by Brian Neal

Donnellson, IA (Friday, June 9, 2017) – After two weeks of special events, the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa returned to regular weekly points racing on Friday, June 9, 2017. A nice crowd turned out on B&B Propane and KQ92 Classic Rock night to witness some great racing. At the end of the night four drivers, one of them went back-to-back, picked up their third win of the season, and another one their second win of the season at the track.

The first feature to take to the track was the 15 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts, with Ron Kibbe and Kenny Smith leading the field to green. Kibbe would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Daniel Fellows, who started 5th, and Brandon Lambert, who started 7th. Fellows, who was working the top of the track, went around Kibbe on lap 5 to take the top spot away. Then Fellows started to pull away from the field, as the battle for second went two and three wide behind him. Barry Taft, who started 8th, and Brandon Reu, who started 9th, swapped that runner up spot several time throughout laps 7 thru 10. Just when it looked like Fellows was heading for his first win of the season at the track, the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 14. Kimberly Abbott clipped a tire in turn 2 and spun to bring out the yellow, and set up a 2 lap overtime finish. On the restart Reu, Fellows, and Taft raced three wide off turn 2, with Taft emerging as the leader. Taft then held off a last lap challenge from Fellows to pick up his third win of the season at the track. Fellows settled for 2nd, Reu was 3rd, Lambert was 4th, with Darin Weisinger Jr rounding out the top 5.

Up next was the 18 lap Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Dean Kratzer and Corey Strothman on the front row. But it was third place starter Jason Cook who jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over John Oliver Jr. and Kratzer. Cook paced the field out front, while the battle for second heated up between Oliver Jr., Abe Huls, and Jeremy Pundt. The action up front was slowed for the first and only time on lap 7, as Scott Jordan got high coming off turn 4 and hit the wall to come to a stop and bringing out the yellow. On the restart Cook moved back out front, with Huls over taking Oliver Jr. for second. Huls, who was working the top of the track, used the momentum coming off turn 4 to complete lap 11 to grab the lead away from Cook. But then going into turn 1 Huls slowed and before he got going again he fell back to fifth, giving the lead back to Cook. With Cook working the bottom of the track, Pundt decided to try the middle groove to try and get the lead away from Cook on lap 15, as Jason See, who started 10th, worked his way up to make it a three car battle for the lead. Coming off turn 4 to take the white flag Pundt was able to use the momentum off the top to edge Cook at the line for the lead. But Cook came back on the bottom coming off turn 4 to edge Pundt for the win, which was his second of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Pundt settled for 2nd, See was 3rd, Huls was 4th, with Oliver Jr. coming home in 5th.

Matt Strassheim and Denny Woodworth drew the front row for the 20 lap Steffes UMP Pro Late Model feature, with Strassheim edging Woodworth at the line to lead lap 1. Just after the completion of lap 1 the first caution of the race slowed the action, as Derek Liles spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Strassheim jumped back out front, with Todd Frank over taking Woodworth for second. Frank, who was working the top of the track, went around Strassheim to take the top spot away on lap 3. Then going into turn 3 to complete lap 7 Frank went to the bottom, which allowed Woodworth to go to the top. Woodworth would use the momentum off the top of turn 4 to edge Frank out at the line for the lead. Just after the completion of lap 7 the second caution of the event appeared, as Gunner Frank slowed in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Woodworth moved back out front on the restart, with Sam Halstead, who started 6th, moving into second, and Tommy Elston, who started 8th, in third. Two laps later, lap 10, the third and final caution of the race came out, as Derek Sammons spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Woodworth jumped back out front, with Halstead and Elston close behind. Halstead stayed close to Woodowrth’s back bumper over the final 10 laps, but Woodworth would hold him off to score his second win in a row and third overall at the track. Halstead was 2nd, Elston was 3rd, Jeff Guengerich was 4th, with Brandon Savage finishing in 5th.

Up next was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with Dugan Thye and Dakota Simmons leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Thye used his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Simmons and Dennis LaVeine. The action was slowed for the first time just after the completion of lap 1, as James Raleigh spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Thye moved back out front, with LaVeine over taking Simmons for second. While most of the field worked the bottom of the track, Jeff Waterman, who started 7th, went to the top. Waterman would work himself into second on lap 8, and then used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to take the lead away from Thye on lap 9. While Waterman set the fast pace out front, Chris Zogg, who started 8th, used the middle and top of the track to work himself into the battle for second on lap 15. Just when it looked like Waterman was going to cruise to an easy win, the second caution brought the field back to his back bumper on lap 17. Shawn Millmier spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Once again Waterman jumped back out front on the restart, with Zogg and Simmons close behind. The final caution of the event appeared after the completion of lap 18, as Raleigh spun in turn 4 to bring out his second solo caution to end his night. Waterman jumped back out front on the restart, with Zogg looking under him for the lead. Despite a last lap challenge from Zogg, Waterman would hold on to win his third feature of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Zogg was 2nd, Simmons was 3rd, LaVeine was 4th, with Thye rounding out the top 5.

