by Brian Neal

Donnellson, IA (Friday, June 30, 2017) – The Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa kicked off the 4th of July weekend with another weekly racing night, which also honored the veterans. All current and past veterans holding a military i.d. were admitted into the grandstands for FREE! Then after the nights action was completed, a nice fireworks display was put on by J&M Displays and many other sponsors. Four drivers visited victory lane for repeat wins, while one driver scored their first win of the season at the track on a night being presented by Pilot Grove Savings Bank.

The first feature to take to the track was the 15 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts, with Mike Hornung Jr. and Kenny Smith leading the field to green. But it was fourth place starter Brandon Lambert who jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Kimberly Abbott, who started 7th, and Daniel Fellows, who started 9th. Josh Barnes, who was scheduled to start 5th, had to go to the rear of the field after loosing a engine in his primary car during his heat race and then went home to get the back-up car. Barnes would use the top of the track to quickly work himself into 4th by lap 1. While Lambert worked to hold off Abbott for the lead, Barnes was waiting for an opening to work himself into the lead. On lap 13 Abbott went low to try and get the lead away from Lambert, and this opened the door for Barnes to grab second from her. Then coming off turn 4 to get the white flag Barnes squeezed between the wall and Lambert on the high side of the track to edge Lambert out at the line to take over the top spot. Barnes then held off Lambert and Fellows on the final lap to claim his second win in a row at the track. Lambert held on for 2nd, Fellows was 3rd, Abbott was 4th, with Brandon Reu coming from 10th to finish in 5th.

Up next was the 18 lap Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMod feature, with Jason Riegel and Bob Cowman making up the front row. But just as the green flag was waved the first caution of the race appeared, as Brandon Lennox, who started 8th, spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Riegel grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Austen Becerra, who started 6th, and Dave Kraus. Becerra would use the top of the track to grab the top spot away from Riegel on lap 2, and then started to pull away from the field. But the second caution of the race came out on lap 5 for debris in turn 2 to slow Becerra down and bring the field back to his back bumper. On the restart Becerra moved back out front, but now had Logan Anderson, who started 10th, and Tony Dunker, who started 9th, close behind. Anderson and Dunker would battle for the runner up spot, which allowed Becerra to start to pull away from that battle. The field was brought back to Becerra’s back bumper on lap 10, when Riegel spun in turn 4 to bring out the final caution of the race. Becerra once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Dunker over taking Anderson for second. On the final lap Dunker went to the bottom of the track to try and slip under Becerra for the win. But Becerra was able to hold him off to pick up his third win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Dunker settled for 2nd, Anderson was 3rd, Vance Wilson started 7th and finished 4th, with Brandon Dale coming home in 5th.

Jeff Guengerich and Jay Johnson drew the front row for the 20 lap Steffes UMP Pro Late Model feature, with Guengerich grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Johnson and Denny Woodworth, who started 5th. While Guengerich paced the field out front, Johnson and Woodworth swapped the runner up spot back and forth on laps 3 and 4. Then on lap 5 the action up front was slowed, as Derek Liles, who was running 4th, spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Todd Frank and Johnson got tangled up coming off turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Guengerich jump back out front, with Woodworth and Sam Halstead, who started 7th, following. Woodworth drove it hard into turn 3 on the bottom and slid up in front of Guengerich coming off turn 4 to edge him out at the line on lap 7 to grab the lead away. While Woodworth started to pull away, Tommy Elston, who started 8th, worked himself into second on lap 12. Elston tried to cut into Woodworth’s lead over the final 8 laps, but without a caution there was no catching Woodworth. As he went on to win his fifth feature win of the season at the track. Elston was 2nd, Guengerich was 3rd, Halstead was 4th, with Gunner Frank finishing 5th after starting in 9th.

Up next was the 18 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Chad Krogmeier and Corey Strothman leading the field to the drop of the green flag. But just as the green was waved the caution light would come on, as Matt Gavin, who was making his debut in the Stock Car class, spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart third place starter Abe Huls jumped out front to lead lap 1 over Jason See, who started 5th, and Strothman. See would work the middle and top of the track to try and get the lead away from Huls. But Huls was able to hold him off each lap. While the battle was going on up front, John Oliver Jr., who started 6th, worked the top of the track to work himself into the battle late in the race. The laps would run out to mount a serious challenge on Huls for the lead, as Huls held on to pick up his first win of the season at the track. See held off Oliver Jr. for 2nd, Jeremy Pundt was 4th, with Strothman rounding out the top 5.

The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with Dugan Thye and Dennis LaVeine making up the front row. But it was third place starter Michael Long who went to the top of the track to grab the lead on lap 1 over LaVeine and Chris Zogg, who started 5th. The action up front was slowed for the first and only time on lap 3, when Bill Roberts Jr., who started 9th and was running 5th, spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Long jumped back out front, with Zogg over taking LaVeine for second. Without another caution there was no catching Long, who pull away to claim his third win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Zogg was 2nd, LaVeine was 3rd, Jeff Waterman was 4th, with Jerad Fuller coming home in 5th.

