Donnellson, IA (May 29, 2009) - Another great night of racing on McLaughlin Freight Services Night and Gregory Design & Manufacturing Employee Night at the Lee County Speedway. The return of the Pilot Grove Savings Bank / Ideal Ready Mix IMCA Late Model "Drive For Five" made it six exiting feature for the fans to enjoy on the evening. Taking home wins on the night were Jason Frankel (IMCA Late Models), Wyatt Lantz (IMCA Modifieds), Chris Webb (IMCA Stock Cars), Paul Underwood (IMCA Stock Cars), Tim Tucker (Hobby Stocks) and James Oliver III (Wild Things).
First feature of the night was the 25 Lap IMCA Late Models with 21 cars taking the green flag. Robby Warner and Sam Halstead led the field to the green flag, with Warner grabbing the top spot on lap 1. The first of two cautions waved on lap 2, when Mark Burgtorf slowed with a flat tire after contact between him and Tom Goble. On the restart Warner once again moved out front, with Jeff Aikey now in pursuit in the second spot. The final caution came out on lap 7 when Matt Strassheim and Lonnie Bailey made hard contact in turn three, both drivers were ok but done for the night. Warner again jumped out into the lead, but now had Aikey, Denny Woodworth, who started 14th, Jason Frankel, who started 10th, and Tommy Elston, who started 9th, battling behind him for second. Frankel would jumped to the top side of the speedway to make his charge for the lead and made the pass on lap 16, with Aikey and Woodworth following. Frankel would then lead the final nine laps to pick up his first win of 2009 at Lee County. Aikey edged out Woodworth at the line to finish in second, Elston was fourth, with Warner holding on to finish in fifth.
Up next was the 14 car 15 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Corey Strothman and Bert McDaniel making up the front row. On the drop of the green it was Strothman grabbing the lead on lap 1, with McDaniel and Chris Webb battling for second. Strothman led only one lap, as Webb slipped under him on lap 2 to take over the top spot. Webb then had to worked to hold off Jason Cook, who started 8th, and Jeff Mueller, who started 9th. On caution on lap 13 when a tire was kicked out onto the speedway would set up a green-white-checkered finish. Webb would hold off Mueller and Cook on the final lap, as the three came across the line almost three wide, to claim his first win of 2009 at the track. John Oliver Jr. was fourth, with Nick Fenton rounding out the top five.
Jakoby Hooper and Jim Oliver Jr. led the field of 19 cars to the green in the 15 lap Hobby Stock feature, with Oliver Jr. jumping out front on lap 1. Oliver Jr. would only lead one lap as he got sideways in turn four and fell back to 8th, giving the top spot to Dean Kratzer. Kratzer continued to hold the lead, as Matt Tucker, who started 8th, Jim Lynch, who started 10th, Brandon Symmonds, who started 9th, and Derek St. Clair, who started 11th, were working there way towards the front. Tucker would make several attempts to get by Kratzer on the bottom of the speedway, and finally was able to get the job done on lap 10 by inches. Tucker then led the final 5 laps to pick up his first win of 2009 at the speedway. J. Lynch would finish in second, Symmonds was third, St. Clair was fourth, with Kratzer holding on for fifth.
The 15 lap IMCA Sport Mod feature was next, with Rich Uppinghouse and Rod Staats leading the field of 14 to the drop of the green. Staats had built up a nice lead when the caution came out on lap 7 for a spin by Thad Gaylord. On the restart, Paul Underwood would slip under Staats to grab the top spot and then led the final seven laps to claim his first win of 2009 at Lee County. Phillip Cossel came from 9th to finish in second, Jason Cook started 8th and finished third, Rodger Dresden had troubles in his heat and started 13th but would charge to a great 4th place finish, with Staats holding on for fifth.
Twenty-two IMCA Modifieds took to the track next for there 20 lap feature, with Michael Browning and Lonnie Heap on the front row. Wyatt Lantz would get a great start, as he came from his fourth place starting spot to lead lap 1. A caution on lap 4 for a spin by Bill Seyb would bring the field back to Lantz's back bumper. Lantz moved out front on the restart, but now had Jeff Waterman battling him for the top spot. The battle for the lead was slowed on lap 8 when Kirk Hopkins spun, bringing out the caution. The two car battle for the lead was now a five car battle, as Josh Foster, who started 12th, Tyler Cale, who started 9th, and Rich Smith, who started 11th, were now on the back bumpers of Lantz and Waterman. On the restart Lantz grabbed the advantage, but Waterman would jump to the top of the speedway to challenge him. Waterman would make the pass for the lead on lap 10, but Lantz would come back on the bottom to take the top spot back on lap 11. The final caution of the race was waved on lap 12, with another spin by Hopkins. Lantz would make the best of the final restart as he held on for the final 8 laps to claim his first win of 2009. Cale won the battle for second, Foster would settle for third, Waterman held on for fourth, with Smith rounding out the top five.
The final feature of the night was the 14 car 12 lap 4 Cylinder Wild Things, with Andrew Davis and Gabe Harrison on the front row. On the drop of the green it was fifth place starter Chris Loring Jr. charging up to lead lap 1. Harrison would jump to the bottom of Loring Jr. to take the top spot on lap 2, with Loring Jr. coming back on top to grab the lead back on lap 3. A caution on lap 4 for hard contact by Kimberly Abbott into the front stretch wall would slow the action. Kimberly would be ok, but was done for the night. Loring Jr. would move out front on the restart, with Harrison and last weeks winner James Oliver III, who started 10th, battling close behind for second. Harrison would slip under Loring Jr. on the white flag lap to grab the lead, but Loring Jr. would try to get back by him in turn one. Loring Jr. would get into Harrison and got him sideways allowing Oliver III to get by and grab the win, his second in a row. Harrison would recover to finish in second, Dakota Fenton came from 9th to finish in third, Bryan Rodefer was fourth, with Rex Smart rounding out the top five.
Next week at the Lee County Speedway will be Lee County Bank & Trust / Pepsi Inside Track Night. The POWRi Midgets will be in action, along with the 305 Sprints, IMCA Sport Mods, 4 Cylinder Wild Things, and just added Hobby Stocks. Plus all 2009 High School and College Graduates will get in FREE!, just wear your cap and bring a copy of your diploma to get in FREE!
Notes from LCS: Boone McLaughlin, who was the night sponsor, was missing from the nights action. His son was involved in an accident early in the Thursday and is in the hospital. So all prayers are needed for the McLaughlin family during this time......Also unable to make it to the track was Jay Johnson, they were on their way and had a flat on the hauler. But was unable to get it changed in time to make it for racing action........Burgtorf had a flat on lap 2 of the feature and restarted 20th, but recovered to finish 9th.........Dan Wenig, last weeks feature winner in the Hobby Stocks, made an early exit in the feature when he got high in turns one and two getting into the guardrail. He had a right rear tire go down and didn't bring out the caution, but pulled it into the infield to keep the race going. Good Job Dan!.......The current points leader in the IMCA Modifieds, Michael Long, was missing from action at Lee County. But Jim Gillenwater jumped behind the wheel of that machine and started 15th in the feature and came home in 9th.
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