Saturday it was back to Lee County Speedway in Donnellson for the IMCA late model Drive for Five finale. Thirteen drivers would be eligible for a $5,000 top prize in the 50 lap headliner, while anyone who did not run the required number of qualifying events would still collect a cool $2,000. Sandwiched around this action, would be four other regular IMCA classes, with modifieds racing for $750 to win, stock cars and sport mods for $600, plus sport compacts. In addition the limited schedule Mini Hauler Trucks would be running their season championship event.
A couple of things were evident as late afternoon gave way to evening and what was already an earlier than usual planned start time. One was that there would be a first time Drive for Five winner, as Justin Kay, who was two for two since the series began in 2020 was not in attendance. The other was that there may not be a winner at all unless the program moved along quickly, as persistent rain showers were making their way across the state, taking dead aim at Donnellson.
With the earlier start, racers continued to trickle in even as hot lap time approached, with a final tally of seventy seven teams signed in, led by a strong field of twenty two late models. But to their credit, track personnel got the show started right on time, with warm ups kicking off at 6:15 sharp, and the first race was on the track thirty minutes later. It had already been decided to scrap the scheduled ten minute break at lap twenty five of the late model feature, although there would be a brief fuel stop around lap thirty five. And after conferring with the drivers it was announced that the double passing points heat races would be replaced with one round of draw and go ten lappers, with the top four in each redrawing for their main event starting spot.
It took about an hour to complete the dozen qualifying heats, and with no delays, the Mini Haulers came to the track for their twelve lap season championship feature. Brian Tipps and Tucker Richardson lined up in row one and continued their total dominance in this class. Tipps would lead the non stop race flag to flag with Richardson close behind as they ran off from the pack. Tim Wagner, Luke Phillips, and Sheldon Brockett were next in the ten car field.
Although modifieds had been second in the heat race order, the late models were called next, perhaps with an eye on the radar. All twenty two made the lineup, with heat two runner up C.J. Horn and heat two winner Chris Lawrence sitting in row one. Horn grabbed the early lead and soon began to pull away from the battle for second between Lawrence, and the top two from heat three, winner Darin Weisinger Jr., and Dustin Schram. Track champion Tommy Elston lined up in row three and began his move to the front by charging to fourth on lap four. As Horn continued to lead by a considerable distance, Elston moved to third, then quickly to second about lap nine ( the scoreboard was being cranky!). Horn caught the back of the pack on lap eleven, but one circuit later the first caution came as Schram stopped facing the turn four guardrail. Back under green, we now had a two car battle going on. Horn was pounding the cushion while Elston searched multiple lines for a way to the front. Twenty two laps in, Horn came upon a pair of slower cars racing side by side for position, but he was patient and was able to find a way through, with Elston still in tow. Five laps later, Horn got in the crumbs at the top of turns one and two, with Elston driving under him for the lead, but C.J. fought back and was again in front at the flag stand. With twenty one laps remaining, a second caution came as contact caused Bryan Klein to slow on the backstretch. Although the show was up front, intense battles were going on behind the front two, with cars swapping spots and making runs from third on back. It was decided to have the fuel stop at this time. As racing resumed, Elston took the outside line behind Horn, with Nick Marolf now in the mix in third. Elston quickly raced around Horn for the lead, and two laps later Marolf followed in second. Although Elston was now in control, Marolf stayed within striking distance, even as first heat winner Matt Ryan climbed to third and Horn began to fade back in the pack. Seven laps from the finish, Marolf had his best chance, nearly pulling even with the leader exiting turn four. But Elston survived the challenge, and when he again caught slower traffic two circuits later, he showed off his driving expertise as he set up the lapped cars, passing them in the turns where he was able to put some distance on second place. Tommy then cruised to the checkers, collecting $5,000 for his efforts. Marolf held on to second, while Andy Nezworski showed his strength late to overtake Ryan for third. Denny Woodworth started eighth, fell back a bit early, then charged to fifth at the checkers, nipping Horn and seventeenth starting Chuck Hanna as the trio crossed the stripe side by side. Dalton Simonsen, row ten starter Jay Johnson, and Sam Halstead completed the top ten.
After the briefest of victory lane festivities, the modifieds lined up, eleven cars for eighteen laps. Jadin Fuller and Skyler Harroun led the field to green, with Fuller grabbing the lead, even as fifth starting Bill Roberts Jr. charged to second. Track champion Austen Becerra loaded up and left rainy Boone, Iowa and found himself starting in row three for the feature. He moved to the runner up spot on lap four, powered to the front on lap five, and proceeded to disappear from the pack by the time Dennis Laveine drove to second with eleven laps to go. With six laps to go showing on the board, the only yellow flag came for rookie Matt Diaz. Fuller retook second following the Delaware style restart, but again Becerra drove away to take the win. Laveine followed Fuller in third, while Wisconsin visitor Lance Arneson ran fourth ahead of ninth starting Jesse Belez.
Stock cars were quickly ushered to the track, with eleven cars scheduled to run sixteen laps. As sprinkles began to fall, the first start was called back, as Shane Richardson needed time to jump from his modified into his stock car. When the green flag waved, outside pole sitter Johnny Spaw charged to the lead with his row one mate John Oliver Jr. hot on his tail. But with a handful of laps in the books, our luck finally ran out, the sprinkles gained in intensity and the yellow flag waved, effectively bringing the program to an early end.
At this time, I do not know the fate of the remainder of the stock car feature nor that of the Sport Mods, or Sport Compacts. But Lee County Speedway still has three race nights on the schedule, with the Harvest Hustle on Friday and Saturday, October 7 and 8, and Shiverfest October 29. so perhaps they will be rescheduled during those shows.
In my opinion, there was a decent sized crowd on hand considering the amount of people who may have been in Boone, or at the World 100, and I want to give a big high five to the staff at LCS for presenting a fast paced program allowing for as much racing as possible.
Although the nights are getting cool, there is still a lot of racing to be had, and next weekend is chock full of special events. Close to home, Adams County, Illinois Speedway will off er up their two day show Friday and Saturday for A mods, Hornets, and B mods, check the track website for details. Wherever you might see me, stop and say " Hi!"
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