It's the Johnson and Johnson Show at Independence

Independence, IA (Saturday, August 18, 2012) - With the battle for the 2012 points titles starting to come to an end, I decided to make the trip back to the Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, Iowa for there weekly racing program. Mother nature provided some great weather to go along with some exciting racing action.

The first feature of the night was the 15 lap IMCA SportMods, with Joel Rust and Brian Hilbert leading the field to the green. But just as the green flag was dropped the yellow light would come on, for a no start by the front row. On the original restart Rust jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Hilbert and Ray Lundry. Rust then started to put some distance between him and the battle for second, when another caution came out on lap 4. Hilbert, who was running 2nd, would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Rust moved back out front on the restart, with Alex Zwanzinger, who started 11th, moving into second. Just as quickly as a lap was complete, another caution came out on lap 5. This time Matt McCahen would spin in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. On the restart Rust once again grabbed the lead, while Kip Siems over took Zwanzinger for second. After another lap was completed, lap 6, another caution appeared on the speedway. This time Synjun Bauer spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Rust again moved back out front on the restart, with Siems working to hold back Zwanzinger for second. Just like Rust has always done on the previous restarts, he started to pull away from the field when another caution came out on lap 9. Bob Ebaugh would spin in turn 2 to bring the yellow out. This would also bring an end to the time limit, which meant another yellow or the checkered would end the race. On the restart Robert Whalen would spin in turn 2 and collected Jim Aschenbrenner, Steve Wimer and Josh Burrell, to bring out the final caution and the checkered flag. Rust was awarded the win, followed by Lucas Lundry who started 9th, Jared Van Deest who started 10th, Danny Dvorak who came from 12th, and Sam Wieben who passed 15 cars from his 20th place starting spot to round out the top 5.

Joel Rust won the IMCA SportMod feature on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at the Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, IA.

Up next was the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Jesse Brown and Russell Damme Jr. making up the front row for the event. Brown would take advantage of his front row start to jump out into the lead on the drop of the green flag, followed by Jason Hocken, who started 5th and quickly worked his way to 2nd. Brown then had to work to hold back Hocken over the next 3 laps, when the first caution of the race came out on lap 4. Bryce Carey would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hocken would slip under Brown as he got high in turn 4 to grab the top spot, followed by John Emerson and Sean Johnson, who started 9th. Johnson jumped to the top of the speedway and would work his way past Hocken to grab the top spot away on lap 7. Johnson and Hocken, who was on the bottom, put on a battle for the lead until the caution came out on lap 13. This time Damme Jr. would spin in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Johnson moved back out front, with Jarod Weepie, who started 7th, over taking Hocken for 2nd. The final caution of the event would come out on lap 15, as Norman Chesmore spinning in turn 3 after contact from Brown. On the restart Johnson once again grabbed the lead, while Weepie and Hocken battled for second. Johnson would go on to lead the final 3 laps to claim his 7th win of the season at the track and also locked up the track championship. Weepie won the battle for 2nd, Hocken settled for 3rd, Emerson was 4th, with Scooter Dulin coming home in 5th.

The IMCA Stock Car feature at the Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, IA on Saturday, August 18, 2012 was won by Sean Johnson.

Dave Fangman and Neil Nabholz led the field to the green in the 10 lap IMCA Sport Compacts feature, but it was third place starter Steve Miedke who grabbed the lead on lap 1. Miedke would pull away from the field to lead all 10 laps, in a caution free event, to pick up the win. Merv Chandler finished in 2nd, Adam Gates was 3rd, Nabholz held on for 4th, with A.J. Witten rounding out the top 5.

The IMCA Sport Compact feature on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at the Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, IA was won by Steve Miedke.

The 20 lap IMCA Modified feature was up next, with Kevin Pittman and Jeff Kriz leading the field to the green flag. Pittman would take advantage of his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Kriz and Shawn Ryan. The battle up front was slowed for the one and only caution on lap 2, as Josh Barta spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Pittman once again jumped out front, with Ryan over taking Kriz for second. Ryan, who was running the bottom, slipped under Pittman to grab the top spot away on lap 4. But Pittman didn't give up as he grabbed the lead back on lap 5, while Adam Johnson, who started 7th, moved in to make it a three car battle for the lead. Johnson would slip under Pittman and Ryan on lap 8 to grab the top spot and then pulled away from the field to claim his 4th win in a row and 5th in the last 6 races at the track. Ryan settled for 2nd, Pittman was 3rd, Mark Schulte came from 9th to finish in 4th, with Ronn Lauritzen coming from 8th to finish in 5th.

Adam Johnson made it 4 wins in a row in the IMCA Modified feature on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at the Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, IA.

Justin Lichty and Jerome Wilson led the field to the green in the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Lichty grabbing the lead on lap 1 over a charging Quinton Miller, who started 6th. Lichty's lead would only last for 1 lap, as Vince Buchholz slipped under him to grab the top spot on lap 2. The action up front came to a stop on lap 4, as the red flag waved over the speedway. Jeremiah Wilson went airborn off of turn 2 and went head on into the guardrail, where his car got stuck in between two rails. He would climb from the car ok, but done for the race. On the restart Buchholz moved back out front, while Miller over took Lichty in the battle for 2nd. Another caution on lap 5 would appear on the speedway, as debris in turn 4 slowed the action up front. Then Cale Peterson would spin in turn 2 on the next restart and collected the cars of Curt Graham and Gary Gates to bring the yellow light back on for the final time. Once again Buchholz edged out Miller and Lichty on the restart, as they came three wide off turn 4. Miller would lead lap 7, on the bottom, by inches over Buchholz and then held him off on the final lap to pick up the win. Buchholz settled for 2nd, Lichty was 3rd, Justin Stander came from 10th to finish in 4th, with Nathan Christie holding on for 5th.

The IMCA Hobby Stock feature at the Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, IA on Saturday, August 18, 2012 was won by Quinton Miller.

