Saturday night was the second installment of the UMP Pro Crate Late Model Drive for Five qualifiers at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. $1,000 would be on the line for the Late Models as well as for a "mystery class" determined at the drivers meeting, picked among the Modifieds Sport Mods, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, or Sport Compacts. In addition, we were treated to a tribute to our military heroes during the playing of taps by my good friend Larry Loney.
Although it took a bit of help to roll in, the three eighths mile black Iowa dirt oval was in pristine condition, with multiple racing grooves and plenty of "bite."
A total of sixty nine race teams across the six divisions checked in, with sixteen Sport Mods and fifteen Stock Cars leading the way.
The heat races clicked of quickly followed by intermission, and then it was feature time. In a bit of a curious development, Modifieds ran the final heats, then the first feature event.
Ten cars lined up for twenty laps. Following a called back start, Blaine Webster led Jadin Fuller through the first two circuits before Fuller charged to the lead in turn one on lap three. Soon Kurt Kile moved in to challenge Webster for second, racing side by side before Kile claimed the spot on lap six. As the race approached the mid point Fuller was slowly stretching his advantage before encountering slower traffic on lap twelve. But Fuller had little problem with the lapped cars, gradually opening a comfortable lead to take the non stop win. Kile, Webster and Dakota Simmons came next while the young Eckrich boys, Jace and Adam battled side by side in an entertaining duel for fifth with Jace pulling ahead at the checkers.
All but one of the Stock Cars, Lewis Lynch in his bright green #71, came to the track for twenty laps of action. Long time West Liberty Raceway competitor Rusty Zook was back behind the wheel of a familiar #18z, and he paced a three car battle early in front of David McCalla and Derrick Agee. The first yellow flag flew with a pair of laps scored as Reid Sammons rolled to a stop just off turn three. The trio of front runners raced three wide as racing resumed, with McCalla now in front. Agee then moved to the high side of the track and roared to the lead as a five car scrum developed behind the two leaders. Agee gradually increased his lead, cruising to the checkers and the $1,000 payday. McCalla finished where he started in second followed by Shane Richardson, Beau Taylor and Zook.
Kyler Girard and Logan Cumby raced side by side under the flag stand for lap one, with fourth starting Cumby gaining the advantage on lap two. They separated from the pack ahead of a lap six caution for first time driver Preston Bridgeman. The caution reappeared twice with nine in the books, and back under green Cumby pulled away slightly. At the same time, an intense three car battle for third raged between Brandon Dale, Tyler Heckart and Cody Agee. A final caution came with just two laps remaining, and on the restart Dale was shuffled back to seventh. Girard was up for one final charge at the leader, and Cumby won the drag race out of turn four by mere inches! Heckart was right with those two while Agee and Cole Gillenwater completed the top five.
Fifteen laps would determine the Hobby Stock victor, and Jeremy Dooley Tom Killen Jr. and Tucker Richardson battled three wide for the top spot on the opening lap. Richardson would lead lap two and Killen lap three as Dooley fell back just a bit. Twice the caution flag waved with five laps down, then no more as the race stayed green. Tucker and Shane Richardson fought for second and soon Austin Stalder joined the fray, giving us a four car battle. Shane would grab the lead with five laps to go, but Killen came roaring back and the duo were side by side coming to the white flag of starter Kevin Eggleston. Killen edged ahead at the line, and the final lap was another "on your feet finish," as Killen Jr. held on by a whisker! Shane settled for the runner up finish, in front of Tucker, Stalder and Dooley.
The seven car fifteen lap Sport Compact feature was a walk away win for pole sitter Brandon Reu, but the action was intense behind the #27. Kimberly Abbott, Barry Taft and Alex Hayes raced three wide early before Abbott took command of the position on lap two. Those three then raced door to door and nose to tail behind Reu to the completion of the non stop event. They would cross the line in that order, with Kyle Rysdam claiming fifth.
Rounding out the evening would be the Pro Crate Late Models, as all ten lined up for twenty five laps of door to door slam bang action. Rookie driver Aiden Perry grabbed the lead from the pole position with outside row one starter Spencer Havermale in tow. On lap two, Sam Halstead, back in his familiar #84 lost the handle in turn one, collecting Brian Harris in #7B and Jason Oenning. Harris moved to second on the restart while eighth starting Tommy Elston shot to third on lap three. But as the field exited turn two, Havermale made contact with Elston, sending him for a spin. Havermale then headed to the pits and Elston was allowed to restart in third. Following the Delaware Style restart, Tommy moved to second as a duel began for third between Harris and Darin Weisinger Jr. On lap fifteen Harris ducked to the infield, his run over. Meanwhile Perry continued to lead as Elston worked lap after lap to try and drive underneath the #27 and Weisinger made up ground on the front pair. With eighteen laps scored Elston switched to the high side, powered around Perry for the lead, and began to pull away, while Weisinger Jr. now contended with Jackson Frankel for third and Oenning and Halstead fought behind those two. Weisinger Jr. was able to break free of Frankel, rapidly closing on Perry, and executed a perfect slide job in turn four of the final lap to move to the runner up spot behind the victorious Elston. Perry, Frankel and Halstead. Oenning and Reid Sammons came next, with Rickey Frankel III, Harris and Havermale scored next.
Although the final checkers came a bit later than normal, it was a full and exciting night of racing action. Next Saturday the traveling SLMR Late Model series will come to town following a Friday night stop in Columbus Junction, bringing an expected 25-30 cars to the storied Lee County facility.
Thanks to Neal and the LCS crew for their hospitality. Now I will watch the weather with the hope of completing a three race weekend at the newly upgraded Quincy Raceways. Hope to see you there!
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