Late Race Restart Propels Thornton Jr. to Dirt Knights Tour Opening Win

Vinton, IA (Monday, May 28, 2018) - In 2017 the Dirt Knights TV series that is shown on MavTV followed six driver's on the Dakota IMCA Modified Tour. But for 2018 the TV series will be following six driver's who will compete on the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour, formerly known at the Hawkeye Dirt Tour. The tour opener was held on Monday, May 28th at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa, with Ricky Thornton Jr. standing in victory lane at the end of the night.

Thirty-six IMCA Modifieds signed in on the night in hopes of making the twenty-four car starting field for the 30 lap feature. Those driver's would draw for their starting spots in one of the four 10 lap heat races. Where the heat race winners would be guaranteed a starting spot in that feature, while 8 other driver's were added based on passing points in those heat races. The remainder of the 24 driver's would be split into two 12 lap B Mains, with the top 6 out of each of those earning the final twelve spots into the feature.

After all qualifying was complete it was time to go feature racing, with the 12 lap Micro Mods up first. Kaden Reynolds and Cole McNeal would draw the front row for the event. But it was third place starter Matt Post who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over McNeal and Shawn Fisher. Post then held the top spot until lap 4, when McNeal slipped past for the lead. The action would come to a halt on lap 6, when Dallon Murty got upside down coming off turn 2 to bring out the red. He would climb from the car okay. On the restart McNeal jumped back out front, with Post and Fisher close behind. While the battle for second was heating up, McNeal would pull away to pick up his fourth win in a row at the track. Post held on for 2nd, Erick Knutsen was 3rd, Fisher was 4th, with Chad Dugan coming from 8th to finish in 5th.

Cole McNeal made it four wins in a row at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa by winning the 12 lap Micro Mod feature on Monday, May 28, 2018.

Up next was the 12 lap Sport Compact feature, with Travis Losenicky and Austin Reuman leading the field to green. Losenicky took advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Jake Benischek and Bill Whalen Jr. The lead for Losenicky lasted until lap 3, when Benischek slipped past for the top spot. Benischek then started to build up a lead over second place, when he started to enter lapped traffic on lap 8. The heavy lapped traffic was racing three wide in front of him on lap 10, which allowed Losenicky to close in on Benischek coming to the white flag. But Benischek was able to hold on to claim another win in Vinton. Losenicky settled for 2nd, Whalen Jr. was 3rd, Luke Benischek started 9th and finished 4th, with Seth Keiser coming from 10th to round out the top 5.

Durant, Iowa's Jake Benischek picks up another Sport Compact feature win on Monday, May 28, 2018 at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa.

Scooter Dulin and Dean Kratzer drew the front row for the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Kratzer using his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Dulin and Norman Chesmore. Kratzer, who was working the top of the track, then held the top spot until lap 7. When Dulin, who was working the bottom, edged him out at the line to take over the lead. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 9, as Dustin Vis spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dulin moved back out front, with John Oliver Jr., who started 7th, and Jeff Mueller, who came from the rear, glued to his back bumper. One lap later, lap 11, Mueller was able to work under Dulin to take over the top spot. Mueller then started to pull away from the battle for second going on behind him. When the second and final caution of the event appeared on lap 16, as Jeremy Clement came to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Mueller moved back out front, with Dulin and Oliver Jr. close behind. With Dulin and Oliver Jr. battling for second, this would allow Mueller to go on to claim his first win of the season at the track. Oliver Jr. got past Dulin in the battle for 2nd, Dulin was 3rd, Chesmore was 4th, with Shane Ebaugh finishing in 5th.

Jeff Mueller is joined by Rob Jennings to his left and his mom and dad to his right after winning the IMCA Stock Car feature at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa on Monday, May 28, 2018.

Up next was the 18 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Brandon Tharp and Austen Becerra making up the front row. But it was third place starter Joey Schaefer who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Tharp and Becerra. The action was slowed on lap 2, when Chuck Lewis spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Schaefer moved back out front, with Becerra and Shane Paris following him. One lap later, lap 4, Tharp's run up front came to an end when he spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Schaefer jumped back out front on the restart, with Becerra and Joe Docekal, who started 6th, close behind. Disaster would strike Becerra on lap 6, as he spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Schaefer moved back out front, with Docekal and Paris following. Then just after the lap was scored complete, another caution appeared. This time Brady Hilmer spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow.

Docekal went to the top of the track on the restart to take the top spot away from Schaefer. Then he would start to pull away, when the caution appeared on lap 12 to bring the field back to his back bumper. This time Ben Chapman tangled with a lap car that collected Tony Olson in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Docekal jumped back out front, with Schaefer and Kyle Olson, who started 10th, close behind. But just after the lap was scored complete the final caution of the event came out, as Lewis spun in turn 4 for his second caution to end his night. Docekal grabbed the lead on the restart and then led the final laps to claim his third win of the season at the Benton County Speedway. Schaefer was 2nd, Sam Wieben finished 3rd after starting in 15th, Kyle Olson was 4th, with Becerra working his way back up to 5th after spinning on lap 6.

The IMCA SportMod feature on Monday, May 28, 2018 at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa was won by Joe Docekal.

Kyle Dulin and Brett Vanous led the field to green in the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Dulin jumping out front to lead lap 1 over Justin Wacha and Leah Wroten, who started 5th. Wroten, who was on the bottom, Dulin, in the middle, and Wacha, up top, raced off turn 2 three wide for the lead to come and complete lap 2. Wroten would emerge from the battle going into turn 3 to grab the top spot. Wacha would follow her into second, and then tried to work under Wroten over the next few laps. When he wasn't able to make the pass on the bottom, he then tried to work around her going thru the middle on lap 7. This would allow Vanous to slip under Wacha for the runner up spot. Vanous then tried to work under Wroten over the next 5 laps, when the action was slowed on lap 13. Vanous clipped a tire coming off turn 4 and pushed it out onto the track to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wroten jumped back out front, with Vanous and Wacha close behind. Going into turn 1 Vanous decided to work the middle and top groove to try and get the lead away. But when he drifted to high coming out of turn 2, this would allow Wroten to go on to claim her first win of the season at the track. Vanous held on for 2nd, Wacha was 3rd, Jacob Floyd started 7th and finished 4th, with Matt Brown coming home in 5th.

Independence, Iowa's Leah Wroten scored the IMCA Hobby Stock feature win at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa on Monday, May 28, 2018.

The final feature to take to the track was the 30 lap Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour for IMCA Modifieds. Jarrett Brown and Troy Cordes drew the front row for the event, with Cordes edging out Brown by inches at the line to lead lap 1. While Cordes set the pace out front, Brown was working to hold back Ricky Thornton Jr., who started 5th, and Hunter Marriott, who started 8th, in the battle for the runner up spot. The action was slowed for the first time of the event on lap 15, just as Cordes started to enter lapped traffic. Kyle Brown went over the track in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Cordes jumped back out front, but now had Thornton Jr. and Marriott glued to his back bumper. Thornton Jr. then tried to work under Cordes and even tried a few times to slid up in front of him over the next four laps. But Cordes was able to use the momentum off the top of the track to keep the lead. Those failed attempts by Thornton Jr. allowed Marriott to clear him for second on lap 21. Two laps later, lap 23, Marriott drove it hard into turn 3 and then slid up in front of Cordes coming off turn 4. But Cordes would turn back under him to keep the lead at the line. Coming off turn 2 Cordes went from the bottom of the track to the top, and Marriott tried to work past him off the top. Then going into turn 3 Marriott ran out of track and went off the track, falling back to 8th before coming back onto the track in turn 4.

