by Brian Neal
Donnellson, IA (Friday, May 12, 2017) – Another beautiful Friday night meant another great night of racing at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. The night would kick off right at 7:30 PM, with the final checkered flag waving at 9:45 PM. This was helped with only 6 cautions in 93 laps of feature racing. At the end of the night three drivers would find victory lane for the first time of the season at the track, while two others picked up their second wins.
The 15 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compact feature was the first to take to the track, with Kenny Smith and Daniel Fellows leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Fellows would take advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Lambert and Barry Taft, who started 6th. Coming off turn 4 on lap 3 Taft would slip under Fellows to take over the top spot, with Kimberly Abbott, who started 7th moving into second. While Taft worked to hold off Abbott, on the bottom of the track, Lambert would use the top of the track. On lap 6 Lambert over took Abbott for second, and then went to work on Taft for the lead. Lambert was able to pull up beside Taft coming off turn 4 on lap 8, but then got into the guardrail in turn 1 and fell back to fourth. Abbott would move back into second and then challenged Taft over the final 7 laps for the top spot. But Taft was able to hold off all her challenges in a caution free race to pick up his second win of the season at the track. Abbott was 2nd, Lambert recovered to finish 3rd, Fellows was 4th, with Travis DeMint coming from 8th to finish 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Scott Jordan and Kevin Koontz making up the front row. But it was third place starter Jason Cook who jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Abe Huls, who started 5th, and Jordan. While Cook set a fast pace out front the battles behind him went two and three wide at times, as several drivers who started deep in the field were trying to work there way towards the front. Just as Cook was starting to pull away from the field the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 11, which helped to bring the field back to Cook’s back bumper. On the restart Cook moved back out front, with Huls and Jason See, who started 9th, close behind. While Huls and See worked the middle and bottom grooves of the track, John Oliver Jr., who started 10th, went to the top to climb into the runner up spot on lap 15. But Oliver Jr. would run out of laps to chase down Cook for the lead, who went on to claim his first win of the season at the track. Oliver Jr. settled for 2nd, Huls was 3rd, See was 4th, with Dustin Griffiths finishing 5th after starting in 12th.
Charles VanZandt and Jeff Guengerich drew the front row for the 20 lap Steffes UMP Pro Late Model feature, with Guengerich grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Denny Woodworth and VanZandt. Woodworth would look under Guengerich on laps 2 thru 5, as the the two raced side-by-side around the 3/8th’s mile. But Guengerich was able to use the momentum off the top of the track each lap to nip Woodworth at the line to hold the lead. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 6, as Derek Sammons spun into the guardrail in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Guengerich moved back out front, with Woodworth, and Sam Halstead close behind. One lap later, on lap 7, the second caution appeared, as debris in turn 4 slowed the field. Once again Guengerich jumped back out front on the restart, with Woodworth and Halstead following. Once again Woodworth would try to work under Gunegerich over the next 3 laps, when the final caution of the race slowed the battle on lap 10. Sammons would spin in turn 2 to bring out his second solo caution of the race to end his night.
Guengerich again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Woodworth and Halstead close behind. While Woodworth worked to hold off Halstead for the runner up spot, Guengerich was able to put a few cars lengths between them. But once Woodworth got back into his groove he was able to close back in on Guengerich coming to the white flag. But Guengerich was able to hold him off to pick up his first win of the season at the Lee County Speedway. Woodworth was 2nd, Halstead was 3rd, Tommy Elston started 10th and finished 4th, with Nick Marolf, in an IMCA restricted car, rounding out the top 10.
Up next was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with Larry McConnell and Mitch Boles leading the field to the drop of the green flag. But it was fourth place starter Dennis LaVeine who jumped out front on lap 1 over McConnell and Dakota Simmons. While LaVeine set the pace out front, Jeff Waterman, who started 7th, worked his way into second on lap 3. Then on lap 6 Waterman would slip under LaVeine coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. Waterman was setting such a torrid pace that there was no way of catching him with out a caution. And that caution never happened, as the race went caution free, which allowed Waterman to claim his second win of the season at the track. LaVeine was 2nd, Blake Woodruff was 3rd, Simmons was 4th, with Dean McGee finishing in 5th after starting in 10th.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 20 lap Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMods, with Dave Kraus and Brandyn Ryan on the front row. On the drop of the green flag it was Austen Becerra, who started third, grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Kraus and Brandon Dale. Kraus’ run up front would come to an end on lap 2, as he spun in turn 2 and collected John Oliver Jr. to bring out the first caution of the race. On the restart Becerra jumped back out front, with Tony Dunker, who started 8th, over taking Dale for second. Dunker would follow in Becerra’s tire tracks over the next 4 laps, when the second and final caution of the race slowed the action on lap 7. This time Ryan slowed to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Becerra once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Dunker and now Vance Wilson, who was driving Chuck Ancell’s number #28 and started 9th, following. Dunker tried to look under Becerra over the final 12 laps, but Becerra was able to hold him off to pick up his first win of the season at the track. Dunker was 2nd, Wilson was 3rd, Dan Keltner started 11th and finished 4th, with Dale coming home in 5th.
Coming up next Friday, May 19, 2017 at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa will be another weekly racing night presented by Lee County EMS. In action on the night will be the Steffes UMP Pro Late Models, Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars, Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMods, and the Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts.
Gates will open at 5:30 PM, hot laps at 7 PM, and racing at 7:30 PM. Grandstand admission will be adults $10, seniors (60+) $9, students (11-17) $5, and kids 10 & under FREE!! Pit passes are $25, age 7-13 $15, ages 4-6 $10, and ages 3 & under $3.
