Friday night Lee County Speedway roared back to life after a one week absence. It would be the final Drive for Five qualifier highlighting IMCA late models and IMCA modifieds each racing for $1,000 to win and also the final Drive for Three for IMCA sport mods boasting a $600 top prize. In addition, the late model winner could be in line to collect the $250 Sunoco Fuel bonus.
It was another warm night at the fairgrounds, but still a solid field of seventy four race teams checked in to compete in the five divisions. Late models turned out I believe a weekly racing season high of seventeen, topped only by nineteen sport mods.
The highlight of heat race action may have been in the first sport mod heat. Brandon Savage lined up near the back and spun his #47s in turn two. He was able to keep his engine fired and rejoined the field basically a half lap behind. Eventually a caution flag would fly for another car and after one more skirmish, Brandon found himself out front when the checkers flew! He would then redraw the pole position for the feature, but after leading a few laps early his luck would run out and he would retire to the pits with mechanical issues.
IMCA Sport Compacts would be first in the feature order, with all eleven cars taking the green flag. Following a false start, Brandon Reu would power from row three to lead to opening circuit. As Reu opened a commanding lead, four cars battled side by side and nose to tail for second. Just ahead of the halfway mark of the fifteen lapper, Josh Barnes emerged from the scrum to take control of the runner up position while Chandler Fullenkamp secured third. Barnes then began to quickly close on the leader, moving to the front on lap ten. Reu was not giving up, however, and the two veteran drivers raced less than a car length apart until the checkers waved with Barnes slightly ahead. Fullenkamp came home third, followed by Adam Christy. Kimberly Abbott edged Chevy Barnes in a close battle for fifth.
Twenty five laps would be the distance for the seventeen late models. Tommy Elston in what was apparently a new hot rod would line up outside Denny Woodworth in row one and he would lead all twenty five circuits to secure the victory. It was however not an easy ride for Tommy. The action was slowed first as Austin Townsend, out for I think the first time this season, went for a spin on lap two. Following the Delaware style restart, visiting Jacob Waterman moved into second while sixth starting Nick Marolf claimed third. As those two fought for position, Elston stretched his lead. At the halfway point, Marolf was able to pull ahead of Waterman, and he began to track down the leader in quick fashion. Elston was catfishing around the inside line while Marolf was doing business in a higher groove. Elston temporarily changed his line, perhaps sensing the oncoming Marolf, and soon slower traffic came into play. With Elston again pulling away, the second and final caution came for debris six laps from the finish. As the field reset, Dalton Simonsen, who had finished outside the top four in his heat and missed the redraw, had raced from fifteenth all the way to fifth! Back to racing Elston once more drove away from the pack as Simonsen gained another position to fourth. Elston cruised to the win with Marolf settling for second. Waterman was steady in third, followed by Simonsen, who won a tight battle with Jeff Guengerich. Another pair of drivers who missed the redraw, C. J. Horn and Ray Raker advanced from row seven to finish sixth and seventh. Newcomers Tim Simpson and Colton Leal were split by Darin Weisinger Jr. to round out the top ten.
Fifteen modifieds came to the track for twenty two laps of racing. Austen Becerra redrew the number one, and again it was a flag to flag run for #22. The only caution came at lap two, and back under green, fourth starting Matt Werner charged around Chris Zogg and Jadin Fuller for the second spot. Those two quickly distanced themselves from the field. Long time late model hot shoe Denny Eckrich had suffered an unlikely spin in his heat race, missing the redraw and lining up thirteenth. By the sixth lap, he had vaulted into the top five. As Becerra pulled away slightly, Denny moved to fourth on lap ten. Becerra had his vision a bit impaired as the hood on his #22 had come loose on one side, likely affecting his down force somewhat. With five laps remaining, Eckrich moved to third, but with no further stops, he could not rundown the top two. Becerra cruised to the win, with Warner strong in second. Eckrich held third, while Mark Burgtorf came out ahead in an entertaining battle with Zogg for fourth.
The IMCA stock car count was twelve, however Jerry Jansen saw his night end in hot laps. A single caution on lap one of the eighteen lapper would slow the action. A spin by Kevin Koontz resulted in a multi car mess that eliminated Pete Stodgell and Tyler Moore. Double duty Jeremy Pundt would grab the lead on the restart before David Brandies rode the cushion to the front on lap three. As Brandies drove away, six cars fought stock car style behind him. With about six laps in the books, John Oliver Jr. took command of second and Beau Taylor followed in third as the field began to sort itself out. The race stayed green until the finish, with Brandies taking an "easy" win. Oliver Jr. held second, fighting off a charge from Taylor. Josh Foster started ninth and edged Jason Cook for fourth.
As it should be, sport mods ran last on the card. Unlike those before them, six yellow flags marred the action, with the field finally going single file with threats of a time limit. Savage survived several restarts but it was Sean Wyett turning on the juice to put his #12S out front at the halfway mark of the twenty lapper. John Oliver Jr. had climbed from his stock car into the #557 machine and battled with Wyett and Dylan VanWyk before settling into second just past the halfway mark. Wyett got stronger as the laps counted down and secured the win. Oliver Jr. made it back to back runner up finishes in the final two races. Adam Birck worked through the field after starting eleventh, finally clearing VanWyk for third, and Brandon Lambert came all the way from outside row eight to complete the top five.
The track was in excellent condition, smooth and fast with multiple lines available. The final checkers waved just after 10:00P.M., putting a wrap on an enjoyable night of racing. Thanks again to Brian, Marcie and the LCS group for their hospitality. Lee County Speedway will not be racing next Friday, as the West Point sweet corn festival takes center stage in the area. The season is winding down fast, so don't put off finding a race to attend, and wherever you are, maybe we will see you there!
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