Lee County Speedway in Donnellson was finally able to host a regularly scheduled race on Friday night. Unfortunately a combination of issues, including an ominous weather forecast, graduation activities and an elusive opportunity for field work contributed to a smaller than normal car and fan count. On the plus side, the stormy conditions fell on the east side of the big river even as the contrasting sunset and rolling cloud bank created a picturesque evening sky. Looking at My Race Pass, it became obvious that the other Friday night tracks in the eastern Iowa and western Illinois corridor were operating under similar circumstances, but at least we were all racing!
The American Iron Racing Series, featuring both original and prefabricated race car bodies from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s joined the five regular classes for this first points night at the three eighths mile speed plant. One dozen of the classic machines signed in, with all but one lining up for the first feature of the night. Part of the lure of this nostalgia class is that they actually compete, with plenty of side by side, wheel to wheel action. Door banging does not appear to be an accepted part of the racing, but there was plenty of close quarter competition during the twelve lap affair. Bart Miller, from Clarence, Iowa picked up the first heat race win, lined up in row three for the feature, then quickly made his way to the front in his 1962 Ford. From there he cruised to the win, the power plant sounding rich in his hot rod. Ron Cook, Dan Schmidt, Bruce Yoerger, and Walt King completed the top five in the non stop event. Owen Hayes in his Ford Thunderbird captured heat two. For race fans of a certain (older) age, this class can be a happy walk down memory lane!
Points racing kicked off with twenty laps of IMCA late model action. Third generation pilot C. J. Horn picked up the heat race win, then drew the third starting spot for the main event. But it was pole sitter Darin Weisinger Jr. who shot to the early lead. As he began to stretch his advantage, a tight three car battle developed behind him between Sam Halstead, Horn, and Tommy Elston. By lap four, it was Weisinger, Horn, and Elston, with Denny Woodworth moving to fourth one lap later. As the race reached the halfway mark, Horn was challenging for the lead, but Weisinger was hitting his marks while getting a strong run each lap off turn two. Horn was changing his line searching for a way around the leader, and going down the backstretch on lap sixteen he was able to duck under Weisinger for the lead. Horn then began to pull away slightly, taking his #01 to victory lane in another caution free race. Weisinger held on for what I believe is a career best second since moving to late models. Elston was third, followed by Woodworth and Jeff Guengerich in the Richard Racing #15R. Jeremy Pundt ran sixth ahead of Ray Raker, while Halstead was credited with eighth after dropping out early. Ed Hollenbeck was not able to answer the feature call.
IMCA sport compacts lined up, fourteen strong for fifteen laps. Luke Fraise paced lap one from the pole, with Chevy Barnes taking over on lap two. Defending track champion Brandon Reu came from row three to grab the top spot at lap three ahead of Chevy, while heat winners Barry Taft and Josh Barnes moved to third and fourth in what soon became a four car battle. Five laps in, the leaders caught slower traffic, and Taft ran out of real estate, clipping one of the tractor tires off turn two, bringing out the first feature caution of the night and ending his run. Back under green, Reu continued to lead while the Barnes', father and son raced side by side for second, much to the delight of their considerable fan base. At the same time, they were able to put pressure on the leader, but Reu was up to the challenge, taking a hard fought win. Josh edged Chevy for second, with rookie driver Chandler Fullenkamp and Kimberly Abbott also turning in top fives.
The "class too tough to tame," IMCA stock cars were next, twelve strong for eighteen circuits. Chris Wibbell picked up a dominating heat race win, following that by drawing the number one pea for the feature pole. He led the opening trip around the oval, but fourth starting Abe Huls was the leader when the yellow flag waved on lap two for Eric Glass. As racing resumed, Jason See was on the move, running alongside Huls before claiming the top spot on lap five. See hugged the inside line while Huls was forced to operate in the higher groove. Meanwhile, two class racer Jeremy Pundt was staying close in third. With eight laps remaining, the caution came again for Glass, and as the green flag waved, Pundt was shuffled back while David Brandies and heat winner Jason Cook took up the chase of the front duo. See was not to be denied, driving to the win, while Brandies powered his way to second. Cook just nipped Huls at the line for third, and Pundt settled for fifth.
The IMCA modified field was small but stout. Jardin Fuller could not make the call, leaving eight cars for eighteen laps. Like Wibbell before him, Mark Burgtorf picked up the heat win, then drew the pole position for the main event. And although the veteran from Quincy, Illinois would lead all eighteen laps, it was hardly an easy win. Another long time front runner, Dennis Laveine, chased Burgtorf early, while Austen Becerra worked from row three to third. On the third pass by the flag stand, Becerra had moved to the runner up position, but by now Burgtorf had opened a sizable advantage. Mark had discovered some moisture in the low groove, while Austen was doing business on the low side of turns one and two and in the top groove at the west end of the track. Burgtorf was maintaining a several car length lead until the first caution came with five laps to go for Jadin Fuller. Becerra was now able to line up on the heels of the leader, but Burgtorf was simply too strong, particularly exiting turn two, and he put the Baker Racing #03B in victory lane. Becerra held second, besting Laveine, a strong run by Mitch Boles, and Bill Roberts, Jr. Jadin Fuller rebounded for sixth ahead of Jesse Belez and Cody Bowman.
For the second straight week, IMCA sport mods closed out the show, one dozen cars for eighteen laps. The first lap was called off by a yellow flag for rookie Trayton Buckallew. An original restart saw pole sitter Adam Birck shoot to the lead over his row one mate, heat winner Nicholas Profeta. Oskaloosa, Iowa hot shoe, "Speedy Bray," Brayton Carter, picked up the other heat race win, drew a seven for the feature, then charged to third by lap two. He was able to clear Profeta for second one lap later, while Birck had jumped well out ahead of his chasers. But the caution with four laps scored for Bobby Six brought Birck back to the pack, and on the restart Carter used the high line to clear Birck for the lead. The final fourteen laps went caution free, and the field began to spread out. There was considerable distance between Carter and Birck, the same back to Profeta, who had a big margin over Matt Tucker in fourth, and then back to Bob Cowman in fifth. Those five stayed that way to the checkers.
Although hot laps had kicked off about fifteen minutes late, unusual for the Lee County team, the final checkers still waved right at the 10:00 hour. Thanks, as always to the Gaylords and their group for their hospitality. We will take Saturday off, then hopefully be in our regular spot at the Adams County, Illinois Speedway on Sunday. Stop by and say "Hi!"
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