Elston On Top at Lee County

Friday night was points night number two at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson,Iowa. The car count and crowd were both down a bit on a cool evening, but as is usually the case, the on track action was intense.
 It took only 45 minutes to complete the heat races, and after the briefest of intermission for some track work, the IMCA sport compact feature rolled onto the track. Josh Barnes started in row three, but took the lead from Ron Kibbe just before the mid point of the non stop race. It was the second win in a row for the Keokuk pilot. Darin Weisinger Jr. turned in his best run of 2016 in second, followed by Kimberly Abbott and Brandon Reu.
 Next up it was the 15 car IMCA sport compact main event. The red flag came out before the green waved, as John Oliver Jr. had a fire underneath his #15 machine, ending his run before it started. Austin Howes took the early lead, but Jim Gillenwater worked his way forward from row five using the low line, taking the top spot on lap eight. With Tony Dunker and Joey Gower running side by side on Gillenwaters heels, the yellow waved on lap 12. On the restart, it was obvious Gillenwater had lost a rear spring, and he was unable to turn the car sufficiently to hold off the challengers. Dunker took the lead, and Gillenwater retired to the pits. One more caution followed, and on that restart, Brandon Dale charged to second, but he could not run down Dunker. Gower and Carter Vandenberg crossed the line side by side, with Gower credited with third.
 Only three IMCA hobby stocks signed in, as Lee County continues to battle less than acceptable counts in this division. Dustin Griifths took his second straight win, although Brandon Symmonds stayed on his tail throughout, with Kyle Hamilton retiring to the infield with engine woes.
 The best feature of the night, as is often the case, was the IMCA stock car 20 lapper. Andrew Hustead jumped to the lead, but it was Dean Kratzer quickly to the front. Kratzer paced the field of tightly bunched machines, but about lap seven the yellow waved. After contact with Greg Gill, Jeremy Pundt spun in the middle of the pack, receiving some front end damage, but avoiding disaster. Both he and Gill restarted at the tail. Back to green, Kratzer continued to set the pace, with Jeff Mueller and John Oliver Jr dueling side by side behind him. Following another yellow on lap 12, Mueller powered to the lead in turn two, slipping around both Kratzer and Mueller. One more caution one lap later only slowed Muellers charge to victory. Corey Strothman worked around Kratzer for second, with Gill rebounding to fourth. It was the second win of the young season for Mueller.
 The IMCA modifieds came next, with Kelly Buckallew and his # 10 machine setting the pace for the first eight circuits. Jeff Waterman pressured Buckallew, and grabbed the lead on lap nine, taking Jared Fuller and his sharp looking # 110 ride along in second. With no cautions in the race, Waterman opened a big lead, cruising to win number one of the season. Fuller held second, with last weeks winner Dennis Laveine in third and Bill Roberts Jr fourth.
 The final race of the night was the 13 car late model headliner. Outside row one starter rookie Bandon Potts elected to start on the tail, moving Derek Liles to the front and the lap one lead, followed closely by polesitter Tommy Elston. The two front runner ran side by side, with Elston nabbing the lead on lap four. As the veteran began to stretch his lead, Colby Springsteen took over the runner up slot on lap six. As  the leaders caught slower traffic, Darin Weisinger ,in his first night at LCS, slowed in turn one. Springsteen was trapped behind, and took evasive action on the high side. But he could not avoid the outside guard rail, making hard contact, ending his run. Back under green, Elston opened a big lead, cruising to his first victory of the season. Jeff Guengerich started in row three, and climbed to second, followed closely by Tom Darbyshire. It was Darbyshires first night on the track in a year and a half, and he was competing with an IMCA spec engine package. Last weeks winner Sam Halstead took fourth, with Todd Frank completing a top five of late model veterans. Liles led the second five, ahead of Charles Vanzandt, Tyler Cale, and Potts, the only cars running when the checker waved.
 By my count, there have now been 15 cars compete in the fledgling late model class, with the car count up each night so far. I have been told of at least one more car nearly ready, in what I would call a successful experiment to this point. The racing at Lee County is top notch, and racing on Friday began promptly at 7:30, with the final checkers waving before 10:00! I would urge my fellow race fans to give Lee County Speedway a look if you haven't already, you will not be disappointed.
 Friday was my only night of racing this weekend, but we will be back on the road next week. And for you late model fans, don't forget the UMP Big Ten late model series Scottie 42 at Quincy Raceways Sunday May 1 with a $2,000 winners payday!