Donnellson Beats the Rain - Almost

 The Lee County Speedway added the Sprint Invaders to the regular five division program on Friday night, and despite threatening skies all night, they almost got through the 20 race program unscathed. But the rain finally came early in the IMCA sport mod feature, which will apparently resume next Friday on season championship night. Kudos to promoter Mike Van Genderen for recognizing the threat of impending weather and cutting out some of the post race hoopla and moving the show along.
 The IMCA sport compacts ran the first feature. Barry Taft jumped out to an early sizable lead before a caution on lap three for Ron Kibbe. Back to racing, Brandon Reu stayed with Taft as Josh Barnes, who dropped out of his heat race, advanced to third. By lap nine, Taft again held a commanding lead as Barnes challenged for second, taking the spot one lap later. But the race belonged to Taft, with Barnes, Reu and Mike Reu trailing.
  All 13 IMCA modifieds took the feature green, with Jardin Fuller leading through a lap two yellow. Fuller, Dean McGee, and Jerad Fuller putting some distance on the field. After a lap four caution, Dennis Laveine joined the lead pack. On the sixth circuit, Jeff Waterman took over fourth. while Bill Roberts Jr. came from ninth to fifth. As the group entered turn four, there was contact between Roberts and Waterman, with Scott Dickey having no where to go. Dickey hit the Roberts car, and ending Scotts run, and sending the other two to the back. Back under green, Jardin pushed up the track in turn four. While McGee was able to clear the leader, the rest of the field temporarily bunched up, giving McGee a chance to put some distance on the now second place Levi Smith. By lap 13, Laveine had taken over second, with Roberts in third, and three laps later, Roberts muscled around Laveine in turns one and two. With no more stoppages, McGee fairly cruised to the win. Roberts took second with the #71s, Laveine and Waterman completing the top four.
  A nice turnout of 27 Sprint Invaders needed three heat races, a Shake Up dash of the top two from the heats, and a B-main to set the 20 car starting field. I will admit, the dash seems a bit meaningless, as the winner then draws for a feature invert. Seems to me, that winning the dash would give the winner the pole for the main event, otherwise the first two in the heats could just redraw for the front three rows, but, anyway... The yellow came out on the opening lap as Harold Pohren put his ride on its side, and Damian Getchell, having nowhere to go, also got upside down. After a lengthy delay, Pole sitter John Schulz led the first scored lap ahead of Chris Martin. Another caution flew on lap two for the starting cone on the track. When racing resumed, it was Schulz running the high line Martin on the bottom, Wayne Johnson moving to third, and Jon Agan fourth. Danny Lososki sthad started in row six, and quickly advanced to sixth. Agan suddenly exited the track on lap 19 of the 25 lapper. With Schulz in command, having taken the white flag, the yellow came out for a collision in turn four setting up a one lap dash to the checkers. Schulz was not to be denied, however, putting his # 99 in victory lane. Martin came home second, with Lasoski slipping past Johnson for third.
  The IMCA stock car class had only ten cars sign in, and point leader Jeff Mueller pulled out of the heat race, apparently with a cranky clutch. As some light sprinkles fell, Jeremy Pundt grabbed the lead from Andrew Hustead on lap one. Hustead remained glued to the back bumper of the #52J. John Oliver Jr moved quickly to third, with Mueller coming from row five to challenge Oliver. On lap eight of the 20 lap event, Mueller rolled past Oliver and began to challenge for second. As the crossed flags signaled the half way mark, Mueller took over the runner up spot, closing on the leader by lap 13. The leader all hugged the inside line, and Pundt continued to hit his marks, picking up his second win of 2016. Mueller unofficially secured the track point title with his second place finish, Oliver ran third, and Hustead took fourth.
  With more sprinkles falling, the Lee County late models came to the 3/8 mile oval for 25 laps. Tommy Elston and Sam Halstead entered the night tied for the points lead, And heat one winner Elston drew the outside front row slot, while Halstead started sixth. Pole sitter Tyler Cale led the first two trips past the flagstand, with Elston driving to the front on lap three. Halstead advanced to third on the same lap.. As Elston stretched his lead, Derek Liles and Todd Frank staged an entertaining side by side battle for fifth. On the 11th circuit, Laine Vanzandt backed his ride into the turn three guardrail, although he was able to rejoin the race. With the help of the Delaware restart, Halstead took command of the second spot. Todd Frank also charged to fourth on the restart. With seven laps to go, Frank took over third. In the closing laps, Cale faded with a flat tire. Elston was unchallenged, picking up the win, and taking a one point lead over runner up Halstead. Frank and Jeff Guengerich turned in top four performances, with Liles overtaking Cale for fifth. Newcomer Blake Woodruff brought his # 30 home seventh, followed by Gunner Frank, Charles Vanzandt, and Trent Grotz.
 With the final feature, the IMCA sport mods on the track, the rains came, putting an end to a full night of racing.
 Next Friday will be the end of regular season racing at Donnellson, although there are a couple of October specials on the schedule. Sunday night you can find me at Quincy Raceways for weekly racing. Maybe I will see you there!