Eric Barnes, who was battling inside the top 10, went off the track going into turn 3 on lap 26 to bring out the second and final caution. On the restart Thornton Jr. went to the top of the track going into turn 1 and then used the momentum coming off turn 2 to take the top spot away from Cordes. Cordes then tried to work back under Thornton Jr. over the final laps. But Thornton Jr. was able to hold him off to pick up the win and the $2,000 top prize to go with it. Cordes settled for 2nd, Brown was 3rd, Ethan Dotson was 4th, with Joel Rust finishing 5th after starting in 11th.

Chandler, Arizona native Ricky Thornton Jr. scores the $2,000 opener for the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour on Monday, May 28, 2018 at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa.

The top 3 finishers in Monday, May 28, 2018 Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour for IMCA Modifieds at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa are (from left to right) Troy Cordes 2nd, Ricky Thornton Jr. winner, and Jarrett Brown 3rd.

Notes from Vinton: The 114 cars signed in for competition were made up of 36 Modifieds, 27 SportMods, 17 Sport Compacts, 13 Stock Cars, 12 Mico Mods, and 9 Hobby Stocks......Joren Fisher started the Micro Mod feature in 9th and finished 7th....Kyle Roose finished 9th after starting in 11th......Ashley Reuman started the Sport Compact feature in 12th and finished 7th....Dustin McGee came from 17th to finish in 10th....Spencer Roggentien finished 12th after starting in 16th......Kevin Rose started the Stock Car feature in 11th and finished 7th....Russell Damme Jr. finished 8th after starting in 12th....Damon Murty was battling inside the top 4, when he pulled off on lap 6 with troubles to end his night in 12th......Tyler Soppe started the SportMod feature in 14th and then worked his way up to a 6th place finish....Ethan Braaksma passed 14 cars from his 21st place starting spot to come home in 7th....Justin Becker charged from 25th to finish in 9th....Randy LaMar started 23rd and finished 12th....Richard Nelson finished 13th after starting in 20th....Brady Hilmer recovered from his spin on lap 7 to come back up to finish 14th....Daniel Campbell finished 16th after starting in 27th....Tony Olson, who started 26th and had been battling inside the top 10 by lap 11, got caught up in a wreck on lap 12 to end his night in 22nd......Mike Kimm started the Hobby Stock feature in 8th and finished 6th......Hunter Marriott who was battling for the lead on lap 23 and then went off the track in turn 3 before coming back onto the track in turn 4 in 8th. Would climb back up to finish 6th in the final laps....Darin Duffy, who picked up the win on Sunday in Vinton, started 16th and then passed 9 cars to come home in 7th....Kelly Shryock, who won the second B Main, started the feature in 14th and finished 9th....Shane DeMey finished 11th after starting in 17th....Kyle Brown, who started 19th, recovered from going over the track in turn 3 on lap 15 to come back up to finish 14th....Ron Lauritzen finished 15th after starting in 18th....David Brown finished 17th after starting in 21st....Jeff James came from 22nd to finish in 19th....Corey Dripps, who took the final transfer spot out of B Main 1, had mechanical troubles that forced him to scratch from the feature....Racer Hulin, Jordan Walker, Cody Bauman, Jeff Aikey, Patrick Flannagan, Jerry Dedrick, Zach Less, Tommy Belmer, Wade Taylor, Al Hejna, Jacob Murray, and Ed Thomas were the 12 driver's who failed to qualify for the A Feature.

McCarl Scores Sprint Invaders Win at 34 Raceway

West Burlington, IA (Sunday, May 27, 2018) - After reading the headline one might have thought it was Terry McCarl who was standing in victory lane at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa on Sunday, May 27th during the Sprint Invaders event. But that was not the case, it was his son Austin who actually picked up the win in Scott Bonar's #50 Sprint Car.

The 12 lap Mod Lite feature would take to the track first, with Phil Barrow and Wyatt Wilkerson drawing the front row. Wilkerson took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Mike Morrill, who started 4th, and Barrow. One lap later, lap 2, Morrill would slip under Wilkerson coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. Morrill then pulled away from the field, and looked to be heading to an easy win. When the first and only caution of the event appeared on lap 11, as Barrow, who was running 6th, spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow and set up a one lap dash to the finish. On the restart Morrill jumped back out front, but had Wilkerson looking under him off the corners to try and get the win. But Morrill was able to hold him off to pick up the win. Wilkerson settled for 2nd, Joel Huggins started 6th and finished 3rd, Zack Foster finished 4th after starting in 8th, with R.J. Gonzales completing the top 5.

Up next was the 10 lap Mini Hauler Truck feature, with Ted Carlson and Jacob Ruble leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Ruble used his starting spot to his advantage by grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Lance Applegarth and Carlson. While Ruble set the pace out front, Drake Fenton, who started 7th, was working his way towards the front. On lap 4 Fenton was able to move into second, and then went to work on Ruble for the lead. Disaster would strike the top two Trucks on lap 5, as Fenton got under Ruble going into turn 1 and made contact with him. This would cause Ruble to spin and bring out the yellow, which sent both to the rear for the restart. John Helenthal inherited the lead on the restart, with Roger Brockett, who started 6th, and Applegarth close behind. Helenthal would go on to lead the final laps to claim the win. Fenton recovered from his involvement on the lap 5 caution to come back up to finish 2nd, Brockett was 3rd, Carlson was 4th, with Applegarth holding on for 5th.

Jason Ash and Brandon Housley drew the front row for the 12 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature, with Housley jumping out front to lead lap 1 over Larry Miller and Ash. The action up front was slowed for the first and only time on lap 2, as Randy Magnuson spun in turn 3 and collected Jerrod Nichols to bring out the yellow. On the restart Housley jumped back out front, with Miller working to hold off Brandon Reu, who started 7th, in the battle for second. While Miller and Reu battled for the runner up spot, Housley would start to pull away from the field. Reu was finally able to clear Miller for second on lap 7, but by then Housley had built up a straightaway lead. Without a caution to bunch the field back up there was no catching Housely, who went on to pick up the win. Reu settled for 2nd, Jake Dietrich finished 3rd after starting in 9th, Miller was 4th, with Kyle Boyd coming home in 5th after starting in 11th.

The final event to take to the track was the 30 lap Sprint Invaders, with Austin McCarl and Cody Wehrle leading the field to the green. McCarl took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Wehrle and Skylar Gee. Just as McCarl started to enter lapped traffic the first caution of the race appeared on lap 8 to slow the action. Robbie Price, who was running 4th, spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Damian Getchell spun in turn 1 to bring the yellow light back on. A second attempt of a restart resulted in another yellow, as Josh Schneiderman and McKenna Haase tangled in turn 2 to bring the yellow back out. The third restart saw McCarl jump back out front, with Wehrle and Gee close behind. McCarl then started to put some distance between himself and Wehrle, that was until he started to enter lapped traffic on lap 14. The heavy lapped traffic would allow Wehrle to close in on McCarl's back bumper on lap 20. McCarl was able to work thru the lapped traffic and hold off Wehrle to claim the win. Wehrle settled for 2nd, Mason Daniel started 6th and finished 3rd, Chris Martin passed 13 cars from his 17th place starting spot to come home in 4th, with Gee holding on for 5th.

