Saturday night we made our second visit of 2024 to Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. This would be another Drive for Five qualifier for the UMP Pro Late Models as well as the second night of dual points with CJ Speedway in Columbus Junction for the shared classes of Modifieds, Sport Mods, Stock Cars, and Hobby Stocks. Sport Compacts would fill out the six divisions at LCS. Co promoters Patrick Profeta and Neal Kohlmorgan created considerable chatter by announcing on Friday that it would be free admission for the Saturday night show. In addition, an extra $2,000 was added to the total purse. The temperature was a bit more pleasant than we experienced on Friday, and the skies fluctuated between sunny and cloudy as race time approached, even as tracks a few hours both north and south were forced to cancel.
As might be expected, there was a big turnout of fans, and by the looks of things, some monies were made up at the concession stand! The car turnout was a bit down, also to be expected, but the track was multi groove and racy throughout with a fast cushion and lots of action.
Hot laps began shortly after 6:00, and the first of a dozen heat races hit the three eighths mile D shaped oval a few ticks after 6:30. A short intermission followed, and soon it was feature time.
Sport Mods rolled out first, thirteen strong for fifteen laps. Veteran Jim Gillenwater shot to the lead from the outside pole, hit his marks perfectly and led the entire distance for the win. First Kyler Girard, then Brandon Dale tried to keep up with the #10 car, but Gillenwater had opened a commanding lead before the lone caution came three laps from the finish. Back to racing Dale was able to apply some pressure, but Gillenwater was up to the challenge, claiming victory. Girard came home third followed by Patrick Phillips. Tyler Heckart battled early with Logan Cumby before securing fifth.
The Sport Compact class was down a bit with nine checking in. Kimberly Abbott charged to the initial lead from the outside pole, followed by her row one mate, Blaine Lambert. Brandon Reu lined up in position three, but powered around the two front runners on the second trip around. From there he cruised to the win in the non stop fifteen lap event. Abbott took runner up honors ahead of Jaden Delonjay, David Prim, and Lambert.
Stock Cars again had the biggest turn out with seventeen checking in. Keegan Wells had engine woes in his heat race and was the only one not making the call for the twenty lap money race. A multi car mixup as the green flag waved halted the action, with heat two winner Dustin Vis heading to the trailer. On the restart, front row starters Tanner Allen and Beau Taylor jumped ahead, battling until Johnny Spaw found a way around Taylor on lap six. Allen was not giving up the low line around the speedway, so Spaw and Taylor worked the top side in pursuit. Lap eight saw Spaw with enough momentum to power past Allen, who then also jumped to the high side. A second and final caution for debris came with six to go, and when the green flag flew Taylor was slow to fire off, falling to sixth. It was now Spaw and Allen running in tight formation, but the wily veteran Spaw kept his #00 out front all the way. Allen settled for second, besting eighth starting Andrew Burk, ninth starting double duty Nicholas Profeta, and Taylor.
With the hammer down track, it looked like a daunting task for red hot Tommy Elston to come from row five in the ten car twenty five lap Late Model Drive for Five qualifier. In fact it was rookie Jackson Frankel (son of former hot shoe Jason) who jumped out front with another second generation ace Darin Weisinger Jr., in tow. On the second time past starter Kevin Eggleston, seventh starting Denny Woodworth drove around Nick Marolf and Jeremy Pundt to third and Weisinger Jr. slipped past Frankel for the lead. Woodworth continued his advance, moving to second on lap four, and one lap later it was Elston moving to fourth. Woodworth secured the top spot on lap six as the front four pulled away from the pack. On lap nine, Elston found another gear, driving from fourth to the runner up spot. Much like the Stock Cars, Woodworth was holding the inside groove while Elston did business on the cushion. As Tommy drove to the front at lap twelve, Frankel shredded a right rear tire to bring out the only yellow flag. Elston drove away from Woodworth on the restart as Weisinger Jr. and Marolf battled behind the front duo. When the checkers flew, it was Elston again in victory lane ahead of Woodworth, Marolf, Weisinger Jr., Pundt, Jeffery Delonjay, Sam Halstead, and rookie Carter Johnson, North Liberty, Ia. Both Frankel and Vance Wilson watched the finish from the trailer.
Hobby Stocks totaled nine, and they scrapped for fifteen circuits. Pole sitter Jeremy Dooley was the early leader, but it was Dustin Griffiths, wheeling a #22 machine, taking over on lap two, taking along John Richardson in the #IB25. A single caution waved with three in the books, and when racing resumed, Griffiths maintained the lead as four cars raced four wide for second. Quickly Cedar Rapids pilot David McCalla secured the position, then set sail for the leader. The front two pulled away as John Richardson, Tucker Richardson, and Billy Stanford swapped the third position. Although McCalla stayed on his rear bumper, it was Griffiths in victory lane. John bested Tucker for third, while Stanford rounded out the top five.
Modifieds put a cap on the night, ten strong for twenty laps. Heat two winner Daniel Fellows held the pole position, and he charged to the lead ahead of fourth starting Blaine Webster. The first caution came for Matt Diaz with four laps scored, and on the restart Diaz appeared to lose the rear end in the #28D, bringing a second and last caution. Dakota Simmons jumped to second as racing resumed, but lost the spot to Webster two laps later. Now it was eighth starting Kurt Kile on the move, claiming third on lap seven. As the crossed flags signaled the half way mark, the top three raced well out front, and one lap later Kile flew to second. With Fellows riding the high line, Kile was gaining ground with a diamond move in turns one and two, while following Daniel up top at the other end. Kile had his best shot at the lead as the pair raced side by side down the backstretch about lap sixteen, but Fellows prevailed, and captured a hard fought win. Webster was third, while Jadin Fuller cleared Simmons late for fourth.
There was still a hint of daylight off turns three and four when the final checkers waved about 9:20, capping a solid night of action. Thanks to Kohlmorgan and Profeta for their hospitality, and to the staff and drivers for a well run, entertaining show. Apologies for the late posting of the coverage, but it was an early call to St. Louis this morning to watch my Redbirds defeat the Colorado Rockies! It finally appears summer is here, and there is more than enough racing to go around, so get out, hit the tracks, and check back often here at Positively Racing!
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