The final feature of the night was the 25 lap IMCA Late Models, with Dain Sires and Tysus Pattee making up the front row for the event. But it was fourth place starter Greg Hunter who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Sires and Greg Kastli, who started 5th. Hunter then held the top spot until lap 5, when Kastli slipped under him to grab the lead. Kastli then started to pull away from the field, as Tyler Bruening, who started 8th, worked his way to the front. Bruening worked his way into 2nd on lap 19 and then went to work on Kastli for the lead, as Kastli had built up a full straight away lead. But the one and only caution of the race would help bring the field back to Kastli's bumper. Dale Hackwell Jr. would drive into the back of Rick Dralle's machine coming off turn 2, as the two cars got hooked together and spun down the back stretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Kastli jumped back out front, with Dean Wagner and Bruening battle for second. Bruening would make contact with Kastli coming off turn 4, which allowed Wagner to go by both on the top side to grab the lead on lap 23. Wagner then held off Bruening on the final lap to claim the win. Bruening settled for 2nd, Kastli was 3rd, Jeff Aikey came from 11th to finish in 4th, with Curt Martin finishing in 5th after starting in 9th.

Notes from Indy: 27 Sport Mods, 22 Modifieds, 21 Late Models, 21 Hobby Stocks 15 Stock Cars and 8 Sport Compacts made up the 114 signed in on the night......Shane Ebaugh started the SportMod feature in 15th and passed 9 cars to finish in 6th....Sean Vogt came from 17th to finish in 9th....Cory Evans finished 10th after starting in 19th....Brian Hilbert recovered from his lap 4 spin to come back up to finish in 12th....Bob Ebaugh came from 16th to finish in 13th....Synjun Bauer, who started 22nd, came back to finish in 14th after spinning on lap 6....Robert Whalen came from 24th to finish in 16th....Steve Wimer finished in 18th after starting in 25th....Kip Siems, who was running 2nd, settled for a 20th place finish after retiring with a left rear flat under the lap 9 caution....Travis Peterson pulled off under the lap 4 caution with a right rear flat, after running in 6th, to finish in 21st....Alex Zwanziger was credited with 22nd after starting in 11th and making it up to 3rd by lap 8. But he would exit the track with a right rear flat to end his run to the front......Kirk Fauser started the Stock Car feature in 10th and took home a 7th place finish....Cory Tharp passed 6 cars from his 14th place starting spot to finish in 8th....Norman Chesmore recovered from his lap 14 spin to come back up to finish in 9th....Kevin Rose was a scratch from the feature after having motor troubles in his heat race......Duayne Herb was forced to scratch from the Sport Compact feature after troubles in the heat......Scott Hogan came from 12th in the IMCA Modified feature and took home a 7th place finish....Bill Roberts made the pull up from Burlington and started the feature in 15th. He would pass 5 cars to bring home a 10th place finish....Luke Miller finished in 15th after starting in 22nd....Vern Jackson, was suppose to start in 6th, but was a scratch from the feature after having motor troubles at the checkered of his heat....Jason Morehouse had a left rear flat on the parade lap and was forced to scratch from the drop of the green....Terry Johnson had troubles in his heat to froce him to scratch from the feature......Jim Ball started the Hobby Stock feature in 21st and passed 14 cars to finish in 7th....T.J. Mortenson came from 18th to finish in 10th....Randy Byerly finished 12th after starting in 19th....Nick Welch took home a 13th place finish after starting in 20th....Benji Irvine started in 11th and had worked his way up to 5th by lap 8 when he lost a motor and had to settle for a 16th place finish......Jon Passick came from 10th in the Late Model feature to finish in 6th....Bobby Hansen took home a 7th place finish after starting in 12th....Darrel DeFrance passed 7 cars from his 15th place starting spot to finish in 8th....Luke Merfeld came from 13th to finish in 9th....Chad Lerch passed 10 cars from his 20th place starting spot to take home a 10th place finish....LaVern Carey came from 19th to finish in 13th....Russell Hesse finished 15th after starting in 21st.

Chris Simpson Cruises to Corn Belt Clash Win at the Jackson County Speedway

Maquoketa, IA (Saturday, August 11, 2012) - Saturday night took me back to another track I haven't been to for several years, as the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa hosted the first ever visit for the Corn Belt Clash Series. This race would also be the 6th Annual Dusty Kay Memorial Race, with the Late Models battling for a $3,000 top prize and the 4 Cylinders going for $1,000 to win.

Twenty-three Late Models signed in on the night, which divided them into three 10 lap races. The Corn Belt Clash series uses a passing points system to determine the top 6 who would run a dash to help set up the first three rows of the A Main, while the remainder lined up how they finished in passing points.

The first 10 lap Late Model heat race saw Chad Simpson jump out into the lead on the drop of the green flag from his outside front row start, with Denny Eckrich, who started 4th, following behind in second. Simpson would hold the top spot until a caution came out on lap 6, when Pete Parker slipped off turns three and four to bring out the yellow. On the restart Simpson brought the field to a jack rabbit start, which caused Mike Fryer to get into the side of Brian Beaudry, who was driving the back-up car of Justin Kay. Fryer would spin in turn four to bring the yellow back out. But Simpson would be penalized from the lead to 2nd for the bad start. Denny Eckrich would inherit the lead and then held on for the final laps to claim the win. Simpson settled for 2nd, Beaudry came from 5th to 3rd, Rick Wendling finished 4th after starting in 6th, Stephan Kammerer was 5th, Mike Fryer was 6th, Parker was 7th, with Doug Nigh 8th.

Heat number 2 saw Matt Furman grab the lead on lap 1 from his pole position and then held off a charging Chris Simpson, who started 6th, to claim the win. Jeff Larson was 3rd, Matt Ryan was 4th, Jon Rogers came from 7th to finish in 5th, Paul Parker finished 6th after starting in 8th, Dustin Edwards was 7th, with Becky Roth coming home in 8th.

Dave Eckrich took advantage of his outside front row start to jump out into the lead on lap 1 of heat race 3. While Tim Isenberg, Justin Kay and Jason Rauen, who started 7th, battled three wide for the second spot. Isenberg, who was running the bottom, would spin in turn 2 on lap 5 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Eckrich moved back out front, with Rauen close behind in second. Rauen would try several attempts to get under Eckrich for the lead, when he got sideways in turn 4 with 2 laps to go and fell back to 4th. Eckrich would go on to pick up the win, while Isenberg recovered from his spin on lap 5 to come back to finish in 2nd. Kay was 3rd, Rauen was 4th, Jake Meier was 5th, Rob Moss was 6th, with Joe Zrostlik 7th.

