Quincy, IL (Sunday, May 15, 2016) - With mother nature not being to kind on Friday night and cancelling all tracks within a couple of hours drive from me, and more than unfavorable weather on Saturday keeping me home. I decided to make the trip south to the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL on Sunday. That decision paid off with 26 UMP Late Models signed in to battle for the $2,000 to win Midwest Big Ten Series.
The first feature to take to the track on the night was the 18 lap IMCA Stock Cars, with Rodolfo Zaragoza and Jake Powers making up the front row. Zaragoza took advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1 over Powers and Abe Huls, who started 6th. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 4, Huls would power past Zaragoza on the top of the track to take over the top spot. While Huls set the pace out front, a three and four wide battle for third was going on between Beau Taylor, Brandon Savage, who started 7th, Dean Kratzer, who started 9th, and Chase Klenk, who started 11th. Without a caution there was no catching Huls on this night, as he pulled away to pick up the win. Zaragoza finished 2nd, Savage crossed the line in 3rd despite having a broken left front for must of the second half of the race, Kratzer was 4th, with Klenk rounding out the top 5.
Abe Huls won the IMCA Stock feature on Sunday, May 15th at the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL.
Up next was the 25 lap UMP Modified feature, with Ray Bollinger and Michael Long leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Long would use the momentum off the top of the track to edge out Bollinger for the lead on lap 1. Just as Long put a little distance on the rest of the field, the first caution appeared on lap 2. Spencer Havermale came to a stop down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Long moved back out front, with Kenny Wallace and David Wietholder both over taking Bollinger for the second and third spot. The main reason for that, is Bolinger jumped the cushion in turn 4 and went over the track to bring out the yellow. Bollinger then had to pit for a right front flat. He was given two curiosity laps to get the tire changed, before the light would go out and go back to racing. Just as the field came off turn 2 to go down the backstretch for the restart, Bollinger charged back onto the track to try and catch up to the field. But when the field came out of turn 4 to take the green, Bollinger spun down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. The following restart saw Long jump back out front, with Wietholder and Wallace racing for the runner up spot.
Wallace's run up front came to an abrupt end on lap 16, when several studs broke off the right rear wheel going into turn 3. Which resulted in Wallace rolling 4 or 5 times, before coming to a stop on it's lid. Just as the safety crew and several drivers went to roll the car back onto it's wheels the car caught fire. The fire crew reacted fast to put out the flames, while Wallace climbed from his mangled car okay. On the restart Long moved back out front, with Bollinger working his way back into second. One lap later, lap 17, Wietholder would jump the cushion in turn 2 and went off the track to bring out the yellow. Long again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Bollinger looking under him for the lead. But Long would pull away over the final 7 laps to remain unbeaten at Quincy. Bollinger settled for 2nd, Wietholder recovered from his caution on lap 17 to come back up to finish in 3rd, Shawn Deering started 9th and finished 4th, with Russ Coultas coming home in 5th.
Michael Long remains unbeaten in the UMP Modified division at Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL Which brings the bounty to beat Long next week up to $500.
Dustin Griffin and Denny Woodworth led the field to green in the 42 lap "Scottie 42" Midwest Big Ten Series UMP Late Model feature. Woodworth would edge out Griffin at the line by inches to lead lap 1. But Griffin used the low groove to take the top spot away from Woodworth on lap 2. The side-by-side battle for the lead was slowed on lap 3, when a tire in turn 2 was clipped onto the racing surface to bring out the yellow. On the restart Justin Reed used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to go from third to first. Just after the completion of lap 4, another caution appeared. This time David Wietholder, who was driving Jim Moon's back up car, spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Reed grabbed the lead on the restart, with Griffin and Jason Perry, who started 7th, close behind. Reed then started to pull away from the field, until McKay Wenger closed in on his back bumper by lap 15. Reed, who mostly used the top of the track, and Wenger, who was using the bottom, split lapped traffic, and raced side-by-side over the next 6 laps. Wenger was able to clear Reed for the lead on lap 22.
The action up front was slowed for the third time on the completion of lap 22, as Clint Kirkham and DeWayne Kiefer collided in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Perry, who was running inside the top 6, spun in turn 1 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Wenger move back out front over Reed and Griffin. While all eyes were on Wenger, Mark Burgtorf, the 16 time track champion at Quincy Raceways who started 11th, was working his way towards the front. On lap 28 Burgtorf over took Reed for 2nd, with Reed coming back on lap 29 to grab the spot back. But Burgtorf wouldn't give up, as he finally cleared Reed on lap 30 and then went to work on chasing down Wenger for the lead. Burgtorf was able to close within a few cars lengths of Wenger. But Wenger was able to hold on to pick up his biggest Late Model feature win of his career. Burgtorf was 2nd, Reed was 3rd, Woodworth was 4th, with Griffin rounding out the top 5.
McKay Wenger of Fairbury, IL won his biggest Late Model feature of his career to date on Sunday, May 15th at the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL during the "Scottie 42".
Up next was the 18 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Hunter Gainer and Kenneth Bringer making up the front row for the event. But it was third place starter Wesley Mayfield who jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Nathan Bringer, who started 8th, and Gainer. Brandon Lennox, who started 11th, used the top of the track to take the top spot away from Mayfield on lap 5. Just after the completion of lap 5, Gainer would spin in turn 2 to bring out the caution. On the restart Mayfield, who was running second, spun in turn 2 and collected Dakota Anderson and Robert Thompson to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Joey Gower, who started 9th and was running 4th, slow to a stop in turn 4 with a broken right front to bring the caution back out. A third attempt of a restart had Lennox move back out front, with Tony Dunker, who started 10th, and Austin Howes, who graduated high school earlier in the day and started 13th, close behind. Dunker would look high and low to try and get around Lennox for the lead over the next 6 laps, but each time Lennox was able to hold him off.
