Kyle Olson beats cousin Tony for IMCA SportMod win at Independence

INDEPENDENCE — Throughout 2015 at Independence Motor Speedway — and, really, most places he went — Tony Olson was the man to beat in an IMCA Sport Mod. He found himself in Victory Lane at the 3/8-mile track in Independence more often than he didn't.

He continued that last week in the first racing action of the season. But on Saturday night, in the season points opener, it was a different Olson in Victory Lane.

Kyle Olson went to the high side shortly after the start of their 15-lap main event, took the lead on lap 3 and never let it go. He had to hold off Tony through a late restart, but the Cedar Rapids driver got his first win of the season — and at Indee.

'The car was just working tonight. This car came alive. Hopefully it's the start of a streak,' Kyle Olson said. 'I just went to the high side and it seemed to work. I knew it was a good place to go.

'This is really exciting for me. I've only ever won at Vinton. I've been racing 12 years, and this is my first win other than there. It's awesome.'

Team Olson certainly celebrated in the infield with the 1-2 finish, but the family rivalry was certainly in play as Tony congratulated Kyle.

Tony's prowess in the last season-plus in a Sport Mod, and more specifically at Independence, made the win satisfying for Kyle, knowing he beat one of the best. Throw in the fact that he beat his cousin? That was enough to put a big smile on Kyle's face.

'He's got his car hooked up and he dominated this track last year. It feels good knowing I beat one of the best Sport Mod drivers,' Kyle Olson said. 'We're a team, but it always feels good to beat him. He's tough competition, and it feels good to beat tough guys.'

For Tony, it was a lack of options that he felt kept him from getting to the lead. Spring moisture played havoc on Turns 1 and 2, with a sizable hole developing in the middle groove. The low lane wasn't quick enough, and Kyle was holding firm in the high lane.

Even on the late restart, Tony couldn't pull even. Kyle said once he got to the top and started clicking off laps, there was no second-guessing the strategy. Some racers overthink themselves in that spot, but Kyle said, 'I run my own race. If you start thinking too much, you start overdriving the car.'

Tony's feelings were mixed after the race. His family side was thrilled for his cousin, who doesn't have the same equipment or funding as many others. But his competitive side wasn't happy at all.

'It's really awesome to see Kyle win, especially when I can run right with him. He works his butt off, and he deserves it,' Tony Olson said. 'I don't want to get second to anyone, but I do love seeing him do well.'

Tony isn't the only person in the pit area with that line of thinking on Kyle, but the younger cousin doesn't think about it in those terms. He comes out to win regardless of what he or anyone else is in.

That said, he smiled all over again upon hearing the compliments from Tony. Kyle knows what he has in his car, but most importantly he knows what's between his ears and in his hands. Everything else is up for others to decide.

'I've had people tell me I'm one hell of a driver, and I feel like I'm a good driver,' Kyle Olson said. 'I do run on old tires. I had a little extra money this year, but mainly it's out of my pocket. The sponsors I have are great and have stuck with me year-in and year-out. That makes me able to race every week.

'But it's a good feeling to hear them say that.'

In other racing action, Cedar Rapids driver Patrick Flannagan won IMCA Modified, Waterloo's John Emerson won IMCA Late Model, Oelwein's Benji Irvine won IMCA Hobby Stock, Waterloo's Roger Ciesielski won IMCA Stock Car and Brandon driver Don Erger won Indee Cars.

INDEPENDENCE MOTOR SPEEDWAY RESULTS

IMCA MODIFIED

1. F7 Patrick Flannagan; 2. 20L Zach Less; 3. 10k Ronn Lauritzen; 4. 33d Scott Hogan; 5. 64 Vern Jackson

IMCA LATE MODEL

1. 87 John Emerson; 2. 53 Darren Ackerman; 3. 31 Tyler Droste; 4.1 Travis Smock; 5. 16 Tyler Bruening

IMCA SPORT MOD

1. K3 Kyle Olson; 2. T23 Tony Olson; 3. 3t Tyler Soppe; 4. 57r Ryan King; 5. 3r Danny Dvorak

IMCA STOCK CAR

1. 37c Roger Ciesielski; 2. 74c Cole Mather; 3. 15 Norman Chesmore; 4. 3 Jarod Weepie; 5. 18L Chris Luloff

IMCA HOBBY STOCK

1. 79 Benji Irvine; 2. 166 Justin Lichty; 3. 14c Leah Wroten; 4. 23j Justin Hanson; 5. 83w Matt White

INDEE CARS

1. 6 Don Erger; 2. 51 Cole McNeal; 3. 18 Jeff Davis; 4. 1 Kaden Reynolds; 5. 17w Matthew West

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