by Brian Neal
Donnellson, IA (Friday, April 27, 2018) – The saying “It’s Back” can bestly describe the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa after Friday nights action presented by Archie’s Auto Service out of West Point, Iowa. After adding dirt to the racing surface in the corners just weeks before the season opening event, the racing surface the first two weeks hasn’t been what the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in known for. But after many hours of hard work by Dave Sapp and the rest of the crew over the past two weeks, the smooth, fast surface is back!
The 12 lap Coors Light Hobby Stock feature took to the track first, with Brok Hopwood and Ricky Miller Jr. leading the field to green. Hopwood took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Aaron Martin and Miller Jr. Martin would look under Hopwood for the top spot over the next 3 laps, but Hopwood was able to hold him off. That was until lap 4, when Martin slipped under Hopwood to take the lead. Hopwood then followed in Martin’s tire tracks over the final 8 laps, as Martin went on to claim his first win of the season at the track. Hopwood was 2nd, with Miller Jr. 3rd.
Up next was the 14 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compact feature, with Mike Hornung Jr. and David Prim on the front row. But it was fourth place starter Barry Taft who quickly moved out front to lead lap 1 over Kimberly Abbott, who started 5th, and Josh Barnes, who started 6th. Abbott tried to work under Taft coming off turn 4 on lap 2, but Taft was able to hold her off to keep the lead. Over the next 10 laps Abbott followed in Taft’s tire tracks, but with 2 laps to go she tried to work under him off turn 4. But once again Taft held her off, and then went on to score his second win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Abbott settled for 2nd, Barnes was 3rd, Brandon Reu charged from 11th to finish in 4th, with Darin Weisinger Jr. rounding out the top 5.
Hunter Gainer and Austen Becerra led the field to the drop of the green in the 16 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA SportMod feature. But it was third place starter Austin Howes who edged out Becerra and Adam Birck, who started 9th, to grab the lead on lap 1. The lead for Howes lasted for one lap, as Becerra slipped past to take over the top spot on lap 2. The action was slowed for the first time on lap 5, when Brandyn Ryan clipped a tire in turn 1 and spun to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gainer got into Rick Barlow Jr. in turn 3 that resulted in Barlow Jr. spinning to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Becerra jump back out front, with Brandon Dale getting past Howes for the runner up spot. While Becerra paced the field out front, Dale, Howes and Birck battled for the runner up spot. Just as it looked like Becerra would be heading to the win, the caution appeared on lap 13 to set up a three lap shoot out. Bob Cowman spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Becerra moved back out front, with Dale and Daniel Fellows, who started 11th, glued to his back bumper. Becerra would hold on over the final laps to pick up his first win of the season at the track. Dale was 2nd, Howes over took Fellows to finish 3rd, Fellows was 4th, with Birck holding on for 5th.
Up next was the 16 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Jeremy Pundt and Ray Raker making up the front row. Pundt would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Jason Cook and Raker. Cook stayed close to Pundt and was waiting for him to make a mistake to get the lead away, when the action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 7. As Chad Krogmeier slowed in turn 4 after trying to stay off of John Oliver Jr., who got into the guardrail and cut a left rear tire down, to bring out the yellow. On the restart Pundt moved back out front, with Raker over taking Cook for the runner up spot. While Pundt paced the field out front, Raker was working to hold off Cook for second, who had Beau Taylor, who started 5th, challenging him for the third spot. With the battles going on behind him, Pundt would pull away over the final laps to claim his first win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Raker held off Cook at the line to finish 2nd, with Cook holding off Taylor for 3rd, Taylor was 4th, with Oliver Jr. recovering from his flat on lap 7 to come back up to finish 5th.
Mitch Boles and Dakota Simmons made up the front row for the 16 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature. On the drop of the green Bill Roberts Jr., Boles, and Dennis LaVeine went three wide for the lead, with Roberts Jr. emerging off turn 4 with the lead on lap 1. LaVeine’s run up front came to end on lap 1, as he slowed in turn 3 with a broken left front to bring out the yellow. Roberts Jr. grabbed the lead on the restart, with Simmons and Dean McGee, who started 6th, following. While Simmons, McGee, Boles and Jeff Waterman battled for second thru fifth, Roberts Jr. would pull away to claim his first win on the season at the track. Simmons held on for 2nd, McGee was 3rd, Boles was 4th, with Waterman coming home in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Steffes Late Models, with Chase Frank and Brandon Savage leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Savage took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Frank and Sam Halstead. One lap later, lap 2, Halstead and Tommy Elston, who started 6th, moved into second and third and went to work on Savage for the lead. But the action was slowed on lap 4, when a tire was clipped in turn 3 and pushed out onto the track to bring out the yellow. On the restart Savage jumped back out front, with Halstead holding off Elston for second. While Halstead and Elston battled for the runner up spot, Savage was able to put some distance between himself and that battle. Just as it looked like Savage would pull away to the win, the second caution of the event brought the field back to his back bumper on lap 15. As Frank spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. Savage once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Halstead and Elston close behind. Over the next couple of laps Halstead would look under Savage coming off the corners, with Savage holding him off each lap at the line to keep the lead. Then coming off turn 2 to come around to complete lap 19, Halstead was able to make the pass. But when Dayton Lynch spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow, this would hand the lead back to Savage for the restart. On the restart Savage moved back out front, with Halstead and Elston following. Despite a few challenges from Halstead over the final laps, Savage held on for his first win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Halstead held off Elston for 2nd, Elston was 3rd, Jay Johnson started 7th and finished 4th, with Todd Frank rounding out the top 5.