Notes from 34: 26 Sprints signed in for the night, with 16 of those qualifying out of the heat races based on passing points. The other 4 cars to start the feature would come from the 10 car B Main....Jamie Ball was the final car in passing points to make it into the feature out of the heat races, which meant he started 16th. He then passed 9 cars to finish 7th....Brayden Gaylord finished 2nd in the B Main and then started the feature in 18th. He would pass 10 cars to come home in 10th....Robbie Price recovered from his spin on lap 8 to come back up to finish 9th....Jarrod Schneiderman finished 10th after starting in 15th....Allan Woods took the final transfer spot out of the B Main, and then started the feature in 20th. He would advance 8 spots to finish in 12th....Daniel Bergquist had motor troubles in hot laps that forced him to scratch for the night......Devon Rouse started the Mod Lite feature in 11th, as a result of loosing his air cleaner on the start of his heat race. He would pass 5 cars to come home in 6th......Cody Bowman started the Sport Compact feature in 14th and finished 7th....Mark Dennis had a flat tire in his heat race that forced him to start the feature in 18th. He would advance 10 spots to come home in 8th....Adam Christy and Matt Milligan had troubles in their heat races that forced them to scratch for the feature.

Three New Winners Visit Victory Lane at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway

Donnellson, IA (Friday, May 25, 2018) - What else can be said about mother nature, as it seems like the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa has battled thru some kind of weather condition for most of the 2018 racing season. And that was no different on this Friday night, as rains showers moved in and around the area. But the track would survive this round of rains, with another front building to the northwest and moving towards the track. Thankfully all the nights events, that were being presented by Roberts Tire Center, were completed before the front made it to Donnellson. When the night was over three driver's claimed their first wins of the season, while two others picked up multiple wins.

Up first to take to the track was the 18 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA SportMods, with Bob Cowman and Ron Kibbe making up the front row. Kibbe took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Austen Becerra, who started 5th, and Brandon Lennox, who stated 7th. The lead for Kibbe lasted for 2 laps, as Lennox slipped past on lap 3 to take over the top spot. Then just after the lap was scored complete the first caution appeared, as Dakota Sapp spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Lennox jumped back out front, with Becerra over taking Kibbe for second. Disaster would strike Kibbe on lap 7, as he spun in turn 1 and collected Adam Niekamp to bring out the yellow. On the restart Lennox went into turn 3 high, which opened the bottom for Becerra to slid him coming off turn 4 to grab the lead. But Lennox would slip back under Becerra coming off turn 4 to take the top spot back on lap 9. The action up front was slowed on lap 10, as Kyle Hamelton spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Lennox jumped back out front on the restart, with Becerra holding off Brandon Dale, who started 6th, in the battle for second.

One lap later, lap 12, Bob Cowman spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Lennox moved back out front, with Dale over taking Becerra for second. Then just after the lap was scored complete the caution appeared, as Colton Pohren spun down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. Lennox once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Dale and Becerra close behind. Just as Lennox started to pull away, the final caution of the race appeared on lap 17. This time Brandon Niekamp spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow, and set up a green-white-checkered overtime finish. On the restart Lennox jumped back out front, with Dale and Becerra following. Despite a few challenges from Dale over the final laps, Lennox was able to hold on to pick up his third win of the season at the track. Dale was 2nd, Adam Birck, who started 8th, over took Becerra on the final lap to finish 3rd, Becerra was 4th, with Tyler Burton, who started 11th and was making his first appearance of the season at the track, coming home in 5th.

The 20 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature was up next, with Les Blakley and Cody Washburne leading the field to green. But it was third place starter Ray Raker who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Dean Kratzer, who started 4th, and Jeremy Pundt, who started 6th. Kratzer would use the momentum off the top of the track coming off turn 4 to edge out Raker at the line by inches to lead lap 2. Then just after the lap was scored complete the first and only caution of the race appeared, as Eric Glass spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Kratzer jumped back out front, with Pundt and John Oliver Jr., who started 7th, close behind. One lap later, lap 4, Pundt used the bottom of the track to take the top spot away from Kratzer. While Pundt worked the bottom, Oliver Jr. used the top to try and wrestle the lead away from Pundt. Pundt would hold him off until lap 7, when Oliver Jr. was able to complete the pass. While Oliver Jr. set the pace out front, Jason Cook, who started 8th, and Abe Huls, who started 9th, were working there way towards the front. Cook took second on lap 12, as Huls moved into third on lap 15. These two would close in on Oliver Jr. over the final laps, but without a caution to bunch the field up Oliver Jr. would go on to claim his first win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Cook was 2nd, Huls was 3rd, Pundt was 4th, with Raker finishing in 5th.

Levi Smith and Mitch Boles led the field to green in the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with Smith grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Kelly Buckallew and Boles. Then disaster struck Buckallew after the completion of lap 1, as he spun in turn 1 from his second place running spot to bring out the yellow. On the restart Smith jumped back out front, with Austin Emry and Bill Roberts Jr., who started 9th, close behind. Smith then held the top spot until lap 5, when Roberts Jr. slipped under him coming off turn 4 to take over the lead. Then just after the lap was scored complete a tire was clipped in turn 4 and shoved onto the track to bring out the yellow. On the restart Roberts Jr. moved back out front, with Jeff Waterman, who started 8th, over taking Smith for the runner up spot. With two more laps complete Logan Anderson would spin in turn 1 to bring out the final caution of the race. Roberts Jr. once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Waterman and Larry Herring, who started 12th and was making his first visit to the track this season, following close behind. Waterman and Herring tried low and high to get the lead away from Roberts Jr. over the final laps. But Roberts Jr. would hold on to pick up his second win in a row and third of the season at the track. Waterman was 2nd, Herring was 3rd, Carter VanDenBerg came from 10th to finish in 4th, with Anderson, who started 14th, recovered from his spin on lap 8 to come back up to finish 5th.

Up next was the 25 lap Sprint Invaders feature, with Jamie Ball and Justin Buchholz making up the front row. Ball used his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over John Schulz and Brayden Gaylord. The action was slowed for the first time on the completion of lap 1, as Ryan Jamison spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Ball jumped back out front, with Schulz and Cody Wehrle glued to his back bumper. The second caution of the race slowed the action on lap 5, as McKenna Haase spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Ball once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Schulz and Josh Schneiderman, who started 7th, following close behind. Two laps later, lap 8, Buchholz lost an engine down the front stretch and came to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Ball jumped back out front, with Schulz and Bill Balog, who started 17th, now following closely. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 11 Schulz slid from the bottom to the top to take over the top spot from Ball. Then just when it looked like Schulz would hold on to claim the win, the red flag appeared on lap 22 to set up a three lap shoot out to the finish. Jon Agan, who was running 6th, got upside down in turn 2 to bring out the red. He would climb from his car okay. On the restart Schulz moved back out front, with Balog and Ball close behind. Despite a last lap challenge from Balog, Schulz would hold on to pick up the win. Balog settled for 2nd, Ball was 3rd, Mason Daniel finished 4th after starting in 8th, with Gaylord finishing in 5th.

Kenny Smith and Jake Dietrich led the field to green in the 14 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compact feature, with Dietrich using his starting spot to lead lap 1 over Smith and Mike Reu. Dietrich then started to pull away from the battles going on behind him, and even looked like he might go on to pick up a win. But troubles on lap 5 forced Dietrich to the infield, which handed the lead over to Kimberly Abbott, who started 8th. With Abbott out front, Brandon Reu, who started 7th, and Barry Taft, who started 9th, were battling for second and trying to close on Abbott for the lead. Taft over took Brandon Reu for second on lap 10 and then tried to chase down Abbott for the top spot. But Abbott would hold on to score her first win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway, and also broke Taft's three race winning streak. Taft settled for 2nd, Brandon Reu was 3rd, Mike Reu was 4th, with Craig Bangert coming from 10th to round out the top 5.

