It was Friday racing once again at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. And despite the "lazy, hazy crazy days of summer," it was Christmas in July at the fairgrounds track. Reduced admission was offered for those bringing an unwrapped gift which would be donated to Toys for Tots. Santa also made an appearance to the delight of the youngsters on hand. In addition, there was plenty of exciting on track action!
The car count was evenly distributed, with a pair of heat races in each of the six divisions. Those qualifying events clicked off quickly, and after a very brief intermission it was time for feature racing.
Modifieds would come to the track first, racing for twenty laps. Jarrett Brown would make the trip down from Ainsworth, and he would redraw the pole position. He would pace the opening lap over his row one mate, Dakota Simmons. As those two distanced themselves from the field, an early battle for third saw Bill Roberts Jr., Jadin Fuller and Norwich, North Dakota traveler Zach Dockter run in tight formation. With the twenty laps going caution free, Brown drove off with a full straightaway lead all the way to the checkers. Simmons also held a nice cushion coming home second followed by Roberts Jr., Fuller, and Dockter.
Twenty laps would also be the distance for the Stock Car division. Keegan Wells would grab the early lead from row one with Derrick Agee in pursuit. The second time past the flag stand it was Dustin Griffiths easing around Agee just ahead of a yellow flag. One more lap was scored before the caution flag would come for a final time. Now the front runners lined up in formation, working low on the three eighths mile oval in turns one and two and up near the guardrail at the other end. Wells, who just turned eighteen this week, continued to increase his lead over Griffiths. With Agee running the preferred low groove in one and two, Jason See elected to try a different line, entering the turn in the middle, then attempting to dive under Agee. However he contacted the back of the Agee car, sustaining front end damage. He was able to maintain his position, but fell a bit off the pace. An excited Wells would collect his first ever feature win. Griffiths filled the runner up slot in front of Agee, See, and Pete Stodgell.
The 4 Cylinder Sport Compact class would run fifteen caution free laps. Barry Taft shot from the pole position and would lead all fifteen circuits for the win. It was anything but easy, however, as hometown driver Brandon Reu raced nose to tail and side by side with the leader throughout. As Taft worked the high side of the track and Reu shadowed him down low, there was an intense four car battle behind them. Eventually Keokuk racer Josh Barnes would move from sixth to claim third, followed closely by Luke Fraise, Kimberly Abbott and Ethan Prim.
Keokuk driver Tommy Elston had been on a six race win street at the track before Austen Becerra grabbed the checkers one week ago. This set up another battle this week as Becerra would start the twenty five lap headliner in row one with Elston in row two. The anticipated duel never developed however as Becerra was able to rocket to the lead taking along pole sitter and third generation driver C. J. Horn. But even Horn was no match for Becerra, who quickly opened a commanding lead that stretched to a full straightaway by lap ten. Meanwhile Elston settled into third while Jeremy Pundt and rookie Jackson Frankel staged a thrilling back and forth battle for fourth just a few car lengths behind Elston. With the race staying green all the way, Becerra would cruise to a half lap victory over Horn. Elston held off a late charge by Pundt for third with Frankel rounding out the top five. Denny Woodworth would race home in sixth ahead of Darin Weisinger Jr., Spencer Havermale, and Jason Oenning, with Vance Wilson credited with tenth.
Patrick Phillips would lead Cole Gillenwater as the opening laps were scored for the fifteen lap Sport Mod feature. On lap three, recently "unretired" Adam Birck would charge to the runner up spot, then use a high side move to nose in front at the flag stand as lap four went in the books. Birck was building a sizable lead when the lone yellow flag was displayed by starter Kevin Eggleston with six laps down. Tyler Heckart would head to the pits after battling inside the top five. Back to racing, Logan Cumby was the man on the move, grabbing third, then jumping to second just past the half way mark. But he was unable to run down Birck, who was on his way to a feature win last week before mechanical woes ended his night. Following the Canton, Mo. driver to the checkers was Cumby, Cole Gillenwater, Brandon Dale and Phillips.
Hobby Stocks would put a cap on the action, going at it for fifteen laps. Austin Stalder took the early lead from outside row one with eighth starting Dustin Griffiths moving up to do battle side by side. Griffiths, once again racing in two classes, would be ahead by a nose as lap three was scored. It was now a two car battle with Griffiths racing up against the treacherous cushion while Stalder operated one lane lower on the track. Meanwhile there was a tight four car scrum going on behind the front duo. On one occasion Griffiths drifted up in the crumbs, allowing Stalder to close in, but he quickly recovered to maintain his lead. This was another non stop event on what was a well prepared, smooth and fast surface. Griffiths eventually opened a comfortable lead, taking the win over Stalder. Jason Schutterle would come home third, besting Darin Dezwarte in an unfamiliar #29. Rounding out the top five was a driver we have not seen on the track for many years, Harley Hill of Wayland, Mo. in the Richardson Racing #IB25!
The fast paced program saw the final checkers fly about 9:50.
Lee County Speedway racing will return to Saturdays next week, August 3 presented by KP Promotions, Neal Kohlmorgan and Patrick Profeta. And a special reminder, no racing at Adams County, Il. Speedway this Sunday, July 28.
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