Hogan nabs IMCA Modified checkers at Benton County Speedway

VINTON, Iowa (June 21) – Although the 21^st annual Hogan Memorial isn’t scheduled until July 12, Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified driver Scott Hogan served up his own version of the event Sunday night at Benton County Speedway.

While the July 12 event is held in honor of the memory of his parents, Hogan delivered his first win of the season on Father’s Day, which also would have been his mother’s 78^th birthday.

Mike Burbridge built a big early lead in the 20-lap feature while Jerry Dedrick pursued and Hogan raced from a fourth row start. Hogan settled into the top three in time for a pair of restarts on laps eight and nine, however Burbridge powered away from the field each time racing resumed.

After action was slowed for caution a final time with three laps to go, Hogan went to work on the top groove and was able to pull even with the leader down the back stretch. He led the final two circuits to race to the memorable win ahead of Burbridge and Patrick Flannagan.

Jon Passick topped the second stop this season of the IMCA Late Model Sunday Series.

Passick led early until Paul Nagle swept into the lead on the eighth of 25 circuits. Nagle surged to a straightaway lead and appeared to have the race in-hand until engine problems sidelined him with two laps to go.

Passick inherited the point when racing resumed and held off a hard-charging Charlie McKenna to score the win. Sean Johnson finished third.

It was business as usual for drivers in three other weekly divisions.

Tony Olson raced to his fourth straight local win and fifth of the season in Vinton in the IMCA Northern SportMod division. Olson took the lead midway through that 16-lapper to drive to victory. Joey Schaefer and Curt Hilmer completed the top three.

After battling Shane Ebaugh and Scott Pippert, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car hot shoe Damon Murty pulled away to his fifth win of the season in that 18-lap event. Pippert made his way past Ebaugh for second.

Also picking up his fifth win of the season was Nathan Ballard in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock 15-lapper. Ballard worked beneath leader Matt Brown in the final set of turns as the field came to the checkers to steal the victory.