After fighting wet conditions for the past two weeks, Lee County Speedway promoters were finally able to open their 2025 points season on Saturday. With only one race night in the books so far this year, drivers and fans as well as the track operators were anxious for some dirt track action. In addition to this being a $1,000 to win Drive for Five qualifier for the Pro Crate Late Models, another of the regular classes would also be picked to receive a $1,000 top prize, with the choice announced at the drivers' meeting. A new division of Vintage cars was on the schedule, but none signed in, so we would go with the six regular classes.
With hot lap complete, the first heat race kicked off right on time at 6:30 under a (finally!) warm, sunny sky! The qualifying events rolled off quickly, with just a single caution flag throughout on the well prepared three eighths mile racing surface.
Following a brief intermission, it was feature time. UMP Pro Crate Late Models would be up first. Denny Woodworth and Darin Weisinger Jr. would share the front row for the twenty five lap $1,000 to win headliner. Woodworth would pace the early laps while fourth starting Jackson Frankel eased past Weisinger on lap two. By the fourth time around Frankel was up to challenge Woodworth, and he completed the pass for the lead on lap five racing around the low line on the track. Woodworth continued in the middle groove and on lap eleven Weisinger also ducked under the Late Model lawyer to reclaim the runner up spot. But there would be no catching Frankel, who picked up his first win of 2025 in the non stop event. Weisinger Jr., Woodworth, and Jason Oenning would be the only cars still running at the end, with Spencer Havermale, rookie Late Model drivers Reid Sammons and Frankie Wellman, and Melvin Linder in a Woodworth "back up" car retiring early.
Sport Mods would come to the track next fifteen strong for fifteen laps. The random drivers meeting draw had designated the Sport Mods as the other class to compete for a $1,000 payday. A pair of top contenders, Adam Birck and Logan Cumby led the field to green. With Birck hugging the infield tire barrier and Cumby ripping the cushion, they continued to lead the charge. Meanwhile Dakota Girard slipped around Brandon Dale on lap six in a frantic duel for third. As the race approached the half way mark, Cumby was able to close the gap on Birck, and now both drivers began moving around on the track searching for some moisture to create some extra grip. In the closing laps Birck was able to open a bit more of a lead as Cumby suddenly had to work to fend off Girard. Again this race went non stop with a very exuberant Birck taking the win. Cumby would hold off Girard for second, Dale was solid in fourth, and Jason Von Zomeren drove a steady race to a fifth pace finish. But it was Cumby who became my latest "hero," as he quickly loaded up and made the short drive to 34 Raceway in West Burlington where he tagged the tail of the sixteen car feature and raced to a third place finish. Way to go, Racer!
Fifteen laps was also the distance for the Sport Compacts. Brandon Reu sat on the pole position, out raced Tim Schnathorst to lead lap one, then held on for yet another flag to flag non stop victory. As the defending track champion stretched his lead, the battle of the night developed behind him. Schnathorst, Barry Taft and Luke Fraise raced two and three wide, lap after lap, swapping positions in the race for second. At the checkers it was Reu out front while Fraise barely outdistanced Taft, with Schnathorst right there in fourth. Kimberly Abbott completed the top five.
Tucker Richardson paced lap one of the Hobby Stock fifteen lapper over Darin DeZwarte. But as the pair charged down the back chute on lap two, contact sent Richardson for a spin to bring out the first feature yellow flag. Richardson would restart at the back of the pack, and DeZwarte was also sent to the tail for his role in the incident. Jeremy Dooley then inherited the lead for the restart, followed closely by Austin Stalder, while Richardson quickly worked his way back to third. With just four laps to go, Stalder pulled alongside the leader, using a slide job to move to the front. Dooley, however was able to cross back over to regain the top spot. Two more laps were scored as Richardson was able to move around Stalder for second, and on the final trip around, Tucker was able to muscle his way around Dooley in turn three for the win. Stalder and DeZwarte followed, with Bobby Pearson rounding out the top five.
Normally one of the better behaved classes, on this night the Stock Cars struggled a bit with three cautions slowing their twenty lap feature. Derrick Agee lined up in row two, but was out front of the twelve car field as lap one was scored. He was joined by pole sitter Dave McCalla as that pair separated from the pack ahead of a lap five caution for a spin by rookie Jathan Fuller. Back to racing, Agee pulled well ahead as the leaders all migrated to the low line around the oval. Two more cautions at laps eleven and thirteen were only minor distractions for the flying Agee. McCalla, who made the trip down from Cedar Rapids was strong in second, chased by Tom Cannon, Bronson Spaw and Kevin Koontz.
Modifieds would provide the night cap, going at it for twenty circuits. The only stoppage in this event came as a result of a lap one melee, which resulted in Levi Smith facing the wrong way in turn one. The original restart saw inside row one starter Blaine Webster shoot to the lead in front of sixth starting Kurt Kile. As Kile stalked the leader, he suddenly ducked to the infield off turn four on the third lap, his run over. Webster then opened a considerable advantage, as eighth starting Jadin Fuller methodically worked his way to second by lap six. Fuller then worked to cut into the lead, and as starter Kevin Eggleston displayed the crossed flags signally the halfway mark of the race, Jadin had moved to the rear bumper of the front runner. As the front pair worked through slower traffic, Fuller had problems getting around a lapped car, allowing Webster to pull away, seemingly building an insurmountable advantage. But just as quickly, Blaine made contact with a lapped car, slowing his momentum, allowing Fuller to drive by and off into the night. With no more issues, Fuller would march to the checkers. Webster held on for second ahead of a pair of rookies with a familiar last name, Jace Eckrich in third and Adam Eckrich in fourth. Levi Smith would rebound from his early problem to turn in a top five run.
With minimal cautions, the well run program saw the final checkers fly right at 9:00 P.M.! Thanks as always to Neal, Patrick and the gang for an entertaining Saturday night.
Lee County Speedway will take a scheduled night off next week for graduations, then return the following Saturday featuring another Drive for Five for the Late Models. I will also be away from the tracks next weekend as we will celebrate grandson Keagans' graduation as he continues his work in fire sciences. But before that will be a Sunday night back at Quincy Raceways for weekly racing, so check back tomorrow for all the details.
And happy Mothers' Day to all you deserving ladies!
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