By Ryan Clark
INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (Aug. 9) – Scott Pippert hasn’t raced at Independence Motor Speedway much this season, but he made his fourth appearance of the year pay off Saturday night.
Pippert topped a field of 17 entries to earn $500 in the Saturday Showcase for the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car division.
Outside front row starter Kevin Rose held the lead at the drop of the green in the 18-lapper. He pulled away from traffic while Pippert, who started eighth, worked through the pack. Pippert sat in third behind Rose and Roger Ciesielski when the caution flag waved on lap four.
When racing resumed, Pippert quickly made his way into second and promptly challenged Rose for the lead. The lead pair ran side-by side for numerous laps before Pippert inched ahead on the 11th circuit.
Rose worked back into contention and pulled alongside the leader following a lap 15 restart. Although Rose held the lead at the line as the white flag waved, Pippert powered back to the front to score his first Independence win in a Stock Car.
Troy Cordes has led only two laps in IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature action each of the last two weeks, but he’s made it a habit of finding the lead at just the right time.
For the second straight week, Cordes used a last lap pass to steal victory and extend his points lead.
Jenae Gustin also made a return trip to victory lane. The Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod driver raced to her seventh win of the season following a late-race pass on Lucas Lundry.
Three-wide racing at the front in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby stock feature kept fans entertained throughout that 15-lapper. Six drivers engaged in door-to-door action at the front of the pack, all within striking distance of the lead.
After the front six cars went three-wide, two rows deep for a couple of laps, Justin Wacha broke free to assume command. Brian Happel reeled in the leader and took control before the caution flag waved on the final lap, setting up a green, white, checkered finish.
On the restart, Happel held the point while points leader Benji Irvine pressured. The lead pair ran in close formation until contact from Irvine on the final lap got Happel sideways exiting turn four.
Irvine crossed the line first and Happel was able to regroup for second, however Irvine was disqualified for questionable driving. Happel was declared the winner, his first victory this season at the speedway.
John Emerson drove to victory in the 25-lap IMCA Late Model feature. He raced past Rory Metcalf to assume command just prior to a lap 10 caution.
On the restart, Emerson drove away from the pack to score the convincing victory, his third of the year.
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