Luloff (modifieds), Troy Cordes (modifieds), Joe Docekal (B modifieds) and Jim Buhlman (B modifieds) are the only drivers to score top-three finishes in both features through the first two weeks.
*** 64 different drivers have earned at least one top-10 feature finish through the first two weeks of the season.
*** Feature winners have led only 97 out of the 158 laps completed in the first nine features.
*** Out of 163 cars that have taken the green flag in a feature, 132 have taken the checkers.
*** 72 drivers have earned at least one hard charger point.
*** A total of 45 races have been run for a total of 441 laps.
*** Since the start of the 2000 season, there have been 117 different feature winners in the 454 feature races. On average, there is a “first-time” winner every 3.88 races.
CIRCLE TRACK TRIVIA
Dating back to last season, which driver currently has the longest streak for the most top-10 finishes? (Answer appears below schedule of upcoming events.)
SPOTLIGHT ON ...
Tyler Bruening, #16 I.M.C.A. Late Model
Hometown: Decorah
Years Raced: 2
Sponsors: Skyline Construction (Decorah and Knoxville, Iowa), Brooks Quarry (Independence), Skyline Ready-Mix (Pella, Ottumwa and Sully, Iowa), Grove Auto (Dubuque, Iowa)
Crewmembers: Greg Bruening, Jacob Bruening
Highlights of 2006: "Two feature wins, including 1st career win."
Goals for 2007: "Five feature wins, top 5 in points."
Significance of car number: 16 - "Father's old number. Also, my father was born on the 16th, his first-born was on the 16th and I was born on the 16th."
Take your pick ...
Ford, Chevy or Dodge? G.M.
1/4-mile, 3/8-mile or 1/2-mile? 3/8 and 1/2, the faster the better.
Heat races ... Go all out or save it for the feature? All out.
Dominate from a pole position start or side-by-side at the checkers? Side-by-side.
Chase for the Nextel Cup or "the old way?" The old way.
Feature wins or track championships? Feature wins.
Iowa, Iowa State or UNI? ISU
Deal Or No Deal or 1 vs. 100? N/A
Check out a new driver profile every Saturday night in the souvenir program on sale at the speedway!
UPCOMING EVENTS IN MAY
Wednesday, May 2 – Climate Seal Insulation Indee Open Series – Independence Motor Speedway – Late Models, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks – Gates Open at 4 p.m., Hot Laps at 6:30, Racing at 7.
Saturday, May 5 – Weekly Points Racing – Gates Open at 4 p.m., Hot Laps at 6, First Race at 6:30.
Saturday, May 12 – Weekly Points Racing – Gates Open at 4 p.m., Hot Laps at 6, First Race at 6:30.
Saturday, May 19 – Weekly Points Racing – Gates Open at 4 p.m., Hot Laps at 6, First Race at 6:30.
Tuesday, May 22 – Climate Seal Insulation Indee Open Series – Fayette County Raceway (West Union) – Late Models, Modifieds, Stock Cars, B Modifieds – Gates Open at 4 p.m., Hot Laps at 6:30, Racing at 7.
Saturday, May 26 – Weekly Points Racing – Gates Open at 4 p.m., Hot Laps at 6, First Race at 6:30.
TRIVIA ANSWER: J.D. Auringer. (Auringer finished in the top 10 of all 14 I.M.C.A. modified features in 2006. Through the first two weeks of the season his streak stands at 16.)
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