The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Steffes Late Models, with Dayton Lynch and Todd Frank on the front row. Frank took advantage of his starting spot to jump out front on lap 1 over Lynch and Jeff Guengerich. Then just after the lap was scored complete Brandon Queen spun in turn 1 to bring out the only caution of the race. On the restart Frank jumped back out front, with Guengerich, Sam Halstead, who started 7th, and Tommy Elston, who started 8th, glued to his back bumper. Halstead would over take Guengerich for second on lap 3, with Elston moving into third on lap 5. Even though Halstead and Elston battled for second, Frank wasn't able to pull away from them. On lap 18 Elston was able to get past Halstead for second, but would run out of laps to mount a challenge on Frank. Who went on to claim his first win of the season at the track, and became the fifth different winner in five races. Elston settled for 2nd, Halstead was 3rd, Ron Boyse was 4th, with Guengerich coming home in 5th.

Notes from LCS: A jammed packed grandstand got to witness some great racing action, on another greatly prepared racing surface......Tony Johnson started the SportMod feature in 9th and finished 6th....Bob Cowman recovered from his spin on lap 12 to come back up to finish 7th....Michael Benjamin finished 8th after starting in 8th....Brandon Niekamp, who started 13th, recovered from his spin on lap 17 to finish in 9th...Kyle Hamelton, who started 15th, also recovered from a spin on lap 10 to finish in 10th....Daniel Fellows had troubles in his heat that forced him to scratch from the feature......Jason See, who returned to the track for the first time after getting upside down back on April 20th, had troubles in his heat that forced him to start the Stock Car feature in 15th. He would pass 9 cars to come home in 6th....Randy Samberg returned to driving a race car after sitting out about 13 years. He would start the feature in 10th and ran as high as 8th before troubles forced him out on lap 10 to give him a 12th place finish......Jarrod Schneiderman passed 12 cars from his 18th place starting spot in the Sprint Invaders feature to come home in 6th....Ryan Jamison recovered from his spin on lap 1 to come back up to finish 9th....Daniel Bergquist started 15th and finished 12th....John Greenwood finished 13th after starting in 16th......Gunner Frank, who won his first Late Model at the track last Friday, had troubles after his heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature.

Benton County Speedway Produces Some Hot Racing Action

Vinton, IA (Sunday, May 20, 2018) - When I got into my car on Sunday to make the 2.5 hour drive northeast to the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa the temperature in my car read 72. But with every mile I got closer to Vinton the temperature would drop. When I finally arrived to the fairgrounds the temperature in the car had dropped to 59, and it was overcast.

The combination of the overcast skies and cool temperatures helped to keep the track fast all night. Which helped to produced some hot racing action, with two and three wide action in many of the seven feature events contested on the night.

After the 14 heat race events and the huge candy dash was completed, it was time to go feature racing. The 12 lap Micro Mods were up first, with Russ Olson and Cole McNeal leading the field to the green flag. McNeal would take advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead over Don Erger and Shawn Fisher. The fast pace that McNeal was setting allowed him to pull away from the rest of the field. And without a caution to bunch the field up, McNeal would cruise to his first win of the season at the track. Erger was 2nd, Fisher was 3rd, Matt Post was 4th, with Erick Knutsen rounding out the top 5.

Up next was the 12 lap Sport Compact feature, with Austin Reuman and Jamie Wood making up the front row. Reuman used his front row starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Adam Gates, who started 5th, and Travis Losenicky, who started 7th. The battle for the lead went three wide coming off turn 2 to complete lap 7, as Nathan Chandler, who started 8th and was running the low line, Jake Benischek, who started 6th and was running the middle groove, and Reuman, who was up top, raced for the lead. Benischek would emerge down the backstretch to grab the top spot, with Chandler close behind. Chandler would look under Benischek over the final 5 laps. But Benischek was able to hold him off to claim his 3rd win of the season at the track. Chandler settled for 2nd, Reuman was 3rd, Gates was 4th, with Bill Whalen Jr. finishing 5th.

Lonnie Mercer and Shane Ebaugh led the field to the drop of the green flag in the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Mercer edging out Scooter Dulin and Ebaugh to lead lap 1. The lead for Mercer only lasted for 1 lap, as Dulin shot by on lap 2 to take over the top spot. Just like the Sport Compacts, the Stock Cars would race three wide coming off turn 2 to complete lap 3. John Oliver Jr., who started 6th and was working the bottom of the track, Damon Murty, who started 7th and was working the middle, and Dulin, who was up top, raced out of two for the top spot. Murty would emerge from the three wide battle to come around to lead lap 3. But Oliver Jr. would use the low groove to edge Murty out at the line on lap 4 to grab the top spot. While Oliver Jr. worked the bottom, Murty went to the top of the track to try and get the lead back. The two would race side-by-side over the next 5 laps, with Oliver Jr. holding the lead at the line each lap. Then coming off turn 4 to complete lap 10 Murty was able to use the momentum off the top to take over the top spot. This would force Oliver Jr. to move to the top of the track to try and get the lead back. Murty was able to hold him off, that was until the white flag lap. Coming out of turn 2 Murty suddenly started to slow, which allowed Oliver Jr. to go by to pick up his second win of the season at the track. By the time Murty got back up to speed Dulin went by. Duling then edged out Murty at the line by inches to finish 2nd, Murty settled for 3rd, Norman Chesmore was 4th, with Ebaugh coming home in 5th.

Up next was the 16 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Kyle Bentley and Curt Hilmer making up the front row. Bentley took advantage of his starting spot to jump out front on lap 1 over Chase Rudolf and Hilmer. The lead for Bentley lasted until lap 3, when Rudolf shot under him coming off turn 2 to take over the top spot. Two laps later, lap 5, Hilmer would spin off the top of the track in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Rudolf moved back out front, with Bentley working to hold off Tony Olson for the runner up spot. With Bentley and Olson battling for second, this allowed Joe Docekal, who started 10th, to join the battle. Docekal would worked under both Bentley and Olson to take over the second spot on lap 7. Then just after the lap was scored complete the second caution of the race appeared, as Brady Hilmer spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart the #50H lost a left rear tire coming off turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Rudolf move back out front, with Docekal and Olson close behind. Docekal would look under Rudolf over the next 5 laps, when another caution on lap 13 slowed the battle.

Bradly Hilmer would spin in turn 4 to bring out his second caution to end his night. Rudolf grabbed the lead on the restart, with Docekal and Kyle Olson, who started 8th, over taking Tony Olson for 3rd. Another lap scored complete produced another yellow, as #80 spun in turn 4 to set up a green-white-checkered finish. Once again Rudolf grabbed the lead on the restart, with Docekal and Kyle Olson glued to his back bumper. But Jamie Huff would spin in turn 4 after the lapped was scored complete to bring out the yellow. This would set up a two lap overtime shoot out to the checkered. On the restart Docekal drove it hard down low into turn 1 and slid up in front of Rudolf coming off turn 2 to take over the top spot. Docekal then held off Rudolf on the final lap to claim his second win of the season at the track. Rudolf settled for 2nd, Tony Olson got by Kyle Olson to finish 3rd, Kyle Olson was 4th, with Ryan King finishing 5th.

The 20 lap IMCA Late Model feature took to the track next, with Curtis Glover and Sean Johnson drawing the front row for the event. Glover used his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Curt Schroeder and Ryan Dolan, who started 6th.  By lap 5 Dolan had worked his way into second, while Todd Cooney, who started 8th, worked himself into 3rd. Dolan then tried to work under Glover over the next couple of laps, but Glover was able to hold him off each lap. That was until lap 8 when he pushed coming off turn 4, which allowed Dolan to shoot by for the top spot. Two laps later, lap 10, Cooney got by Glover to take over the runner up spot. Then disaster would strike Glover on lap 12, as he got off the track in turn 3 and rolled several times to bring out the red. He would climb from the car okay. On the restart Dolan moved back out front, with Cooney and Luke Pestka, who started 5th, close behind. Cooney was able to follow in Dolan's tire tracks over the final 7 laps, but wasn't able to mount a challenge for the lead. As Dolan went on to pick up the win. Cooney was 2nd, Pestka was 3rd, Curran Beckler started 9th and finished 4th, with Schroeder rounding out the top 5.

