Holiday Festivities Begin in Donnellson

 The extended holiday season got off to a roaring start Friday night at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson as the track hosted current and former armed forces members, offering free admission. Also, the Iowa National Guard was on hand, offering rides to the youngsters and serving as " flag catchers " as long time parachuter Bobby Reed delivered the American flag from above as Lee Ann Lambert, nee Weisinger, performed  her usual excellent rendition of the national anthem. At the same time, the American Legion presented the flag before the hearty gathering on a toasty evening.
  With the prerace festivities complete, it was time for on track action. The five regular classes were in competition as well as an appearance by the vintage sprint cars. I enjoyed seeing the replica semi super modified #96 that raced in the late 1960s at 34 Raceway Park in West Burlington. Unfortunately, driver Bobby Ensminger found himself upside down during the heat race for the nine entrants.
   Following heat race action, intermission and a " feature " for the vintage racers, it was time for the IMCA sport compacts to take over the track.
   Mike Reu paced the first lap of the twelve lap finale, racing side by side with his son Brandon. Two circuits later it was Brandon out front and he held the spot until point leader Barry Taft took over at the halfway mark. Brandon Reu did not give up the spot easily, and was in front by a nose as lap seven was scored. The front duo ran side by side until lap nine, when Taft was able to open a little breathing room. Meanwhile, Mike Reu and Kimberly Abbott battled side by side for third until the elder Reu drove to the infield about lap nine. At the checkers, it was Taft, Brandon Reu, Abbott, Jacob Houston, and Kenny Smith leading the nine car field.
   The IMCA sport mods were up next for 18 laps. Austen Becerra charged to the lead from his row two starting spot, taking along row three starter Daniel Fellows ahead of a lap two caution period. Following the restart, Becerra, Fellows, and row four starter Brandon Dale battled up front, and Austin Howes powered to fourth. Dale took over the runner up spot on lap seven, and back row starter,visiting Jason McDaniel moved to fourth. The yellow flag waved on lap eleven, and McDaniel retired to the infield on the restart. As Becerra set the pace, the battle was for second. and Dale was squeezed out of racing room, falling several spots. Brandon Lennox had been on the outside looking in before the final caution, but he found himself in second with five laps remaining. Two laps later Howes moved to third, Dale had rebounded to fourth, and Fellows, who seemed to have the handling on his ride going away, fell to fifth. This was the final running order, with Becerra going flag to flag, taking the checkers with a nice advantage.
  The IMCA stock cars had extra money on the line offered up by the Oliver family business in memory of grandpa Jim. Hometown driver Jeremy Pundt took the early lead, with John Oliver Jr. following. The caution came out for a lap two spin, and the restart was aborted for the same spinning car. When action resumed, Pundt, Oliver, and Abe Huls pulled away in a three car duel. Huls cleared a three wide battle to take the lead on the fourth circuit. With no more stoppages, the field began to spread out a bit. As the final of the twenty laps counted down, Pundt mounted a challenge for second, but the finish found Huls with the win, Oliver second, and Pundt in third. Jason Cook and Scott Jordon completed the top five.
  Heat winner Dennis Laveine paced the early laps of the IMCA modified twenty lapper. Larry Herring drove around Mitch Boles for second on lap two, and Boles got sideways in front of Jeff Waterman, sending Waterman for a spin to bring out the yellow.
 With the pair restarting at the tail, Dakota Simmons took over the runner up slot following the Delaware realignment. By the fourth lap, Waterman was back inside the top five. One lap later, Waterman was fourth as Herring retook second. Waterman was third on lap seven, and at the crossed flags signaling the halfway point, he was second. Laveine had opened a sizable lead, but Waterman was on a mission. Lap eleven saw them running side by side, and the lead changed hands one lap later. From that point Waterman pulled away, picking up the hard fought win. Laveine, Herring, Bill Roberts Jr., and Dean McGee rounded out the first five.
  The final race of the night was the crate late model twenty lapper. Chase Frank had dropped a drive shaft in his heat race, but the other nine entrants took the green flag, with Darin Weisinger Jr. giving up his front row start to tag the tail. Gunner Frank moved to the front row, leading Aric Becker and Todd Frank as lap one was scored. Veteran Ron Boyse started in row three and cleared Todd Frank for second on lap three. Frank was pounding the cushion as Boyse used the inside line. Last weeks winner Tommy Elston came from row four to fourth on lap six before a lap seven caution flag. Sam Halstead was battling up front when the cars jammed up in front of him. Halstead had to check up, but he was deep into the turn four corner and spun his #84. As the green came back out, Todd Frank followed his son in second, with Boyse falling to third. Elston used the high line to take third just before the halfway mark. By lap eleven, it was a three wide scrum for second, with Elston clearing the pack to take the spot. The veteran was using both lanes of the 3/8 mile oval, finally clearing Gunner Frank with a top side power move in turns one and two on lap 16. Elston then cruised to his third win this season at LCS. Boyse was able to clear Gunner for second, Todd Frank was fourth, and Halstead came back to fifth. Jeff Guengerich, Becker, and Weisinger Jr. completed the running order, with Brandon Queen watching from the infield.
  A fireworks display completed the evening, with racing ending about 10:15.
  The Lee County Speedway will be dark next Friday as preparations begin for the county fair. Many of the LCS drivers will journey to the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. for a special night of racing. Lee County will be in action the next week on Thursday July 12 as part of the fair, with Friday night racing resuming on July 20.
  I will be heading out soon for a third straight night of racing, making my first visit in two seasons to the I-55 Raceway in Pevely,Mo. for the UMP Summernationals/World of Outlaw duel sanction event. July is almost here, so get to a track somewhere, stay hydrated, and enjoy the races!