Friday night it was back to the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson for night number four of the "Drive for Five" series for IMCA late models and IMCA modifieds highlighting a draw, redraw show. $1,000 to win would be on the line for each class as well as another chance to advance to the $5,000 to win series finales later this season. To be eligible for the top prize, drivers must attend at least five of the seven qualifying nights, with the finals for modifieds in August and late models in September. Each of those events will pay $2,000 to a winner who did not participate in the minimum five shows. Three other IMCA classes, stock cars, sport mods, and sport compacts filled out the card on Friday, as well as a visit by vintage cars.
With so many rain outs in the first part of the season,including last Friday, the promoters have decided to piggy back another "Drive for Five" show for tomorrow, July 3. No track points will be awarded, and at least of couple of drivers in the late model division have other commitments, so we will see how it all works out. Also, just up the road at 34 Raceway, the MLRA late models will be in action along with IMCA modifieds, stock cars, and sport compacts. I also have a family event on the schedule, so I may be showing up somewhere or nowhere, depending....
Now, on to the racing action!
With Davenport Speedway not racing on Friday, we expected a bump in car count, but twenty six IMCA late models was a nice surprise. Twenty IMCA modifieds also checked in, along with twenty three IMCA sport mods, sixteen IMCA sport compacts, and eleven IMCA stock cars. A dozen vintage cars , including coupes and open wheelers bumped the field to over one hundred entries! The extra long lines at the gate made getting everyone checked in a challenge, but hot laps rolled off only about ten minutes behind schedule.
A bakers dozen heat races plus two for the "old timers" and we moved quickly into feature action.
Compacts lined up first, sixteen strong for fifteen laps. Craig Bangert shot to the front from the outside pole. Row three starter Jason Ash soon joined him at the front of what became a two car battle. Meanwhile a pack of four cars sliced and diced for third through sixth. With no cautions, the leaders caught slower traffic late in the race, and Bangert had to check up just a bit opening the door for Ash to grab the top spot with four laps to go. Ash took the checkers trailed by Bangert, fifteenth starting Josh Barnes, Brandon Reu, and Adam Christy.
Late models were next on the card. If you follow MY Race Pass, it told you there were twenty seven cars signed in. However, Matt Ryan, who apparently called ahead, never made it to the track, as the team had a breakdown along the way. Also, rookie Kevin Miller made the trip from Freeport, Illinois with a brand new #120, but never hit the track. So twenty five cars took the green flag for twenty five laps. It took three tries before a lap was scored, with Ron Klein taking the lead from the pole. His row one mate, Dave Eckrich slipped around him on lap three. Eighth starting Tommy Elston jumped into the top five before a close encounter with the backstretch guardrail caused him to fall back. Eckrich opened a nice lead before catching heavy traffic eight laps in. Klein had closed the gap considerably, but as the crossed flags to signal the half way mark were displayed, they were replaced with a yellow flag. Third running Jay Johnson spun on the front stretch after some contact, and he was hit hard by Logan Duffy. Jay was able to tag the back of the pack, but Logan suffered heavy body damage. Following the Delaware style restart, Elston vaulted to fourth just ahead of another front stretch crash involving Kevin Peters and Ray Raker. Elston now jumped to second as racing resumed, but with a clear track ahead, Eckrich began to pull away. One final caution came with seven laps to go, and Klein reclaimed the runner up spot on the restart. Eckrich held on for the win, joining his brother Andy as Drive for Five winners in 2021. Klein, from Sherrill, Iowa, turned in a strong run in second, ahead of Elston, Chuck Hanna, and Thursday Davenport victor Andy Nezworski. Gary Webb came home in sixth, besting track regulars Dustin Griffin, Mark Burgtorf, Sam Halstead, and Denny Woodworth. The long distance award goes to David (1J) and Robbie (41) Jorgensen, who made the trip from Elkhorn, Nebraska to race at LCS!
With Beau Taylor a no show, ten IMCA stock cars lined up for sixteen laps. Front row starters John Oliver Jr. and Jason Cook, led the field until lap three, when they made contact, sending Oliver for a spin. Race officials sent both cars to the tail for the restart. Jeremy Pundt grabbed the lead and was on cruise control ahead of a caution period with nine laps to go for a mix up involving Chad Krogmeier and Jake Powers. Oliver powered past Jerry Jansen for second as racing resumed.. Oliver then took to the top side of the oval, as Pundt hugged the inside tire barrier. With the white flag waving, Oliver nudged ahead, then took the checkers by a couple car lengths. Pundt held second, topping Jansen, Cook, and Chris Wibbell.
Officials then switched up the order, bringing the modifieds to the track for twenty two laps. Nineteen cars took the green flag. Michael Long redrew the outside row one starting spot, and took a flag to flag win. However, it was not that easy. Row three starters Mark Burgtorf and Denny Eckrich quickly moved up to challenge the leader. On lap seven, Fisher Reese spun in turn two as he was about to go a lap down, and Long was forced to squeeze between Reese and the guardrail to avoid contact. The yellow waved again one lap later, and it was now twelfth starting Cayden Carter picking his way through the field. With Carter in fourth at the half way point, Burgtorf and Eckrich were locked in a battle for second. Using a bit of help from a lapped car, Denny was able to advance to second, however Long was now well out front. Eckrich, Burgtorf, and Carter were tooth and nail for second when yet another lapped car spun in front of the leader, who narrowly missed disaster. Back under green, Carter charged to the runner up spot, but came up just short at the checkers. It was Long and Carter, the only Drive for Five winners thus far, followed by Eckrich, Burgtorf, Brandon Dale, and Thursdays Davenport winner, Chris Zogg.
An onslaught of May Flies had thinned the large crowd considerably by the time all but one of the twenty three sport mods came to the track for eighteen laps. After a first lap caution, pole sitter Tom Bowling Jr. grabbed the lead ahead of his row one partner, Logan Cumby. Six laps in, Tanner Klingele had moved from row three to challenge Bowling. Meanwhile Austen Becerra, behind the wheel of Adam Bircks' #112 was coming to the front, taking over third on lap seven. As the race stayed green, Klingele continued to pressure the leader, and he made a pass for the top slot in traffic six laps from the checkers. A fifteen lap green flag run ended when Colton Bowman spun after contact in turn four with just three circuits remaining. Becerra powered to second on the restart, then worked the high line to try and over take the leader. However Klingele was up to the challenge, grabbing a hard fought win. Bowling Jr. hung around in third. Sean Wyett made a late pass for fourth over Jadin Fuller. ( A good job by the sport mods!)
The vintage cars were set for a pair of exhibition features as we made our way to the car, having witnessed a full night of quality racing action. As always, thanks to the LCS staff for their gracious hospitality.
Lots of racing remains for the holiday weekend, and the weather looks great, so what are you waiting for!?!
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