Friday night was a great night for racing at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. A special attraction evoked memories of days gone by as the newly formed Keokuk Auto Racing Association, KARA presented the first Ramo Stott Australian Pursuit race. For those of newer generations, this was a staple of dirt tracks "back in the day." The format features six cars lined up in single file formation, usually for five or six laps. If at any point a car is passed, they are out of the race, making it a race for survival. These novelty events were extremely popular pre 1980s, both with fans and drivers alike. Bragging rights far outweighed what was generally a minimal payout. For those unfamiliar with KARA, it is the brainchild of the sons of legendary Ramo Stott, both offspring successful Late Model racers in their own right. The organization was formed to honor the accomplishments of the "Keokuk Comets" who put my hometown on the national map, with many of their greatest moments witnessed at this same dirt track. The hope of the group is to maintain a permanent place of honor for those drivers.
It was a beautiful evening in southeast Iowa, and sixty eight race teams checked in to compete, led by a season high eighteen IMCA Late Models. Heat race action clicked off quickly followed by the first of several preplanned Australian Pursuits. This first one saw five IMCA Sport Compacts race for five laps with Brandon Reu the victor after Luke Fraise saw his night end with mechanical woes.
A brief tickle of the track and it was feature time.
Late Models were up first, with all but Ed Hollenbeck lining up for twenty five laps. This was easily the race of the night, with three different leaders and the winning pass coming following a caution period with three laps to go. Kruze Miles and Jason Oenning brought the field to green but it was Donnellson driver Jeremy Pundt coming from inside row two to grab the lead. Jackson Frankel, who along with Pundt has struggled in the early season before his win last Sunday in Quincy, shot from row three to second on lap two. As Pundt stretched his advantage, fourth starting Jake Griffin began to close on Frankel for second. At the same time, eleventh starting Darin Weisinger Jr. was suddenly on the move, passing cars as he headed for the top five. Pundt had a comfortable lead until the first yellow flag came with ten laps scored when a tractor tire was kicked onto the racing surface. Back under green Frankel drove around Pundt exiting turn four while fifth place Spencer Havermale powered to third. Now it was Frankel opening a commanding lead but a key moment came when Griffin slipped back around Havermale for third on lap twenty. Two laps later a final caution came as Christian Miles slowed off turn four. setting up a three lap dash. This time it was Griffin charging to the front, then pulling away for his first feature win in the Warner Racing #79. Frankel held the runner up spot with Pundt in third. After giving up the position, Havermale rebounded to fourth ahead of Weisinger Jr. Two time winner Tommy Elston gained six spots to sixth, Denny Woodworth started and finished seventh, trailed by Oenning, Curtis Glover, and Ron Boyse.
Twelve of thirteen IMCA Northern Sport Mods were up next for twenty laps. Brandon Lambert charged from outside row one to the lead, taking along fourth starting John Oliver Jr. Oliver took over first one lap later, pulling well ahead as row four starter Cole Gillenwater came roaring through the pack to second. As the race approached the mid point Gillenwater was closing fast, slipping around Oliver Jr. as the two battled side by side. Following a first caution period with seven to go, Gillenwater got crossed up off turn two, turning the lead back over to Oliver and bringing out a second yellow flag. As the green waved it was quickly replaced with a final yellow when contact sent an upset Olivia Hoffman into the front stretch fence along with Chevy Barnes, who had no place to go. After a very long delay to remove those two cars, racing resumed, with tenth starting Adam Birck now charging to the runner up position. With just a pair of circuits left, Birck powered to the front, holding on for the hard fought victory. Oliver crossed the line in second chased by Cody Agee, ninth starting Brandon Dale, and a rebounding Gillenwater.
With extra money on the line, only Eight Mini Hauler Trucks signed in, racing for a dozen laps. Nick Wilkerson paced the early portion of the event, with fourth starting Caleb Ealey moving to the lead on lap six. Those two would swap the lead back and forth before Ealey took over for good on lap eight. From there he cruised to the win ahead of Wilkerson, Dawson Tipps, and the Delzells, Hayden and Jason, as fourth running Tate Kronfieldt was apparently DQ'd in post race tech. Ealey might win the unofficial award for biggest fan club, as his feature winners' photo included about twenty people!
With Fraise done for the night, only five IMCA Sport Compacts remained for twelve laps of non stop racing. Reu quickly assumed the lead, driving off into the Lee County sunset. Kimberly Abbott took runner up honors in front of David and Ethan Prim and Bill Bennett.
Randy Rindom scratched from the thirteen IMCA Stock Car lineup. Third starting Beau Taylor cleared pole sitter Rusty Zook for the lap one lead as the two veterans battled early. Following a yellow flag for a Jathan Fuller spin, Chad Krogmeier took up the chase in second. Oliver Jr. lined up in row five, but came roaring to the runner up spot on lap four. He then closed in on Taylor, finally moving to the lead on lap seven of twenty. As Oliver Jr. increased his lead, Taylor soon had his hands full of Derrick Agee. Exiting turn four on lap twelve, Agee pulled a big time slide job to charge to second, still well behind the leader. The race now seemed to be for third as Jason See moved up to challenge Taylor. But on the final lap, Oliver Jr. would slow for an unknown reason while Agee suddenly closed the gap, nipping the #05 at the line for the surprise win. Taylor would hold off See for third while Casen Keller completed the top five.
As many in the nice sized crowd stuck around, nine IMCA Modifieds - missing Jesse Belez - lined up for twenty laps. JaceWhitt, who makes the three hour trek each week from Hamilton, Missouri, raced to the early lead from the pole position ahead of Bill Roberts Jr. and fifth starting Austen Becerra. Back to racing after a lap four caution for Dennis Laveine, Becerra shot to the lead. From there the battles were for second on back as Austen slowly opened a full straightaway advantage on the field. Jared Eckrich began to stalk Whitt, and when the duo encountered a lapped car on the backstretch Eckrich was able to power to the spot with just two laps remaining. Mark Burgtorf advanced three positions to come home fourth while Roberts Jr. rounded out the top five.
It was a bit of a late night, but the racing was good, with plenty of room for passing as the track was on point!
Thanks as always to the Weisinger family for their hospitality. Plans for today are up in the air, possibly a trip to 34 Raceway. Remember, no racing this Sunday at Quincy. Thanks for reading!
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