Dennis Betzer and Zach Less led the field to green in the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Less jumping out front to lead lap 1 over Betzer and Patrick Flannagan. The action was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 5, as Griffin McGrath spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Less jumped back out front, with Corey Dripps, who started 6th, and Jeff Aikey, who started 10th, racing two and three wide to work themselves into 2nd and 3rd. Just when it looked like Less was going to pull away for an easy win, the second and final caution of the race appeared on lap 11. Debris in turn 2 would bring out the yellow, and the rest of the field back to Less' back bumper. Once again on the restart Less moved out front, with Aikey, Dripps and Joel Rust, who started 11th, battling for the runner up spot. While the battle for second was going on, this would allow Less to pull away. He would go on to lead the final laps to claim his first win of the season at the track. Rust slipped under Aikey coming off turn 2 on the final lap to finish 2nd, Aikey was 3rd, Dripps was 4th, with Scott Hogan coming home in 5th.

The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stocks, with Jacob Floyd and Jeremiah Andrews on the front row. Andrews took advantage of his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Floyd and Kyle Parizek.  Floyd, who was running the bottom of the track, Parizek, who was in the middle, and Andrews, who was up top, raced three wide off turn 2 to complete lap 3 for the top spot. With Parizek emerging out of the pack to lead the lap. Then just after the lap was scored complete, Bradly Graham went over the track in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Parizek moved back out front, with Justin Wacha, who started 6th, and Nathan Ballard, who started 9th, taking over 2nd and 3rd. Wacha would work the bottom of the track to take the top spot away from Parizek on lap 5, with Leah Wroten, who started 7th, joining Ballard in the battle for second. Coming off turn 2 to complete lap 6, Wroten worked under Wacha, while Ballard went to the top of the track to make it three wide. Wroten would come out with the lead going down the backstretch. But when Andrews spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow, this would hand the lead back over to Wacha for the restart. On that restart Ballard used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to edge Wacha and Wroten out at the line for the top spot. Ballard then led the final 9 laps to pick up his second win of the season at the track. Wroten over took Wacha late for 2nd, Wacha was 3rd, Brett Vanous passed 10 cars from his fourteenth place starting spot to come home in 4th, with Parizek finishing in 5th.

Notes from Vinton: Close to 100 cars signed in on the night, which included 19 Modifieds, 19 SportMods, 14 Hobby Stocks, 13 Micro Mods, 13 Sport Compacts, 10 Late Models, and 10 Stock Cars...Despite having to take time to pack the top side of the track in before all seven features, the final checkered flag still waved at 9:25 PM. Of course that is helped with starting on the scheduled time......Darrick Knutsen started the Micro Mod feature in 8th and finished 6th....Dallon Murty finished 7th after starting in 10th......Luke Benischek finished the Sport Compact feature in 6th after starting in 10th......Corey Brown had troubles in his heat that forced him to scratch from the Stock Car feature......Brandon Tharp finished the SportMod feature in 15th and then passed 9 cars to come home in 6th....Curt Hilmer came back thru the field after spinning over the track in turn 4 on lap 5 to finish in 10th....Tom Rawlins finished 11th after starting in 13th....Mike McDonald started 16th and finished 13th....Chuck Lewis finished 14th after starting in 17th....Jamie Huff started 19th and finished 15th....Tyler Soppe had troubles on the drop of the green flag that forced him into the infield with a 19th place finish......Scotty Welsh had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the Late Model feature......Ronn Lauritzen finished 6th in the Modified feature after starting in 8th....Tyler Madigan started 14th and finished 9th....Kip Siems finished 10th after starting in 16th....Griffin McGrath, who started 18th, recovered from his spin on lap 5 to come back up to finish 13th....Jesse Belez had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature......Daniel Wauters started the Hobby Stock feature in 10th and finished 6th....Bradly Graham recovered from going over the track in turn 3 on lap 3 to come back up to finish 7th....Breydon Forbes finished 10th after starting in 13th.

Stock Cars Steal the Show Once Again

West Burlington, IA (Saturday, May 19, 2018) - Over the past three weeks I have witnessed four exciting Stock Cars feature events, three of them I have had the privilege of scoring. The first one happened back on May 4th in Memphis, Missouri, and then two came at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa on May 11th & May 18th. The other one happened last night at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa.

But before we get to the Stock Car feature, it was the 12 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature that took to the track first. Jake Houston and Jason Ash led the field to green, with Houston taking advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Ash and Aaron Berry. Houston then had to work to hold off Ash over the next 5 laps, as Cody VanDusen, who started 10th, and Barry Taft, who started 11th, were trying to play catch up. As on the start of the race they went three and four wide going into turn 1 to try and get to the front, only to be turned sideways from contact from other competitors. The amazing thing was everyone got their cars pointed in the right direction and kept going without bringing out a caution. A caution on lap 6 for Seth Keiser's stalled car down the backstretch would help VanDusen and Taft's caused, as it would bunch the field back up for the restart. On the restart Houston jumped back out front, with VanDusen over taking Ash for the runner up spot, as Ash had to work to hold off Taft for third. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 8 VanDusen, who was on the bottom, Taft, who was in the middle, and Houston, who was up top, raced three wide for the the top spot. Houston would use the momentum off the top to edge them at the line to keep the lead. Then on lap 9 Taft was able to make the pass of Houston to take over the lead. Taft then went on to lead the final 3 laps to claim his second win in a row at the track. It was also his second win of the weekend, as he picked up the win Friday at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. VanDusen got by Houston on the white flag lap to finish in 2nd, Houston was 3rd, David Prim was 4th, with Ash holding on for 5th.

Up next was the 20 lap 305 Sprint feature, with Colton Fisher and Kyle Peterson making up the front row. Peterson used his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Fisher and Dan Keltner. Peterson then started to pull away from the field, when the first caution of the race appeared on lap 10. Tanner Gebhardt, who started 10th and had worked his way up to 4th, slowed down the front stretch when something broke in the rear end to bring out the yellow. On the restart Peterson moved back out front, with Fisher and Nick Guernsey close behind. One lap later, lap 12, the second caution of the race appeared, as Keltner spun off turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Once again Peterson grabbed the lead on the restart, with Jarrod Schneiderman, who started 7th, over taking Guernsey for second. The action would be slowed one final time, as debris in turn 3 on lap 14 brought out the caution. Peterson moved back out front on the restart, with Schneiderman and Guernsey following. Schneiderman, who was working the bottom of the track, showed his nose to Peterson, who was working the top, on lap 16. This would force Peterson to change his line down to the bottom of the track. As a result Schneiderman went to the top to try and get the lead away from Peterson. But Peterson was able to hold him off on the final lap to score his first Sprint feature win. Schneiderman settled for 2nd, Kaley Gharst started 9th and finished 3rd, Daniel Bergquist came from 8th to finish 4th, with Guernsey rounding out the top 5.

