by Brian Neal

Donnellson, IA (Friday, April 26, 2019) – Mother nature still hasn’t got the word that it’s Spring outside, as another Friday night of cool temperatures greeted the fans and drivers. The inaugural event for the Iowa Sprint Car League featuring Wingless Sprint Cars was on tap at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. With Midwest Performance and Power helping to bring the action. Once the final checkered flag waved just after 10 PM, three drivers visited victory lane for the first time of the season at the track. While two other drivers scored their second wins of the season.

The first feature to take to the track was the 15 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compacts, with David Prim and Dylan Schantz leading the field to the green flag. On the drop of the green the field went three wide down the backstretch for the top spot, with Schantz emerging off turn 4 with the lead over Kimberly Abbott and Prim. The close action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 3, when Ricky Miller Jr., Aaron Berry and Ashton Blain collided in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Brandon Reu, who started 9th, shot out into the lead, with Barry Taft, who started 7th, following him into the runner up spot. While Reu worked to hold off Taft, Jason Ash would close in on the two with 5 laps to go to make it a three car battle up front. Despite several challenges from Taft over the final laps, Reu was able to hold on to claim his first win of the season at the track. Taft settled for 2nd, Ash was 3rd, Codey Phillips came from 10th to finish 4th, with Abbott crossing the line in 5th in a big puff of smoke.

Up next was the 18 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, and this race was not a disappointment. Chad Krogmeier and Beau Taylor brought the field to green, with Taylor edging out Jeremy Pundt at the line to lead lap 1. Taylor, who was up top, and Pundt, who was on the bottom, raced around the 3/8th’s mile track side-by-side, with Taylor inching out the lead at the strip each lap. That was until lap 7, when Pundt was credited with the lead. Taylor was able to edge Pundt out at the line on lap 9 to take the top spot back. But when Taylor drifted high coming out of turn 4 on lap 12, this would allow Pundt to take the lead back. Taylor tried to come back on the top over the final 6 laps, but Pundt would hold him off to pick up his second win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Taylor settled for 2nd, Krogmeier was 3rd, Jason Cook was 4th, with Jerry Jansen rounding out the top 5.

The 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature would follow the exciting IMCA Stock Car feature, and this race was just as exciting. Dugan Thye and Levi Smith made up the front row for the event, with Thye grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Bill Roberts Jr. and Smith. Roberts Jr. used the bottom of the track to grab the top spot on lap 2, as John Oliver Jr., who started 7th, used the top to make it a three car battle for the lead. The action was slowed for the first time on lap 3, as a cone was clipped onto the track in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Roberts Jr. jumped back out front, with Dakota Simmons and Oliver Jr. close behind. While Roberts Jr. and Simmons worked the bottom of the track, Oliver Jr. would work the top in the three car battle. While the top three raced for the top spot, Michael Long, who started 9th, and Austin Howes would use the top and bottom to make it a five car battle for the lead on lap 7. The action up front was slowed for the second time on the race on lap 13, when Chad Giberson spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Oliver Jr. used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to edge Roberts Jr. at the line to take over the top spot. But Roberts Jr. would come back on the bottom to edge out Oliver Jr. at the line to lead lap 15. One lap later, lap 16, the third and final caution of the race appeared, as Dalton McKenney, Kelly Buckallew and Mitch Boles collided in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Roberts Jr. jumped back out front on the restart, with Oliver Jr., Simmons, Long and Howes racing side-by-side behind him. Coming off turn 4 to take the white flag, Oliver Jr. used the momentum off the top to edge out Roberts Jr. at the line. The two would race thru turns 1 and 2 and down the backstretch side-by-side. But Oliver Jr. drifted a little high coming off turn 4 to get the checkered, this allowed Roberts Jr. to go under him for his first win of the season at the track. Oliver Jr. settled for a close 2nd, Simmons was 3rd, Howes was 4th, with Long rounding out the top 5.

