by Brian Neal
Donnellson, IA (Friday, August 18, 2017) – Mother nature tried her best to cancel the second and final trip of the season by the Shottenkirk.com Sprint Invaders at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa on Friday, August 18th, as a brief shower went through the area just after the gates were opened. But it wasn’t enough to call off the nights racing action brought to you by Midwest Performance & Power and KILJ Radio. When the final checkered flag was waved three drivers extended their winning streaks, two claimed multiple wins on the season, and another swept the night for his first win at the track in 2017.
The Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars was the first feature to take to the track, with Chad Krogmeier and Jeremy Pundt leading the field to green. Pundt would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Krogmeier and Jason Cook. While Pundt worked to hold off Cook for the top spot, Krogmeier and John Oliver Jr. raced side-by-side for the third spot right behind them. When Pundt drifted high in turn 4 on lap 4, Cook was able to slip under him to grab the lead away. Cook then started to pull away from the three car battle behind him for second, when he slowed down the front stretch on lap 8 to bring out the one and only caution. On the restart Oliver Jr. went three wide off the bottom of turn 2 to take over the top spot from Pundt and Krogmeier. Pundt would look under Oliver Jr. over the final two laps. But Oliver Jr. was able to hold him off to claim his second win in a row and sixth overall of the season at the track. Pundt settled for 2nd, Jason See, who scratched from the heat, started 7th and finished 3rd, Krogmeier was 4th, with Derek Kirkland rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with Dakota Simmons and Bill Roberts Jr. making up the front row for the event. Roberts Jr. used his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Simmons and Dennis LaVeine. Just as Roberts Jr. started to pull away from the two and three wide battles going on behind him, the first caution of the race slowed him on lap 10. James Raleigh spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Roberts Jr. moved back out front, with Jeff Waterman, who started 5th, over taking LaVeine for second. Waterman then looked under Roberts Jr. for the top spot on laps 13 and 14, but Roberts Jr. was able to hold him off at the line on each lap. Then coming off turn 2 to complete lap 15 Waterman was able to make the pass to grab the lead. Three laps later, lap 18, Raleigh spun in turn 1 to bring out his second solo caution of the race to end his night. On the restart Colton Prevo spun in turn 1 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Waterman jump back out front, with Roberts Jr. and first ever visitor Cody Bauman, who started 7th, close behind. Waterman would lead the final laps to score his sixth win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Cody Bauman used the momentum off the top of the track to edge out Roberts Jr. for 2nd, LaVeine was 4th, with Brock Bauman, also in his first ever visit to the track, coming home in 5th.
Josh Schneiderman and Harold Pohren led the field to green in the 25 lap Shottenkirk.com Sprint Invaders feature, with Schneiderman grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Ayrton Gennetten and Cody Wehrle. Just as Schneiderman started to put some distance between himself and the battles going on behind, the first caution of the race appeared on lap 4. Dustin Clark would spin in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Schneiderman moved back out front, with Gennetten and Wehrle following. Gennetten would follow in Schneiderman’s tire tracks over the next 6 laps, when they started to enter lapped traffic on lap 10. The lapped traffic allowed Gennetten to slip past Schneiderman for the top spot on lap 11. Only to have Schneiderman use the heavy lapped traffic to get back by Gennetten one lap later, lap 12. But Gennetten split two lapped cars on lap 13 to take the lead back from Schneiderman. The following lap, lap 14, Tim Moore spun in turn 4 to bring out the second caution of the race. On the restart Schneiderman slid up in front of Gennetten coming off turn 2 to grab the lead away. Disaster would strike four of the top seven running cars on lap 17, as Moore spun in front of the field in turn 1. Schneiderman, Gennetten, Wehrle and Jarrod Schneiderman were all collected to bring out the yellow. Jamie Ball, who started 6th, inherited the lead on the restart, with Paul Niehiser over taking Chris Martin, who started 11th, for the runner up spot. Just as Ball started to enter lapped traffic the third and final caution slowed the action, as Dave Getchell spun in turn 4 on lap 21 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Ball moved back out front, with Nienhiser and Martin close behind. Martin made the pass of Nienhiser for second on lap 23. But didn’t have enough time to chase down Ball, who went on to sweep the night by winning his heat, the dash, and the feature for his first win of the season at the track. Martin was 2nd, Nienhiser was 3rd, Jon Agan was 4th after starting in 7th, with Brayden Gaylord starting 8th and finishing in 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compact feature, with David Prim and Darin Weisinger Jr. making up the front row. But it was third place starter Josh Barnes who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Weisinger Jr. and Mike Reu, who started 6th. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 5, as debris in turn 2 brought out the yellow. On the restart Barnes jumped back out front, with Barry Taft, who started 8th, over taking Mike Reu for 2nd. While Barnes paced the field out front, Taft was working to hold off the challenges of Brandon Reu, who started 9th and worked himself into third on lap 8. Brandon Reu tried to work the bottom and the top to get by Taft over the final laps, But Taft was able to hold him off. Meanwhile Barnes would cruise to his second win in a row and fourth overall at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Taft won the battle for 2nd, Brandon Reu was 3rd, Mike Reu was 4th, Kimberly Abbott coming home in 5th.
