by Brian Neal
Donnellson, IA (Saturday, May 7, 2022) – Heavy rains overnight Thursday, along with persistent light showers Friday morning, forced the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa to have to cancel the regularly scheduled events for Friday, May 6th. But when Saturday became available, and with the beautiful forecast, promoters Brian and Marcie Gaylord decided to move Friday’s show to Saturday night, May 7th. This would be the kick off for the 2022 Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Late Model “Drive For 5”, presented by Floyd’s Waste Systems, JJ Nichting Company Case IH Company, Ideal Ready Mix, Triple 777 Trucking, Woodworth Attorney at Law, KQ92, and Big Country 103.1. Plus the B&B Propane IMCA Modified “Drive For 5”, presented by Kohlmorgan Hauling, Golden Eagle Distributing Co – Budweiser dealer, Mike Campbell’s Body Shop & Towing, Donnellson Tire & Service, Hinkle Auto Sales, and JandJ Ag Auto & Truck. And the debut of Discount Tire & Services IMCA Northern SportMod “Drive For 3”, presented by TONUP Inc., Xpert Automotive & Sales, and Conrad Trucking Inc..

After fifteen qualifying races to set the starting fields for the six features, it was time to go feature racing. First up was the 15 lap AVIS Car Rental IMCA Sport Compacts, with Jason Ash and Larry Miller drawing the front row. Ash took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Reu and Miller. Reu stayed glued to Ash’s back bumper over the next several laps, as the duo entered lapped traffic on lap 7. That’s when Reu tried to work past Ash for the top spot. But the heavy lap traffic over the final laps allowed Ash to hold off Reu in a caution free race to pick up the win. Barry Taft came from 6th to finish 3rd, Luke Fraise started 7th and finished 4th, with Kimberly Abbott finishing 5th after starting in 8th.

Up next was the Iowa Corn Growers Association 25 lap IMCA Late Model “Drive For 5” feature, with Dustin Schram and Chuck Hanna leading the field to green. Schram edged out Hanna at the line to lead lap 1, only to have Hanna power past him to grab the top spot on lap 2. The first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 3, as Jeff Guengerich got into the turn 2 guardrail and slowed down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hanna jumped back out front, with Denny Woodworth over taking Schram for the runner up spot. While Hanna set a fast pace out front, the battle behind him was a good one between Woodworth, Schram, and Tommy Elston, who started 9th. Elston would use lap traffic to move into the second spot on lap 17. But without a caution to bunch the field up, there was no catching Hanna. As he went on to claim the win, worth $1,000. Schram got back by Woodworth late to finish 3rd, with Jay Johnson completing the top 5.

Darin Ronner and Tucker Richardson drew the front row for the 10 lap Mini Hauler Truck feature, with Richardson moving out front on lap 1 over Ronner and Don Wood. Richardson had a fast truck on this night, as he cruised to an easy win. Ronner was 2nd, Wood was 3rd, Tim Wagner was 4th, with Sheldon Brockert rounding out the top 5.

The 18 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature took to the track next, with Jason Cook and Jason See making up the front row.Cook and See raced side-by-side around the 3/8th’s mile track for the first three laps, with Cook being credited with leading laps 1 & 2. But See used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to grab the top spot on lap 3. After the lap was scored complete the first caution of the race appeared for debris in turn 2. On the restart Jeremy Pundt, who was running fifth, got sideways in turn 2, which caused Beau Taylor, Shane Richardson, and Robert Thompson to pile into him. The contact caused Pundt to roll, which brought out the red. Everyone climbed from their cars okay. The following restart saw See jump back out front, with Cook and David Brandies close behind. Brandies would slide up in front of See on lap 5 to take over the top spot, leaving See to battle Cook for the runner up spot. With all eyes on the battle out front, Damon Murty, who started 12th, was working his way towards the front. On lap 9, Murty was able to edge out Brandies at the line to take over the lead. The action was slowed for the final time on lap 13, when Corey Strothman spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Murty jumped back out front, with Brandies having to work to hold off eleventh starter Michael Jaennette for the second spot. With Brandies and Jaennette racing side-by-side for the runner up spot, this allowed Murty to go on to claim the $1,000 victory. Jaennette edged out Brandies on the final lap to finish 2nd, See was 4th, with Derrick Agee coming from 10th to round out the top 5.