The action up front was slowed on lap 12, when Anderson spun in turn 2 to bring out the caution. Once again Lennox jumped out into the lead on the restart, with Dunker and Howes close behind. Again Dunker tried everything to get the lead away from Lennox, only to have the red light come on at lap 14. Jim Lynch, who started 12th and was running 6th, had a fire that required the fire crew to put out. Disaster would strike four of the top running cars on the restart, as Dunker got into the back of Lennox. Which sent Lennox spinning in turn 4 and collected Austen Becerra, who started 14th and was running 4th, and Mayfield. Howes inherited the lead on the following restart, with Nathan Bringer and Justin Ebbing, who started 7th, close behind. Howes looked to be heading to his first win of the season, until lap 16 when he dropped a drive shaft in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bringer grabbed the lead and then held off Ebbing at the line to pick up his first career win. Ebbing was 2nd, Levi Long was 3rd, Dunker recovered from his involvement on lap 14 to come back up to finish 4th, with Mayfield also recovering from the wreck on lap 14 to come back up to finish 5th.
Nathan Bringer won his first career IMCA SportMod feature on Sunday, May 15th at the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL.
The final feature to take to the track was the 15 lap IMCA Sport Compacts, with Brandon Herron and Jeffery DeLonjay leading the field to the drop of the green flag. But it was eighth place starter Brandon Lambert who quickly moved to the front to lead lap 1 over DeLonjay and Seith Woodruff. Lambert then held the top spot until lap 6, when Brandon Reu slipped under him coming of turn 4 to take over the top spot. Despite a late race challenge from Lambert, Reu was able to hold on to claim his first win of the season. Lambert settled for 2nd, Casey Lambert came from 10th to finish in 3rd, DeLonjay was 4th, with Kimberly Abbott coming back up to finish 5th after she fell to the rear on the start.
Brandon Reu got the bad luck of his back so far during the 2016 racing season by winning the IMCA Sport Compact feature at Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL on Sunday, May 16th.
Notes from Quincy: Jake Wenig had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the IMCA Stock Car feature......Frankie Wellman had troubles in Modified time trials that forced him to scratch from the rest of the night......Gordy Gundaker started the Late Model feature in 17th and passed 11 cars to come home in 6th....Jim Moon started 13th and finished 7th....Greg Kimmons passed 13 cars from his 21st place starting spot to finish in 8th....Bo Brockway came from 18th to finish in 10th....Reid Millard started 19th and finished 11th....Derek Fetter and Cliff Powell had troubles in time trials that forced them to scratch for the night......Brandyn Ryan started the SportMod feature in 15th and passed 8 cars to finish 7th....Kody Dark came from 18th to finish in 9th....Tanner Klingele had troubles in hot laps with his primary car and was going to be forced to watch from the trailer. But Jon Lear would loan him his car for the night, and after being involved in a wreck in the heat race. He only made a few laps in the feature to be credited with 18th......Cory Baze started the Sport Compact feature in 11th and finished 8th....Alyssa Steele had troubles in her heat race that forced her to scratch from the feature.
Monday, May 16, 2016
Sheppard Makes First Visit to Lee County Payoff With MLRA Late Model Win
Donnellson, IA (Thursday, May 5, 2016) - I know there are fans out there that say I like to watch the Modifieds, or I like to watch the Sprint Cars, or I like this class. Well if you are a Late Model fan, then the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa was the place to be this past Thursday night. As the MLRA Late Models made their first stop of the season at the track and brought 37 drivers with them, while the Lee County Late Model class pulled in 21 to bring the total number of Late Models on the grounds to 59.
After 18 qualifying events, including 2 MLRA Late Model B-Mains, it was time to go feature racing. The first feature to take to the track was the 18 lap IMCA Stock Cars, with Jake Wenig and Jeremy Pundt drawing the front row for the event. Pundt would take advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Jason See and Wenig. The first caution of the race appeared on lap 2, when Greg Gill spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wenig went to the bottom, with Pundt in the middle, and John Oliver Jr., who started 6th, up top, as the trio raced off turn 4 three wide. Wenig would edge the lead out at the line, only to have Oliver Jr. slip past him on the next lap to take the top spot away. After the completion of lap 4, another caution appeared to slow the action up front. Kevin Koontz would spin in turn 3 to bring the yellow light on. Oliver Jr. moved back out front on the restart, but now had Jeff Mueller, who started 8th, glued to his back bumper. Coming off turn 2 to complete lap 7, Mueller was able to squeeze under Oliver Jr. to take the lead. The action up front was slowed for the final time on lap 10, when Brent Hartley spun in turn 2 to bring out the caution. Mueller jumped back out front on the restart and then pulled away to win his third win in a row at the track. Oliver Jr. was 2nd, Nathan Wood was 3rd, Gill recovered from his spin on lap 2 to come back up to finish 4th, with See holding on for 5th.