The final feature to take to the track was the 18 lap Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMod, with John Oliver Jr. and Brandon Dale making up the front row. But it was third place starter Jim Gillenwater, who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Oliver Jr. and Tony Dunker. Gillenwater then tried to hold off the field, when the first caution of the race appeared on lap 4 to slow the action. Blaine Webster would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dunker went through the middle coming off turn 2 to take over the top spot from Gillenwater, who had to battle Oliver Jr. and Vance Wilson for second. Dunker then started to pull away from the field, as Oliver Jr. and Wilson swapped the runner up spot over laps 8 thru 15. The field was brought back to Dunker’s back bumper on lap 15, as debris in turn 4 brought out the second and final caution. Once again Dunker grabbed the lead on the restart, with Wilson and Oliver Jr. close behind. Wilson followed Dunker over the final 3 laps, but wasn’t able to mount a move to get past Dunker. Who went on to claim his third win of the season at the track. Wilson was 2nd, Oliver Jr. was 3rd, Dale was 4th, with Webster recovering from his spin on lap 4 to come back up to finish in 5th.

Coming up next Friday, June 16, 2017 at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa will be another weekly racing night, being presented by Darkside Tint & Graphix and Driftwood 13. 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, Iowa

Friday, June 9, 2017 – B&B Propane and KQ92 Classic Rock Night

Steffes UMP Pro Late Models

A-Feature: 1.  Denny Woodworth, Mendon, IL; 2.  Sam Halstead, New London, IA; 3.  Tommy Elston, Keokuk, IA; 4.  Jeff Guengerich, Washington, IA; 5.  Brandon Savage, Canton, MO; 6.  Chase Frank, Montrose, IA; 7.  Derek Liles, Eldon, IA; 8.  Matt Strassheim, Yarmouth, IA; 9.  Derek Sammons, Luray, MO; 10. Todd Frank, Montrose, IA; 11. Gunner Frank, Montrose, IA

Heat 1: 1.  Denny Woodworth; 2.  Jeff Guengerich; 3.  Todd Frank; 4.  Brandon Savage; 5.  Derek Liles; 6.  Chase Frank

Heat 2: 1.  Sam Halstead; 2.  Matt Strassheim; 3.  Gunner Frank; 4.  Tommy Elston; 5.  Derek Sammons

Budweiser IMCA Modifieds

A-Feature: 1.  Jeff Waterman, Quincy, IL; 2.  Chris Zogg, New Liberty, IA; 3.  Dakota Simmons, Douds, IA; 4.  Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 5.  Dugan Thye, Burlington, IA; 6.  Jerad Fuller, Memphis, MO; 7.  Dean McGee, Galesburg, IL; 8.  Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 9.  Blake Woodruff, Galesburg, IL; 10. Shawn Millmier, Bloomfield, IA; 11. James Raleigh, Colchester, IL

Heat 1: 1.  Jeff Waterman; 2.  Dennis LaVeine; 3.  Jerad Fuller; 4.  Bill Roberts Jr.; 5.  Dugan Thye; 6.  James Raleigh

Heat 2: 1.  Chris Zogg; 2.  Blake Woodruff; 3.  Dean McGee; 4.  Dakota Simmons; 5.  Shawn Millmier

Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars

A-Feature: 1.  Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 2.  Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 3.  Jason See,  Albia, IA; 4.  Abe Huls, Carthage, IL; 5.  John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 6.  Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 7.  Chase Exlline, Centerville, IA; 8.  Dean Kratzer, Ft. Madison, IA; 9.  Corey Strothman, Mt. Union, IA; 10. Scott Jordan, Wapello, IA

Heat: 1.  Jason Cook; 2.  Corey Strothman; 3.  John Oliver Jr.; 4.  Jeremy Pundt; 5.  Dean Kratzer; 6.  Abe Huls; 7.  Chad Krogmeier; 8.  Scott Jordan; 9.  Chase Exlline; 10. Jason See

Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMods

A-Feature: 1.  Tony Dunker, Quincy, IL; 2.  Vance Wilson, Quincy, IL; 3.  John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 4.  Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 5.  Blaine Webster, Ottumwa, IA; 6.  Jim Gillenwater, Keokuk, IA; 7.  Bob Cowman, Quincy, IL; 8.  Tom Lathrop, Ottumwa, IA; 9.  Dave Kraus, Keokuk, IA; 10. Dakota Anderson, Quincy, IL

Heat: 1.  John Oliver Jr.; 2.  Jim Gillenwater; 3.  Tony Dunker; 4.  Vance Wilson; 5.  Brandon Dale; 6.  Blaine Webster; 7.  Dave Kraus; 8.  Bob Cowman; 9.  Tom Lathrop; 10. Dakota Anderson

Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts

A-Feature: 1.  Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 2.  Daniel Fellows, Keokuk, IA; 3.  Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 4.  Brandon Lambert, Carthage, IL; 5.  Darin Weisinger Jr., Mendon, IL; 6.  Mike Reu, Donnellson, IA; 7.  Kenny Smith, Donnellson, IA; 8.  David Prim, Hamelton, IL; 9.  Ron Kibbe, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 10. Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 11. Josh Barnes, Keokuk, IA; 12. Mike Hornung Jr., Keokuk, IA; 13. Travis DeMint, Warsaw, IL (DNS)

Heat 1: 1.  Daniel Fellows; 2.  Barry Taft; 3.  Brandon Lambert; 4.  Kenny Smith; 5.  Darin Weisinger Jr.; 6.  Mike Hornung Jr.; 7.  Travis DeMint (DNS)

Heat 2: 1.  Josh Barnes; 2.  Mike Reu; 3.  Brandon Reu; 4.  Ron Kibbe; 5.  Kimberly Abbott; 6.  David Prim