Austen Becerra and Jardin Fuller led the field to green in the 22 lap B&B Propane IMCA Modified “Drive for 5” feature, with Becerra taking advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Fuller and Dennis LaVeine. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 4, when Jadin Fuller spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Becerra moved back out front, while Daniel Fellows, who started 6th, and Bill Roberts Jr. took advantage of LaVeine’s bobble to take over second and third. By the halfway point, seventh place starter Mark Burgtorf joined the battle for the runner up spot, as Becerra was pulling away. With 5 laps to go Burgtorf climbed into the runner up spot, but there weren’t enough laps left to track down Becerra. Who went on to score the victory, worth $1,000. Fellows was 3rd, LaVeine was 4th, with Roberts Jr. completing the top 5.

The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Discount Tire & Services IMCA Northern SportMods “Drive For 3” feature, with Dylan VanWyk and Adam Birck drawing the front row. VanWyk used his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Birck and AJ Tournear. The fast pace that VanWyk was setting would put him into lap traffic by lap 6, which left Birck to battle Logan Anderson, who started 5th, and Brayton Carter, who started 7th, for second. Just when it looked like the race would go green to checkered, the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 18. As Tournear spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart VanWyk moved back out front, with Carter and Anderson trying to stay close. But VanWyk was too strong on this night, as he went on to score the $1,000 victory. Carter was 2nd, Anderson was 3rd, Wyett passed 8 cars from his 12th place starting spot to finish 4th, with Austin Schrage coming home in 5th.

Coming up next Friday, May 13th will be Darkside Tint & Graphix season points opener. On the card 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 Northern SportMods, AVIS Car Rentals IMCA Sport Compacts, and American Iron Racing Series (A.I.R.S.) Cars. All classes will be draw / redraw.

Gates open at 5:30 PM, Hot Laps at 7 PM, and Racing to follow. Grandstand admission will be Adults $10, Seniors $9, Veterans and Students (11-17) $5, with 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
Saturday, May 7, 2022 – Golden Eagle Distributing / Hinkle Auto Sales / Conrad Trucking “Drive For 5/3” Qualifying Night

Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Late Models

A-Feature: 1. 65-Chuck Hanna, Port Byron, IL; 2. 54-Tommy Elston, Keokuk, IA; 3. 92-Dustin Schram, Sterling, IL; 4. 45DW-Dennis Woodworth, Mendon, IL; 5. 93-Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA; 6. 01-CJ Horn, Cedar Rapids, IA; 7. 11-Darin Weisinger Jr., Mendon, IL; 8. 52J-Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 9. 07-Ray Raker, Danville, IA; 10. 87-Blake Woodruff, Knoxville, IL; 11. 84-Sam Halstead, New London, IA; 12. 39-Ed Hollenbeck, Burlington, IA; 13. 15R-Jeff Guengerich, Washington, IA; 14. 33-Nick Marolf, Moscow, IA

Heat 1: 1. 11-Darin Weisinger Jr.; 2. 15R-Jeff Guengerich; 3. 45DW-Dennis Woodworth; 4. 01-CJ Horn; 5. 92-Dustin Schram; 6. 87-Blake Woodruff; 7. 07-Ray Raker

Heat 2: 1. 54-Tommy Elston; 2. 65-Chuck Hanna; 3. 93-Jay Johnson; 4. 84-Sam Halstead; 5. 52J-Jeremy Pundt; 6. 39-Ed Hollenbeck; 7. 33-Nick Marolf