Jeff Mueller won his third IMCA Stock Car feature in a row at the Lee County Speedway on Thursday, May 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Brandon Rothzen and Kyle Brown leading the field to the drop of the green flag. But just as the green flag was dropped the caution light came on, as Larry McConnell spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart third place starter Jerad Fuller grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Brown and Rothzen. But Brown would use the momentum off turn 4 coming to complete lap 3 to take the top spot away from Fuller. The action was slowed on lap 4, when Kelly Buckallew spun in turn 4 to bring out the caution. Brown jumped back out front on the restart, with Fuller and David Brown close behind. Two laps later, lap 6, Bill Roberts Jr. spun in turn 2 to bring the caution out. Once again Kyle Brown moved out front on the restart, with Rothzen moving into second. While Brown set the pace out front, Tyler Groenendyk, who started 10th, and Cayden Carter, who started 11th, were working their way towards the front. Groenendyk used the bottom of the track to grab the top spot away from Brown on lap 10. The action up front was slowed on lap 11, when a tire in turn 2 was pushed onto the track. On the restart Groenendyk jumped back out front, with Carter and Richie Gustin, who started 6th, close behind. Carter would use the momentum off the top of the track to take the top spot away from Groenendyk on lap 14, and then looked to be heading to a win. But the final caution of the race appeared on lap 18, as Jardin Fuller spun in turn 2, to bring the field back to Carter's back bumper. On the restart Carter moved out front and then held on for the final 2 laps to claim the win. Groenendyk was 2nd, Gustin was 3rd, Kyle Brown was 4th, with Bruce Hanford rounding out the top 5.
Cayden Carter charged from 11th to win the IMCA Modified feature on Thursday, May 5th at the Lee County Speedway.
Brian Birkhofer and Dave Eckrich led the field to the green flag in the 40 lap MLRA Late Model feature, with Birkhofer grabbing the lead on lap 1 over JC Wyman and Eckrich. Just as Birkhofer started to put some distance between himself and the rest of the field, the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 5. Reid Millard would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Birkhofer moved back out front, with Eckrich and Earl Pearson Jr. close behind. While Birkhofer paced the field out front, Brandon Sheppard was using the top of the track to work himself into second on lap 11. Sheppard then went to work on chasing down Birkhofer for the top spot. The two would have to maneuver through lapped traffic, which allowed Sheppard to quickly close on Birkhofer. Sheppard would over take Birkhofer for the lead on lap 21, as Pearson Jr. closed in to battle for the runner up spot. On lap 26, Pearson Jr. was able to clear Birkhofer for second. But Sheppard was to far out front to catch without a caution, as he picked up his first win at the track in his first ever visit. Pearson Jr. settled for 2nd, Chris Simpson charged from 14th to finish in 3rd, Tony Jackson Jr. came from 10th to finish 4th, with Jesse Stovall finishing fifth after starting in 9th.
The MLRA Late Model feature at the Lee County Speedway on Thursday, May 5th was won by Brandon Sheppard.
Up next was the 16 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Brett Lowry and Brandon Dale up front. Lowry would take advantage of his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Dale and Tony Dunker. Lowry then held the top spot until coming off turn 4 to complete lap 4, when Dunker used the top of the track to grab the lead. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 8, when Logan Anderson spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dunker moved back out front, with Joey Gower and Lowry battling for second. While Dunker paced the field out front, Jim Gillenwater was working his way towards the front from his 8th place starting spot. Just as Dunker took the white flag, the caution would come out to set up a green-white-checkered overtime finish. Justin Ebbing stopped in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Dunker again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Lowry trying to hold off Gillenwater for second. Once again as Dunker took the white flag the caution would come, this time John Oliver Jr. and Anderson collided in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Dunker again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Gillenwater over taking Lowry for second. Dunker then held off a last lap challenge from Gillenwater to pick up the win. Gillenwater settled for 2nd, Lowry was 3rd, Gower was 4th, with Austen Becerra charging from 15th to round out the top 5.
Tony Dunker won the IMCA SportMod feature at the Lee County Speedway on Thursday, May 5th.
Todd Frank and Tommy Elston drew the front row for the 25 lap LCS Late Models, with Elston moving out front on lap 1 over Frank and Andy Nezworski. While Elston was out front, Sam Halstead, who started 7th, was working his way towards the front. On lap 11 Halstead would over take Elston for the top spot, and then started to pull away until the first and only caution came out on lap 13. Gunner Frank spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Halstead jumped back out front, with Elston working to hold off Colby Springsteen for the runner up spot. Halstead then pulled away to cruise to his second win in a row at the track. Springsteen won the battle for 2nd, Elston was 3rd, Chad Jensen who made the pull from Norfolk, Nebraska finished 4th after starting in 8th., with Jeff Guengerich coming from 11th to finish 5th.
The LCS Late Model feature On Thursday, May 5th at the Lee County Speedway was won by Sam Halstead for the second week in a row.
The final feature to take to the track was the 12 lap IMCA Sport Compacts, with Darin Smith and Jeffery DeLonjay up front. DeLonjay would take advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Lambert and Smith. But DeLonjay's lead only lasted 1 lap, as Lambert slipped by for the lead. Lambert then lost the lead to Smith on lap 3, with Smith giving up the lead on lap 4 to Ron Kibbe. The action up front came to an abrupt stop on lap 9, as Brandon Rue and Lambert rolled in turn 2 to bring out the red. Both climbed from their cars okay. On the restart Kibbe moved back out front, with Kimberly Abbott, who started 8th, and DeLonjay close behind. Kibbe would hold on over the final 3 laps to pick up the win. Abbott was 2nd, Josh Barnes came from 9th to finish in 3rd, Darin Weisinger Jr. was 4th, with Levi Heath coming from 11th to finish in 5th.
Ron Kibbe broke Josh Barne's two race win streak in the IMCA Sport Compacts at the Lee County Speedway on Thursday, May 5th.