Bobby Six and Jim Walker led the field to the drop of the green flag in the 18 lap Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMod feature, with Six grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Walker and Daniel Fellows. Just as Six started to pull away the first and only caution of the race came out on lap 4. Brandon Dale, who started 7th and was running 5th, spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Six moved back out front, with Austen Becerra, who started 8th, and Brandon Lennox, who started 9th, following close behind. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 9, Lennox was able to slip by Six to take over the top spot. While Lennox paced the field out front, Tony Dunker, who started 10th, worked his way into second by lap 12. With two laps to go Dunker worked the top of the track in turns 3 & 4 to close on Lennox’s back bumper. But Lennox would hold him off on the final lap to claim his second win in a row and fifth overall at the track. Dunker settled for 2nd, Dale recovered from his spin on lap 4 to come back up to finish in 3rd, Six was 4th, with Fellows rounding out the top 5.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 20 lap Steffes UMP Pro Late Models, with Gunner Frank and Jeff Guengerich drawing the front row. Frank took advantage of his front row starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Guengerich and Denny Woodworth. Then coming off turn 2 to complete lap 3 Woodworth was able to slip under Frank to take over the top spot. On lap 9 Sam Halstead worked the bottom of the track to work himself into second. But without a caution there was no catching Woodworth on this night, as he went on to score his sixth win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Halstead was 2nd, Guengerich was 3rd, Frank was 4th, with Chris Richard coming home in 5th.
Coming up next Friday, August 25th at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway will be Season Championship Night and $5 Fan Appreciation Night, being presented by Shottenkirk Parts Express. In action will be the Steffes UMP Pro Late Models, Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars, Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMods, and Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts. Also joining the action will be the 305 Sprint Cars, brought to you by Mohrfeld Electric. A regular point invert will be used for the Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods, and Sport Compacts, while the Late Models and 305 Sprint Cars will use a draw / redraw format to determine their line ups.
Gates will open at 5:30 PM, hot laps at 7 PM, and racing at 7:30 PM. Grandstand admission for adults, seniors (60+) and students (11-17) will only be $5, with 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 Pepsi 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, Iowa
Friday, August 18, 2017 – Midwest Performance & Power and KILJ Radio Night
Shottenkirk.com Sprint Invaders
A-Feature: 1. Jamie Ball, Knoxville, IA; 2. Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA; 3. Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL; 4. Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA; 5. Brayden Gaylord, Wever, IA; 6. John Schulz, West Burlington, IA; 7. Ben Wagoner, Emden, IL; 8. Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis, IA; 9. Harold Pohren, Lowell, IA; 10. Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA; 11. Daniel Bergquist, Burlington, IA; 12. Cody Wehrle, Burlington, IA; 13. John Greenwood, Woodward, IA; 14. Rob Weuve, Oakland Acres, IA; 15. Tanner Gebhart, Burlington, IA; 16. Andy Krieger, Burlington, IA; 17. Dave Getchell, Sperry, IA; 18. Damion Getchell, Sperry, IA; 19. Dustin Clark, Agency, IA; 20. Justin Buchholz, Davenport, IA; 21. Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA; 22. Ayrton Gennetten, Gravois Mills, MO; 23. Tim Moore, Rock Island, IL; 24. Mike Dapra, Gillette, WY
