Friday night Lee County Speedway in Donnellson opened their 2023 points season. It would also be the first installment of the IMCA Late Model "Drive For Five." Now in its' third season, the mini series pays $1,000 to win seven nights during the season with a $5,000 to win finale in August. To be eligible for the big payoff, drivers must have competed in at least five of the seven qualifying shows, otherwise the winner of the finale would collect $2,000.
Also in action on Friday would be IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern Sport Mods, and non sanctioned Sport Compacts.
Seventy race teams signed in on what began as a pleasant evening, weather wise. With hot laps complete, the first green flag flew at 7:38, and ten heat races clicked off in timely fashion with only five yellow flags to slow the action. A quick ten minute break, and the nice sized crowd settled in for feature racing.
Sport Compscts kicked things off with all sixteen competitors lining up for fifteen trips around the three eighths mile oval. Chevy Barnes jumped from outside row one to the lead as four cars raced in tight formation behind him. By lap three his father Josh had cleared that group to claim second. and he drove to the front one lap later, only to suddenly slow and pull to the infield, his run finished. Chevy was back in control, but lap six saw row three starter Jason Ash sneak to the inside of Barnes to grab the lead. From there it was a parade all the way to the checkers in a non stop event. Ash scored the win over Barnes, Brandon Reu, Luke Fraise, and Chandler Fullenkamp.
Veteran racer Jerry Jansen had battled to a third place finish in the first Stock Car heat, but he was a no show come feature time, leaving us with a dozen cars for the eighteen laps. Pole sitter John Oliver Jr. paced the opening circuit ahead of a Neal Kohlmorgan spin. Back to racing, Derrick Agee secured the runner up spot, then set up a slide job out of turn four only to have Oliver Jr. cross him over to maintain the lead. As lap four was scored Agee managed to take over the top spot. Suddenly a weather front rolled in, the wind picked up, the temperature dropped noticeably, and within minutes a light rain began to fall. Fortunately the skillful Stock Car pilots were up to the added challenge, as Agee and Oliver pulled ahead while last weeks' winner Josh Foster and Jeremy Pundt fought for third. The caution flag waved with four laps to go for Kevin Koontz, and back under green the top seven cars headed to the inside line running nose to tail to the checkers. Huntsville, Missouri hot shoe Agee drove to victory over Oliver Jr., Jason Cook, Foster, and Pundt.
Rushing through post race honors, Modifieds rolled to the track, all twelve cars scheduled for eighteen laps. As outside row one starter Denny Eckrich charged to the front the rain thankfully stopped and the breeze subsided somewhat. A pair of Late Model legends, Eckrich and Mark Burgtorf drove off from the pack, and by the half way mark, Denny was checking out on the field. With just six circuits remaining, the lone yellow flag brought the Flying 50 back to the pack. Austen Becerra now cleared Dennis LaVeine for third as Burgtorf found the speed to challenge Eckrich for the lead. Mark was actually ahead by a nose as lap thirteen went in the books, but Denny quickly regained the point. In the closing laps contact between Becerra and Burgtorf resulted in a flat tire for Burgtorf, and he faded to fourth at the end. Eckrich held off a rim riding Becerra for the win, while LaVeine cleared Burgtorf for third. Fifth position went to visitor Zach Dockter, who made what Announcer Tony Paris said was an 877 mile tow from Norwich, North Dakota! My guess is Zach would have questioned the coats and blankets that came out when the breeze picked up!
It was now Late Model time, and Andy Eckrich one upped Denny by redrawing the pole position for his twenty five lapper. Sibling rivalry took a back seat, however as Denny left his car in the infield and wandered down towards the turn one scoreboard to offer hand signals to his younger brother. Jay Johnson was the only driver of the sixteen signed in to not make the call. Jay suffered engine woes early - I don't believe he even hot lapped - and was loaded and long gone by feature time. Andy charged ahead at the green, taking along his row one mate Sam Halstead and fourth starting C.J. Horn. Denny Woodworth was on the move early, clearing Horn on lap two and Halstead one lap later. Horn then drove to third, and the front pack stayed that way until Horn slipped past Woodworth on lap eleven. By now Eckrich was in another time zone, but a lap twelve caution erased his big lead. On the Delaware Style restart Woodworth was quick off the line and briefly challenged Eckrich for the top spot. Andy remained in control and a couple more trips around saw Horn drop to the low line and retake second. Occasional visitor Ron Klein lined up in eighth but found speed late and with seven circuits left cleared Woodworth for third. The final laps were a two car scrum between Eckrich and Horn, with Denny doing all he could to keep Andy informed of the oncoming #01. Horn was on the rear bumper of the leader with a pair of laps remaining, but Amanda Eckrich Simpsons' twin brother held on for the win. Behind him it was Horn, Klein, Woodworth, and Dalton Simonsen. Tommy Elston paced the second five in front of Darin Weisinger Jr., Ray Raker, double duty Pundt, and Halstead.
Sport Mods would round out the show, with only Cody Agee missing from the thirteen car field. Brayton Carter would redraw the pole position, and stay in command all eighteen laps. Logan Cumby and Jim Gillenwater would follow Carter until Brandon Dale powered to third on lap three. Carter was using the low line in turns one and two to avoid a whoop-de-doo that developed in the middle of those turns, then raced the high line in turns three and four. Another double duty pilot, John Oliver Jr. wheeled the Derek Goble #55 to third ahead of a lap five caution period. Back under green, Carter completely checked out as a great three car battle developed between Dale, Oliver Jr., and Cumby. Twelve laps in Oliver Jr. took over the runner up spot, pounding the cushion on what was a lightening fast track. But there would be no catching Carter who worked lapped traffic with ease, cruising to a full straightaway advantage. Oliver Jr. held second, chased by Cumby, Dale, and a late charge by twelfth starting Matt Tucker. Matt recovered from early troubles to turn in a strong performance.
The final checkers waved at 9:43 wrapping up a very entertaining and skillfully run show. Despite the cool temps most of the crowd stayed around until the end, with many heading to the pits afterwards to check out the cars and visit with the drivers given the early finish! Thanks as always to the Gaylords for their hospitality. Although we toyed with the idea of a three race weekend, we have decided to take Saturday off, then hope the weatherman cooperates on Sunday for what will hopefully be night number two of racing at the Adams County, Illinois Speedway. The ultra competitive UMP Modifieds are scheduled to compete there for a $1,000 payday.
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