Notes from LCS: 37 MLRA Late Models, 23 Modifieds, 21 LCS Late Models, 18 SportMods, 16 Stock Cars, and 14 Sport Compacts made up the 129 cars signed in on the night......Dean Kratzer started the Stock Car feature in 14th and then passed 7 cars to finish in 7th....Brent Hartley, who started 16th, recovered from his spin on lap 10 to come back up to finish in 12th......Steve Stewart started the Modified feature in 17th and passed 8 cars to come home in 9th....Jim Redmann started 18th and finished 12th....Levi Smith came from 20th to finish in 15th....Larry McConnell recovered from his spin on the start to come back up to finish in 18th....Rick Durey had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature......Chad Simpson finished 7th in the MLRA Late Model feature, after starting in 11th....Jason Papich took a provisional and started 23rd. He passed 15 cars to come home in 8th....Terry Phillips passed 8 cars from his 19th place starting spot to finish in 11th....Gordy Gundaker came from 22nd to finish in 15th....Brantlee Gotschall also took a provisional and started 24th. He passed 8 cars to come home in 16th....Reid Millard, who started 26th, recovered from his spin on lap 5 to come back up to finish in 18th....Brian Birkhofer broke a oil pump with 3 laps go, while running 3rd, to end his night in 20th....Dustin Griffin, Denny Eckrich, Justin Reed, Jacob Magee, Bryon Allison, Jeremy Payne, Jay Johnson, Chris Spieker, Jay Chenowith, Mark Burgtorf, and Dick Weber were the cars who din't qualify for the A Main......Carter VanDenBerg started the SportMod feature in 11th and finished 6th....Austin Howes came from 12th to finish 7th....Matt Petrzelka started 13th and finished 9th....Jim Lynch (Kahoka, MO) came from 14th to finish in 10th....Brandyn Ryan finished 12th after starting in 18th....Jon Lear came from 17th to finish in 13th....Brandon Dale was running 3rd when he pulled off on lap 7 with troubles......Jim Lynch (Bloomfield, IA) started the LCS Late Model feature in 10th and finished 6th....Tyler Cale passed 12 cars from his 19th place starting spot to come home in 7th....Terry Gallaher started 15th and finished 8th....Kevin Kile was the highest finishing IMCA Late Model in 10th....Louis Lynch started 16th and finished 11th....Gunner Frank recovered from his spin on lap 13 to come back up to finish in 14th......Billy Cain started 12th in the IMCA Sport Compact feature, and then passed 5 cars to come home in 7th....Eric Misner started started 13th and finished 9th....Wayne Chamblee had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature.
After 18 qualifying events, including 2 MLRA Late Model B-Mains, it was time to go feature racing. The first feature to take to the track was the 18 lap IMCA Stock Cars, with Jake Wenig and Jeremy Pundt drawing the front row for the event. Pundt would take advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Jason See and Wenig. The first caution of the race appeared on lap 2, when Greg Gill spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wenig went to the bottom, with Pundt in the middle, and John Oliver Jr., who started 6th, up top, as the trio raced off turn 4 three wide. Wenig would edge the lead out at the line, only to have Oliver Jr. slip past him on the next lap to take the top spot away. After the completion of lap 4, another caution appeared to slow the action up front. Kevin Koontz would spin in turn 3 to bring the yellow light on. Oliver Jr. moved back out front on the restart, but now had Jeff Mueller, who started 8th, glued to his back bumper. Coming off turn 2 to complete lap 7, Mueller was able to squeeze under Oliver Jr. to take the lead. The action up front was slowed for the final time on lap 10, when Brent Hartley spun in turn 2 to bring out the caution. Mueller jumped back out front on the restart and then pulled away to win his third win in a row at the track. Oliver Jr. was 2nd, Nathan Wood was 3rd, Gill recovered from his spin on lap 2 to come back up to finish 4th, with See holding on for 5th.
Jeff Mueller won his third IMCA Stock Car feature in a row at the Lee County Speedway on Thursday, May 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Brandon Rothzen and Kyle Brown leading the field to the drop of the green flag. But just as the green flag was dropped the caution light came on, as Larry McConnell spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart third place starter Jerad Fuller grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Brown and Rothzen. But Brown would use the momentum off turn 4 coming to complete lap 3 to take the top spot away from Fuller. The action was slowed on lap 4, when Kelly Buckallew spun in turn 4 to bring out the caution. Brown jumped back out front on the restart, with Fuller and David Brown close behind. Two laps later, lap 6, Bill Roberts Jr. spun in turn 2 to bring the caution out. Once again Kyle Brown moved out front on the restart, with Rothzen moving into second. While Brown set the pace out front, Tyler Groenendyk, who started 10th, and Cayden Carter, who started 11th, were working their way towards the front. Groenendyk used the bottom of the track to grab the top spot away from Brown on lap 10. The action up front was slowed on lap 11, when a tire in turn 2 was pushed onto the track. On the restart Groenendyk jumped back out front, with Carter and Richie Gustin, who started 6th, close behind. Carter would use the momentum off the top of the track to take the top spot away from Groenendyk on lap 14, and then looked to be heading to a win. But the final caution of the race appeared on lap 18, as Jardin Fuller spun in turn 2, to bring the field back to Carter's back bumper. On the restart Carter moved out front and then held on for the final 2 laps to claim the win. Groenendyk was 2nd, Gustin was 3rd, Kyle Brown was 4th, with Bruce Hanford rounding out the top 5.
Cayden Carter charged from 11th to win the IMCA Modified feature on Thursday, May 5th at the Lee County Speedway.