B&B Propane IMCA Modifieds

A-Feature: 1. 22-Austen Becerra, Carthage, IL; 2. 03B-Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, IL; 3. 11-Daniel Fellows, Keokuk, IA; 4. 71-Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 5. 5R-Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 6. 7-Blaine Webster, Ottumwa, IA; 7. 33F-Jardin Fuller, Memphis, MO; 8. 26J-Jadin Fuller, Memphis, MO; 9. K1-Cody Bowman, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 10. 99X-Dallon Murty, Chelsea, IA

Heat 1: 1. 11-Daniel Fellows; 2. 22-Austen Becerra; 3. 26J-Jadin Fuller; 4. K1-Cody Bowman; 5. 99X-Dallon Murty

Heat 2: 1. 33F-Jardin Fuller; 2. 03B-Mark Burgtorf; 3. 5R-Bill Roberts Jr.; 4. 71-Dennis LaVeine; 5. 7-Blaine Webster

A-Feature: 1. 99D-Damon Murty, Chelsea, IA; 2. 93-Michael Jaennette, Kellogg, IA; 3. 71-David Brandies, Wilton, IA; 4. 79S-Jason See, Albia, IA; 5. 14-Derrick Agee, Huntsville, MO; 6. C4-Corey Strothman, Mt. Union, IA; 7. 06-Jerry Jansen, Plainville, IL; 8. 12-Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 9. 71L-Louis Lynch, Glenwood, MO; 10. 3T-Robert Thompson, Colchester, IL; 11. 82-Peter Stodgel, Fowler, IL; 12. 3D-Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 13. 30C-Abe Huls, Carthage, IL; 14. 52-Chris Wibbell, Dallas City, IL; 15. 35G-Eric Glass, Memphis, MO; 16. 52J-Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 17. 2T-Beau Taylor, Canton, MO; 18. IB25-Shane Richardson, Wapello, IA; 19. 43-Kevin Koontz, Memphis, MO (DNS)

Heat 1: 1. 71-David Brandies; 2. 12-Chad Krogmeier; 3. 93-Michael Jaennette; 4. 3D-Jason Cook; 5. C4-Corey Strothman; 6. 35G-Eric Glass; 7. 43-Kevin Koontz

Heat 2: 1. 99D-Damon Murty; 2. 14-Derrick Agee; 3. 71L-Louis Lynch; 4. 82-Peter Stodgel; 5. IB25-Shane Richardson; 6. 3T-Robert Thompson

Heat 3: 1. 52J-Jeremy Pundt; 2. 2T-Beau Taylor; 3. 52-Chris Wibbell; 4. 79S-Jason See; 5. 06-Jerry Jansen; 6. 30C-Abe Huls

Discount Tire & Services IMCA Northern SportMods

A-Feature: 1. 117-Dylan VanWyk, Oskaloosa, IA; 2. 01-Brayton Carter, Oskaloosa, IA; 3. 53-Logan Anderson, Eddyville, IA; 4. 12S-Sean Wyett, Danville, IA; 5. 14X-Austin Schrage, Cresco, IA; 6. 112-Adam Birck, Canton, MO; 7. 14AJ-AJ Tournear, Quincy, IL; 8. 7V-Carter VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa, IA; 9. 00-Matt Tucker, Lomax, IL; 10. 14-Brian Schrage, Cresco, IA; 11. 14L-Brandon Lambert, Carthage, IL; 12. 14C-Bob Cowman, Quincy, IL; 13. 03-Robert Wilsey, Keokuk, IA; 14. 1X-Rex Widmer, Keokuk, IA; 15. 20-Nicholas Profeta, Keokuk, IA; 16. 557-Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 17. 10C-Cole Gillenwater, Keokuk, IA; 18. 0-Dakota Girard, Moberly, MO; 19. 33T-Travis Hartman, Burlington, IA; 20. 77F-John Rockwood, Moulton, IA; 21. 53B-Thomas Bridgeman, Moulton, IA; 22. 6-Bobby Six, Warsaw, IL; 23. 18W-Josh Woodruff, East Galesburg, IL; 24. 69-Kelly Buckallew, Memphis, MO