The top 6 in passing points then ran a 6 lap dash, with the winner drawing a pill to determine how many would be inverted for the 40 lap A Main. Denny Eckrich and Chris Simpson led the field to the green, with Simpson grabbing the lead on lap 1. Simpson then pulled away to claim the win, followed by Denny Eckrich, Dave Eckrich, Matt Furman, Chad Simpson and Tim Isenberg. Chris Simpson then stopped on the front stretch to draw a pill from 1 to 6 to see how many would be inverted. He would reach in an pull out a #2, to put Denny Eckrich on the pole and Chris Simpson outside the front row.

The first feature of the night was the 15 lap Outlaw Super Bombers, with Wayne Hora and Joe Bonney drawing the front row for the event. Bonney took advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1 over Hora and K.C. Ansel. Bonney then started to pull away from the battle for second until he entered lapped traffic midway thru the race. Hora and Ansel were able to close in on Bonney's back bumper with three laps to go, but wasn't able to get around Bonney. Bonney would hold on in a caution free race to pick up the win. Hora settled for 2nd, Ansel was 3rd, Jed Holland came from 6th to finish in 4th, with Dan Mohr coming from 8th to round out the top 5.

Joe Bonney won the 15 lap Outlaw Super Bomber feature on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, IA.

Johnny Walker Jr. and Ben Traver led the field to green in the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Traver grabbing the lead on lap 1. Traver then held the top spot until lap 4, when Matt Irwin slipped under him to grab the lead away. The battle up front was slowed for the first time on lap 5, when Jason Masengarb spun in turn 2 to bring out the caution. On the restart Irwin jumped back out front, with Joe Beal slipping past Tarver to take over the second spot. Irwin, who worked the bottom, and Beal, who was up top, ran laps 7 thru 9 side-by-side, before Beal grabbed the top spot on lap 10. The next caution of the event would come out on lap 12, as Scott Powell spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Beal moved back out front on the restart, while Ray Cox Jr., who started 8th, took over the second spot. Once again the action up front was slowed for the final time on lap 13, as Scott Olson spun in turn 4. On the restart Beal jumped back out into the lead, with Cox Jr. and Irwin battling side-by-side for second. Cox Jr. moved to the top of the track on lap 15 to slip past Beal for the top spot and then held on to pick up the win. Beal settled for 2nd, Irwin was 3rd, Kelly Meyer edged out a 4th place finish, with Traver holding on to finish in 5th.

The 20 lap IMCA Modified feature on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, IA was won by Ray Cox Jr.

Up next was the 35 lap $1,000 to win Dusty Kay Memorial 4 Cylinder race, with Jacob Ellithorpe and Kyle Vohringer drawing the front row. But just as the green flag was dropped the caution light would come out, as Cameron Poci spun in turn 4 and collected Adam Bowman and Aaron Hitt. On the original restart Ellithorpe jumped out front on lap 1 over Gene Potter and Mike Morrow, who started 6th. Ellithorpe then started to pull away from the field, as the next 27 laps went caution free. But the field was brought back to Ellithorpe's back bumper on lap 28, when Rob Harding slowed to a stop in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Ellithorpe grabbed the lead, while Morrow slipped into second. Morrow would try over the next 7 laps to get under Ellithorpe for the lead, until the next caution came out on lap 30. This time Dillon Daniels lost a right rear tire down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. Ellithorpe once again grabbed the lead on the restart and then held on over the final 5 laps to claim the win and the $1,000 top prize. Morrow settled for 2nd, Jake Montoya came from 8th to finish in 3rd, Ricky Kay, who started 12th and was running 5th, pitted on the lap 28 caution with a left front flat, but would recover to finish in 4th, with Joe Zrostlik coming home in 5th.

Jacob Ellithorpe won the 35 lap Dusty Kay Memorial 4 Cylinder feature at the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, IA on Saturday, August 11, 2012.

The final feature of the night was the 40 lap Corn Belt Clash Late Models, with Denny Eckrich and Chris Simpson on the front row. Denny would grabbed the lead on the drop of the green flag over Simpson and Dave Eckrich and then held it until lap 4. Chris Simpson slipped under Denny coming off turn 4 on lap 4 to take over the top spot. Simpson then started to pull away from the field, when he entered lapped traffic on lap 10. Denny and Dave Eckrich slowly reeled in Simpson, until the first caution came out on lap 28. Just as Simpson started to come up on some heavy lapped traffic, which was running 2 and 3 wide. Rob Moss would spin in turn 1 with rear end troubles to bring out the yellow. On the restart Simpson jumped back out front, with Dave over taking Denny for seond. But the action up front was slowed for the final time on lap 29. Matt Furman, who was ruuning 6th, spun in turn 4 and collected Justin Kay, who was running 7th, Jason Rauen, who was running 8th, Rick Wendling and Joe Zrostlik to bring out the yellow. Kay, Rauen, Wendling and Zrostlik were done for the night, while Furman went to the pits with a right rear flat. Simpson again moved out front on the restart and then pulled away over the final 11 laps to cruise to an easy win. Denny Eckrich was able to come home 2nd, Dave Eckrich settled for 3rd, Chad Simpson was 4th, with Tim Isenberg rounding out the top 5.

Chris Simpson took home the $3,000 top prize by claiming the 40 lap Corn Belt Clash Series win on Saturday, August 12, 2012 at the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, IA.