Brian Birkhofer and Dave Eckrich led the field to the green flag in the 40 lap MLRA Late Model feature, with Birkhofer grabbing the lead on lap 1 over JC Wyman and Eckrich. Just as Birkhofer started to put some distance between himself and the rest of the field, the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 5. Reid Millard would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Birkhofer moved back out front, with Eckrich and Earl Pearson Jr. close behind. While Birkhofer paced the field out front, Brandon Sheppard was using the top of the track to work himself into second on lap 11. Sheppard then went to work on chasing down Birkhofer for the top spot. The two would have to maneuver through lapped traffic, which allowed Sheppard to quickly close on Birkhofer. Sheppard would over take Birkhofer for the lead on lap 21, as Pearson Jr. closed in to battle for the runner up spot. On lap 26, Pearson Jr. was able to clear Birkhofer for second. But Sheppard was to far out front to catch without a caution, as he picked up his first win at the track in his first ever visit. Pearson Jr. settled for 2nd, Chris Simpson charged from 14th to finish in 3rd, Tony Jackson Jr. came from 10th to finish 4th, with Jesse Stovall finishing fifth after starting in 9th.
The MLRA Late Model feature at the Lee County Speedway on Thursday, May 5th was won by Brandon Sheppard.
Up next was the 16 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Brett Lowry and Brandon Dale up front. Lowry would take advantage of his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Dale and Tony Dunker. Lowry then held the top spot until coming off turn 4 to complete lap 4, when Dunker used the top of the track to grab the lead. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 8, when Logan Anderson spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dunker moved back out front, with Joey Gower and Lowry battling for second. While Dunker paced the field out front, Jim Gillenwater was working his way towards the front from his 8th place starting spot. Just as Dunker took the white flag, the caution would come out to set up a green-white-checkered overtime finish. Justin Ebbing stopped in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Dunker again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Lowry trying to hold off Gillenwater for second. Once again as Dunker took the white flag the caution would come, this time John Oliver Jr. and Anderson collided in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Dunker again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Gillenwater over taking Lowry for second. Dunker then held off a last lap challenge from Gillenwater to pick up the win. Gillenwater settled for 2nd, Lowry was 3rd, Gower was 4th, with Austen Becerra charging from 15th to round out the top 5.
Tony Dunker won the IMCA SportMod feature at the Lee County Speedway on Thursday, May 5th.
Todd Frank and Tommy Elston drew the front row for the 25 lap LCS Late Models, with Elston moving out front on lap 1 over Frank and Andy Nezworski. While Elston was out front, Sam Halstead, who started 7th, was working his way towards the front. On lap 11 Halstead would over take Elston for the top spot, and then started to pull away until the first and only caution came out on lap 13. Gunner Frank spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Halstead jumped back out front, with Elston working to hold off Colby Springsteen for the runner up spot. Halstead then pulled away to cruise to his second win in a row at the track. Springsteen won the battle for 2nd, Elston was 3rd, Chad Jensen who made the pull from Norfolk, Nebraska finished 4th after starting in 8th., with Jeff Guengerich coming from 11th to finish 5th.
The LCS Late Model feature On Thursday, May 5th at the Lee County Speedway was won by Sam Halstead for the second week in a row.
The final feature to take to the track was the 12 lap IMCA Sport Compacts, with Darin Smith and Jeffery DeLonjay up front. DeLonjay would take advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Lambert and Smith. But DeLonjay's lead only lasted 1 lap, as Lambert slipped by for the lead. Lambert then lost the lead to Smith on lap 3, with Smith giving up the lead on lap 4 to Ron Kibbe. The action up front came to an abrupt stop on lap 9, as Brandon Rue and Lambert rolled in turn 2 to bring out the red. Both climbed from their cars okay. On the restart Kibbe moved back out front, with Kimberly Abbott, who started 8th, and DeLonjay close behind. Kibbe would hold on over the final 3 laps to pick up the win. Abbott was 2nd, Josh Barnes came from 9th to finish in 3rd, Darin Weisinger Jr. was 4th, with Levi Heath coming from 11th to finish in 5th.
Ron Kibbe broke Josh Barne's two race win streak in the IMCA Sport Compacts at the Lee County Speedway on Thursday, May 5th.
Notes from LCS: 37 MLRA Late Models, 23 Modifieds, 21 LCS Late Models, 18 SportMods, 16 Stock Cars, and 14 Sport Compacts made up the 129 cars signed in on the night......Dean Kratzer started the Stock Car feature in 14th and then passed 7 cars to finish in 7th....Brent Hartley, who started 16th, recovered from his spin on lap 10 to come back up to finish in 12th......Steve Stewart started the Modified feature in 17th and passed 8 cars to come home in 9th....Jim Redmann started 18th and finished 12th....Levi Smith came from 20th to finish in 15th....Larry McConnell recovered from his spin on the start to come back up to finish in 18th....Rick Durey had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature......Chad Simpson finished 7th in the MLRA Late Model feature, after starting in 11th....Jason Papich took a provisional and started 23rd. He passed 15 cars to come home in 8th....Terry Phillips passed 8 cars from his 19th place starting spot to finish in 11th....Gordy Gundaker came from 22nd to finish in 15th....Brantlee Gotschall also took a provisional and started 24th. He passed 8 cars to come home in 16th....Reid Millard, who started 26th, recovered from his spin on lap 5 to come back up to finish in 18th....Brian Birkhofer broke a oil pump with 3 laps go, while running 3rd, to end his night in 20th....Dustin Griffin, Denny Eckrich, Justin Reed, Jacob Magee, Bryon Allison, Jeremy Payne, Jay Johnson, Chris Spieker, Jay Chenowith, Mark Burgtorf, and Dick Weber were the cars who din't qualify for the A Main......Carter VanDenBerg started the SportMod feature in 11th and finished 6th....Austin Howes came from 12th to finish 7th....Matt Petrzelka started 13th and finished 9th....Jim Lynch (Kahoka, MO) came from 14th to finish in 10th....Brandyn Ryan finished 12th after starting in 18th....Jon Lear came from 17th to finish in 13th....Brandon Dale was running 3rd when he pulled off on lap 7 with troubles......Jim Lynch (Bloomfield, IA) started the LCS Late Model feature in 10th and finished 6th....Tyler Cale passed 12 cars from his 19th place starting spot to come home in 7th....Terry Gallaher started 15th and finished 8th....Kevin Kile was the highest finishing IMCA Late Model in 10th....Louis Lynch started 16th and finished 11th....Gunner Frank recovered from his spin on lap 13 to come back up to finish in 14th......Billy Cain started 12th in the IMCA Sport Compact feature, and then passed 5 cars to come home in 7th....Eric Misner started started 13th and finished 9th....Wayne Chamblee had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature.
