After Lee County Speedway in Donnellson saw their 2021 opening late model special fall to rain two weeks prior, they were faced with a less than desirable forecast for their first night of points racing. Chilly temps and cloudy skies with a fifty percent chance of rain would have made it easy to postpone the lid lifter for one more week. And preparing a racing surface with a threat of rain turns science into a crap shoot as well. But it was time to go racing, and the staff did a bang up job of presenting a fun night of racing in front of a hearty group of die hard fans. The 3/8 mile oval was manicured to perfection, dust free with multi groove side by side racing.
The action kicked off about fifteen minutes past start time, but the ten heat races clicked off quickly with zero yellow flags to slow the pace. A quick intermission to distribute prizes to the youngsters and fire off some Frisbees to the crowd, and we were soon feature racing.
IMCA sport compacts were up first, with all but two of the fourteen drivers on hand taking the green flag. Brandon Reu redrew the number one pill, and he took off from the pole position to open a commanding lead. While outside pole sitter Jared Heule and fourth starting Kimberly Abbott battled for the runner up spot, it was Chance Bailey charging through the field. He had lined up in row six after issues in his heat race, but as the crossed flags signaled the halfway mark, he had climbed to fourth, and was closing on the race for second. With about four laps to go Bailey made the move of the race, driving under both Heule and Abbott for second in turns one and two. But with no cautions to interrupt his momentum, Reu cruised to the win. Bailey crossed the line in second followed by Abbott, Heule, and Luke Fraise.
The IMCA late models lined up next, minus rookie Grant Corzatt, whose night ended with mechanical issues in hot laps. Denny Woodworth managed only a fourth place finish in his heat race, but redrew the pole for the twenty lap feature, with Tommy Elston alongside. Woodworth set a quick pace with Elston in pursuit until Dustin Griffin drove to second in his sharp looking #20 machine. While Griffin, Elston, and Mark Burgtorf battled for second, Woodworth checked out. Nick Marolf rebounded to join the pack racing for second, as Jay Johnson worked from row five to sixth and closed on the front runners. About lap thirteen Jay dove to the infield, his night over. Again there were no cautions to slow the pace, and after a few tense moments as Woodworth sat on the scales, he emerged with his first win of the season. Griffin came home second, with Burgtorf in third. Apparently my eyes decieved me as Marolf edged Elson for fourth. Matt Strassheim led the second five ahead of Ray Raker, Darin Weisinger Jr., and Blair Barton. Johnson was credited with tenth.
All but one of the nineteen IMCA sport mods lined up for their main event. Jim Gillenwater jumped to the early lead from the outside pole position taking fourth starting Austen Becerra along in second. The pair of veteran drivers were already separating from the pack when the first yellow flag of the night came at lap two as Logan Cumby got crossed up in turn two. With Cumby tagging the tail, Gillenwater and Becerra ran side by side before Austen edged ahead on lap four. Barry Taft and A J Tournear had lined up in row five and they were locked in a duel for third, with Taft gaining the advantage at the lap four mark. The caution came again one lap later, but back to green Becerra had opened a sizable lead as the crossed flags were displayed at lap nine. A final yellow came with about three laps to go and although Becerra had a nice lead at the time, he was battling heavy lapped traffic. With clean air on the restart, he cruised to the win. Gillenwater ran second, with Taft in third. Cumby fought his way back to fourth and Tournear was impressive in fifth.
The IMCA stock cars were short in numbers, but as always they put on the race of the night. Chad Krogmeier led the first two laps before Jason Cook took over. John Oliver Jr. moved to second on lap six, and now the first five ran in tight formation. With Cook running the low line and Oliver pounding the cushion, they ran side by side for the lead, even as Krogmeier and Chris Wibbell did the same for third. Oliver could pull alongside in the corners, but Cook was in front down the straightaways. Another race with no cautions saw Cook take the win. Oliver Jr., Wibbell, Krogmeier, Jeremy Pundt, and Jerry Jansen followed in that order.
The final feature saw eleven IMCA modifieds in competition. Outside row one starter Chad Giberson took the initial lead with the caution coming out as lap one was scored for modified rookie Cody Bowman. On the restart, Michael Long charged to the lead, quickly driving away from the field. Kory Meyer made the trip to Donnellson from Dixon, Iowa and managed only a fifth place run in his heat. But starting in row three in the feature, he had powered to second by lap five. Long had opened a half track lead at the half way mark, Meyer ran alone in second, and there were intense battles going on for third on back. At the midway mark, Jeff Waterman brought out a final yellow as he looped his #71W. Mark Burgtorf put the #03B in second on the restart, but Long was soon in another time zone. At the checkers, Burgtorf scored runner up honors in front of Meyer, Bill Roberts Jr., and Brandon Dale, up from the sport mod ranks. Waterman fought back to run sixth.
The final checkers waved just about 10 PM., putting a cap on an entertaining opening night. It was about fifteen miles south of the track where we found the predicted rain showers! Thanks to Brian, Marcie, and the staff for their hospitality and for forging ahead in the face of less than ideal conditions!
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