by Brian Neal

Donnellson, IA (Friday, April 30, 2021) – It was finally a beautiful night for racing at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa on Friday, April 30th. And the fans were treated to night one of seven for the Iowa Corn Growers Association and Hinkle Auto Sales “Drive For 5” qualifying nights, presented by Ideal Ready Mix, Floyd’s Waste Systems, J.J. Nichting Company Case IH, Triple Seven Trucking, Woodworth Attorney at Law, Triple R Performance Engines, Old Barn Taxidermy, Mike Campbell’s Body Shop & Towing, Donnellson Tire & Service, KQ92, and Big Country 103.1.

The 15 lap AVIS Car Rentals IMCA Sport Compact feature was the first to take to the track, with Chevy Barnes and David Prim making up the front row. Barnes took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Luke Fraise and Dyllan Bonk. The lead for Barnes only lasted for one lap, as Fraise would get by to take the top spot on lap 2. But he would only lead one lap, as eighth place starter Brandon Reu grabbed the lead on lap 3. As Reu started to pull away from the field, Chuck Fullenkamp, who started 10th, was working his way towards the front. On lap 7 Fullenkamp would move into second, and then tried to chase down Reu for the lead. But without a caution to bunch the field up, Reu would go on to claim his second win in a row at the track. Fullenkamp was 2nd, Kimberly Abbott started 7th and took 3rd on the final lap, Fraise was 4th, with Bonk coming home in 5th.

Up next was the Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Late Model 25 lap “Drive For 5” qualifying feature, with Joe Callahan and Ben Seemann drawing the front row. Callahan used his draw to his advantage by jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Seemann and Matt Strassheim. While Seemann tried to stay in Callahan’s tire tracks, the rest of the field was racing all over the track for positions behind them. Callahan’s fast pace would put him into lapped traffic on lap 14, and this allowed Seemann to close in on him. But Callahan was able to maneuver the lapped traffic without any problems, and would pull away over the later part of the caution free race to score the $1,000 top prize. Seemann finished 2nd, Logan Duffy was 3rd, Tommy Elston was 4th, with Strassheim finishing 5th.

Brandon Lambert would inherit the pole for the 18 lap Roberts Tire Center IMCA Northern SportMod feature, after pole sitter Joe Bliven elected to start at the rear. Lambert took advantage by moving out front on lap 1 over Steven Berry and Nicholas Profeta. A few cautions within the first 4 laps allowed Lambert to hold the top spot. But Profeta would use the top of the track to overtake Lambert for the lead on lap 5. Profeat then paced the field out front, while Austen Becerra, who started 10th, was working his way towards the front. On lap 12 Becerra slid up in front of Profeta to grab the top spot. Then just after the lap was scored complete disaster struck Lambert, as he spun in turn 3 to bring out the caution. On the restart Barry Taft was pinched into the frontstretch wall, with John Reiner, Berry, and Lambert piling into the back of him. The end result ended with Reiner upside down to bring out the red. He would climb from his car okay. The following restart saw Becerra jump back out front, with twelveth place starter Tom Bowling Jr. and AJ Tournear close behind. Bowling Jr. challenged Becerra for the top spot over the final laps, but Becerra would hold him off to score his second win in a row at the track. Tournear was 3rd, Josh Holtman came from 20th to finish 4th, with Jim Gillenwater finishing 5th after starting in 9th.

Jeremy Pundt and Chris Wibbell led the field to green in the 16 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Pundt jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Wibbell and John Oliver Jr. Pundt’s lead only lasted for one lap, as Oliver Jr. got by for the top spot on lap 2. Oliver Jr. then held off last week’s feature winner Jason Cook, to claim his first win of the season at the Lee County Speedway. Wibbell, who slid back to 5th at one point, climbed his way back up to finish 3rd, Beau Taylor was 4th, with Pundt rounding out the top 5.

The final feature to take to the track was the 22 lap Hinkle Auto Sales “Drive For 5” IMCA Modified feature, presented by Sonny’s Super Market. Cayden Carter and Jeff Waterman drew the front row for the event, with Carter grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Ethan Braaksma and Waterman. A couple of cautions before lap 4 allowed eleventh place starter Michael Long to climb his way to 3rd. And on the restart of lap 5 Long would slide up in front of Carter for the top spot, but a red appeared for a medical emergency in the pits before the lap was scored complete. Which gave Carter the lead back for the following restart. Carter moved back out front on the restart, and would then start to pull away from the rest of the field. But lapped traffic would allow Braaksma to cut Carter’s 2.5 second lead down to less than a second by lap 20. However that is as close as he could get to Carter, as he held on to claim the $1,000 top prize. Long was 3rd, Dennis LaVeine was 4th, with Chris Zogg coming home in 5th.