For more information about the Lee County Speedway you can visit their website page at www.leecountyspeedway.com, like them on Facebook, or call Mike Van Genderen at 641-521-0330.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Lee County Speedway, Donnellson, IA
Friday, May 12, 2017 – Regular Points Night
Steffes UMP Pro Late Models
A-Feature: 1. Jeff Guengerich, Washington, IA; 2. Denny Woodworth, Mendon, IL; 3. Sam Halstead, New London, IA; 4. Tommy Elston, Keokuk, IA; 5. Nick Marolf, Moscow, IA; 6. Brandon Savage, Canton, MO; 7. Todd Frank, Montrose, IA; 8. Gunner Frank, Montrose, IA; 9. Greg Kastli, Waterloo, IA; 10. Charles VanZandt, Camp Point, IL; 11. Laine VanZandt, Camp Point, IL; 12. Derek Sammons, Luray, MO; 13. Derek Liles, Eldon, IA (DNS); 14. Chase Frank, Montrose, IA (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. Nick Marolf; 2. Denny Woodworth; 3. Tommy Elston; 4. Jeff Guengerich; 5. Charles VanZandt; 6. Laine VanZandt; 7. Derek Sammons
Heat 2: 1. Sam Halstead; 2. Todd Frank; 3. Derek Liles; 4. Brandon Savage; 5. Gunner Frank; 6. Greg Kastli; 7. Chase Frank
Budweiser IMCA Modifieds
A-Feature: 1. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, IL; 2. Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 3. Blake Woodruff, Galesburg, IL; 4. Dakota Simmons, Douds, IA; 5. Dean McGee, Galesburg, IL; 6. Larry McConnell, Burlington, IA; 7. Jerad Fuller, Memphis, MO; 8. Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 9. Mitch Boles, New London, IA; 10. Kelly Buckallew, Memphis, MO; 11. Bobby Six, Warsaw, IA; 12. Jardin Fuller, Memphis, MO
Heat 1: 1. Jeff Waterman; 2. Dennis LaVeine; 3. Larry McConnell; 4. Mitch Boles; 5. Jerad Fuller; 6. Jardin Fuller
Heat 2: 1. Bill Roberts Jr.; 2. Dakota Simmons; 3. Bobby Six; 4. Blake Woodruff; 5. Dean McGee; 6. Kelly Buckallew
Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars
A-Feature: 1. Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 2. John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 3. Abe Huls, Carthage, IL; 4. Jason See, Albia, IA; 5. Dustin Griffiths, Hedrick, IA; 6. Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 7. Dean Kratzer, Ft. Madison, IA; 8. Corey Strothman, Mt. Union, IA; 9. Louis Lynch, Glenwood, MO; 10. Scott Jordan, Wapello, IA; 11. Kevin Koontz, Memphis, MO; 12. Chase Exlline, Centerville, IA; 13. Jake Powers, Plainville, IL
Heat 1: 1. John Oliver Jr.; 2. Abe Huls; 3. Dean Kratzer; 4. Jeremy Pundt; 5. Scott Jordan; 6. Jake Powers; 7. Chase Exlline
Heat 2: 1. Jason Cook; 2. Jason See; 3. Louis Lynch; 4. Corey Strothman; 5. Kevin Koontz; 6. Dustin Griffiths
Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMods
A-Feature: 1. Austen Becerra, Bowen, IL; 2. Tony Dunker, Quincy, IL; 3. Vance Wilson, Quincy, IL; 4. Dan Keltner, Grandview, IA; 5. Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 6. Blaine Webster, Ottumwa, IA; 7. Brandon Symmonds, Keokuk, IA; 8. Bob Cowman, Quincy, IL; 9. Kyle Hill, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 10. Dave Kraus, Keokuk, IA; 11. Brandyn Ryan, Coatsburg, IL; 12. John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 13. Tom Lathrop, Ottumwa, IA
Heat 1: 1. Austen Becerra; 2. Dave Kraus; 3. Brandon Dale; 4. Brandon Symmonds; 5. Vance Wilson; 6. Dan Keltner; 7. Tom Lathrop
Heat 2: 1. Tony Dunker; 2. John Oliver Jr.; 3. Kyle Hill; 4. Blaine Webster; 5. Brandyn Ryan; 6. Bob Cowman
Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts
A-Feature: 1. Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 2. Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 3. Brandon Lambert, Carthage, IL; 4. Daniel Fellows, Keokuk, IA; 5. Travis DeMint, Warsaw, IL; 6. Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 7. Alyssa Steele, Keokuk, IA; 8. Mike Reu, Donnellson, IA; 9. David Prim, Hamelton, IL; 10. Kenny Smith, Donnellson, IA; 11. Darin Weisinger Jr., Mendon, IL; 12. Billy Cain, Floris, IA; 13. Mike Hornung Jr., Keokuk, IA; 14. Josh Barnes, Keokuk, IA; 15. Jake Dietrich, Keokuk, IA (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. Daniel Fellows; 2. Mike Reu; 3. Travis DeMint; 4. Josh Barnes; 5. Kenny Smith; 6. Brandon Reu; 7. Darin Weisinger Jr.; 8. Billy Cain
Heat 2: 1. Barry Taft; 2. Brandon Lambert; 3. Kimberly Abbott; 4. David Prim; 5. Alyssa Steele; 6. Mike Hornung Jr.; 7. Jake Dietrich