Thursday, May 5, 2016
McCarl Cruises to Sprint Invaders Win at Osky
Oskaloosa, IA (Wednesday, May 4, 2016) - After two straight weeks of rain outs, the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa was able to get a Wednesday night of racing in. The Sprint Invaders would join the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, and IMCA Sport Compacts on the card for the night.
The first feature to take to the track was the 10 lap IMCA Sport Compacts, with James Roose and Levi Heath leading the field to the drop of the green flag. But it was sixth place starter Jake Benischek who used the top of the track to grab the lead on lap 1 over Heath and John Gill. While Benischek set the pace out front, Cody Van Dusen, who started 9th, was working his way towards the front. Coming to take the white flag Van Dusen was able to get under Benischek going into turn 1, as the two raced the final lap side-by-side. Coming out of turn four for the checkered flag, Van Dusen was able to edge out front at the line to pick up the win. But after post race tech Van Dusen was disqualified for an illegal throttle body, which handed the win over to Benischek. Heath was moved to 2nd, Shane Evans, who started 7th, was moved up to 3rd, Brad Havel, who came from 8th, was move up to 4th, with Lukas Yoder credited with 5th after starting in 10th.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Bobby Greene and Brad Stephens making up the front row. Stephens would take advantage of his front row starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Greene and Dustin Griffiths, who started 6th. Griffiths would try to get under Stephens for the top spot on lap 3 and again on lap 7, with Stephens holding him off both times. Then over the next 4 laps Griffiths looked to the outside of Stephens coming off the corners for the lead. And again Stephens was able to hold him off. The first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 11 to slow the action up front. Jamie Songer would spin in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Griffiths was able to get up beside Stephens for the lead, as they raced side-by-side for one lap. Griffiths would clear Stephens to take over the top spot on lap 13 and then held on to claim the win. Stephens was 2nd, Danny Thrasher started 7th and finished 3rd, Nick Ulin came from 8th to finish in 4th, with Craig Brown finishing 5th after starting in 10th.
Nathan Wood and Jason See led the field to the green flag in the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Wood grabbing the lead on lap 1 over See and Derrick Agee. Agee, who was working the bottom, was able to get under Wood on lap 2, as the two raced side-by-side for 2 laps. On lap 4 Agee was able to clear Wood to take over the top spot. But Wood didn't give up, as he was able to get under Agee on lap 8 to get the lead back. Two laps later, lap 10, Agee got under Wood to take the top spot back. Only to loose it back to Wood on lap 11, as Cayden Carter, who started 8th, moved in to make it a three car battle for the lead. On lap 12, Agee got under Wood going into turn 1 and then held him off to grab the lead back on lap 13. Going into turn 1 on lap 15, Wood went high to try and get around Agee, with Carter getting under Agee to make it three wide battle for the top spot coming off turn 2. Carter would grab the lead on lap 16 and then held on over the final two laps to pick up his second win in a row at the track. Wood over took Agee off turn four on the final lap to finish 2nd, Agee was 3rd, Mike Hughes was 4th, with See rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 16 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Matthew VanGelder and Trent Brink making up the front row. But when Brink elected to tag the tail of the field for the start, this would move Austin Paul to the outside of the front row. In which Paul took advantage of to take the lead on lap 1 over VanGelder and Jason McDaniel. While Paul set the pace out front, Curtis Van Der Wal, who started 10th, was working his way towards the front. Van Der Wal moved into the runner up spot on lap 5, and then went to work on Paul for the lead. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 9, Van Der Wal slipped under Paul to take the top spot. Van Der Wal then pulled away over the final 7 laps of a caution free race to pick up his second win in a row at the track.
The 25 lap Sprint Invaders feature was next to take to the track, with John Schulz and Jamie Ball set to take the green flag from the front row. But when Schulz, who came to a stop in turn 1 before the start, elected to go to the tail with motor troubles this would move Terry McCarl to the pole. That is all McCarl needed, as he shot out into the lead on lap 1 over Ball and Wayne Johnson, who started 6th. The only thing to slow McCarl down was a red on lap 12, when Ricky Montgomery got into the turn 1 guardrail and rolled hard. He climbed from his machine okay. On the restart McCarl moved back out front, with Ball and Johnson behind. A caution on lap 17 brought the field back to McCarl's back bumper for the final time. This time Chris Martin, who was running 4th, blew a left rear tire going into turn 3 to bring out the yellow. McCarl again grabbed the lead on the restart, and then pulled away to pick up the win. Johnson was able to slip past Ball on the final lap to claim 2nd, Ball was 3rd, Jarrod Schneiderman was 4th, with two time defending series champion Jon Agan coming from 9th to round out the top 5.