Notes from JCS: 23 Late Models, 19 Outlaw Super Bombers, 19 4 Cylinders and 16 Modifieds made up the 77 cars signed in on the night......Chip Kohl came from 10th to finish 6th in the Outlaw Super Bomber feature....Brendan Driscoll finished 7th after starting in 13th....Matt Picray finished 9th after starting in 14th....Ethan Milder came from 17th to finish in 12th....Kerry Drake started 16th and finished in 13th....Shawn Flagel came from 19th to finish in 14th....Brent Nugent and Gene Ehlers had troubles in there heats and were forced to scratch from the feature......Scott Powell, who started 14th, spun on lap 12 of the Modified feature to bring out the caution. He would recover to take home an 8th place finish....Scott Olson came from 12th to finish in 9th....Tim Arp started 13th and finished in 10th....Jake Bowman had toubles in his heat race to force him to scratch from the feature......Lane Vohringer started the 4 Cylinder feature in 9th and finished in 6th....Bob Taggert came from 13th to finish in 8th....Kyle Dyer started 16th and finished in 10th....Mitch Bielenberg, who was running 7th, when he went to the pits under the caution on lap 28 with troubles to end his night in 11th......Brian Beaudry drove Justin Kay's back up car to a 6th place finish in the Late Model feature....Paul Parker charged from 16th to finish in 7th....Matt Ryan, in an IMCA legal Late Model, started 12th and took home an 8th place finish....Matt Furman recovered from his lap 29 spin and flat to come back up to finish in 10th....Jake Meier came from 15th to finish in 11th....Mike Fryer finished 13th after starting in 17th....Becky Roth drove from 22nd to finish in 14th.

I would like to thank Tim Current, Ryan Duhme and the entire Darkside Promotions crew for a great night of racing at the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, IA. I look forward to making it back up to the speedway in the near future.

Lanigan's WoO Late Model Hot Streak Continues With Win at Independence

Independence, IA (Monday, August 6, 2012) - My second ever visit to the Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, IA was brought on by the second ever visit by the World of Outlaw Late Models. As I turned onto the road to take me to the pits, I noticed the over fill in the parking lot and on the side streets of the cars and trucks. Thirty-three Late Models were greeted by the packed grandstands in attendance, and the 34 IMCA Modifieds signed in on the night.

Don O'Neal, driving the Moring Motorsports #1 machine on the night, got things started off by setting fast time with a lap of 14.337 seconds around the 3/8th mile track. Darrell Lanigan, Jason Rauen and Chris Simpson were 2nd - 4th to earn the right to start the four 10 lap heat races on the pole. The four heat races would take the top 4 out of each to the 50 lap A Main, with the top 2 redrawing for the top 8 starting spots, the remainder would move to the two B Mains in which the top 3 would transfer into the A Main.

WoO Late Model heat 1 notes: O'Neal jumped out front on the drop of the green flag from the pole and cruised to an easy win. He was followed by Vic Coffey in 2nd, Duane Treadwell came from 5th to finish in 3rd, with Billy Moyer holding on to finish in 4th to take the final transfer spot into the 50 lap A Main. Kent Robinson wasn't able to make the pass on Moyer for 4th over the final few laps and had to settle for 5th, Tim Fuller came from 8th to finish in 6th, Jerrl Lierly was 7th, Curt Martin was 8th, with Jill George coming home in 9th.

WoO Late Model heat 2 notes: Darrell Lanigan used his pole position to grab the lead on lap 1 of the heat and then pulled away to claim the win. Shane Clanton was able to clear Brian Birkhofer to take the 2nd spot, Birkhofer settled for 3rd, with Mike Spatola taking the final transfer spot in 4th. Billy Moyer Jr. tried several attempts to get under Spatola over the 10 lap race, but was unsuccessful and had to settle for 5th, Jack Sullivan was 6th, Rick Wendling took home 7th, with Ross Camponovo finishing in 8th.

WoO Late Model heat 3 notes: Rick Eckert took advantage of his outside front row starting spot to battle Jason Rauen for the lead. But Clint Smith, who started 5th, quickly moved up to challenge the duo for the top spot. Eckert was able to hold on to pick up the win. While Smith settled for 2nd, Rauen was 3rd, with Bub McCool holding on to finish in 4th. Tim McCreadie came from 6th and was working over McCool for the final transfer spot over the final few laps, but fell short in finishing 5th. Chub Frank finished in 6th, Rich Bell was 7th, with Matt Furman coming home in 8th.

WoO Late Model heat 4 notes: Chris Simpson used his pole position to grab the lead on lap 1 of heat 4 and then pulled away to pick up the win. Dennis Erb Jr. drove Jerry Lierly's back up car to a 2nd place finish. Jason Feger held on for 3rd, with Chad Simpson coming from 7th to take the final transfer spot in 4th. Russ Adams came from 8th to finish in 5th. Pat Doar, Tyler Bruening and Brian Shirley piled up in turn 2 on lap 1 of the heat to bring out the caution. All three cars were unable to continue, with Doar getting credited with 6th, Bruening 7th and Shirley 8th.

WoO Late Model B Main 1 notes: Tim Fuller came from 3rd to take the lead on the start of the 12 lap race and then pulled away to pick up the win. Kent Robinson would finish in 2nd, while Jerry Lierly came from 5th to take the final transfer spot in 3rd. Billy Moyer Jr. tried to work under Lierly over the first 6 laps, before faded at the end to finish in 4th. Sullivan was 5th, Camponovo came from 8th to finish in 6th, Wendling was 7th, Martin 8th and George 9th.

WoO Late Model B Main 2 notes: McCreadie took advantage of his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 and then pull away over the 12 lap race to pick up the win. Pat Doar, who was involved in the lap 1 crash in his heat, was able to make repairs and came from 4th to finish 2nd. Matt Furman came from 7th to take the final transfer spot into the A Main. Frank would work under Furman several times over the final laps, but was unable to make the pass and settled for 4th. Bell was 5th, Adams 6th, with Bruening and Shirley scratching from the event after being involved in the wreck on lap 1 of heat 4.

After the 4 heat races the top 2 in heat of those races would be brought over in front of the huge crowd for the redraw. Lanigan's 2012 luck would continue, as he drew the pole for the A Main. Chris Simpson would draw the number 2 to start outside the front row. O'Neal and Coffey drew the second row. Eckert and Erb Jr. would make up row 3. While Smith and Clanton will start in the fourth row. Add 3rd thru 4th in each of the heats and the top 3 from the 2 B Mains, with Sullivan and Frank added as series provisionals and Martin getting the track provisional and the 25 car field was set for there 50 lap A Main.

