Saturday night we were right back at Lee County Speedway for night number two of the Harvest Hustle. While still quite chilly, weather conditions were much better overall as the sun was out and the wind had calmed considerably. Remarkably car counts were up, one hundred fifty three in all, even allowing for a seventh class - American Iron Racing Series - joining the field. The program kicked off one hour earlier with hot laps rolling as advertised at 6:15.
Eighteen qualifying heat races, again with zero B mains set the main event line ups, and with only an eight minute break we were feature racing.
Stock Cars would lead things off, and after being the race of the night on Friday, this twenty lapper would be less than stellar. A whopping seven yellow flags would mar what was otherwise a very competitive affair. All twenty seven cars would take then green flag, with Kaden Reynolds setting the pace early. The youngster from Cedar Rapids would survive five of those caution periods, holding off first Jason Bahrs, then fellow C. R. veteran Johnny Spaw. With just six laps to go, Kaden suddenly slowed after jumping the turn four cushion, then drove to the pits , perhaps with a tire down. Spaw would assume the lead as racing resumed, and he would need to withstand one more yellow flag two laps from the finish. During this final slowdown, John Oliver Jr. would give up a top five run, heading for the pit area. Spaw would hold on for the win and his second top five of the weekend. Dustin Vis would gain six positions to finish as the runner up chased by Bahrs, twelfth starting Abe Huls, and row five starter David Brandies.
Sixteen A.I.R.S. cars checked in, with all but one coming to the track for fifteen laps of action. It took a pair of yellow flags to get lap one in the books, but then Doak Allen Jr. and Bart Miller ran side by side for several laps until just after the half way point when Miller put his 1962 Ford out front to stay. Allen came home second in his black Chevy Nova.
The Sport Mods cleaned things up a bit, with two dozen of the twenty eight signed in lining up for twenty laps. Pole sitter Carter VanDenBerg shot to the front with Jim Gillenwater on his heels. Soon Friday winner Brayton Carter arrived from row three to join the front runners. VanDenBerg and Gillenwater raced side by side as Carter moved around behind the duo, looking for an opening. On about lap six, Carter was able to split the leaders in turn four, and from there it was no looking back. As Carter caught the back of the pack on lap seven, he began to put distance on his challengers. Once again, cars were fighting for position all around the three eighths mile oval. The first caution came with six laps to go as Jim Powell climbed the turn one guardrail, riding it for several yards before coming to a stop on the track. Before the yellow, all eyes were on a great battle for third through sixth between Dylan VanWyk, VanDenBerg, Shane Paris, and track regular Sean Wyett. One more stoppage saw VanWyk charge to second, and along with leader Carter the front pair drove off from the pack in nose to tail fashion. The checkers would wave over "Speedy Bray," his second win of the weekend. VanWyk, VanDenBerg, Paris, and Wyett would round out the top five.
Jay Johnson pulled his #93 Late Model to the pit area during hot laps and was soon loaded and on the way home leaving us with twenty four cars for the twenty five lap feature. Tommy Elston topped his outside row one redraw of Friday by pulling the number one pole position on Saturday with first year Late Model driver Jesse Bodin alongside. The front pair shot out front joined by sixth starting Matt Jones. Following a lap three caution, Elston and Bodin put distance on the pack while tenth starting Jeremy Pundt charged through the field to third. By the halfway point the leaders were in lapped traffic and Bodin was nipping at the heels of the #54. Elston gained a bit of breathing room as he put worked the slower cars, but with five laps to go Bodin had pulled alongside. Jesse was working high on the track while Tommy ran a low line through turns one and two and a higher groove at the other end. With just two laps remaining, Bodin executed a slide job in turn three, but Elston was able to cross him over to regain the lead. Elston then led the final laps, completing a weekend sweep of heat races and features. Bodin settled for runner up honors while Pundt scored his second third place run of the weekend. C.J. Horn came from row six to finish fourth while Vance Wilson came on strong, starting in row ten and charging all the way to fifth. Late Model rookie Josh Foster advanced ten positions to six ahead of Jason Oenning, teenager Kayden Clatt, Nick Marolf, and Andy Nezworski.
Modifieds would be up next for twenty laps, all but one of the twenty four signed in lining up. It took three tries to get lap one in the books, with a five car tangle in turn three eliminating top contender Denny Eckrich. Bill Roberts Jr. grabbed the early lead from the pole position with fifth starting Kurt Kile in tow. Ethan Braaksma was behind the wheel of the #12J, and with four laps scored he had powered from row six to second. Two more laps and Braaksma moved to the front, quickly distancing himself from the field. Seemingly on a rail, by the mid point of the race he had opened a full straightaway advantage. Meanwhile the battle behind him was on going, and with ten in the books eighth starting Matt Werner drove to the runner up spot. With the race staying green, Ethan pulled ahead even more, racing a full half lap in front of second place Werner as the laps wound down. At the checkers it was Braaksma, Werner, Roberts Jr. , Eric Barnes, and Missouri USRA competitor Robby Reed. For both Braaksma and Werner it was two Harvest Hustle top fives.
There were still a pair of features remaining, but early calls persuaded our driver to head for the parking lot as the clock read about 10:20. The results show Daniel Wauters capturing the eleven car Hobby Stock main event over Tom Killen Jr., Bradly Graham, Calvin Dhondt, and Eric Knutson. For all but Knutson, who made his first appearance of the weekend, it was back to back top fives for the others.
While the Hobby Stock count dropped by six, the Sport Compacts gained six cars from Friday. with twenty starting the finale. Double duty Jeffrey Delonjay crawled from his Late Model and captured the Compact main in his only visit of the weekend. Kimberly Abbott and Barry Taft made it a pair of top fives, while first timers Chuck Fullenkamp and Dyllan Bonk completed the top five.
Although we needed to check out early, it was a solid night of enjoyable, competitive racing, with a bit larger crowd, no doubt aided by better weather and no high school football.
Thanks again to Brian and Marcie Gaylord as they wind down their tenure as outstanding stewards of the speedway. Before they go from promoters back to fans however, there is still one more race on the docket, the immensely popular and highly anticipated Shiverfest on Saturday, October 28. It is much an event as a race, so check the track website for times and attractions. And to those wondering, things sound positive for continued racing at Lee County for the 2024 season, hopefully there will be news on that front before long!
The next Racin' Down the Road is scheduled for Friday night as the MLRA Late Models begin their championship weekend at Kevin and Tammy Gundakers' Tri City Speedway near Granite City, Illinois.
There is still time to find a race near you, so get out and enjoy!
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