James Roose and Ron Kibbe were scheduled to lead the field to the drop of the green flag in the 15 lap IMCA SportMod feature. But when Kibbe had to be pushed out of staging to get his car started, this would force him to the rear. As a results Tom Lathrop was moved up to the outside of the front row for the start. Third place starter Jeffrey DeLonjay would grab the lead on lap 1 over Austen Becerra, who started 6th, and Sean Wyett, who started 5th. The lead for DeLonjay only last 1 lap, as Becerra shot under him coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot on lap 2. DeLonjay's run up front came to an end on lap 6, as he got sideways in turn 2 and fell from 2nd to 7th. Then on lap 9 he spun in turn 4 to bring out the caution. On the restart Becerra jumped back out front, with Wyett and Daniel Fellows, who started 7th, close behind. Just after lap 10 was scored complete, Lathrop lost a left rear tire coming off turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Becerra would grab the lead on the restart, with Wyett and Fellows following. One lap later, lap 12, the third and final caution of the event appeared, as Roose spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wyett drove it hard down low into turn 3 and then slid up in front of Becerra coming off turn 4 to take the top spot away. Wyett then held off Becerra over the final laps to claim his second win in a row at the track. Becerra was 2nd, Fellows was 3rd, Kibbe came from the rear after being pushed out of staging to come up to finish 4th, with Shane Paris finishing 5th after starting in 8th.

Up next was the scheduled 20 lap IMCA Modified feature, but they would have a hard time getting some green laps scored. With 8 cautions within the first 9 laps, this would bring the time limit up on this race. So for the final restart the next caution or the checkered flag would bring an end to the race. The race would start with Chadwick Giberson and Mitch Boles leading the field to the drop of the green flag, with Boles grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Dean McGee and Derrick Stewart. The action was slowed for the first time on lap 2, as Joey Gower spun in turn 2 and collected Derek Walker and Steve Stewart to bring out the yellow. On the restart Boles moved back out front, with Derrick Stewart and Jeff Waterman, who started 10th, close behind. Disaster would strike the top two cars on lap 3, as Derrick Stewart drove it hard into turn three on the bottom and then tried to slid up in front of Boles. But he would loose the car and spun in front of him instead and collected Boles to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dennis LaVeine, who was running 5th, came to a stop off the exit of the track in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Waterman jump back out front, with Bill Roberts Jr., who started 7th, over taking McGee for second. Just after the lap was scored complete another caution appeared, as James Raleigh spun in turn 4 and collected Tyler Smith to bring out the yellow. Waterman once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Roberts Jr. and McGee glued to his back bumper.

But after lap 6 was scored complete another caution came out, as Raleigh spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Waterman jumped back out front, with Roberts Jr. and Chris Zogg, who started 11th, following. With another lap scored complete another caution appeared, as debris in turn 3 brought out the yellow. On the restart Zogg's car didn't come up to speed, which caused McGee to get into the back of him and sending him spinning to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Waterman move back out front, with Roberts Jr. and now Rich Smith following. Now with 9 laps scored complete and another caution for debris in turn 3, this would bring the race to the time limit. The call was made to run to the next caution or the checkered flag, which ever came first. On the final restart Waterman grabbed the lead, with Roberts Jr. and Brandon Rothzen, who started 9th, glued to his back bumper. Roberts Jr. would follow in Waterman's tire tracks over the next 3 laps, waiting for Waterman to make a mistake so he could take advantage and grab the lead. But when Derrick Stewart, who got back up to 6th after his involvement in the lap 3 caution, hit the wall hard in turn 4 on lap 15 to bring out the caution, this would bring an end to the race. Waterman would pick up his first win of the season at the track. Rothzen got by Roberts Jr. on lap 15 to give him a 2nd place finish. Roberts Jr. 3rd, Rich Smith was 4th, with Chris Zogg recovering from the lap 7 spin to come back up to finish 5th.

The final feature, and the best of the night, to take to the track was the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Brandon Rothzen and Scott Jordan on the front row. But just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as Jordan spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart this would move Jake Wenig to the outside of the front row. Wenig used that to his advantage, as he grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Cody Washburne and Jason Cook. Coming off turn 2 to come around to complete lap 3, John Oliver Jr., who started 9th and was running the bottom, Cook, who was in the middle, and Wenig, who was up top, raced three wide for the lead. But Wenig would use the momentum off the top to keep the lead. That was until lap 4, when Cook used the bottom to take over the top spot. While Cook worked the bottom of the track, Oliver Jr. went to the top to try and get the lead away from Cook. That moved paid off on lap 8, as Oliver Jr. used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to edge Cook out at the line for the lead. The two would race side-by-side around the 3/8th mile track over the final 12 laps, with Oliver Jr. holding off one last lap challenge by Cook to claim his third win in a row at the track. Cook finished a close 2nd, Tom Bowling Jr. came from 7th to finish 3rd, Abe Huls passed 8 cars from his 12th place starting spot to come home in 4th, with Wenig holding on for 5th.

Notes from 34: Despite the long Modified feature, the final checkered flag waved at 10:10 PM......Bryerson Tharp finished 12th in the Sport Compact feature after starting in 16th....Adam Christy and Randy Magnusson had troubles in there heat races that forced them to scratch from the feature......Bailey Goldesberry made her first start of the season at 34 on Saturday night in the 305 Sprint feature. She would start 11th and come home in 7th....Dan Keltner recovered from his spin on lap 12 to come back up to finish 9th....Colton Fisher, who was running 2nd, pulled off with mechanical troubles under the lap 12 caution to end his night in 13th......Cody Layman started the SportMod feature in 9th and would bring home a 6th place finish......Jordan Walker would finish the Modified feature in 7th after starting in 18th....Dean McGee recovered from his involvement in the lap 7 caution to come back up to finish 8th....Derek Walker started 14th and finished 9th....Tyler Smith came from 16th to finish in 10th......Austin Kemper made his first start of the season at 34 Raceway in the Stock Car feature. He would start 10th and finish 8th....Joe Gerdes finished 10th after stating in 13th.

Frank, Cook, and Fellows Claim First Wins of the Season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway

Donnellson, IA (Friday, May 18, 2018) - Mother nature tried not once but twice to put a damper on Friday nights racing action at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. But the track crew, with the help of the driver's, was able to work thru the weather to put a cap on the night just after 10 PM. And when the final checkered flag flew three driver's claim their first wins of the season at the track, while two others visited victory lane for multiple times this year.

After about a 30 minute delay, just after the heat races were completed, to work the track back in from a brief shower, the 14 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compact feature took to the track first. Cody Bowman and Kenny Smith led the field to the green flag, but it was sixth place starter Josh Barnes who shot out into the lead on lap 1 over David Prim and Brandon Reu. Barnes, who was setting a fast pace out front, started to pull away from the battle for second going on between Prim, Brandon Reu, Mike Reu, and Barry Taft, who started 7th. Around the midway portion of the race Barnes' car started slowing down in turns 1 and 2, before picking up the pace again going down the backstretch. This would happen every lap, until lap 10, when the field finally caught up to him and passed him. Barnes' troubles would hand the lead over to Prim, who had Brandon Reu and Mike Reu trying to work under him. This would leave Taft no choice but to work the middle groove to try and work himself pass the lead trio. That moved paid off on lap 12, as Taft went around Prim coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. Taft then went on to pick up his third win in a row and fourth overall at the track. Mike Reu came home in 2nd, Prim was 3rd, Kimberly Abbott started 10th and finished 4th in the caution free race, with Alyssa Steele finishing 5th after starting in 8th.