Lanigan jumped out into the lead on the drop of the green flag over Chris Simpson and O'Neal and was starting to pull away. But as he entered lapped traffic on lap 9, the first caution of the race would come out on lap 9. Rauen and Treadwell would tangle in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Lanigan once again moved out into the lead, with Simpson working to hold back Clint Smith, who started 7th. Lanigan once again started to pull away from the field, when the second caution of the event came out on lap 18 to bring the field back to his back bumper. This time Rauen spun off the high side of turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Once again Lanigan grabbed the lead, but now had Smith following him close behind in second, with O'Neal moving into third. Lanigan worked to hold back Smith and O'Neal, when they started to enter lapped traffic on lap 29. But Tim McCreadie would slow to a stop in turn 2 on lap 29 to bring out the caution. Lanigan again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Smith and O'Neal battling for second. The three car battle up front was slowed for another caution on lap 36, as Vic Coffey, who was running 11th, came to a stop down the back stretch with left front problems. Coffey would show his displeasure with the hard battle between himself and Chub Frank, as he pushed Frank into the tire in turn 3. Both drivers would stop in turn 4 and waved friendly hand guestures, before Coffey was towed off the track.

On the restart Rauen would spin his machine in turn 1 to bring out his solo caution of the event to end his night. The following restart saw Lanigan jumped back out front, with Smith and O'Neal still close behind in second and third. Lanigan, who was working the bottom of the track, had to work to hold back Smith, who found something on the top side. Smith was able to edge ahead of Lanigan at the line to lead lap 42, with Lanigan coming back to lead lap 43 by inches. As the two went into turn 1, Lanigan slipped up the track and got into Smith, who almost slipped of turn 2. Lanigan would then hold back Smith over the final laps to claim the win and the $10,000 top prize. Smith settled for 2nd, O'Neal was 3rd, Rick Eckert was 4th, with Billy Moyer coming from 13th to round out the top 5.

Darrell Lanigan won his 5th World of Outlaw Late Model feature in a row and series high 12th on Monday, August 6th at the Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, IA.

Thirty-four IMCA Modifieds signed in on the night, with hopes of taking home the $1,000 top prize. They would be divided into four 8 lap heats, with the top 4 transfering into the 25 lap A Main. The remainder would be put into one of the two 10 lap B Mains, with the top 4 out of each moving into the A Main.

Modified heat 1 notes: Shawn Ryan jumped out into the lead on lap 1, with Jerry King close behind in second. Ryan, who was running up top, and King, who was on the bottom, ran the final 2 laps side-by-side, with Ryan edging King at the line for the win. Mike Burbridge came home in 3rd, with Shane Burbridge claiming the final transfer spot in 4th. Patrick Flannagan was 5th, Dawn Krall was 6th, Kyle Brown settled for 8th, as he was running 4th when Flannagan got into the back of him with 2 laps to go and got him sideways. Brown fell from 4th to 7th, while Shane Burbridge was able to clear both cars to take 4th. Scott Strauss took home 8th, while Brandon Wilson had motor troubles in hot laps and was a scratch from the event.

Modified heat 2 notes: Ronn Lauritzen took advantage of his pole position to cruise to the easy win. Joe Docekal came home in 2nd, Vern Jackson came from 5th to finish in 3rd, with Adam Johnson holding on for 4th, the final transfer spot. Jerry Luloff started 7th and was challenging for 4th on the final lap, but had to settle for 5th. Tony Snyder was 6th, Chris Snyder was 7th, Tom Hanson was 8th, with Leon Wilson coming home in 9th.

Modified heat 3 notes: Troy Cordes jumped out front from his front row starting spot and led all 8 laps to pick up the win. Johnathan Thimmesch held off a last lap charge from Darin Duffy, who started 8th, to finish in 2nd, with Duffy 3rd. Justin O'Brien came from 7th to slip under Kevin Pittman off turn four on the last lap to edge out the 4th and final transfer spot. Pittman settled for 5th, Jeff Kriz was 6th, Jeff Streeter was 7th, with Tye Haslip in 8th.

Modified heat 4 notes: Mark Schulte jumped out front from his pole position to grab the lead on lap 1 over J.D. Auringer and Richie Gustin. Schulte then held them off to claim the win. Auringer held off Gustin at the line to finish in 2nd, with Gustin 3rd, while Jason Snyder came from 6th to take the final transfer spot in 4th. Josh Sherbon was 5th, Jerry Dedrick was 6th, Dennis Betzer was 7th, with Ed Thomas 8th.

Modified B Main 1 notes: Luloff grabbed the lead on lap 1 of the 10 lap race and then held on to claim the win. Kyle Brown came from 5th to challenge Luloff over the final laps to settle for 2nd, Flannagan was 3rd, with Chris Snyder coming from 6th to take the final transfer spot into the A Main. Strauss finished 5th, Krall was 6th, Hanson was 7th, Tony Snyder, Brandon Wilson and Leon Wilson had troubles in there heats to force them to scratch from the event.

Modified B Main 2 notes: Kevin Pittman jumped out front on lap 1 and then pulled away to lead all 10 laps to pick up the win. Sherbon was 2nd, Kriz was 3rd, with Streeter taking the final transfer spot in 4th. Betzer, Haslip and Dedrick all battled for 4th early before falling out with mechanical troubles. Ed Thomas was a scratch after he lost a motor in his heat.

After the 4 heat races were completed the top 3 in each heat would be brought over in front of the crowd to redraw for the top 12 starting spots in the 25 lap A Main. Rayn would pull the lucky #1, with Docekal drawing the #2. King and Auringer would make up row 2. Schulte and Thimmesch made up row 3. Cordes and Lauritzen was row 4. Mike Burbridge and Jackson made up row 5. While Duffy and Gustin drew row 6. The fourth place finishers in each of the heats, and the top 4 in each of the B Mains made up the 24 car field for the A Main.

