Long Doubles Up at Donnellson

 Saturday night found us back at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson for the 20th edition of Shiverfest. The Friday night Fall Extravaganza car count of 102 increased by twenty, making for another full night of racing, although it was surely well below normal counts for the popular event.
 Things got off to a bit of a ragged start time wise, but following on track trick or treating for the youngsters, racing got underway. The hobby stocks were added from the Friday night show, with only a disappointing turnout of seven, but they led off the 15 heat races, which clicked off in good time, aided by the " spin and you're in " rule. Box car races for the kids filled intermission, and it was now time for the six feature races.
  The yellow flag waved two laps into the event, with Matt Petrzelka holding the top spot. Back under green, however, Kaden Reynolds put his #1K out front, and was never seriously challenged the rest of the way. The youngster from Cedar Rapids had strapped on the bigger tires on Friday and competed with the stock cars, with the experience paying off on Saturday. Veteran Mike Kincaid came home second following a spirited battle, followed by Brok Hopwood and Gene Nicklas.
  All 26 drivers lined up for the IMCA sport mod feature. Outside pole sitter Logan Anderson paced lap one by a nose ahead of fellow front row starter Brandon Dale. The first caution came at lap five, and on the restart, Friday winner Brayton Carter, who started tenth, entered the top five. With the field strung out, the leaders were already in slower traffic by lap six. One lap later, Anderson suddenly lost the handle on his ride, taking a trip through the infield, turning the lead over to Dale. The top four of Dale, Tony Olson, Carter, and Colton Livesey began to put distance on the field when the yellow waved just after halfway. Olson edged ahead briefly as the leaders went three wide on the restart, but Dale was soon back out front. Now it was Dale, Carter, and Olson on a breakaway before a final caution with eight laps remaining. When racing resumed, Dale assumed control, taking the checkers one night after breaking an engine. Carter followed his Friday win with a runner up finish, followed by Olson, Brandon Setzer, and Tyler Soppe.
 IMCA stock cars were third on the card, 23 cars for 22 laps. Abe Huls drew the pole position, quickly assuming the lead ahead of John Oliver Jr. and Friday winner Johnny Spaw. The front runners moved to the low line around the slickening track, except for Spaw, who tried the high line in turns three and four which he rode to victory the night before. As Spaw dropped back to the inside line, Oliver Jr. took a shot up top without success. Cayden Carter was able to ride the high line to move into the top five at the halfway point after starting ninth. Although heavy slower traffic remained a issue, the leaders were able to move along smoothly, with the race going caution free. Huls stood in victory lane at the end, with Oliver Jr., Spaw, Carter, and Todd Reitzler next in line.
  As much as the stock cars were efficient, the IMCA sport compact 14 lapper was a marathon. A four car pile up off turn two on the opening lap took  quite a while to clean up, with fluid spilled on the racing surface. When racing resumed, Jason Ash, who originally lined up fifth, charged to the lead, with Josh Barnes in tow. Friday winner Chuck Fullenkamp rebounded to second on lap three. The lap clicked off until six circuits remained, when the caution came out for Barry Taft. Barnes had driven to the infield, but used the opportunity to pull back onto the track, restarting in third. Barnes then moved to second on the Delaware restart, with the next caution period coming four laps from the checkers. Again there was a lengthy delay, as transmission fluid was spilled all the way around the 3/8 mile oval. As the green flag waved again, the yellow flag waved a final time as Barnes car finally gave up. The field was then lined up single file for the remaining laps. Fullenkamp stalked Ash all the way to the checkers, falling a half car length short of back to back wins. Jacob Houston came from deep in the pack to finish third, followed by Darin Weisinger Jr. and Brandon Ruffcorn in the Jake Dietrich #63.
  The late model car count increased by three, to 13 for the Saturday show. Sam Halstead had the lucky hand this night, drawing the pole position for both his heat race and the feature. After winning his heat, " Superman " jumped to the early lead in the main event, with row two starter Andy Nezworski tagging along in second. However a first lap spin by Chuck Lewis brought out the caution. The complete restart saw sixth starting Nick Marolf charge through the middle to second behind Halstead. One lap in, Lewis again looped his #00Q, ending his run. By lap six, Friday winner Chuck Hanna and double duty Cayden Carter were locked in a battle behind Halstead and Marolf. Halstead began to stretch his lead, encountering slower traffic with eights circuits left. By now he had a straightaway lead, and cruised to
the win in his crate late model. The IMCA spec engine cars of Marolf, Hanna, Carter, and Nezworski followed. Track champion Tommy Elston led the second five over Matt Mickelson, Terry Gallaher, Brandon Queen, and first time visitor Mike Klein. Matt Strassheim was the fourth driver to wheel the Lynn Richard #15R, but had engine woes that ended his night, even experiencing a small fire as he sat just off the track. Aric Becker made contact with the backstretch guardrail in his heat race, and called it a night one lap into the main event.
  The finale for the night and the season was the IMCA modified 22 lapper. All but one of the 27 entrants, inside row two starter Derrick Stewart,  took the green flag. Larry Herring shot to the lead from his pole position start with Jeff Waterman in second. A lap two yellow slowed the action, and on lap four, outside row one starter Levi Smith rebounded to second running his familiar high line around the oval. Two circuits later, Jarrett Brown raced to third, with tenth starting Michael Long taking fourth. Long, the Friday winner, advanced to third one lap later, as he searched multiple grooves around the track, his car seeming to stick in whatever line he chose. Michael emerged from a three way battle with Smith and Brown to grab the runner up spot just after the halfway point, this time with a low side move. Slower traffic came into play by lap 13, and two more trips around, Long now used the top side to shoot to the lead while negotiating the lapped cars. As he began to open a lead, Herring began to fade back into the pack, with Brown and Waterman now occupying second and third. Following a pair of cautions, the final six laps stayed green. Long powered to a commanding lead over those closing laps, while the battle raged on well behind the #18L. Brown came home in second, with Waterman third. Logan Anderson came on late to grab fourth, and Bruce Hanford nipped Smith at the line for fifth. As a result, Long became the only repeat winner of the weekend, although his Saturday victory came much tougher that his flag to flag win on Friday.
  As though it had been scripted, a few raindrops began to fall as we gathered up our belongings to head for home.
  Thanks to Brian Neal and the Lee County Fairboard for their hospitality and an enjoyable late October racing weekend. At this time of year, we think of each race as possibly the last of the season, but unlike years past, there is still some racing to be had, weather permitting, and we are not ready to call it a season just yet. So stay tuned, and we shall see. Thanks for reading!