Up next was the 18 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA SportMod feature, with Kyle Hamelton and Bob Cowman making up the front row for the event. But it was fourth place starter Daniel Fellows who jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Jeffrey DeLonjay and Cowman. The action was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 3, as Michael Benjamin spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fellows moved back out front, with Ron Kibbe, who started 9th, Brandon Dale, who started 8th, and Austen Becerra, who started 6th, battling for the runner up spot. With the battle going on for the second spot, this allowed Fellows to start to pull away from the field. Just when it looked like Fellows was headed to his first ever SportMod feature win at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway, the second and final caution of the race appeared on lap 14 to bring the field back to Fellows' back bumper. This time Dakota Sapp got sideways coming off turn 4 and collected Jim Walker to bring out the yellow. Fellows once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Dale, Kibbe and Becerra close behind. Dale would try to work under Fellows over the final laps. But Fellows would hold him off to score his first ever SportMod feature at the track. However it wasn't his career first, as that came back at the beginning of May at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri. Dale settled for 2nd, Becerra got by Kibbe late to finish 3rd, Kibbe was 4th, with DeLonjay rounding out the top 5.

Dayton Lynch and Chase Frank led the field to the drop of the green flag in the 20 lap Steffes Late Model feature, but it was fifth place starter Jeff Guengerich who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Lynch and Gunner Frank. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 3, as Brandon Queen and Aric Becker got together in turn 2 and resulted in Becker spinning to bring out the yellow. On the restart Guengerich jumped back out front, with Jay Johnson, who started 6th, over taking Gunner Frank for second. While Guengerich set the pace out front, Johnson worked to hold back Gunner Frank for the runner up spot. The action up front was slowed for the second time of the race on lap 9, as something on Becker's car broke coming off turn 4 and the car too a sharp right turn into the guardrail to bring out the yellow. He would drive away okay. Guengerich once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Gunner Frank getting back by Johnson for second. Gunner Frank then tried to work under Guengerich over the next 5 laps, but Guengerich was able to hold him off each lap. Then going into turn 3 to come and complete lap 16, Gunner Frank drove it in hard on the bottom and then slid up in front of Guengerich coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot.

Just as lap 16 was scored complete, Chase Frank slowed to stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gunner Frank moved back out front, with Tommy Elston, who started 7th, over taking Guengerich and Johnson to move into the runner up spot. But just after lap 17 was scored complete another caution appeared, as a tire was clipped in turn 4 and pushed onto the racing groove to bring out the yellow. Once again Gunner Frank grabbed the lead on the restart, with Elston glued to his back bumper. But with another lap scored the final caution of the race slowed the field, as Lynch spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gunner Frank jumped back out front, with Elston and Johnson close behind. Elston tried to work under Gunner Frank over the final 2 laps, but Gunner Frank would hold him off to score his first ever Late Model win at the track. But it wasn't his first career Late Model win, as that came last Sunday down at the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois. Elston settled for a close 2nd, Johnson was 3rd, Sam Halstead started 8th and finished 4th, with Guengerich coming home in 5th. 

Up next was the 20 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Dustin Griffiths and Chad Krogmeier making up the front row. Griffiths took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Krogmeier and John Oliver Jr. The action going on behind Griffiths was intense, as Krogmeier, Jeremy Pundt, Oliver Jr., Jason Cook and Abe Huls raced two and even three wide for position. Cook would emerge from that battle into to second on lap 5, and then went to work on Griffiths for the lead. Two laps later, lap 7, Cook would work under Griffiths to take over the top spot. Cook however wasn't able to put any distance between himself and the rest of the field, as you could have thrown a blanket over the top 6 at anytime over the next several laps. While Cook worked the bottom of the track, Oliver Jr. was working the top groove. But when Oliver Jr. was able to pull even with Cook around the midway part of the race, Cook switched lines to the top of the track. This would force Oliver Jr. to try and work under Cook over the next 4 laps. On lap 15 Oliver Jr. would edge out Cook at the line to take over the top spot. But Cook didn't give up, as he got back under Oliver Jr. on lap 18 to grab the lead back. Cook then held off Oliver Jr. over the final laps to claim his first win of the season at the track. Oliver Jr. settled for a close 2nd, Pundt was 3rd, Huls was 4th, with Krogmeier finishing in 5th.

The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, with Kelly Buckallew and Mitch Boles leading the field to green. Buckallew would take advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Boles and Bill Roberts Jr. But the lead for Buckallew only lasted for 1 lap, as Boles slipped by on lap 2 to take over the top spot. Boles then slowed down the backstretch with troubles, which handed the lead over to Roberts Jr. on lap 3. Two laps later, lap 5, Jerry Reese slowed to a stop down the front stretch to bring out the first and only caution of the race. On the restart Roberts Jr. jumped back out front, with Jeff Waterman and Buckallew close behind. Waterman would try the high side and low side of the track over the next several laps to try and wrestle the lead away from Roberts Jr. But Roberts Jr. was able to hold him off each lap. Then disaster would strike Waterman on lap 12, as he tried to get under Roberts Jr. coming off turn two. Contact was made between the two, which resulted in Waterman cutting down a right front tire to end his night. This allowed Roberts Jr. to pull away for his second win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Buckallew had a nice run in 2nd, Jesse Belez, who was making his first visit to the track this season, finished 3rd after starting in 6th, Craig Spegal had another good run in 4th, with Dakota Simmons coming from 8th to come home in 5th.

Notes from LCS: 16 Sport Compact driver's took advantage of the added purse to this weeks feature, with 15 of them taking the green for the feature....Jake Dietrich would pass 9 cars from his 16th place starting spot to come home in 6th....Robert Sturms started 14th and finished 9th....Matt Milligan came from 15th to finish in 11th....Dylan Schantz was the one driver who scratched from the feature......Rick Barlow Jr. started the SportMod feature in 12th and then brought home a 7th place finish....Reed Wolfmeyer made his debut to the Lee County Speedway this week. He started 10th in the feature and finished 8th......A nice field of 13 Late Models signed in for the night, and thanks again to the new invert rule the track adopted for this class for 2018, the fans got to see another great race....Vance Wilson started 10th and finished 6th....Brandon Queen finished 7th after starting in 13th....Ron Boyse, who started 9th, and was battling for a top 5 finish pulled off late with a broke rear end to end his night in 8th....Todd Frank broke a motor in hot laps and was forced to scratch for the night....Just to clear one thing up about the Late Model finish. Darin Weisinger Jr. pulled into the infield during the race. Where he would sit for 2 laps, before returning to the track during one of the cautions. At the Lee County Speedway you are not allowed to return to the track if you are 1 or more laps down. So therefore despite finishing out the remainder of the feature, he was not being scored and couldn't improve on his finish.

Halstead and Huls Become New Winners at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway

Donnellson, IA (Friday, May 11, 2018) - The crazy spring weather here in the Midwest continued on Friday, as you could find temperatures in the low 80's in Donnellson, Iowa. But if you traveled about 20 miles north you could find temperatures in the low 70's, and getting colder the farther north you went. With overcast skies most of the day, the Pepsi Lee County Speedway had plenty of moisture in it to provide the driver's with another great racing surface. Which in turn treated the fans to plenty of side-by-side racing, with two new driver's visiting victory lane for the first time in 2018.

The first feature to take to the track on the night was the 14 lap Armstrong IMCA Sport Compacts. Jake Dietrich and Mike Reu was scheduled to lead the field to green, but when Dietrich elected to go to the tail this moved Robert Sturms to the pole. Mike Reu used his front row outside starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Chuck Fullenkamp, who started 5th, and Barry Taft, who started 7th. Taft would look under Mike Reu for the top spot over the next 3 laps, but Mike Reu was able to hold him off each lap at the line. That was until lap 5, when Taft was able to slid under Mike Reu coming off turn 2 to take over the lead. One lap later, lap 6, the first and only caution of the race appeared, as Ashton Blain lost a right front tire in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Taft jumped back out front, with Kimberly Abbott, who started 8th, and Brandon Reu, who started 6th, glued to his back bumper. Abbott would follow in Taft's tire tracks over the next 6 laps. Then going into turn 3 on the final lap Abbott looked under Taft, as the two came off turn 4 side-by-side. Taft would hold off Abbott by a fender to pick up his second win in a row and third of the season at the track. Abbott settled for 2nd, Brandon Reu was 3rd, Mike Reu was 4th, with Fullenkamp coming home in 5th.

