Midgets Join the Regulars at Lee County

  Friday night found us back at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa for regular racing plus a visit by the IMRA midgets. A total of eighty three cars checked in on a beautiful night, with a nice sized crowd and a well prepared race track.
  Those who came late would have missed a scary sequence of events, as the IMCA sport compact of Jaden Delonjay erupted in fire as he raced down the back straightaway in his heat race. The youngster coasted to the front stretch before rolling to a stop and quickly exiting his now nearly engulfed machine. The safety crew went in to action, eventually joined by the Donnellson volunteer fire department, but it was all they could do to contain the blaze which totally destroyed his #3 four cylinder race car, apparently  carrying a full load of fuel. After a lengthy delay including time for clean up, action resumed.
   With all eleven qualifying races in the books, the fourteen midgets were up first for a twenty lap feature. Bryan Stanfill, who calls Bakersfield, California home picked up a heat race win, then jumped quickly out front as the feature green flag waved. Heat two winner Bart Andrews from nearby Fort Madison chased Stanfill early on, but the car on the move was the #6 of Andy Baugh. Baugh started last on the grid after being unable to fire his ride at the start of heat two. By lap nine, he had charged all the way to second, however by the time the crossed flags signaled the halfway mark Stanfill had a commanding lead. One lap later, the first caution of the race brought the leader back to the pack. With Baugh now challenging for the lead, the red flag was displayed as Kevin Battlefeld went for a series of flips in turns three and four. Back under green, Stanfill again opened up a comfortable lead, holding on for the win. Baugh came home second ahead of Brent Burrows, Kevin Douglas, and Jacob Sollenberger.
   The sport compacts fielded twenty three race teams, and they were up next for fifteen laps. Josh Barnes was a track sponsor for the night, and after a heat race win, he started in row one for the feature. He quickly opened a big lead as five cars battled behind him for second. Following a pair of cautions at laps seven and ten, Jason Ash lined up behind Barnes in the Delaware alignment.  As the white flag waved, the yellow was out again setting up a green, white checkers finish. On the second attempt, Ash made his move, pulling even with Barnes as the white flag lap was scored. At the checkers, it was Ash out front by a nose. Barnes finished second, followed by Chuck Fullenkamp, Kimberly Abbott, and Brandon Reu.
  There was bonus money on the line for the eleven IMCA late models racing in a draw, redraw format. Dustin Griffin put his Denny Woodworth #45D out front from the pole position, with third starting Nick Marolf in tow. Those two charged out front as outside pole sitter Matt Strassheim had trouble getting up to speed, and he quickly exited the speedway. Griffin continued to build his lead, and with the race going caution free, he was never seriously challenged. For Dustin, it was his first win since coming out of three years " retirement. " Marolf, Mark Burgtorf, Tommy Elston, and Woodworth completed the top five. Veteran Ron Boyse was sixth, topping visiting C J Horn, Darin Weisinger Jr., Ray Raker, and first time visitor Frank Mason.
   The IMCA sport mods again had a rough time getting to the mid point of their eighteen lap main event, with one multi car red flag delay sandwiched with four yellows. Eighth starting Austen Becerra took over the top spot on lap five, just ahead of the red flag stop. Following a lap seven caution, row six starter Brandon Dale challenged briefly for the lead. Meanwhile Tanner Klingele and Adam Birck waged an entertaining duel for third and A J Tournear and Jim Powell battled for fifth. Becerra cruised to the win, besting Dale, Klingele, Birck, and Powell.
   The IMCA stock cars saw the yellow come out as the green waved when Kyle Boyd ran out of power in turn three. Back to racing, Jeremy Pundt out ran Beau Taylor to lead lap one.  The order stayed the same until lap five when Taylor was shuffled to fourth as Jason Cook and John Oliver Jr. moved to second and third. Oliver cleared Cook three laps later, and a slower car pulled in front of Pundt, forcing him to momentarily check up allowing Oliver to cut into his lead. Working the cushion, Oliver then snatched the point with about six circuits to go. He then cruised to the victory, followed by Pundt, Cook, Taylor, and Jerry Jansen.
    The final feature on the night showcased the IMCA modifieds. Heat race winner Todd Bates sat on the pole, but stumbled on the start, with Daniel Fellows grabbing the lead followed by fourth starting Michael Long. Long snagged the lead one lap later, and sixth starting Dennis Laveine moved to second At lap five, the yellow waved for Levi Smith. Fellows #11 would not fire on the restart, and his run was over. Long then ran away from the field, opening a straightaway lead by the ten lap halfway mark. With the race staying green, he kept his #18L high on the cushion and scored the win. There was plenty of action behind him, with Laveine coming home second. Bill Roberts Jr. edged Mark Burgtorf and Jeff Waterman at the line for third.
   A bit of a late start coupled with the unfortunate fire made for a long night, but one filled with good racing. Thanks to Brian and Marcie Gaylord for their hospitality.
  We will take the rest of the weekend off, with our next adventure on Tuesday, July 28 as the World of Outlaw late models invade the Davenport, Iowa Speedway for 1/4 mile action supported by the IMCA sport mods. If you see me there, stop and say " Hi!"