Coming up next Friday, July 7, 2017 at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa will be another weekly racing night, being held during the Lee County Fair. Which also happens to be Iowa’s oldest running county fair. 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!! Anybody holding a military I.D. will be admitted into the grandstands FREE of charge. 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 30, 2017 – Pilot Grove Savings Bank Night

Steffes UMP Pro Late Models

A-Feature: 1.  Denny Woodworth, Mendon, IL; 2.  Tommy Elston, Keokuk, IA; 3.  Jeff Guengerich, Washington, IA; 4. Sam Halstead, New London, IA; 5.  Gunner Frank, Montrose, IA; 6.  Clint Kirkham, Camden, IL; 7.  Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA; 8.  Matt Strassheim, Yarmouth, IA; 9.  Trent Grotz, Liberty, IL; 10. Derek Liles, Eldon, IA; 11. Todd Frank, Montrose, IA; 12. Chase Frank, Montrose, IA (DNS)

Heat 1: 1.  Matt Strassheim; 2.  Denny Woodworth; 3.  Tommy Elston; 4.  Jay Johnson; 5.  Gunner Frank; 6.  Chase Frank

Heat 2: 1.  Jeff Guengerich; 2.  Todd Frank; 3.  Sam Halstead; 4.  Derek Liles; 5.  Clint Kirkham; 6.  Trent Grotz

Budweiser IMCA Modifieds

A-Feature: 1.  Michael Long, Fowler, IL; 2.  Chris Zogg, New Liberty, IA; 3.  Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 4.  Jeff Waterman, Quincy, IL; 5.  Jerad Fuller, Memphis, MO; 6.  Dean McGee, Galesburg, IL; 7.  Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 8.  Dakota Simmons, Douds, IA; 9.  Jardin Fuller, Memphis, MO; 10. Dugan Thye, Burlington, IA

Heat: 1.  Michael Long; 2.  Jeff Waterman; 3.  Chris Zogg; 4.  Dugan Thye; 5.  Dennis LaVeine; 6.  Jardin Fuller; 7.  Jerad Fuller; 8.  Dakota Simmons; 9.  Bill Roberts Jr.; 10. Dean McGee

Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars

A-Feature: 1.  Abe Huls, Carthage, IL; 2.  Jason See, Albia, IA; 3.  John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 4.  Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 5.  Corey Strothman, Mt. Union, IA; 6.  Derrick Agee, Huntsville, MO; 7.  Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 8.  Louis Lynch, Glenwood, MO; 9.  Michael Peterson, Montezuma, IA; 10. Dean Kratzer, Ft. Madison, IA; 11. Chase Exlline, Centerville, IA; 12. Scott Jordan, Wapello, IA; 13. Matt Gavin, Monmouth, IL; 14. Kevin Koontz, Memphis, MO

Heat 1: 1.  Corey Strothman; 2.  Jeremy Pundt; 3.  John Oliver Jr.; 4.  Chad Krogmeier; 5.  Dean Kratzer; 6.  Matt Gavin; 7.  Scott Jordan

Heat 2: 1.  Abe Huls; 2.  Derrick Agee; 3.  Louis Lynch; 4.  Jason See; 5.  Michael Peterson; 6.  Chase Exlline; 7.  Kevin Koontz

Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMods

A-Feature: 1.  Austen Becerra, Bowen, IL; 2.  Tony Dunker, Quincy, IL; 3.  Logan Anderson, Eddyville, IA; 4.  Vance Wilson, Quincy, IL; 5.  Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 6.  Kyle Hill, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 7.  Brandon Lennox, New London, MO; 8.  Dave Kraus, Keokuk, IA; 9.  Blaine Webster, Ottumwa, IA; 10. Tanner Klingele, Quincy, IL; 11. Jim Walker, Mystic, IA; 12. Jeffrey DeLonjay, Quincy, IL; 13. Jason Riegel, Eldon, IA; 14. Bob Cowman, Quincy, IL; 15. Brandon Symmonds, Keokuk, IA; 16. John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 17. Brandyn Ryan, Coatsburg, IL; 18. Bobby Six, Warsaw, IA; 19. Dakota Anderson, Quincy, IL; 20. Michael Benjamin, Montrose, IA

Heat 1: 1.  Brandon Lennox; 2.  Kyle Hill; 3.  Austen Becerra; 4.  Dave Kraus; 5.  Jeffrey DeLonjay; 6.  Michael Benjamin; 7.  Dakota Anderson

Heat 2: 1.  Tony Dunker; 2.  Logan Anderson; 3.  Bobby Six; 4.  Jason Riegel; 5.  Blaine Webster; 6.  Brandon Symmonds; 7.  John Oliver Jr.

Heat 3: 1.  Brandon Dale; 2.  Vance Wilson; 3.  Tanner Klingele; 4.  Bob Cowman; 5.  Brandyn Ryan; 6.  Jim Walker (DQ)

Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts

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

Heat 1: 1.  Daniel Fellows; 2.  Kimberly Abbott; 3.  David Prim; 4.  Mike Hornung Jr.; 5.  Josh Barnes; 6.  Barry Taft

Heat 2: 1.  Brandon Reu; 2.  Brandon Lambert; 3.  Mike Reu; 4.  Darin Weisinger Jr.; 5.  Kenny Smith