Ryan took advantage of his pole position to move out front on lap 1 of the feature over Docekal and King. Ryan would work to hold back Docekal over the next 3 laps, when Docekal got into the back of Ryan in turn 4 and causing him to spin. Ryan was giving the lead back, while Docekal was sent to the rear for the restart. On the restart Duffy, who started 11th and was running 8th, spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. King would slip under Ryan on the next restart to grab the top spot away, as Ryan worked to hold back Schult and Cordes, who came from 7th. While King worked the bottom of the track, Ryan would work the top to edge ahead at the line to lead lap 5. Ryan then had to fight off Cordes, when he excited the track with rear end troubles on lap 10 to hand the lead over to Cordes. The battle up front was slowed on lap 19, as Jeff Kriz spun off turn 4 to bring out the caution. Cordes jumped back out front on the restart, with Schulte, King and Gustin, who started 12th, battling for 2nd. King's great run up front would come to an end on lap 21, as he spun in turn 4 to bring out the final caution of the event. On the restart Cordes again jumped out front over Schulte, with Gustin and Auringer battling for 3rd. Cordes was able to hold back Schulte on the final lap to pick up the win and the $1,000 check. Schulte settled for 2nd, Gustin was 3rd, Auringer was 4th, with Brown charging from 19th to edge out a 5th place finish.

Mores notes from Indy: Brian Birkhofer started 10th in the Late Model feature and finished 6th....Chad Simpson came from 16th to finish in 7th....Chub Frank passed 16 cars from his 24th place starting spot, a series provisional, to take home 8th....Pat Doar came from 20th to finish in 11th....Tim Fuller started 17th and finished 13th....Matt Furman came from 22nd to finish in 14th......Joe Docekal recovered from his lap 3 involvement of the caution to come back to finish a close 6th in the Modified feature....Justin O'Brien came from 15th to finish in 7th....Jerrl Luloff started 17th and finished in 8th....Kevin Pittman came from 18th to finish 9th....Adam Johnson started 14th and took home 10th....Jeff Kriz, who started 22nd, recovered from his lap 19 spin to finish in 11th....Jason Snyder was 12th after starting in 16th....Chris Snyder came from 23rd to finish in 13th....Jeff Streeter took home 14th after starting in 24th....Ronn Lauritzen, came from 8th to 5th, when he pulled off on lap 20 with a right front flat to end his night in 17th....Johnathan Thimmesch was running 6th when he pulled off on lap 11 with troubles to end his night in 20th....Vern Jackson was running 7th when he pulled off on lap 12 with a left rear flat to end his run in 21st......The crew would sprinkle the top side of the track before the Late Model heats, Modified heats, Late Model B Mains and Modified B Mains in an effort to make it a multi grove track. There efforts paid off, as both the Late Model and Modified features provided the fans with some great two and even three wide racing through-out there events.

I would like to thank Ryan Clark and the entire crew at the Independence Motor Speedway for the great hospitality. I hope to make it back up to Independence one more time before the 2012 season comes to a close.

Also I would like to send out condolences to the familys of Billy Haffer and the others who where involved in a fatal car accident early this morning. Billy and two others were on there way back home from the Sprint show at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, IA when there car was struck from behind by a semi at about 1:30 this morning on Highway 63 near Ottumwa, IA. Billy and another passenger in the car was killed in the accident. I only met Billy back in April at the season opener at Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL and then ran into him again in July at the UMP Summernationals event at the same track. Both times Billy brought a color of water and soda and offered it to me to help keep hydrated on those hot nights. Billy was a photographer from the S.t Louis area and traveled all over the US to take pictures at many events. He will be missed by many in the racing community!

Gillenwater, Huls and Wenig Continue Winning Streaks at Lee County

Donnellson, IA (Friday, August 3, 2012) - Another great night of racing action was put into the books on Friday at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, IA, as it was KILJ and Coor's Light Night at the races. Also it was Family Motors Fan Appreciation Night, with many fans stopping by there used dealership in West Burlington to pick up FREE tickets. Abe Huls (IMCA Stock Cars), Jim Gillenwater (IMCA SportMods) and Jake Wenig (LCS Hobby Stocks) extended there winning streaks with feature wins in there respective classes, while Wyatt Lantz (IMCA Modifieds) and Rob Hammel (IMCA Sport Compacts) also visited victory lane on the night.

The first feature of the night was the 12 lap IMCA Sport Compacts, with Casey Lambert and Craig Bangert leading the field to the green. Bangert would take advantage of his front row start to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Lambert. Bangert then held the lead until lap 5, when Rob Hammel, who started 6th, slipped under him to take over the top spot. On the completion of lap 5, the first caution of the event would come out for debris in turn 3. On the restart Hammel moved back out front, with Brandon Lambert close behind in second. Hammel would go on to lead the final 7 laps to pick up the win, his third of the season at the track. Brandon Lambert settled for 2nd, Austen Beccera was 3rd, Scott Smith came from 7th to finish in 4th, with Chuck Fullenkamp coming from 8th to round out the top 5.

Up next was the 15 lap IMCA SportMods feature, with Tom Elsen and Jack Evans on the front row. Elsen grabbed the lead from the drop of the green flag and then held it until lap 2, when Phillip Cossel slipped under him to take over the top spot. But Cossel's run out front only lasted for 2 laps, as Jim Gillenwater, who started 8th, jumped to his outside to grab the lead away on lap 4. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 6, as Jay Kirchner spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gillenwater moved back out front, with Tony Dunker, who started 9th, now close behind in second. Gillenwater worked to hold back Dunker, who was fighting to keep Cossel back in the battle for second when the red flag came out on lap 10. Levi Smith would get into the back of Derek St. Clair, who started 12th and was up to 5th, causing him to spin in turn 1 and collect the car of Sean Wyett. Wyett, who started 14th and was running 10th, ended up rolling over the top of St. Clair's car to bring out the red. Wyett and St. Clair would climb from there cars ok, but done for the night. Gillenwater jumped back out front on the restart, with Dunker working to hold back Brandon Ruffcorn in the battle for second. Gillenwater would go on to lead the final 4 laps to claim his third win in a row and sixth of the season at the speedway. Dunker settled for 2nd, Ruffcorn was 3rd, Bobby Anders came from 10th to finish in 4th, with Scott VanBuskirk coming from 11th to take home a fifth place finish.

