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Auringer victorious in Hogan Memorial Mid-Season Championships at Benton County Speedway
by Ryan Clark
VINTON, Iowa (June 17) - J.D. Auringer drove his way to what was probably the most memorable, and undoubtedly most profitable, victory of his career during the Hogan Memorial Mid-Season Championships at Benton County Speedway.
The 13th annual event, named in honor of Dick and Janet Hogan, the late parents of I.M.C.A. modified driver Scott Hogan, once again proved to be an exciting night of racing action on the 1/4-mile oval while paying tribute to the Hogans' numerous years of dedication to the sport.
Drivers in each of the six divisions competed for increased prize money during the special mid-season event as each feature was lined straight-up by total points.
In the I.M.C.A. modified division, points leader Auringer took full advantage of his pole position start. He assumed command at the drop of the green running the bottom groove of the speedway as fellow front row starter Troy Cordes gave chase.
Scott Hogan pursued the leaders running the high groove and worked his way into second on lap seven. Hogan continued his charge at the top of the track as Auringer remained glued to the bottom. Hogan reeled in the leader a short time leader as the two engaged in a side-by-side battle at the front of the pack.
Hogan briefly edged ahead on lap 10 before Auringer powered back into the lead on the next lap. Auringer went on to lead the remainder of the 25-lap event to score the memorable win ahead of Cordes and Hogan.
Combined with the regular winner's share, sponsored lap money and other incentives brought Auringer's earnings to just shy of $2,000 on the night. The victory also qualified him to be on the ballot for the All-Star Invitational Race to be held during this September's I.M.C.A. Super Nationals at Boone Speedway.
Mechanical problems in staging left Justin Temeyer unsure if he'd even be able to start the I.M.C.A. stock car feature. When it was all said and done, however, the veteran not only scored the victory, but earned a healthy payday in the process.
The top four drivers in each division's standings were given the opportunity to race for at least double the prize money if they could win their event after starting from the rear of the field. Temeyer, along with points leader Brian Irvine and Curtis Roster, elected to take their chances and start at the tail of the 20-lapper.
Norman Chesmore inherited the pole position to start the event and he took advantage when the green flag waved. Chesmore paced the field while Scooter Dulin challenged Jason DeShaw for second. Dulin secured the position and went to work on Chesmore after two laps.
While the leaders battled, Roster and Temeyer worked through traffic as mechanical problems sidelined Irvine early. Roster made his way into third after only five laps and Temeyer followed suit four laps later.
As the lead four drivers swapped positions and racing grooves, Kevin Rose entered the mix with a handful of laps remaining. Dulin briefly made his way into the lead running the high side as Chesmore worked low. On the 16th circuit, Roster slipped between the two leaders to force a three-wide battle out front.
Roster edged ahead on lap 17, but Dulin took control once more when the waving green was displayed. Running the bottom groove, Temeyer entered into a battle for the lead and emerged as the leader when the white flag was in the air. He held off Dulin by half of a car-length to score the exciting win. Chesmore, Rose and Roster completed the top five in a thrilling finish.
Along with the regular purse, added incentives brought Temeyer's winnings to $1,000.
Another multi-car battle kept fans on their feet in the 20-lap I.M.C.A. hobby stock feature. After all of the top four points earners elected to start the event at the rear, Nathan Ballard inherited the pole position start.
Ballard took the early lead, but was quickly challenged by Justin Stander. The lead pair ran side-by-side throughout much of the first half of the event with Stander taking control on laps five through seven.
Ballard made his way back into the top spot for good on the eighth circuit as he drove to his first win of the season. Stander finished second and Josh Irvine nosed out Rod Grother at the line for third.
Although he held only a one point lead entering the night, Tony Olson wowed the crowd when he elected to start the I.M.C.A. sportmod feature from the tail of the field. This gave second-running Danny Dvorak the pole starting position for the 20-lap event.
Dvorak took early advantage of the gift as he paced the field for the first two laps until Jim Buhlman worked the high groove into the lead on the third circuit. Dvorak remained glued to Buhlman's bumper until lap 14 when Dvorak miscued and spun in turn four. Contact from another car forced a premature end to Dvorak's run.
Following the restart, Buhlman took charge once more until a miscue of his own left his No. 00 sideways in turn four with only five laps remaining. From there, Kyle Bentley took advantage and led the remainder of the event to score the win ahead of Kurt Hogan. Olson raced through the field to cross the line in third.
Points leader Jena Barthelmes also tried her luck from the rear of the I.M.C.A. sport compact feature. As she raced through traffic from the back of the pack, Gary Peiffer went to work at the front of the field. Peiffer took charge on lap four and raced to the mid-season victory. Barthelmes made her way through the pack to score runner-up honors ahead of Brennen Chipp.
