Troy Cordes is points leader at 2 Eastern Iowa racetracks

INDEPENDENCE – Troy Cordes hasn’t won a feature in five tries this season at Independence Motor Speedway, yet ninth place (139 points) in the IMCA Modifieds class is closer to second place (162), than second-place Ronn Lauritzen is to Cordes (186).

“We just like going after wins, I’m not really point racing this year,” Cordes said. “It might seem like we are now, but we are going to miss a few nights. We’ll see what that gets us.”

Not only has it earned him first place at Indee, the Cedar Falls native who now resides in Dunkerton is also leading the Modified class at Benton County Speedway with three wins in four starts inside The Bullring.

“It’s a four-year-old car that just keeps getting better and better,” Cordes said of his current ride.

Cordes has been racing in various classes since 1996. That kind of longevity, mixed with success, leads to admiration and respect from fellow drivers. Even if Cordes isn’t looking for it.

“I’m kind of low-key,” said the father of two who also owns a used-car dealership in Waterloo. “I’m just a normal guy and try to mind to myself.”

Cordes and his two boys, Kolby and Tristan, like to stay active outside of racing as well and recently made a purchase that could start cutting into their track attendance.

“I bought a boat and we’re going to go fishing, I just can’t quite get myself away from (racing) yet,” Cordes said.

While he admits his years are numbered, there may be a switch in drivers before the family walks away from the sport altogether.

“If you get the kids involved it keeps them out of trouble,” Cordes said. “There are a lot of kids that go down the wrong path in life, but this takes up a lot of their time and I think it’s good for that.”

Cordes’ youngest son Kolby is 9 while Tristan just finished his sophomore year at Iowa State.

“As long as we can keep winning, we’ll keep coming,” Cordes said. “Once we lose that, it isn’t worth it to me to come and finish 10th place.”

That doesn’t mean he couldn’t groom one of his boys into the next speedy Cordes.

“My youngest wants to race and if we do that I’ll probably hang my hat up,” Cordes said. “It’ll be time.”

Until that time, Cordes can be found Saturday at Independence Motor Speedway with the gates open at 4:30 p.m. and racing at 6 with the Modifieds chasing a $1,000-to-win purse.

Sunday night, Benton County Speedway will welcome Cordes and their five regular classes to The Bullring along with Super Late Models on the high-banked quarter-mile. Pits are open at 3 p.m., grandstands at 4 and hot laps at 5:30 with racing to follow.