B-Feature: (Top 4 to A) 1. 03-Robert Wilsey; 2. 1X-Rex Widmer; 3. 18W-Josh Woodruff; 4. 53B-Thomas Bridgeman; 5. 79-Nathan Bringer, Lewistown, MO; 6. 4-Chance Titus, Baxter, IA; 7. 10-Trayton Buckwallew, Memphis, MO; 8. 47S-Brandon Savage, Canton, MO; 9. 17S-Dakota Sapp, Ottumwa, IA

Heat 1: (Top 5 to A) 1. 53-Logan Anderson; 2. 7V-Carter VanDenBerg; 3. 14AJ-AJ Tournear; 4. 20-Nicholas Profeta; 5. 77F-John Rockwood; 6. 53B-Thomas Bridgeman; 7. 47S-Brandon Savage

Heat 2: 1. 12S-Sean Wyett; 2. 117-Dylan VanWyk; 3. 01-Brayton Carter; 4. 6-Bobby Six; 5. 69-Kelly Buckallew; 6. 79-Nathan Bringer; 7. 4-Chance Titus

Heat 3: 1. 112-Adam Birck; 2. 0-Dakota Girard; 3. 10C-Cole Gillenwater; 4. 557-Barry Taft; 5. 14L-Brandon Lambert; 6. 03-Robert Wilsey; 7. 1X-Rex Widmer

Heat 4: 1. 14X-Austin Schrage; 2. 14-Brian Schrage; 3. 14C-Bob Cowman; 4. 33T-Travis Hartman; 5. 00-Matt Tucker; 6. 10-Trayton Buckwallew; 7. 18W-Josh Woodruff

A-Feature: 1. 3J-Jason Ash, Burlington, IA; 2. 27-Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 3. 57-Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 4. 9-Luke Fraise, Houghton, IA; 5. 71-Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 6. 48C-Chandler Fullenkamp, West Point, IA; 7. 24M-Larry Miller, Burlington, IA; 8. 24A-Ashton Blain, Burlington, IA; 9. 22R-Shane Vancil, Salem, IA; 10. 27J-Jonothan Nelson, Colchester, IL; 11. 11X-Benjamin St Lawrence, Centerville, IA; 12. 11K-Kolton Kellum, Keokuk, IA; 13. 77K-Kyle Hamelton, Keokuk, IA; 14. 13C-Chevy Barnes, Keokuk, IA; 15. 11-Patrick McKasson, Burlington, IA; 16. 8K-Noah Kayser, Burlington, IA (DNS)

Heat 1: 1. 13C-Chevy Barnes; 2. 24M-Larry Miller; 3. 57-Barry Taft; 4. 48C-Chandler Fullenkamp; 5. 11-Patrick McKasson; 6. 27J-Jonothan Nelson; 7. 11K-Kolton Kellum

Heat 2: 1. 3J-Jason Ash; 2. 27-Brandon Reu; 3. 71-Kimberly Abbott; 4. 9-Luke Fraise; 5. 24A-Ashton Blain; 6. 8K-Noah Kayser; 7. 77K-Kyle Hamelton; 8. 22R-Shane Vancil

Mini Hauler Trucks

A-Feature: 1. 28-Tucker Richardson, Morning Sun, IA; 2. 141-Darin Ronner, Gladstone, IL; 3. 41-Don Wood, Wapello, IA; 4. 95-Tim Wagner, Wapello, IA; 5. 74-Sheldon Brocket, Burlington, IA

Heat: 1. 28-Tucker Richardson; 2. 41-Don Wood; 3. 95-Tim Wagner; 4. 141-Darin Ronner; 5. 74-Sheldon Brocket (DNS)