Brian Hoener and Ethan Thompson drew the front row for the 15 lap LCS Hobby Stock feature, with Hoener grabbing the lead on lap 1. While Hoener was leading the field, Jake Wenig, who started 7th, quickly worked his way to second by lap 2. Wenig then went to work on Hoener for the lead, as he slipped under him on lap 8 to take over the top spot. The first caution of the race would come out on lap 9, when Dan Wenig spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Jake moved back out front, with Hoener working to hold back Victor Hastings in the battle for second. But Hastings' run up front would come to an end on lap 12, as he stopped in turn 2 with a right rear flat to bring out the second caution of the race. Jake Wenig once again grabbed the lead on the restart and then held it for the final 3 laps to pick up his sixth win in a row at the track. Tim Pettibone came from 5th to finish in 2nd, Hoener was 3rd, Dan Wenig recovered from his lap 9 spin to finish in 4th, with Hastings recovering from his lap 12 flat to come home in 5th.

The 20 lap IMCA Modified feature was next, with Adam Birck and Derek Hamm leading the field to the green. Hamm would take advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1 over Birck and Wyatt Lantz. Hamm then worked to hold the lead until the first caution of the race appeared on the speedway on lap 8. Dustin Crear, who was running 5th, spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Lonnie Heap, who started 7th and was running 4th, clipped a tire in turn 4 and collected the car of Cayden Carter, who started 12th and was running 8th, to bring the yellow light back on. Lantz would slip under Hamm on the next restart to take over the top spot on lap 9, with Hamm working to hold back Jeff Waterman, who started 10th, in the battle for second. Lantz would hold off the challenges from Hamm over the final 11 laps to claim his first win of the season at the track. Hamm held on for 2nd, Waterman was 3rd, Ryan Cook was 4th, with Tyler Cale coming from 9th to round out the top 5.

The final feature of the night was the 15 lap IMCA Stock Cars, with Jim Lynch and Derek St. Clair on the front row. But just as the green flag was waved the caution would come out, as Cale Samberg spun in turn 2. On the restart Lynch grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Corey Strothman. While Lynch held the top spot for the first 2 laps, Abe Huls, who started 9th, quickly worked his way to the front. Huls would jump to the outside of Lynch to grab the lead away on lap 3, with Jason Cook, who started 6th, moving up to make it a three car battle. The battle up front was slowed for the first time on lap 11, as Brett Timmerman spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart the yellow once again waved, as debris on the backstretch slowed the action. The next restart saw Huls move back out front, with Cook working to hold back Matt Greiner, who started 7th, in the battle for second. Huls was able to hold back all challenges over the final laps to pick up his second win in a row and fourth overall at the speedway. Cook held on in the battle for 2nd, Greiner settled for 3rd, Samberg recovered from his lap 1 spin to come back up to finish in 4th, with Lynch holding on for 5th.

Notes from LCS: Skipp Dunker started the Sport Compact feature in 13th and passed 6 cars to come home in 7th....Mike Hornung Jr. came from 14th to finish in 11th....Craig Bangert, who led the first 4 laps, pulled off under the lap 5 caution with troubles to end his night in 14th......A season high 24 cars signed in on the night in the SportMod division....John Oliver Jr. started 19th in the SportMod feature and came up to finish 6th....Michael Joe Bliven passed 14 cars from his 22nd place starting spot to take home 7th....Jacob Smith came from 15th to finish 9th....Bradley Holtmeyer came from 17th to finish in 11th....Derek Coleman started 18th and took home 14th....Bob Cowman started 21st and finished in 16th....Phillip Cossel, who was battling for the lead until the red came out on lap 11, retired when his car wouldn't start back up and was credited with 19th....Derek St. Clair was doing double duty on the night, as he made his debut in the SportMod division, plus still running his Stock Car. St. Clair would start the feature in 12th and had climbed his way up to 5th by lap 11. When Levi Smith drove into the back of him down the front stretch and all the way into turn 1, causing him to spin his machine. In the process, Sean Wyett, who started 14th and climbed his way to 10th, was collected in the wreck. He would roll over the top of St. Clair's car to end both there nights......Lonnie Heap recovered from his lap 8 spin to come back to finish 7th in the Modified feature......Brett Timmerman made his first visit of the season to LCS and started the feature in 10th. He would spin in turn 3 on lap 11 to bring out the caution, but would recover over the final 4 laps to take home a 7th place finish.

Veloz Cashes In at the Lee County Speedway

Donnellson, IA (Friday, July 27, 2012) - The Mohrfeld Electric $1,000 to win Modified Shootout that was rained out back on April 13th was rescheduled and ran this Friday, July 27th at the Lee County Speedway. At the end of some great racing action Milo Veloz (IMCA Modifieds), Abe Huls (IMCA Stock Cars), Jim Gillenwater (IMCA SportMods), Jake Wenig (LCS Hobby Stocks), Chase Flatt (Mod Lites) and Anthony Cassat (IMCA Sport Compacts) all visited victory lane.

The first feature of the night was the 15 lap IMCA SportMods, with Tony Dunker and Levi Smith drawing the front row for the event. Dunker would take advantage of his front row start to gab the lead on lap 1 over Smith and Phillip Cossel. Cossel slipped past Smith for second on lap 3 and then went to work on Dunker for the lead, as the two ran side-by-side on laps 4 thru 8. When the first caution of the race came out on the completion of lap 8, as Bob Cowman spun his machine in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dunker jumped back out front, with Cossel working to hold back Kevin Cale in the battle for second. But the action up front was slowed for a second time on lap 10, as Jay Kirchner spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Dunker grabbed the lead on the restart, while Cossel slipped high in turn 2 and fell back to 5th. But once again the action up front was slowed for the final time on lap 12, as Kirchner spun in turn 4 for his second solo yellow to end his night. Dunker again jumped out front on the restart, with Jim Gillenwater, who started 11th, coming from 4th to second. Coming to the white flag Gillenwater was able to get under Dunker to grab the top spot. But Dunker would try the top of Gillenwater coming off turn 4 for the checkered to come up short, as Gillenwater held on for his second win in a row at the track. Dunker settled for 2nd, Kevin Cale was 3rd, Rick Barlow Jr. was 4th, with Cossel holding on for 5th.