Coming up next Friday, May 7th will be a regular points night, which will be presented by Buford Dozing & Excavating. In action will be the Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Late Models, Sonny’s Super Market IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars, Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMods, and AVIS Car Rentals IMCA Sport Compacts.

Gates open at 5:30 PM, Hot Laps at 7 PM, and Racing to follow. Grandstand admission will be Adults $10, Seniors (60+) $9, Veterans & Students (11-17) $5, and Kids 10 & under FREE! Pit passes will be $30, ages (7-13) $20, ages (4-6) $10, and ages (3 & under) $5.

For more information about the 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

Lee County Speedway, Donnellson, Iowa

Friday, April 30, 2021

Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Late Models

A-Feature: 1. 40-Joe Callahan, Dubuque, IA; 2. 60-Ben Seemann, Waterloo, IA; 3. 14-Logan Duffy, Independence, IA; 4. 45-Tommy Elston, Keokuk, IA; 5. 7B-Matt Strassheim, Morning Sun, IA; 6. 20-Dustin Griffin, Camp Point, IL; 7. 33-Nick Marolf, Moscow, IA; 8. 58-Dave Eckrich, Oxford, IA; 9. 15R-Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, IL; 10. 45DW-Dennis Woodworth, Mendon, IL; 11. 7A-Brian Harris, Davenport, IA; 12. 93-Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA; 13. 56W-Gary Webb, Blue Grass, IA; 14. 74-Ron Boyse, Kalona, IA; 15. 105-Kevin Peters, Monmouth, IL; 16. 11-Darin Weisinger Jr., Mendon, IL; 17. 22-Jill George, Cedar Falls, IA; 18. 15RX-Chris Richard, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 19. 07-Ray Raker, Danville, IA (DNS)

Heat 1: 1. 14-Logan Duffy; 2. 7A-Brian Harris; 3. 45-Tommy Elston; 4. 7B-Matt Strassheim; 5. 45DW-Dennis Woodworth; 6. 105-Kevin Peters; 7. 11-Darin Weisinger Jr.

Heat 2: 1. 40-Joe Callahan; 2. 93-Jay Johnson; 3. 60-Ben Seemann; 4. 56W-Gary Webb; 5. 15RX-Chris Richard; 6. 22-Jill George

Heat 3: 1. 58-Dave Eckrich; 2. 20-Dustin Griffin; 3. 33-Nick Marolf; 4. 15R-Mark Burgtorf; 5. 74-Ron Boyse; 6. 07-Ray Raker

Sonny’s Super Market IMCA Modifieds

A-Feature: 1. 10C-Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa, IA; 2. 111-Ethan Braaksma, Newton, IA; 3. 18L-Michael Long, Fowler, IL; 4. 71-Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 5. 9Z-Chris Zogg, New Liberty, IA; 6. 71W-Jeff Waterman, Quincy, IL; 7. 03B-Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, IL; 8. 127-Drew Janssen, Pella, IA; 9. 12D-Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 10. 5R-Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 11. 19J-Levi Smith, Donnellson, IA; 12. 81-Jesse Belez, Marengo, IA; 13. 87-Blake Woodruff, Knoxville, IL; 14. K1-Cody Bowman, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 15. 17A-Austin Howes, Memphis, MO; 16. 31A-Kory Meyer, Dixon, IA

Heat 1: 1. 03B-Mark Burgtorf; 2. 5R-Bill Roberts Jr.; 3. 71W-Jeff Waterman; 4. 17A-Austin Howes; 5. 127-Drew Janssen; 6. 18L-Michael Long; 7. 87-Blake Woodruff; 8. 12D-Brandon Dale

Heat 2: 1. 71-Dennis LaVeine; 2. 10C-Cayden Carter; 3. 9Z-Chris Zogg; 4. 111-Ethan Braaksma; 5. 31A-Kory Meyer; 6. 19J-Levi Smith; 7. 81-Jesse Belez; 8. K1-Cody Bowman