Cayden Carter and Kelly Shyrock led the field to the green in the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature. But just as the green flag was waved the caution light would come on. Dennis LaVeine cut a left front tire went he got into Tyler Groenendyk going into turn 1 and collected Ricky Thorton Jr. to bring out the yellow. On the restart Carter moved out front to lead lap 1 over Shyrock and Andrew Schroeder. Just after the completion of lap 1, another caution appeared. Tom Berry from Medford, Oregon went head on into the guardrail just past the flag stand to bring out the yellow. Carter moved back out front on the restart, with Shyrock and Colt Mather, who started 7th, close behind. Shyrock tried to work under Carter over the next 4 laps, only to have Carter hold him off. That was until lap 6, when Shyrock slipped under Carter coming off turn 4 to grab the lead. But Carter would slip back by Shyrock one lap later to take the top spot back. While all eyes were on Carter and Shyrock for the lead, Richie Gustin Jr., who was driving Shawn Ritter's brand new Harris Modified and started 9th, and Thorton Jr., who went to the rear after the caution on the start, were working their way towards the front. When Jason Hall spun in turn 4 on lap 11 to bring out the caution, this would help Gustin Jr. and Thorton Jr. to catch up to the lead duo. On the restart Gustin Jr. used the bottom of the track to slip past Shyrock and Carter for the lead. From then on Gustin Jr. pulled away to claim the win. Carter settled for 2nd, Shyrock was 3rd, Mather was 4th, with Thornton Jr. come back to finish 5th.
Notes from Osky: 21 Sprint Cars, 20 Hobby Stocks, 17 Modifieds, 14 SportMods, 13 Sport Compacts, and 12 Stock Cars made up the 97 cars signed in on the night....Lincoln Schrock had troubles in his Sport Compact heat that forced him to scratch from the feature......John Watson started the Hobby Stock feature in 12th and passed 5 cars to finish 7th....Scott Shull recovered from a roll over in hot laps to finish 11th in the feature....Jamie Songer recovered from his lap 11 spin to come back up to finish 14th....Doug McCollough dropped a driveshaft on the start of his heat race, and was forced to scratch from the feature......Brothers Danny Brau and Scott Brau had troubles in hot laps that forced both of them to scratch from the night in their SportMods......Nate Van Haaften started the Sprint feature in 12th and passed 6 cars to finish 6th....Josh Schneiderman fought motor troubles in hot laps and his heat race that forced him to start 21st in the feature. He then passed 13 cars to come home in 8th to claim the hard charger award....Ryan Jamsion started 13th and finished 9th....Harold Pohren came from 17th to finish 11th....John Greenwood started 20th and finished 14th......Zack VanderBeek started the Modified feature in 12th and passed 5 cars to come home in 7th....Brandon Banks came from 14th to finish 9th....Jason Hall recovered from his spin on lap 11 to come back up to finish 11th.
If your looking for some racing action tonight, the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa is playing host to the MLRA Late Models. With many of the this area's open Late Models looking to claim the $3,000 top prize. Also in action on the night is the Lee County Late Models going for a top prize of $1,000. The IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, and IMCA Sport Compacts are also on the card. The action is set to get started with hot laps at 6:45 PM, and racing at 7:15 PM. Hope to see you there!
The first feature to take to the track was the 10 lap IMCA Sport Compacts, with James Roose and Levi Heath leading the field to the drop of the green flag. But it was sixth place starter Jake Benischek who used the top of the track to grab the lead on lap 1 over Heath and John Gill. While Benischek set the pace out front, Cody Van Dusen, who started 9th, was working his way towards the front. Coming to take the white flag Van Dusen was able to get under Benischek going into turn 1, as the two raced the final lap side-by-side. Coming out of turn four for the checkered flag, Van Dusen was able to edge out front at the line to pick up the win. But after post race tech Van Dusen was disqualified for an illegal throttle body, which handed the win over to Benischek. Heath was moved to 2nd, Shane Evans, who started 7th, was moved up to 3rd, Brad Havel, who came from 8th, was move up to 4th, with Lukas Yoder credited with 5th after starting in 10th.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Bobby Greene and Brad Stephens making up the front row. Stephens would take advantage of his front row starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Greene and Dustin Griffiths, who started 6th. Griffiths would try to get under Stephens for the top spot on lap 3 and again on lap 7, with Stephens holding him off both times. Then over the next 4 laps Griffiths looked to the outside of Stephens coming off the corners for the lead. And again Stephens was able to hold him off. The first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 11 to slow the action up front. Jamie Songer would spin in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Griffiths was able to get up beside Stephens for the lead, as they raced side-by-side for one lap. Griffiths would clear Stephens to take over the top spot on lap 13 and then held on to claim the win. Stephens was 2nd, Danny Thrasher started 7th and finished 3rd, Nick Ulin came from 8th to finish in 4th, with Craig Brown finishing 5th after starting in 10th.