Ron Kibbe and Brandon Lambert, who was moved to the front row when Kyle Hamelton elected to go to the rear, led the field to green in the 18 lap Roberts Tire Center SportMod feature. But it was sixth place starter Daniel Fellows who quickly shot to the front to lead lap 1 over Kibbe and Adam Birck. The field was slowed on lap 2 when Reed Wolfmeyer clipped a cone onto the track in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Three other cautions within the first 5 laps would slow the action. On the restart on lap 6 Austen Beccerra, who started 7th, slipped past Fellows to take over the top spot. One lap later, lap 7, the final caution of the race appeared, as Wolfmeyer lost a driveshaft in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Becerra would edge out Fellows at the line to keep the lead, as Bobby Six, who started 8th, moved into make it a three car battle up front. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 9, Fellows used the momentum off the top to take over the top spot. Fellows then held off Becerra and Six over the final laps to score his second win in a row at the track. Becerra was 2nd, Six was 3rd, Kibbe was 4th, with Brandon Dale coming from 13th to round out the top 5.

The 25 lap inaugural feature for the Iowa Sprint Car League Wingless Sprints was the final race to take to the track, with Wyatt Burks and Chris Parkinson making up the front row. But it was third place starter Katlynn Leer who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Burks and Parkinson. The lead for Leer only lasted for 1 lap, as Burks slipped past her to take over the top spot on lap 2. While Burks started to pull away from the field, Leer, Parkinson, and Riley Kreizel, who started 6th, battled for the runner up spot. Without a caution to bunch the field up, Burks would pull away to pick up the first ever Iowa Sprint Car League Wingless Sprint feature. Parkinson won the battle for 2nd, Kreizel cleared Leer on the final lap coming off turn 4 to get 3rd, Leer was 4th, with Justin Standridge coming home in 5th.

Coming up next week at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway will be Buford Dozing & Excavating Night. The Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars, Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMods, and Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compacts will continue their season long points battles. While the I-Smile Silver IMCA Late Models will kick off their 2019 points season. Also on the card is the Vintage Cars.

Gates 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, Veterans & Students (11-17) $5, and Kids 10 & under FREE! Pit passes will be $30, driver’s $20, ages (7-13) $15, ages (4-6) $10, and ages (3 & under $5).

For more information about the Pepsi Lee County Speedway you can visit their website at www.leecountyspeedway.com, like them on Facebook, or call Brian Gaylord at 319-371-6744.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Pepsi Lee County Speedway, Donnellson, Iowa

Friday, April 26, 2019 – Midwest Performance & Power Night

Iowa Sprint Car League

A-Feature: 1. Wyatt Burks, Topeka, KS; 2. Chris Parkinson, Gladstone, MO; 3. Riley Kreizel, Warsaw, MO; 4. Katlynn Leer, Moulton, IA; 5. Justin Standridge, Springfield, IL; 6. Glen Saville, Razorback, NSW; 7. Austin Archdale, Brimfield, IL; 8. Harold Pohren, New London, IA; 9. Doug Sylvester, Ottumwa, IA; 10. Mike Dapra, Knoxville, IA; 11. Chuck Graves, Chariton, IA; 12. Kendra Leer, Moulton, IA; 13. Kevin Tanner, Chariton, IA (DNS)

Heat 1: 1. Wyatt Burks; 2. Glen Saville; 3. Harold Pohren; 4. Kendra Leer; 5. Mike Dapra; 6. Doug Sylvester; 7. Kevin Tanner (DNS)

Heat 2: 1. Katlynn Leer; 2. Chris Parkinson; 3. Riley Kreizel; 4. Justin Standridge; 5. Austin Archdale; 6. Chuck Graves

Budweiser IMCA Modifieds

A-Feature: 1.  Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 2.  John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 3.  Dakota Simmons, Douds, IA; 4.  Austin Howes, Memphis, MO; 5.  Michael Long, Fowler, IL; 6.  Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 7.  Cody Bauman, Eureka, IL; 8.  Jerad Fuller, Memphis, MO; 9.  Dean McGee, Galesburg, IL; 10. Dalton McKenney, Clarksville, MO; 11. Levi Smith, Donnellson, IA; 12. Kelly Buckallew, Memphis, MO; 13. Chad Giberson, Richland, IA; 14. Mitch Boles, New London, IA; 15. Dugan Thye, Burlington, IA