Heat 1: 1. Cody Wehrle; 2. Paul Nienhiser; 3. Jon Agan; 4. Tim Moore; 5. John Greenwood; 6. Dustin Clark; 7. Ben Wagoner; 8. Mike Dapra
Heat 2: 1. Jamie Ball; 2. Ayrton Gennetten; 3. Brayden Gaylord; 4. Chris Martin; 5. Dave Getchell; 6. Damion Getchell; 7. Andy Krieger; 8. Rob Weuve
Heat 3: 1. Josh Schneiderman; 2. Harold Pohren; 3. Jarrod Schneiderman; 4. John Schulz; 5. Ryan Jamison; 6. Daniel Bergquist; 7. Justin Buchholz; Tanner Gebhart (DNS)
Shake-up Dash: 1. Jamie Ball; 2. Josh Schneiderman; 3. Harold Pohren; 4. Ayrton Gennetten; 5. Paul Nienhiser; 6. Cody Wehrle
Steffes UMP Late Models
A-Feature: 1. Denny Woodworth, Mendon, IL; 2. Sam Halstead, New London, IA; 3. Jeff Guengerich, Washington, IA; 4. Gunner Frank, Montrose, IA; 5. Chris Richard, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 6. Derek Liles, Eldon, IA; 7. Chase Frank, Montrose, IA
Heat: 1. Denny Woodworth; 2. Gunner Frank; 3. Jeff Guengerich; 4. Sam Halstead; 5. Chris Richard; 6. Derek Liles; 7. Chase Frank
Budweiser IMCA Modifieds
A-Feature: 1. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, IL; 2. Cody Bauman, Eureka, IL; 3. Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 4. Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 5. Brock Bauman, Eureka, IL; 6. Jerad Fuller, Memphis, MO; 7. Dean McGee, Galesburg, IL; 8. Dakota Simmons, Douds, IA; 9. Colton Prevo, Bloomfield, IA; 10. James Raleigh, Colchester, IL; 11. David Pries, Medaryville, IN; 12. Dugan Thye, Burlington, IA (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. Bill Roberts Jr.; 2. Dennis LaVeine; 3. Jeff Waterman; 4. Cody Bauman; 5. Colton Prevo; 6. Dugan Thye (DNS)
Heat 2: 1. Brock Bauman; 2. Dean McGee; 3. Dakota Simmons; 4. James Raleigh; 5. David Pries; 6. Jerad Fuller
Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars
A-Feature: 1. John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 2. Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 3. Jason See, Albia, IA; 4. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 5. Derek Kirkland, Centerville, IA; 6. Chase Exlline, Centerville, IA; 7. Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA
Heat: 1. Jason Cook; 2. Chad Krogmeier; 3. John Oliver Jr.; 4. Jeremy Pundt; 5. Derek Kirkland; 6. Chase Exlline; 7. Jason See (DNS)
Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMods
A-Feature: 1. Brandon Lennox, New London, MO; 2. Tony Dunker, Quincy, IL; 3. Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 4. Bobby Six, Warsaw, IA; 5. Daniel Fellows, Keokuk, IA; 6. Jim Walker, Mystic, IA; 7. Jason Riegel, Eldon, IA; 8. Dean Kratzer, Ft. Madison, IA; 9. Brandyn Ryan, Coatsburg, IL; 10. Bob Cowman, Quincy, IL; 11. John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 12. Austen Becerra, Bowen, IL; 13. Kyle Hamelton, Keokuk, IA; 14. Ron Kibbe, Mt. Pleasant, IA (DNS); 15. Dave Kraus, Keokuk, IA (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. Austen Becerra; 2. Bobby Six; 3. Jim Walker; 4. Tony Dunker; 5. John Oliver Jr.; 6. Brandyn Ryan; 7. Dean Kratzer; 8. Dave Kraus (DNS)
Heat 2: 1. Brandon Lennox; 2. Brandon Dale; 3. Daniel Fellows; 4. Jason Riegel; 5. Bob Cowman; 6. Ron Kibbe; 7. Kyle Hamelton
Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts
A-Feature: 1. Josh Barnes, Keokuk, IA; 2. Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 3. Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 4. Mike Reu, Donnellson, IA; 5. Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 6. Brandon Lambert, Carthage, IL; 7. Travis DeMint, Warsaw, IL; 8. Darin Weisinger Jr., Mendon, IL; 9. David Prim, Hamelton, IL; 10. Jason Ash, Burlington, IA; 11. Mike Hornung Jr., Keokuk, IA
Heat 1: 1. Josh Barnes; 2. Kimberly Abbott; 3. David Prim; 4. Travis DeMint; 5. Brandon Reu; 6. Jason Ash
Heat 2: 1. Barry Taft; 2. Darin Weisinger Jr.; 3. Mike Reu; 4. Mike Hornung Jr.; 5. Brandon Lambert