The team of Shane Mazur and Rob Miller were triumphant in the cruiser feature. They took the win ahead of Doug Steggall and Mitch Lewis.
RESULTS
I.M.C.A. MODIFIED
Feature - 1. 00 J.D. Auringer, Waterloo; 2. 71 Troy Cordes, Raymond; 3. 33D Scott Hogan, Vinton; 4. 18 Jerry Luloff, Independence; 5. 7 Todd Jensen, Waterloo; 6. 17 Brian Krall, Readlyn; 7. 01 Ed Thomas, Waterloo; 8. 14H Tom Hanson, Vinton; 9. 14 Randy Trefz, Vinton; 10. 7S Robbie Schmuecker, Vinton; 11. 25 Shawn Fisher, Garrison; 12. 6E Don Erger, Brandon; 13. 1RM Jeff Hogan, Vinton; 14. 11 Timm Jensen, Dunkerton; 15. 85 Johnathan Thimmesch, Aurora; 16. F7 Patrick Flannagan, Cedar Rapids; 17. 12T Ty Glass, Cedar Rapids; 18. 17B Brian Sondag, Vinton; 19. 111 Buster Pate, Hiawatha; 20. 3 Dan Kohls, Waterloo.
I.M.C.A. STOCK CAR
Feature - 1. 56T Justin Temeyer, Independence; 2. 3T Scooter Dulin, Cedar Rapids; 3. 15 Norman Chesmore, Quasqueton; 4. 22 Kevin Rose, Waterloo; 5. 8 Curtis Roster, Vinton; 6. 09M Brett Mather, Lamont; 7. 75 Ron Tharp, Vinton; 8. 17 Jason Niedert, Fairbank; 9. 21 Jason DeShaw, Hopkinton; 10. 31S Paul Shepherd, Marengo; 11. 4Q Richard Quail, Waterloo; 12. 26 Brian Irvine, Oelwein.
I.M.C.A. HOBBY STOCK
Feature - 1. 29 Nathan Ballard, Marengo; 2. 67 Justin Stander, Vinton; 3. 35 Josh Irvine, Oelwein; 4. 77 Rod Grother, Cedar Rapids; 5. 1S Greg Sweerin, Evansdale; 6. 22H Curt Hilmer, Dysart; 7. 47 Scott Pippert, Elberon; 8. 09 Brad Forbes, Waterloo; 9. 11 Al Sweerin, Waterloo; 10. 115 Nathan Sweerin, Waterloo; 11. 62G Adam Gebel, Dysart; 12. 8 Billy Koepke, Garrison; 13. 86H Steve Higham, Cedar Rapids; 14. C67 Ryan Hogan, Littleton; 15. 18 Chris Luloff, Independence.
I.M.C.A. SPORTMOD
Feature - 1. 35 Kyle Bentley, Fairbank; 2. MR09 Kurt Hogan, Vinton; 3. T23 Tony Olson, Cedar Rapids; 4. 3 James Kuhn, Urbana; 5. K3 Kyle Olson, Cedar Rapids; 6. 14 Shane Ebaugh, Evansdale; 7. 5 Bob Ebaugh, Raymond; 8. 00 Jim Buhlman, Cedar Falls; 9. 8 Brad Iverson, Grinnell; 10. 18 Doug Smith, Center Point; 11. 49 Justin Hempstead, Manchester; 12. 23 Dan Higdon, Vinton; 13. 45 Danny Dvorak, Vinton; 14. 2 Rob Coleman, Urbana; 15. 7T James Tompkins, Newhall; DNS 15B Troy Burkhart, Center Point.
I.M.C.A. SPORT COMPACT
Feature - 1. 36DD Gary Peiffer, Troy Mills; 2. 48J Jena Barthelmes, Marion; 3. 166 Brennen Chipp, Waterloo; 4. 3 Mike Mitchell, Fairfax; 5. 25 Doug Laughridge, Garrison; 6. 11 Brian Bries, Norway; 7. 03 Neil Nabholz, Waterloo; 8. 07 Joe Goodenbaur, Garrison; 9. 6 Randy Van De Vegte, Manchester; 10. 74 Jeremy Heim, Marion.
CRUISER
Feature - 1. 95 Shane Mazur/Rob Miller, Vinton; 2. 9-11 Doug Steggall/Mitch Lewis, Cedar Rapids; 3. 36DD Brian Bildstein/Adam Finger, Troy Mills; 4. M-00 Mike McDonald/George Lewis, Cedar Rapids; 5. 07 Jacob Keiser/Harley Schumacher, Marengo; 6. 37 John Kruse/Michael Kimm, Cedar Rapids.
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