Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa kicked off their 2023 season on Friday with night one of the Spring Hooray. This event was scheduled to be two separate shows concluding Saturday night, but the threat of strong winds and lower temperatures led officials on Friday morning to cancel night number two. Six classes filled the Friday card, with a mix of rules for the competitors allowing for certain UMP and USRA legal late models, modifieds, B modifieds and stock cars to challenge the regular IMCA racers on this opening weekend. Four cylinders and Mini Hauler Trucks would also be in action on this night, with the four cylinder rules for the weekend closely mirroring the IMCA package.
A solid opening night gathering of eighty three (plus one!) race teams converged on the fairgrounds three eighths mile oval on a beyond chilly night in front of a small but hearty group of fans.
With typical first night slowdowns, hot laps rolled out about twenty minutes after the 7:00 advertised time, but it was pretty much non stop action from there on, with the final checkers flying near the 10:30 mark.
Six feature races began with the 4 Cylinder division. Twelve of the fourteen cars signed in battled for fifteen laps. Defending track champion Brandon Reu sat on the pole position and paced the first circuit before fourth starting Barry Taft pulled alongside as lap two was scored. Taft then took command, pulling away to a nice lead while the next four competitors raced in tight formation. Third starting Justin Stevenson battled side by side with Reu for the runner up spot, nosing into second around the mid point of the race. With no cautions slowing the event, Taft walked to the win. Stevenson held off Reu for second with Chandler Fullenkamp and Luke Fraise completing the top five.
A somewhat disappointing ten Stock Cars were on hand, and all but one lined up for eighteen laps. In what was a far from typical Stock Car finale, five yellow flags slowed the action. Outside pole sitter John Oliver Jr. took the initial lead as Josh Foster and Jeremy Pundt fought for second. After taking the spot, Foster began to run down the leader ahead of yellows for Leremy Jackson, then Rowdee Van Genderen. With seven laps remaining, Foster eased ahead at the line as another caution came for Pete Stodgel and Eric Glass, with Foster scored the leader. Two more cautions would come while Foster and Oliver continued to pull away from the pack. At the checkers it was Foster with the win chased by Oliver Jr., Jeremy Pundt and Chad Krogmeier. Second generation Van Genderen rebounded to round out the first five.
Modifieds would be next, fifteen strong for eighteen circuits. Austen Becerra has been on a fantastic role in the early part of the season, and when he redrew the outside front row start, the outcome seemed likely. Austen did indeed lead from start to finish, but the racing was intense behind him. One lap went in the books before a caution as Mark Burgtorf stopped off turn two, his night ended. Back to racing, Ethan Braaksma drove around Troy Cordes for second. Becerra would open a big lead ahead of Braaksma, who did the same over Cordes. Meanwhile Drew Janssen, who lined up in row six was the man on the move. With five laps to go, Janssen worked past Braaksma for second. He was unable to run down Becerra, who cruised to victory. The next three cars across the finish line were Janssen, Braaksma, and Cordes, none of whom figure to be Lee County regulars in 2023. Fifth place went to Becerra "teammate" Jadin Fuller.
A nice field of sixteen late models signed in, along with MLRA Super Late Model regular Justin Duty, who was just looking for some "test and tune" laps. All sixteen would start the main event, and on this night they would run twenty five laps. That amount proved key as the final pass for the lead came with just two laps to go. With 2022 champion Tommy Elston starting on the pole, he would seem atop the betting line, but that is why we race 'em. Elston led the first six laps marred by a caution for debris as well as a pair for rookie Christopher Miles. Up to this point, Jay Johnson and C.J. Horn had been swapping second and third while Andy Eckrich waited patiently for an opening. But it was Nick Marolf who had caught every ones' attention. A flat tire before the official green flag waved in his heat race had sent Nick to the pits and relegated him to a row eight start for the feature. But with just those six laps scored, he now lined up in row three (fifth position) for the Delaware style restart. As we neared the halfway mark, Johnson and Horn continued to battle behind Elston as Marolf cleared Eckrich for fourth. Nine to go saw now second running Horn closing quickly on Elston who came upon to slower cars racing side by side for position. As Horn moved in to challenge the leader, Marolf drove around Johnson for third on lap nineteen. Three laps later both Horn and Marolf were able to move past Elston, then Marolf used a top side move to blast by Horn. However a final caution would come before the lap was scored putting Horn back out front. Marolf continued to work the high side of the track to perfection, and he drove past Horn, fifteenth to first for the win. C.J. would hold second, topping Elston, Eckrich, and Johnson. Denny Woodworth was steady all race to finish sixth in front of double duty Pundt, Sam Halstead, Brandon Savage in the Derek Hollenstine #21, and first heat winner Jeff Guengerich.
With barely enough time to catch our breath, all but one of the twenty two Sport Mods came trackside for eighteen laps. A mixup at the end of lap one saw a broken rear end send Adam Birck pitside and double duty Oliver Jr. having to restart at the tail. The flying green flag set up a duel between front row starters Dylan VanWyk and Brayton Carter, with Dylan in front. Following another caution for John Renier, it was VanWyk using a top to bottom line through turns one and two followed by a high line through three and four to hold off Carter. As those two pulled away from the field, Van Wyk moved down to protect the low line in one and two while continuing to flirt with the guardrail at the other end. Heavy slower traffic presented no issues for the youngster as he maintained a comfortable lead before the last caution with four laps to go. By now Oliver Jr. had charged back to the fourth position, but he could advance no further. The double checkers waved over VanWyk trailed by Carter, a solid run by Dakota Girard, Oliver Jr., and Sean Wyett.
Five of the six Mini Haulers were lining up as we three well chilled old timers headed for the exit. Results show Tim Wagner grabbing the win over Sheldon Brocket, Roger "Fireball" Brockett, Don Wood, and Jeff Bockes.
Many thanks to Brian and Marcie Gaylord for their continuing hospitality and for putting on a really good night of racing despite conditions that would have made canceling a no fault decision!
We will take tonight off, then be in our usual seat on Sunday as Adams County, Illinois Speedway (nee Quincy Raceways) kicks off their twice postponed 2023 season. Again the forecast is for chilly conditions, so starting times have been moved up with the drivers meeting set for 3:15. Hope to see you there!
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