Saturday, June 6, 2009

Loyet, Mincer, Smith, St. Clair and Loring Jr. Claim Lee County Speedway Feature Wins

Donnellson, IA (June 5, 2009) - Another night of racing action was put into the books at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, with The Pepsi Inside Track - KRNQ Radio and Lee County Bank & Trust sponsoring the nights activities, along with Burrows Paper Corp. Employee Night. Brad Loyet (POWRi Midgets), Bobby Mincer (305 Sprints), Jacob Smith (Sport Mods), Derek St. Clair (Hobby Stocks) and Chris Loring Jr. (Wild Things) took home the trophies in their respective class features.

The first feature on the night was the 15 lap Sport Mod feature, with Jacob Smith, who inherited the pole when Rich Uppinghouse scratched from the event, and Jim Kuhlmeier on the front row. Smith took advantage of his front row starting spot to move out front on the drop of the green flag and then held it until the first yellow of the event on lap 3. Thad Gaylord and Paul Lawson, who was behind the wheel of the #45 usually driven by Derek Higdon, got together on the front stretch with Lawson getting into the wall hard. He was ok, but heavy damage was done to the back of the machine. Smith grabbed the lead on the restart, with Phillip Cossel, who started 9th, and Derek Coleman battling him for the top spot. The event was slowed 6 more times, before setting up a green-white-checkered finish. Smith would hold off a last lap challenge from Coleman to pick up his first career Sport Mod feature in his rookie season. Cossel settled for third, Paul Underwood came from the rear after early troubles to finish in fourth, with Rick Barlow Jr. also charging from the back after a spin early to finish in fifth.

Up next was the 20 lap Mid-America 305 Sprint feature, with Bobby Mincer and Matt Krieger drawing the front row. Mincer would jump out front on the drop of the green flag and then held it until a spin by Tasker Phillips on lap 3 brought out the yellow. On the restart, Mincer once again moved out front with the battle for second between Krieger, Kevin Hetrick, who started 7th, Donnie Steward, driving the 4B machine usually driven by Scott Boles, and Jayson Ditsworth heating up. Mincer's big lead was erased on lap 7, when Patrick Long spun to a stop in turn two. Long would make the same mistake on the next lap and was sent pit side for his second solo spin on the night. Once again Mincer grabbed the lead on the restart, with Hetrick trying to chase him down, when the only red of the event came out on lap 10. Alexsha Alexander took an easy roll in turn, she would be ok. Mincer again jumped out to a big advantage on the restart, only to be slowed for the final time on lap 17, when Justin Newberry clipped a tire in turn two while running 6th. The final restart saw Mincer grab the lead in which he held until the checkered flag. Hetrick would settle for second, Steward was third, Ditsworth was fourth, with Phillips coming from the rear after an early spin to round out the top five.

Kimberly Abbott and Chris Loring Jr. made up the front row for the 12 lap Wild Thing feature, with Loring Jr. grabbing the lead on the drop of the green. Loring Jr. then worked to hold off Gabe Harrison when the yellow appeared on lap 6 for a spin by Dan Ertzinger and Rex Smart. On the restart, Jeremy Oliver's machine would come to a stop in turn one to bring the yellow back out. But Loring Jr. would moved out front on the following restart, with James Oliver III, who started 9th, now challenging for the top spot. A tangle by Harrison and William Michel in turn four on lap 8 would bring out a yellow. Loring Jr. would hold off Oliver III on the restart to go on to take the win. Dakota Fenton came from 8th to finish in third, Jayson Barnes started 10th and finished fourth, with Chuck Fullenkamp coming home fifth.

Up next was the 25 lap O'Reilly Auto Parts / Lucas Oil POWRi Midget feature, with Brad Loyet, by virtue of the most passing points in the heat, and Andrew Felker on the front row. Loyet would take advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on the drop of the green, but a spin by Austin Brown in turn one would slow the race. Loyet once again grabbed the lead on the restart and had built a good lead until Nick Knepper slowed on the front stretch a the midway part of the race. On the restart Loyet jumped out to a lead and held it until a red for Kyle Neal who rolled in turn three. Neal was ok, but done for the night. Loyet would move out front on the restart and pulled away for the $2,000 top prize. Felker nipped Brad Kuhn at the line to finish in second, Daniel Robinson came from 10th to finish in fourth, with Tim Siner edging out a fifth place finish at the line.

The final feature on the night was the 15 lap Hobby Stocks, with Victor Hastings and Bob Lynch drawing the front row. Lynch would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 and held it until a caution on lap 2 for a tangle by Dean Kratzer and Rob Wilsey. On the restart Derek St. Clair, who started 6th, moved by Lynch for the top spot. St. Clair was pulling away from the field when the final yellow of the night came out on lap 11 for a drive shaft. St. Clair now had to hold off a charging by Matt Tucker, who started 10th, over the final four laps to claim his second win of 2009 at Lee County. Jim Lynch was third, Dan Wenig came from 11th to finish in fourth, with Kratzer coming from the rear after early troubles to come home fifth.

Next Friday night the Pilot Grove Savings Bank / Ideal Ready Mix "Drive For Five" for the IMCA Late Models returns to the Lee County Speedway. Also in action will be the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks and Wild Things. It will be Dennis Woodworth Attorney at Law Night, along with Backslash Technologies, which is giving away a super computer. Also it will be Scouts Night with all boys & girls getting in FREE with a uniform and id.

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