Sports : Racer born the year Hogan Memorial began wins 19th annual event

Hogan Memorial: Crew members watch as Scott Hogan makes a turn during his Modified heat.

Scott Hogan's family celebrates as he moves from 16th to 3rd during the Modified feature.

The cars in the Modified feature parade around the track before the main Hogan Memorial race.

Scott Hogan prepares for his race to begin.

The drivers of the 19th annual Hogan Memorial Modified Feature.

Drivers signed IMCA flags before the main race.

Jolyne Hogan watches as Scott circles the track; she says she is nervous during every race.

Hogan's crew works during the half-way point of the 40-lap feature.

Crew members watch the main event from the infield.

This 20-something-year-old photo of Scott and Dick is atop the plaque honoring each year's winner.

Jerry Dedrick of Vinton was among the entries in the Modified feature race.

The drivers in the Hogan Memorial circled the track a few times before racing.

The trophy and a frisbee from the 2013 Hogan Memorial.

A driver who was born the year Dick Hogan died has won the 19th annual Hogan Memorial modified feature race.

Cayden Carter of Oskaloosa, age 18, surged to first place on the last of the race's 40 laps, finishing ahead of Richie Gustin, who had led most of the race. Scott Hogan finished third in the event that honors his late parents, Dick and Janet. Hogan has started the race in the 16th position and earned the Hard Charger award after advancing 13 places. See complete race results HERE.

The event

Dick Hogan was a dirt track racer himself when Scott was young. Then he became a part of Scott’s team when Scott began racing himself. Dick died of a heart attack while in Independence for a race in 1995. The first Hogan Memorial took place a few week’s after Dick’s death. Now, the event also honors Janet Hogan; Scott’s mother died in 2008.

For Vinton residents, the Hogan Memorial is a chance to help Scott and his family honor his late parents. Several businesses and friends of the family participate by sponsoring $50 prizes for each lap, and other cash awards for drivers.

The extra money, says Scott, is what motivates drivers who usually race at other tracks on Sunday to come to Vinton for the Hogan Memorial.

Racing, says Scott, is an expensive hobby, and the chance to race to win some cash to cover the expenses of car repair, engine rebuilding, fuel and tires attracts drivers.

Despite an audience perception that drivers hate each other, Scott says most are good friends with their competitors. The occasional post-race pit area feuds are because there is so much money involved in the sport, he said.

Moment of silence

The plaque listing all of the winners of the Modified feature race includes a photo of Scott and Dick Hogan from the early 1990s. Scott’s name is on that plaque four times; he won in 1995, 2005, 2006 and 2010.

Event organizer Dana Benning told the drivers that the 19th Hogan Memorial was the best ever. He spoke to the audience about the contributions that Dick and Janet Hogan made to racing, and led the crowd in a moment of silence. The drivers then got into their cars and made a few slow laps around the track before the race began. Drivers also autographed two IMCA flags; one went to the winner, the other to the Hogan family.

Family project

Scott’s sister, Terri, along with his wife, Jolyne, and her sisters, and all of their children, participated in the 2013 event as they do every year. They sold countless t-shirts, rode in the ‘pace car’ pick-up before each feature race, and spent countless hours organizing the event and lining up sponsors.

And, they cheered.

Standing in the back of that pickup, they kept their eyes on the 33D (D is for Drew, the Hogan’s son) car as it circled the track, celebrating with cheers each time Scott passed another competitor.

They cheered a lot during the 40-lap modified featured race, which is one of the longest races of the year for most of the drivers. Scott began in 16th place and slowly edged to 12th. He quickly gained a few more spots and spent several laps in 6th place before edging his way to third.

As she usually does, Jolyne stood in the center of the track, watching, cheering and taking photos with her smart phone.

“I get nervous every time,” she said.

While they were hoping for a victory, Scott and Jolyne said they were very happy with the third-place finish and the Hard Charger award.

"It was a great night," said Scott.