Another Thriller at Donnellson

 The second visit of 2016 to the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa by the MLRA late models was staged in front of a packed grandstand. After a surprising field of 37 late models just a month ago, we were expecting a smaller count on a Friday night, but 35 of the high powered machines checked in as part of a 108 car six division program. To the delight of those of us who are late model lovers, another 14 Lee County late models also signed in, including the IMCA cars wheeled by Kevin Kile and Cayden Carter.
 14 heat races and a pair of MLRA B mains set the starting grids for the feature events on a absolutely perfect weather evening.
  The touring late models had been at the big half mile in Oskaloosa, Iowa the night before, where Jesse Stovall had scored the win ahead of Minnesota racer Jordon Yaggy. The racing gods can be  a fickle bunch, however, and Stovall was forced to make an engine change before taking the green at Donnellson. Things went even worse for Yaggy, who smacked the turn two guard rail on the opening lap of his heat race, ending his night. Front row starters Tony Jackson Jr, Stovall, Chris Simpson, and Rickey Frankel picked up heat race wins, with Jason Feger and Richie Gustin topping the B-mains. Feger was dialing in a new car, while Gustin recovered from an altercation with the guardrail in his heat race after starting in the front row of heat four, bringing out the first caution in the four ten lap qualifiers.
 The IMCA sport compact main event ran first, with Josh Barnes once again scorching the field.
  Next it was the LCS late models, with 13 starters. Derek Liles saw his night end before hot laps, as smoke or steam was visible coming from under the hood of his # 33. The IMCA cars of Kile and Carter sat on row one, with Carter charging to the early lead. Fifth starting track regular Tommy Elston picked his way to second around Kile on lap nine and began to erase the nice lead Carter had built. On the 14th of 25 laps, Elston took the lead, but the caution flew before the lap was scored complete, putting Carter back out front for the Delaware style restart. Back under green, Carter again began to pull away, and on lap 16 two time winner Sam Halstead slipped past Kile for third. The 18th trip around, Elston was aging on the heels of Carters # 10C, but again the yellow waved on lap 19. On the first restart, Elston had taken the inside slot only to see Carter run the low line. So this time, he chose the outside, and quickly grabbed the lead. Now it was the # 45 stretching his lead, as Halstead powered to second. A caution on lap 24 for 13 year old female pilot Tegan Evans set up a green, white, checkers finish, but Elston was up to the challenge, scoring his second 2016 win at LCS. Halstead held the second spot, followed by Carter, Todd Frank, and Jeff Guengerich. Frank is a regular at LCS along with his son Gunner, and on this night, the Wisconsin transplant who now resides just south of Donnellson also had his open engine car in competition in the MLRA division.
  The IMCA stock cars ran next, and it took just a handful of laps for Jeff Mueller to find the top spot, after which he cruised to an easy win. The stock car class offers outstanding racing at LCS, however the battle is mostly for runner up honors to Mueller.
 It was now time for the 40 lap MLRA 24 car finale. The passing points system that set the first eight rows of the field saw Jimmy Mars and Jackson on row one. Mars took off, opening a sizable lead before fifth starting Chris Simpson charged to second and began to reel in the Wisconsin driver by lap seven. As the race stayed green, the leader caught the back of the pack on the 13th circuit - by now only row eight starter Mark Burgtorf had exited the track. As the leaders picked there way through a group of cars that were nearly as quick as they were, Simpson closed in by lap 18. Mars did all he could to hold off the Mt Vernon, Iowa hotshoe, but on lap 34 of the non stop race, he drifted a bit high out of turn four, opening the door for the # 32. That was all the advantage Simpson needed, and he grabbed the lead for the final six circuits. Mars settled for second, ahead of Jackson Jr., Stovall, and Rodney Sanders. Tad Pospisil ran a solid sixth, while the best finish by the six Quincy Raceways regular in attendance was Frankel in seventh. Tommy Weder, Jr, Justin Kay, and 18th starting Gustin completed the top ten.
 After a looong day at work, I decided to head for home at this point with two features still to run, even though it was just past 10:00 PM. Congratulations to Tony Dunker and Hunter Marriot on their wins.
 Tonight we will be heading to the Randolph County Raceway in Moberly, Missouri for the third and final stop for the MLRA cars. As I type this, word has come that races have been cancelled due to rain at two St Louis area tracks, I -55 Raceway in Pevely,Mo, and the Highland, Il Speedway, so the car count could be even higher at RCR! And I see that Billy Moyer took the win last night at Tri City Speedway in Granite City,Il!?!
 Sunday night the UMP Big Ten late models will be back in action at Quincy Raceways for a $2,000 top prize. Plus there is $1,100 on the line for any UMP modified driver who can beat Michael Long, who is perfect for 2016 at Quincy.
 Lets go racing!