Lee County Speedway Roars to Action

 The annual Fall Extravaganza weekend was washed out two weeks ago, so one night of racing was added Friday night ahead of the annual Shiverfest. Cool temps greeted the hearty group of fans and the 102 competitors in five divisions. Following a quick run through of 14 heat races and the briefest of intermissions, it was feature time.
  First on tap was the 14 lapper for the IMCA sport compacts, with 20 cars taking the green flag. Track point champion Barry Taft raced a #2 machine in his heat race, but started the main event in the David Prim back up #01. But it was Alyssa Steele charging from outside row one to grab the lead on the second circuit. She opened a big lead as a four car battle developed behind her. Near the halfway point, Kimberly Abbott broke free from that group and began to run down the leader. As the pair of young ladies powered down the backstretch headed to the white flag, Abbott contacted the back of the Steele car, sending the leader spinning. Abbott then assumed the lead followed by Chuck Fullenkamp, while Steele amazingly righted her machine in time to hold third. Abbott took the checkers one lap later, but Steele ran her down on the backstretch and expressed her displeasure. After a period of silence ( confusion?), it was announced that Fullenkamp would be awarded the win. But Abbott was docked one spot, scored second in the running order, with Steele disqualified. A curious bit of scoring, but....
   All but one of the 26 IMCA sport mods lined up for 18 laps. A Reed Wolfmeyer spin on the opening circuit resulted in a massive pile up, ending the night for among others, Tyler Soppe and Tony Olson. Brayton Carter had dominated his heat race, redrew a twelve for the feature, but now found himself even deeper in the restart field after a trip to the work area. Following a yellow on the restart for a Colton Livesey spin, Austin Heacock took the early lead. By lap two, Carter was already inside the top ten, and he charged to fifth one lap later. Two more laps and the youngster was in a three car scrum for the lead with Heacock and Tony Olson. The group entered slower traffic on lap ten, and were three wide at the line when the caution came out. When racing resumed, Carter wasted no time completing his run to the front, taking the win ahead of Heacock, Olson, Logan Anderson, and a hard charging Livesey.
  Jeff Mueller was the lone IMCA stock car driver not starting the twenty lap feature, with 23 drivers taking the green. Todd Reitzler powered from outside row one to the early lead, as Jason Cook slipped around Jeremy Pundt for second. As the laps clicked off, slower traffic came into play around lap ten. With eight circuits left, fourth running Jason See found himself out of the groove heading into turn one, spinning his ride to bring out the only yellow of the race. Sixth starting Johnny Spaw was working hard on the leader, and he used the high line to take the lead as the white flag waved.  A small blanket could have covered the top four on the final lap, while John Oliver Jr., who started in row ten due to a rare heat race spin, was looking to join the party. Coming through the final set of turns, it was Abe Huls who hooked up on the inside line, but Spaw held on for a narrow victory. Huls, Reitzler, Cook, and Oliver followed in tight formation. A still charged up Spaw heaped praise on the " hammer down " racing surface in his victory lane interview.
  The late model field was a bit disappointing with only ten cars checked in. Veteran Brian Harris has been wheeling the Lynn Richard #15R this " postseason," and he jumped to the lead from his pole position, followed closely by his front row mate, Chuck Hanna. The front duo found some separation from the pack, and on lap seven, Hanna put his IMCA spec engine #65 out front. Hanna then pulled out to a sizable lead before the yellow waved with three lap to go for a slowing Terry Gallaher, who was piloting the Cliff Powell #6. With Harris electing the high side on the Delaware restart, Tommy Elston took the runner up spot as action resumed. At the line, it was Hanna on top, followed by Elston, Harris, Nick Marolf, and Sam Halstead. Aric Becker led the second five over Brandon Queen, Charles Vanzandt, and Matt Michaelson, back on the track after a long time away. Gallaher would be scored in tenth.
  The final  event was the twenty lapper for a loaded IMCA modified 21 car field. Michael Long had the pole position, and he quickly jumped out front. But a lap two caution involving Derek Stewart and Matt Bodman slowed the action. Back under green, Long began to stretch his margin, as an entertaining battle for second featured Bruce Hanford, Donovan Lodge and Mark Schulte. Long worked slower traffic flawlessly until the caution came out with four laps remaining. It proved just a momentary distraction for Michael, who cruised to the win. Hanford started seventh and completed a strong run in second, while  Logan Anderson charged from fifth to third after the restart, falling to fourth behind Lodge at the checkers. Schulte completed the top five.
  Today, Saturday, the track will host Shiverfest, complete with hay rack rides, box car races, and on track trick or treating for the youngsters beginning at 3:00. Racing kicks off with hot laps at 4:30 and racing at 5:00.
Hope to see you there for one more night of action. Dress warm!