Coming up next Thursday, May 3rd at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway will be the first and only visit by the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models in 2018. Roberts Tire Center and Floyd’s E-Z Way Container Services, both out of Burlington, Iowa, brings you the nights action. Also on the card will be the Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars, Discount Tire & Service IMCA SportMods, Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts.
The Budweiser IMCA Modifieds will be racing for $1,000 to win, the Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars going for $750 to win, the Discount Tire & Service IMCA SportMods racing for $850 to win thanks to Keokuk Auto Credit, and the IMCA Sport Compacts going for $350 to win thanks to Keokuk Auto Credit. There is a $20 entry fee for the Modifieds, Stock Cars, and SportMods, with a $10 entry fee for the Sport Compacts. This will be a draw / redraw event, with IMCA national, regional, state and track points being awarded.
Gates will open at 5:30 PM, hot laps at 7 PM, and racing at 7:30 PM. Grandstand admission will be adults $20, seniors (60+) $18, students (11-17) $12, and kids 10 & under FREE!! Pit passes are $30, age 7-13 $20, ages 4-6 $10, and ages 3 & under $3.
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 or Mike Van Genderen at 641-521-0330.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Lee County Speedway, Donnellson, Iowa
Friday, April 27, 2018 – Archie’s Auto Service Night
Steffes Late Models
A-Feature: 1. Brandon Savage, Canton, MO; 2. Sam Halstead, New London, IA; 3. Tommy Elston, Keokuk, IA; 4. Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA; 5. Todd Frank, Montrose, IA; 6. Denny Woodworth, Mendon, IL;  7. Jeff Guengerich, Washington, IA; 8. Gunner Frank, Montrose, IA; 9. Dayton Lynch, Bloomfield, IA; 10. Chase Frank, Montrose, IA
Heat 1: 1. Tommy Elston; 2. Brandon Savage; 3. Todd Frank; 4. Chase Frank; 5. Dayton Lynch
Heat 2: 1. Sam Halstead; 2. Jay Johnson; 3. Denny Woodworth; 4. Jeff Guengerich; 5.  Gunner Frank (DQ)
Budweiser IMCA Modifieds
A-Feature: 1. Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 2. Dakota Simmons, Douds, IA; 3. Dean McGee, Galesburg, IL; 4. Mitch Boles, New London, IA; 5. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, IL; 6. Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA
Heat: 1. Mitch Boles; 2. Dennis LaVeine; 3. Dakota Simmons; 4. Bill Roberts Jr.; 5. Jeff Waterman; 6. Dean McGee
Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars
A-Feature: 1. Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 2. Ray Raker, Burlington, IA; 3. Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 4. Beau Taylor, Canton, MO; 5. John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 6. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 7. Michael Larsen, Quincy, IL; 8. Kevin Koontz, Memphis, MO
Heat: 1. Jason Cook; 2. Ray Raker; 3. John Oliver Jr.; 4. Jeremy Pundt; 5. Beau Taylor; 6. Chad Krogmeier; 7. Michael Larsen; 8.  Kevin Koontz (DNS)
Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Mods
A-Feature: 1. Austen Becerra, Bowen, IL; 2. Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 3. Austin Howes, Memphis, MO; 4. Daniel Fellows, Keokuk, IA; 5. Adam Birck, Canton, MO; 6. Rick Barlow Jr., Montrose, IA; 7. Dakota Sapp, Ottumwa, IA; 8. Brandyn Ryan, Coatsburg, IL; 9. Bob Cowman, Quincy, IL; 10. Hunter Gainer, Palmyra, MO; 11. Kyle Hamelton, Keokuk, IA
Heat 1: 1. Austin Howes; 2. Rick Barlow Jr.; 3. Brandyn Ryan; 4. Hunter Gainer; 5. Bob Cowman; 6. Daniel Fellows
Heat 2: 1. Austen Becerra; 2. Adam Birck; 3. Brandon Dale; 4. Dakota Sapp; 5. Kyle Hamelton
Coors Light Hobby Stocks
A-Feature: 1. Aaron Martin, Richland, IA; 2. Brok Hopwood, Ottumwa, IA; 3. Ricky Miller Jr., Gorin, MO
Heat: 1. Brok Hopwood; 2. Ricky Miller Jr.; 3. Aaron Martin (DQ)
Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts
A-Feature: 1. Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 2. Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 3. Josh Barnes, Keokuk, IA; 4. Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 5. Darin Weisinger Jr., Mendon, IL; 6. David Prim, Hamelton, IL; 7. Mike Hornung Jr., Keokuk, IA; 8. Aaron Berry, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 9. Robert Sturms, Burlington, IA; 10. Adam Christy, Ft. Madison, IA; 11. Mike Reu, Donnellson, IA; 12. Cody Bowman, Mt. Pleasant, IA
Heat 1: 1. Josh Barnes; 2. Darin Weisinger Jr.; 3. Mike Hornung Jr.; 4. Adam Christy; 5. Cody Bowman (DNS); 6. Brandon Reu (DQ)
Heat 2: 1. Barry Taft; 2. Kimberly Abbott; 3. David Prim; 4. Robert Sturms; 5. Aaron Berry; 6. Mike Reu (DQ)