A-Feature: 1. 05JR-John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 2. 3D-Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 3. 52-Chris Wibbell, Dallas City, IL; 4. 122-Beau Taylor, Canton, MO; 5. 52J-Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 6. 12-Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 7. 06-Jerry Jansen, Plainville, IL; 8. 82-Peter Stodgel, Fowler, IL

Heat 1: 1. 05JR-John Oliver Jr.; 2. 3D-Jason Cook; 3. 52-Chris Wibbell; 4. 122-Beau Taylor; 5. 52J-Jeremy Pundt; 6. 12-Chad Krogmeier; 7. 06-Jerry Jansen; 8. 82-Peter Stodgel

A-Feature: 1. 22-Austen Becerra, Carthage, IL; 2. 14B-Tom Bowling Jr., Danville, IA; 3. 14AJ-AJ Tournear, Quincy, IL; 4. 5-Josh Holtman, Quincy, IL; 5. 10G-Jim Gillenwater, Keokuk, IA; 6. 20-Nicholas Profeta, Keokuk, IA; 7. 00-Matt Tucker, Lomax, IL; 8. 63G-Michael Goodwin, Quincy, IL; 9. 8C-Logan Cumby, Quincy, IL; 10. 20B-Joe Bliven, Quincy, IL; 11. 10D-Dakota Anderson, Basco, IL; 12. 24J-Jace Morrow, Memphis, MO; 13. 75R-Joe Roller, Morning Sun, IA; 14. 8-Tom Lathrop, Ottumwa, IA; 15. 14-Bob Cowman, Quincy, IL; 16. 57-Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 17. 113-John Renier, Ursa, IL; 18. 55R-Steven Berry, Ottumwa, IA; 19. 14L-Brandon Lambert, Carthage, IL; 20. 10C-Cole Gillenwater, Keokuk, IA; 21. 55-Robert Sturms, Burlington, IA; 22. 24R-Ryan Moore, Kahoka, MO; 23. 27-Rodger Dresden, Keokuk, IA (DNS); 24. 54-Quinton Shelton, Quincy, IL (DNS); 25. T17-Tom Rawlins, Kellogg, IA (DNS)

Heat 1: 1. 10G-Jim Gillenwater; 2. 14AJ-AJ Tournear; 3. 20B-Joe Bliven; 4. 75R-Joe Roller; 5. 8-Tom Lathrop; 6. 113-John Renier; 7. 55-Robert Sturms; 8. 5-Josh Holtman; 9. 54-Quinton Shelton (DNS)

Heat 2: 1. 22-Austen Becerra; 2. 8C-Logan Cumby; 3. 55R-Steven Berry; 4. 10D-Dakota Anderson; 5. 63G-Michael Goodwin; 6. 14-Bob Cowman; 7. 24J-Jace Morrow; 8. 24R-Ryan Moore

Heat 3: 1. 14B-Tom Bowling Jr.; 2. 20-Nicholas Profeta; 3. 57-Barry Taft; 4. 14L-Brandon Lambert; 5. 00-Matt Tucker; 6. 27-Rodger Dresden; 7. 10C-Cole Gillenwater

A-Feature: 1. 27-Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 2. 48-Chuck Fullenkamp, West Point, IA; 3. 71-Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 4. 9-Luke Fraise, Houghton, IA; 5. 2B-Dyllan Bonk, Golden, IL; 6. 11P-David Prim, Elvaston, IL; 7. 3R-Robert Sturms, Burlington, IA; 8. 13C-Chevy Barnes, Keokuk, IA; 9. 24A-Ashton Blain, Burlington, IA; 10. 7H-Michael Hornung, Keokuk, IA; 11. 77K-Kyle Hamelton, Keokuk, IA; 12. 746-Garrett Porter, Libertyville, IA; 13. 17-Wesley Talley, Monmouth, IL; 14. 18-Jared Heule, Keokuk, IA; 15. 13B-Josh Barnes, Keokuk, IA (DNS)

Heat 1: 1. 71-Kimberly Abbott; 2. 13C-Chevy Barnes; 3. 48-Chuck Fullenkamp; 4. 2B-Dyllan Bonk; 5. 9-Luke Fraise; 6. 24A-Ashton Blain; 7. 746-Garrett Porter; 8. 13B-Josh Barnes (DNS)

Heat 2: 1. 27-Brandon Reu; 2. 18-Jared Heule; 3. 11P-David Prim; 4. 3R-Robert Sturms; 5. 7H-Michael Hornung; 6. 17-Wesley Talley; 7. 77K-Kyle Hamelton