Nathan Wood and Jason See led the field to the green flag in the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Wood grabbing the lead on lap 1 over See and Derrick Agee. Agee, who was working the bottom, was able to get under Wood on lap 2, as the two raced side-by-side for 2 laps. On lap 4 Agee was able to clear Wood to take over the top spot. But Wood didn't give up, as he was able to get under Agee on lap 8 to get the lead back. Two laps later, lap 10, Agee got under Wood to take the top spot back. Only to loose it back to Wood on lap 11, as Cayden Carter, who started 8th, moved in to make it a three car battle for the lead. On lap 12, Agee got under Wood going into turn 1 and then held him off to grab the lead back on lap 13. Going into turn 1 on lap 15, Wood went high to try and get around Agee, with Carter getting under Agee to make it three wide battle for the top spot coming off turn 2. Carter would grab the lead on lap 16 and then held on over the final two laps to pick up his second win in a row at the track. Wood over took Agee off turn four on the final lap to finish 2nd, Agee was 3rd, Mike Hughes was 4th, with See rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 16 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Matthew VanGelder and Trent Brink making up the front row. But when Brink elected to tag the tail of the field for the start, this would move Austin Paul to the outside of the front row. In which Paul took advantage of to take the lead on lap 1 over VanGelder and Jason McDaniel. While Paul set the pace out front, Curtis Van Der Wal, who started 10th, was working his way towards the front. Van Der Wal moved into the runner up spot on lap 5, and then went to work on Paul for the lead. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 9, Van Der Wal slipped under Paul to take the top spot. Van Der Wal then pulled away over the final 7 laps of a caution free race to pick up his second win in a row at the track.
The 25 lap Sprint Invaders feature was next to take to the track, with John Schulz and Jamie Ball set to take the green flag from the front row. But when Schulz, who came to a stop in turn 1 before the start, elected to go to the tail with motor troubles this would move Terry McCarl to the pole. That is all McCarl needed, as he shot out into the lead on lap 1 over Ball and Wayne Johnson, who started 6th. The only thing to slow McCarl down was a red on lap 12, when Ricky Montgomery got into the turn 1 guardrail and rolled hard. He climbed from his machine okay. On the restart McCarl moved back out front, with Ball and Johnson behind. A caution on lap 17 brought the field back to McCarl's back bumper for the final time. This time Chris Martin, who was running 4th, blew a left rear tire going into turn 3 to bring out the yellow. McCarl again grabbed the lead on the restart, and then pulled away to pick up the win. Johnson was able to slip past Ball on the final lap to claim 2nd, Ball was 3rd, Jarrod Schneiderman was 4th, with two time defending series champion Jon Agan coming from 9th to round out the top 5.
Cayden Carter and Kelly Shyrock led the field to the green in the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature. But just as the green flag was waved the caution light would come on. Dennis LaVeine cut a left front tire went he got into Tyler Groenendyk going into turn 1 and collected Ricky Thorton Jr. to bring out the yellow. On the restart Carter moved out front to lead lap 1 over Shyrock and Andrew Schroeder. Just after the completion of lap 1, another caution appeared. Tom Berry from Medford, Oregon went head on into the guardrail just past the flag stand to bring out the yellow. Carter moved back out front on the restart, with Shyrock and Colt Mather, who started 7th, close behind. Shyrock tried to work under Carter over the next 4 laps, only to have Carter hold him off. That was until lap 6, when Shyrock slipped under Carter coming off turn 4 to grab the lead. But Carter would slip back by Shyrock one lap later to take the top spot back. While all eyes were on Carter and Shyrock for the lead, Richie Gustin Jr., who was driving Shawn Ritter's brand new Harris Modified and started 9th, and Thorton Jr., who went to the rear after the caution on the start, were working their way towards the front. When Jason Hall spun in turn 4 on lap 11 to bring out the caution, this would help Gustin Jr. and Thorton Jr. to catch up to the lead duo. On the restart Gustin Jr. used the bottom of the track to slip past Shyrock and Carter for the lead. From then on Gustin Jr. pulled away to claim the win. Carter settled for 2nd, Shyrock was 3rd, Mather was 4th, with Thornton Jr. come back to finish 5th.
Notes from Osky: 21 Sprint Cars, 20 Hobby Stocks, 17 Modifieds, 14 SportMods, 13 Sport Compacts, and 12 Stock Cars made up the 97 cars signed in on the night....Lincoln Schrock had troubles in his Sport Compact heat that forced him to scratch from the feature......John Watson started the Hobby Stock feature in 12th and passed 5 cars to finish 7th....Scott Shull recovered from a roll over in hot laps to finish 11th in the feature....Jamie Songer recovered from his lap 11 spin to come back up to finish 14th....Doug McCollough dropped a driveshaft on the start of his heat race, and was forced to scratch from the feature......Brothers Danny Brau and Scott Brau had troubles in hot laps that forced both of them to scratch from the night in their SportMods......Nate Van Haaften started the Sprint feature in 12th and passed 6 cars to finish 6th....Josh Schneiderman fought motor troubles in hot laps and his heat race that forced him to start 21st in the feature. He then passed 13 cars to come home in 8th to claim the hard charger award....Ryan Jamsion started 13th and finished 9th....Harold Pohren came from 17th to finish 11th....John Greenwood started 20th and finished 14th......Zack VanderBeek started the Modified feature in 12th and passed 5 cars to come home in 7th....Brandon Banks came from 14th to finish 9th....Jason Hall recovered from his spin on lap 11 to come back up to finish 11th.
If your looking for some racing action tonight, the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa is playing host to the MLRA Late Models. With many of the this area's open Late Models looking to claim the $3,000 top prize. Also in action on the night is the Lee County Late Models going for a top prize of $1,000. The IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, and IMCA Sport Compacts are also on the card. The action is set to get started with hot laps at 6:45 PM, and racing at 7:15 PM. Hope to see you there!
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