Like most of the tracks in Iowa and the surrounding states, Lee County Speedway in Donnellson has been a victim of the early season rain and wet grounds. Their opening two day weekend was cancelled as was last Fridays' regular season opener. There was a glimmer of hope for this Friday night, but that was quickly extinguished by more of the same during the morning hours. So when 34 Raceway just up the road in West Burlington was forced to pull the plug on Saturday racing for I believe the sixth consecutive week, Brian Gaylord and crew decided to take a chance and do a quick reschedule for Saturday night. The action, starting one hour earlier, would include the five regular IMCA classes hosted by the track, with the first installment of the late model and modified "Drive for 5" mini series each paying $1,000 to win along with the sport mod "Drive for 3", with a winners' share of $600. With all the early season cancellations, enthusiasm is through the roof, and this was made evident when long time racing family and track supporters Kohlmorgan Hauling out of Keokuk stepped up to add money to the purse, bumping the sport mod and stock car take to #1,000 to win and the sport compacts to $500! The track then decided to add the mini hauler truck division for Saturday. While acknowledging that the late notice might hold down the count, they knew that the truckers were also eager to get their season started. With the late notice and the change in days, track officials also wisely announced the while IMCA national, state, regional, and rookie points would be awarded, their would be no track points given. Also, there are a couple of "mulligans" available to qualify for the end of year "Drive" higher paying races, so there should be no problems with that. In addition, sunny skies and warmer temps greeted drivers and fans as they made their way through the gates.
With Dakota Sapp signing in after sport mod heats, the final car count sat at ninety three. It was an eventful trip for Sapp, who tagged the tail of the B main, made a charge through the pack on lap one, slid up the track in turn three, smacked the guardrail and was done for the night. With the twenty nine sport mods the only class needing a consy and intermission out of the way, we rolled into the six features.
Sport compacts got the call first, with all but one of the sixteen signed in lining up for fifteen laps. Jason Ash sat on the pole, quickly jumping to the lead, taking along third starting Brandon Reu. The front duo soon separated from the pack, working slower traffic by lap six while running nose to tail. As the race passed the halfway mark, Reu began his challenge, and by the time they hit heavy side by side traffic, Reu had pulled alongside the leader. With the white flag in the air, Ash was able to slide between the lapped cars heading into turn three, opening up a several car length advantage to grab the win. Reu settled for second, followed by Barrt Taft, Luke Fraise, and Kimberly Abbott. The race went non stop, green to checkers.
A somewhat less than anticipated fourteen late models checked in for the $1,000 top prize. Although they all came to the track for the twenty five lapper, Nick Marolf headed pitside during the parade lap. The Moscow, Iowa veteran had suffered damage in a heat race incident. Late model rookie Dustin Schram and veteran Chuck Hanna had redrawn the front row, and Schram put his #92 out front for lap one. Hanna then moved to the front ahead of the lone yellow flag for Jeff Guengerich, who appeared to smack the backstretch guardrail on lap three. Denny Woodworth used the Delaware style restart to move to second. Tommy Elston, sporting his retro #54 lined up in ninth, entering the top five on lap five as Hanna built a commanding lead. By lap eleven, Elston had jumped to third. Lap fifteen saw Hanna catch the back of the pack while nursing a straightaway advantage. Elston grabbed the runner up spot on lap seventeen, and with three circuits left, Schram rebounded to third. As the checkers flew, it was Hanna, Elston, Schram, Woodworth, and Jay Johnson taking the top five positions. C.J.Horn finished sixth ahead of Darin Weisinger Jr., Jeremy Pundt, Ray Raker, and Blake Woodruff. Weisinger Jr. and Elston picked up heat wins.
With their late addition to the show, only five mini haulers showed, and Tucker Richardson ran off with the four car feature.
All but one of the nineteen stock cars came to the track for eighteen laps. A pair of Jasons, Cook and See paced the field, with See taking the top spot on lap three. With the lap scored, the caution came for debris, and on the restart disaster struck. Two class racer Jeremy Pundt hooked a rut exiting turn two, spun and was collected by Shane Richardson, Abe Huls, and Beau Taylor. Pundt did a complete rollover, and when the carnage was cleared, only Huls was able to race on after a trip to the work area. Back to racing, See and Cook continued to battle, but it was David Brandies flying around the pair to lead lap four. Damon Murty had redrawn the number twelve pill, but was driving towards the front, moving to second on lap seven. The "Chelsea Charger" took the lead going down the backstretch on lap nine. Cook and Brandies were now in a tussle for second ahead of a final caution with five to go as Corey Strothman stopped in turns one and two. Also starting in row six, Michael Jaennette was slugging his way to the front, and he powered to third on the restart. With just two circuits remaining, Cook pulled to the infield, leaving Jaennette and Brandies dueling for second. At the flag it was Murty with the win trailed by Jaennette, Brandies, See, and Derrick Agee.
Only ten modifieds were on hand for the twenty two lap feature, and Dallon Murty checked out before the green flag waved. Division rookie Austen Becerra shot to the lead fron his pole start and quickly put distance on the pack. Dennis Laveine took the second spot ahead of a lap four yellow caused by a spinning Jadin Fuller, whose night was over. Sixth starting Daniel Fellows moved to second on the restart. as Becerra again opened a sizable lead. Mark Burgtorf had the Baker #03B hooked up, taking third on lap nine, and finally winning a long battle with Fellows for second on lap seventeen. At the checkers, it was Becerra, Burgtorf, Fellows, Laveine, and Bill Roberts Jr. Another division rookie, Blaine Webster ran sixth as the final car on the track.
Sport mods wrapped up the action, with two dozen cars for twenty circuits. Dylan VanWyk drew the pole position, and proceeded to put on a clinic from there. By the fifth lap. seventh starting Brayton Carter and fifth starting Logan Anderson had climbed to second and third. As Carter and Anderson battled, VanWyk caught the back of the pack on lap six. The slower cars presented no problem for the leader, who continued to increase his margin. With the white flag in the air it was replaced by the yellow for a car spinning in turn one. Although his commanding lead was gone, the green, white, checkers shootout proved no problem for VanWyk, as he claimed the flag to flag win. Carter held second in front of Anderson. Sean Wyett took advantage of the restart to jump to fourth, with Austin Schrage traveling all the way from Cresco, Iowa to round out the top five.
Even with a bit of a late start and the lengthy red flag situation, the final checkers waved about 10:05. Thanks to Brian, Marcie, and the crew for going the extra mile to present racing on Saturday!
Tonight, Sunday, it is back to the Adams County, Illinois Speedway for night number three, with the schedule change putting the five regular classes on the card.
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