Metcalf Wins 2015 Points Opener at Independence

The Independence Motor Speedway opened the 2015 weekly points season on May 2. It was a packed house that saw six exciting opening night features and two make-up main events.

Rory Metcalf grabbed the early lead in the Budweiser IMCA Late Model feature event. Darren Ackerman put himself right on Metcalf's back bumper. The duo would pull away from the field. On several occasions, Ackerman worked the nose of his #53 underneath Metcalf, but just could not complete the pass.

“I saw a black nose (of a car) to my left,” Metcalf said while standing in the brand new Budweiser Victory Lane. “But I just kept running my line hoping to keep him behind me.”

He did just that racing to the win. Ackerman was a close second. Curt Martin made two late race passes to finish third. Brian Hunter and Luke Pestka rounded out the late model top five.

Adam Johnson looked strong during the entire 20-lap Performance Bodies IMCA Modified A-Main leading every lap.

“Starting on the front row helped,” Johnson admitted. “But this car was fast tonight. We've struggled the past couple of years with this car, but I think we have finally figured something out with this thing.”

JD Auringer crossed the line in second. Troy Cordes, Scott Hogan, and Zach Less closed out the top five.

Justin Stander lead the first three laps in the Burco Sales IMCA Stock main event. Phil Holtz made the pass for the lead as the two crossed the line to complete lap four, and he never looked back. Despite a yellow late in the race that forcing the field to run an extra lap, Holtz put his #7H into the Budweiser Victory lane. Stander settled for second, and Jerod Weepie finished third.

The beginning of the Tenacity Graphics IMCA SportMod feature was plagued by a series of yellows to try and get rolling. After the field was able to finally complete lap one, a red flag waved when Jenae Gustin made hard contact with the backstretch retaining wall. Gustin was able to walk away but unable to continue.

Lucas Lundry climbed to the top of the score sheet once the race finally developed a rhythm. A yellow for debris flew on lap nine. Unfortunately for Lundry, the left rear spring fell out of his car, and by track rule, was not able to continue. That handed the lead over to Alex Zwanzinger. Zwanzinger would hold off all challengers for the win. Twelfth place starter Tony Olsen survived by worked his way through the field for a second place finish. Ryan King finished third.

The “Mad Hatter” Justin Wacha has been knocking on the door for a win at Indee the past few weeks, and he finally took the checkered flag and the win in the Big Daddy Chassis IMCA Hobby Stock division. Justin Lichty and Jerome Wilson followed Wacha across the line.

Brody Willett scored the win in the RCZ Enterprises Indee Car A-Main.

Zach Less scored the win the modified make-up feature from April 18, and Brody Willett scored a second feature on the dirt during the Indee Car make-up feature.

Next up at the Independence Motor Speedway will be another exciting night of weekly racing. Gates open at 4:00 PM, and hotlaps are slated for 6:30 PM. Learn more about the Independence Motor Speedway by logging on to their web site at RaceIndee.com.

WEEKLY RACE RESULTS: Top 5
INDEPENDENCE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
INDEPENDENCE, IA
MAY 2, 2015

BUDWEISER IMCA LATE MODELS: A-Main
1. Rory Metcalf, 2. Darren Ackerman, 3. Curt Martin, 4. Brian Hunter, 5. Luke Pestka, 6. Tyler Droste, 7. John Emerson, 8. Chris Snyder, 9. Sean Johnson, 10. Drew Johnson, 11. Bobby Hansen, 12. Russell Hesse, 13. Benn Seeman, 14. Greg Kastli, 15. Scotty Welsh, 16. Jon Passick.

PERFORMANCE BODIES IMCA MODIFIEDS: A-Main
1. Adam Johnson, 2. JD Auringer, 3. Troy Cordes, 4. Scott Hogan, 5. Zach Less, 6. Hunter Marriott, 7. Brian Irvine, 8. Brennen Chipp, 9. Patrick Flannigan, 10. Jason Snyder, 11. Ed Thomas, 12. Rod McDonald, 13. Jason Morehouse, 14. Terry Johnson, 15. Dennis Betzer, 16. Ben Metcalf, 17. Ronn Lauritzen, 18. Bryce Carey, 19. Vern Jackson.

BURCO SALES IMCA STOCK CARS: A-Main
1. Phil Holtz, 2. Justin Stander, 3. Jarod Weepie, 4. Roger Ciesielski, 5. Chris Luloff, 6. Scotty Pippert, 7. Scooter Dulin, 8. Russell Damme Jr., 9. Norman Chesmore, 10. Kevin Rose, 11. Mike Galli, 12. Jesse Brown, 13. Jason Hocken, 14. Austin Evens, 15. Rick Milks, 16. Cole Mather, 17. Cliff Gray.

BIG DADDY CHASSIS IMCA HOBBY STOCKS: A-Main
1. Justin Wacha, 2. Justin Lichty, 3. Jerome Wilson, 4. Jim Ball, 5. Marcus Wayne, 6. Tyler Ollendieck, 7. Brent Vanous, 8. Rodney Grother, 9. Jeremiah Wilson, 10. Seth Dulin, 11. Matt Lundry, 12. Neal Miller, 13. Nate Gibson, 14. Adam Petrezlka, 15. Shawn Kuennen, 16. Benji Irvine, 17. Vince Buchholz, 18. Kyle Dulin, 19. Randy Byerly.

TENACITY GRAPHICS IMCA SPORTMODS: A-Mai
1. Alex Zwanzinger, 2. Tony Olsen, 3. Ryan King, 4. Kip Siems, 5. Kyle Olsen, 6. Sean Vogt, 7. Kyle Bentley, 8. Jim Buhlman, 9. Scott Williams, 10. Creston Williams, 11. Johnny Williams, 12. Nate Smith, 13. Jim Ashenbrenner, 14. Lucas Lundry, 15. Kevin Hurst, 16. Colby Heishmann, 17. John Bates, 18. Jenae Gustin, 19. Chris Lewis, 20. Brian Hilbert, 21. Kevin Robinson.

RCZ ENTERPRISES INDEE CARS: A-Main
1. Brody Willett, 2. Jeff Davis, 3. Don Erger, 4. Brandon Maitland, 5. Matt Post, 6. Jamie Whitaker, 7. Buster Pate, 8. Cole McNeal, 9. Robby Decker, 10. Carson Less, 11. Trent Jochimson, 12. Tristan Cordes, 13. AJ Whitten, 14. Cole Suchow, 15. Kaden Reynolds.

(MAKE-UP FEATURE) PERFORMANCE BODIES IMCA MODIFIEDS: A-Main
1. Zach Less, 2. Troy Cordes, 3. Ronn Lauritzen, 4. Brian Irvine, 5. Hunter Marriott, 6. JD Auringer, 7. Patrick Flannigan, 8. Brennen Chipp, 9. Adam Johnson, 10. Scott Hogan, 11. Ben Metcalf, 12. Dennis Betzer, 13. Jason Morehouse, 14. Tyler Droste, 15. Ed Thomas, 16. Darin Duffy (NS), 17. Mike Greseth (NS), 18. Billy Vogel (NS), 19. Ryan Maitland (NS), 20. Austin Bishop (NS), 21. Tim McBride (NS).

(MAKE-UP FEATURE) RCZ ENTERPRISES INDEE CARS: A-Main
1. Brody Willett, 2 Jeff Davis, 3. Brandon Maitland, 4. Tristan Cordes, 5. Don Erger, 6. AJ Whitten, 7. Cole Suchow, 8. Buster Pate, 9. Eli Hershberger (NS), 10. Troy Soney (NS), 11. Kaden Reynolds (NS), 12. Russell Smith (NS).