Up next was the 15 lap LCS Hobby Stock feature, with Dan Wenig and Brian Hoener drawing the front row. Hoener would take advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1 over Dan Wenig. But the action was slowed on the completion of lap 1, as Josh Tripp spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Jake Wenig, who started 7th, grabbed the lead on lap 2 over Hoener and Dan Wenig. Jake started to pull away from the battle for second, when the second caution came out on lap 7. This time Dan Wenig, who was running 3rd, stopped in turn 4 with a right rear flat. Jake Wenig once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Tim Pettibone, who started 6th, now following in second. Jake would pull away from the field over the final 8 laps to clam his fifth win in a row at the track. Pettibone finished in 2nd, Hoener was 3rd, Dan Wenig recovered from his flat on lap 7 to come back to finish in 4th, with Dugan Thye coming home in 5th.

Dustin Crear and Dustan Fenton led the field to the drop of the green flag in the $1,000 to win 25 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Crear grabbing the lead on lap 1. Crear then worked to hold back Fenton until the first caution of the race came out on lap 3, as Derek Hamm came to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Crear moved back out front, but now had Milo Veloz, who started 6th, close behind in 2nd. But another caution came out on the completion of lap 3, as Josh Foster and Kyle Hill collided in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. Crear once again moved back out front on the restart, with Veloz working to hold back Ryan Cook for second. The action up front was slowed for the final time on lap 7, as Lonnie Heap got sideways in turn 4 causing Foster and Andy Krieger to spin. Once again Crear grabbed the lead on the restart with Veloz and Brandon Savage battling for second. Crear would hold back Veloz until lap 16, when he slipped under him to grab the top spot away. Veloz, who was working the top of the track, then had to work to hold back Tyler Cale, who started 10th and was on the bottom. But Cale was able to get under Veloz on lap 21 to take the lead, as the two ran side-by-side coming to the white flag. Veloz wouldn't give up as he worked the top of the track to come off turn four to edge Cale at the line by inches to claim the $1,000 top prize. Cale settled for 2nd, Crear was 3rd, Savage was 4th, with Wyatt Lantz coming from 8th to finish in 5th.

The 15 lap IMCA Stock Car feature was up next, with Rich Vogt and Derek St. Clair drawing the front row for the event. Vogt would jump out into the lead on the drop of the green flag to lead lap 1 over Matt Geiner and St. Clair. But Vogt could only hold back Greiner for 3 laps, as Greiner slipped past on lap 4 to take over the top spot. Greiner then had to work to hold back Abe Huls, who started 9th. Huls, who was working the bottom, was able to slip under Greiner on lap 10 to take over the lead. But he couldn't get away from Greiner, as the two battled for the top spot for the final 5 laps. Huls was able to hold back Greiner on the final lap to win his third feature of the season at the speedway. Greiner settled for 2nd, Jason Cook came from 7th to finish in 3rd, John Oliver Jr. came from the rear to finish in 4th, with St. Clair holding on for 5th.

Brandon Lambert and Chuck Fullenkamp drew the front row for the 12 lap IMCA Sport Compacts feature. Just as the green flag was dropped the yellow would appear on the track, as Kimberly Abbott spun in turn 2 and collected Fullenkamp. On the restart Lambert would grab the lead on lap 1 over Craig Bangert, only to have another caution come out on lap 2. This time Anthony Grossman slowed to a stop in turn 4 with troubles. On the restart Anthony Cassat, who started 7th, grab the top spot away from Lambert, only to loose it back to him on lap 4. But Cassat didn't give up as he slipped past Lambert on lap 5 to take the lead back. Cassat then held on over the final 7 laps to claim his second career feature win and second in a row at the track. William Michel came from 5th to finish in 2nd, Lambert held on for 3rd, Grossman, who started 12th and brought out the yellow on lap 2, came back to finish in 4th, with Bangert coming home in 5th.

The final feature of the night was the 15 lap Mod Lites, with Gary Snyder and Blake Woodruff leading the field to the green flag. But it was fifth place starter Greg Rossell who moved up to grab the lead on lap 1 over Andrew Smith and Chase Flatt. The first caution of the race would appear on lap 2, as Snyder spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Rossell again jumped back out into the lead, with Flatt moving into second. Rossell worked to hold back Flatt and Evan Epperson, who started 7th, when the second caution came out on lap 4. This time Epperson spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. Rossell again grabbed the lead on the restart, only to loose it on lap 6 to Flatt. The action up front was slowed for the final time on the completion of lap 6, when Snyder spun into the turn 3 guardrail. On the restart Rossell was able to slip under Flatt to grab the lead away. But Flatt wouldn't give up, as he slipped under Rossell on lap 10 to take the top spot back. Flatt then held off Epperson, who came from the rear after his lap 4 spin, to claim the win. Epperson settled for 2nd, Rossell was 3rd, Woodruff was 4th, with Smith holding on for 5th.

Notes From LCS: Brandon Dale started the SportMod feature in 9th and finished 6th....Jacob Smith came from 13th to finish in 8th....Charles VanZandt started 14th and took home a 10th place finish....Josh Smith came from 16th to finish in 13th....Tom Elsen picked up a heat race win and then redrew 4th for the feature. But had mechanical troubles that forced him to scratch from the feature......Victor Hastings, who destroyed his Hobby Stock car last Saturday, was able to put together another car in less then a week to return to action on Friday. But his night ended early, as he lost a motor in hot laps......Lonnie Heap recovered from his involvement of the lap 7 caution in the Modified feature to come back up to finish in 8th....Josh Foster, who started 13th, pitted under the lap 4 caution with a left rear flat. He would return to tag the back and made it back up to take home 9th....Andy Krieger started 14th and finished in 11th......Jeff Mueller came from 10th to finish 7th in the Stock Car feature......Skipp Dunker came from 11th in the Sport Compact feature to finish in 7th....The Mod Lites returned to the Lee County Speedway after several years, with 13 cars signing in on the night....Rob Guss started the feature in 11th and passed 5 cars to come home in 6th...Jimmy Halcomb, who was suppose to start 4th, and Brian Hedrick had mechanical troubles in the heat that forced them to scratch from the feature....Collin Ball and Brian Woodruff were involved in a wreck in the heat and was unable to make repairs, forcing them to scratch from the feature.