Heat 1: 1.  John Oliver Jr.; 2.  Levi Smith; 3.  Dakota Simmons; 4.  Michael Long; 5.  Cody Bauman; 6.  Jerad Fuller; 7.  Kelly Buckallew; 8.  Mitch Boles

Heat 2: 1.  Bill Roberts Jr.; 2.  Austin Howes; 3.  Dugan Thye; 4.  Dennis LaVeine; 5.  Dean McGee; 6.  Dalton McKenney; 7.  Chad Giberson

Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars

A-Feature: 1.  Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 2.  Beau Taylor, Canton, MO; 3.  Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 4.  Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 5.  Jerry Jansen, Plainville, IL; 6.  Tyler Moore, Lockridge, IA; 7.  Peter Stodgel, Fowler, IL; 8.  Craig Bangert, Golden, IL; 9. Kyle Boyd, Ottumwa, IA (DNS)

Heat: 1.  Beau Taylor; 2.  Jason Cook; 3.  Jeremy Pundt; 4.  Craig Bangert; 5.  Chad Krogmeier; 6.  Jerry Jansen; 7.  Peter Stodgel; 8.  Tyler Moore; 9. Kyle Boyd (DNS)

Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMods

A-Feature: 1.  Daniel Fellows, Keokuk, IA; 2.  Austen Becerra, Bowen, IL; 3.  Bobby Six, Warsaw, IA; 4.  Ron Kibbe, Danville, IA; 5.  Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 6.  Patrick Profeta, Keokuk, IA; 7.  Tom Lathrop, Ottumwa, IA; 8.  Brandon Lambert, Carthage, IL; 9.  Josh Holtman, Quincy, IL; 10. Reed Wolfmeyer, Quincy, IL; 11. Brian Bergheger, Keokuk, IA; 12. Kyle Hamelton, Keokuk, IA; 13. Adam Birck, Canton, MO; 14. Jim Powell, Hannibal, MO (DNS)

Heat 1: 1.  Daniel Fellows; 2.  Bobby Six; 3.  Ron Kibbe; 4.  Patrick Profeta; 5.  Kyle Hamelton; 6.  Josh Holtman; 7.  Brandon Dale

Heat 2: 1.  Adam Birck; 2.  Austen Becerra; 3.  Reed Wolfmeyer; 4.  Tom Lathrop; 5.  Brandon Lambert; 6.  Brian Bergheger; 7.  Jim Powell

Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compacts

A-Feature: 1.  Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 2.  Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 3.  Jason Ash, Burlington, IA; 4.  Codey Phillips, Ottumwa, IA; 5.  Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 6.  Trent Orwig, Ottumwa, IA; 7.  Mike Hornung Jr., Keokuk, IA; 8.  Colton Keck, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 9.  Cody Bowman, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 10. Joe Mastin, Des Moines, IA; 11. David Prim, Elvaston, IL; 12. Dylan Schantz, Luray, MO; 13. Ricky Miller Jr., Gorin, MO; 14. Aaron Berry, Salem, IA; 15. Ashton Blain, Burlington, IA; 16. Josh Barnes, Keokuk, IA (DNS)

Heat 1: 1.  Jason Ash; 2.  Kimberly Abbott; 3.  Trent Orwig; 4.  Dylan Schantz; 5.  Codey Phillips; 6.  Joe Mastin; 7.  Aaron Berry; 8.  Josh Barnes

Heat 2: 1.  Barry Taft; 2.  Colton Keck; 3.  Cody Bowman; 4.  David Prim; 5.  Brandon Reu; 6.  Ricky Miller Jr.; 7.  Mike Hornung Jr.; 8.  Ashton Blain