Up next was the 20 lap Steffes Late Model feature, with Gunner Frank and Todd Frank making up the front row. Todd Frank took advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Gunner Frank and Jay Johnson. Gunner Frank tried to work under his dad Todd over the next 4 laps, only to have dad edge him out at the line each lap. The battle up front was slowed for the first time on lap 5, when Brandon Queen spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Todd Frank moved back out front, with Gunner Frank and Sam Halstead close behind. Once again Gunner tried to work under Todd over the next 3 laps, but Todd was able to hold him off. Todd then started to put some distance between himself and the battle behind him for second between Gunner and Halstead. Just when it looked like Todd was heading for his first win of the season at the track, disaster struck him coming off turn 4 on lap 14 when he lost an engine to bring out the yellow. On the restart Halstead went to the bottom of the track to edge Gunner Frank at the line by inches to take over the top spot. Halstead then went on to lead the final 5 laps to pick up his first win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Johnson came home in 2nd, Ron Boyse started 7th and finished 3rd, Gunner Frank was 4th, with Tommy Elston finishing in 5th.

Austen Becerra and Brandon Dale led the field to green in the 18 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA SportMod feature, with Becerra grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Dale and Brandon Lennox. Dale and Lennox followed in Becerra's tire tracks over the next 3 laps, when the action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 4. Kyle Hamelton spun down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dale would edge out Becerra at the line to take over the top spot. Dale then held the lead until lap 7, when Lennox used the momentum off the top of the track coming out of turn 4 to edge out the top spot at the line. Dale wouldn't give up on the lead, as he stayed close to Lennox over the next 5 laps. When Lennox started to enter lapped traffic on lap 13, Dale would look under him for the top spot. But wasn't able to make the pass. Then coming off turn 4 for the checkered flag Dale looked under Lennox. But Lennox would hold him off by half a car length to claim his second win of the season at the track. Dale settled for 2nd, Becerra was 3rd, Sean Wyett was 4th, with Dakota Sapp finishing 5th after starting in 10th.

The 14 lap Coors Light Hobby Stock feature was up next, with Aaron Martin and Brok Hopwood making up the front row. Martin used his front row starting spot to lead lap 1 over Hopwood and Nathan Ballard, who started 5th. The battle for the lead went three wide coming off turn 4 on lap 6, with Martin holding off Ballard and Hopwood to keep the lead. Then coming off turn 4 to complete lap 8 Ballard went low under Martin to take over the top spot. Ballard then looked to be heading for his second win of the season at the track, when he had a right rear tire go flat on lap 11. This handed the lead back over to Martin, who cruised to his second win in a row at the track. Gene Nicklas was the only car left on the track at the finish.

Up next was the 20 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with nineteen of the twenty cars checked in taking to the track. Jeremy Pundt and John Oliver Jr. made up the front row for the event. Just as the field took the green the caution light came on, as Kevin Koontz got sideways in turn 2 and collected Jake Wenig to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Pundt moved out front to lead lap 1 over Oliver Jr. and Jason Cook. Then after lap 1 was scored complete the second caution of the race appeared, as Brandon Lambert spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Pundt once again grabbed the lead on the restart, only to be slowed for the third time of the race. This time Jesse Wegs spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Pundt jumped back out front, with Cook edging out Oliver Jr. for the runner up spot. The action up front came to a slow for the final time on lap 5, as debris in turn 4 brought out the yellow. Pundt again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Cook and Oliver Jr. glued to his back bumper. Oliver Jr., who was working the top of the track, used the momentum off the top to take the lead away from Pundt on lap 10. Going into turn 3 to come to complete lap 13 the battle up front went four wide, with contact up front bottling up the field. This allowed Abe Huls, who started 6th, to shoot off the bottom for the lead. Todd Reitzler, who started 8th, worked the middle of the track to edge out Huls at the line for the lead on lap 13, only to have Huls come back on the bottom to take it back on lap 15. Reitzler would stay glued to Huls back bumper over the final laps. Then coming off turn 4 on the final lap Reitzler was able to get under Huls. But Huls would hold on by half a car length to pick up his first win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Reitzler settled for 2nd, Oliver Jr. was 3rd, Pundt was 4th, with Cook holding on for 5th.

The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, with Craig Spegal and Blake Woodruff leading the field to green. Woodruff jumped out front on lap 1 over Spegal and Kelly Buckallew. The lead for Woodruff only lasted 1 lap, as Spegal slipped under him to take over the top spot on lap 2. Just after the completion of lap 2 the first and only caution of the race appeared, as Buckallew, who was running 4th, spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Spegal jumped back out front, with Dakota Simmons and Jeff Waterman, who started 7th, close behind. Spegal would hold the lead until lap 5, when Waterman used the bottom of the track to take the lead away. Waterman then pulled away to claim his second win of the season at the track. Spegal was 2nd, Bill Roberts Jr. started 8th and finished 3rd, Woodruff was 4th, with Simmons rounding out the top 5.

Notes from LCS: Aric Becker made his first appearance of the 2018 season at the track in the Late Model class. He would start the feature in 9th and brought home a 6th place finish....Jeff Guengerich would loose a motor in hot laps and was forced to scratch for the night......Twenty Stock Cars took advantage of the $100 guarantee to start the feature, with 19 of them able to take the green for the feature. Which turned out to be the best race of the night, and worth the price of admission alone....David Brandies started 9th and finished 6th....Corey Strothman came from 11th to finish in 7th....Jake Wenig started 19th and passed 10 cars to finish in 9th....Cody Washburne finished 10th after starting in 14th....Spenscer Hopwood was 11th after starting in 15th....Jesse Wags recovered from his spin on lap 2 to come back up to finish in 12th....Chad Krogmeier had troubles in hot laps that forced him to scratch for the night......Jerad Fuller made his first start of the season at the track in the Modified feature. He would start 9th and finish in 6th....Austin Emry also made his first visit of the season to the track. He would finish in 8th after starting in 10th....Dean McGee started 11th and finished 9th.

Wood and Oliver Jr. Entertain the Crowd With Thrilling Stock Car Battle in Memphis

Memphis, MO (Friday, May 4, 2018) - With rain most of the day Wednesday and again over night Thursday, it looked like the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri would go 0 for 4 in getting their 2018 racing season started. But with the sun and some wind early Friday morning the crew went to work to get the track in shape to finally get this season started. Their work would pay off with some great racing that saw Jared Fuller (Modifieds), Nathan Wood (Stock Cars), Daniel Fellows (SportMods), Dustin Griffiths (Hobby Stocks), and Barry Taft (Sport Compacts) pick up wins.

The first feature to take to the track was the 12 lap Sport Compacts, with Brandon Reu and Chuck Fullenkamp drawing the front row. Reu would take advantage of his starting spot to lead lap 1 over Fullenkamp and Kimberly Abbott. While Reu paced the field out front, Barry Taft went three wide thru the middle of Fullenkamp and Abbott off turn 2 on lap 2 to take over the runner up spot. Taft then went to work on Reu for the top spot. With Reu working the bottom of the track, Taft tried to work past Reu on the top of the track over the next couple of laps. Only to have Reu hold him off each lap to keep the lead, that was until lap 5 when Taft edged out Reu at the line for the lead. Reu would come back on the bottom to grab the top spot back on lap 6. When Reu drifted high coming off turn 4 to complete lap 9, Taft shot under him to grab the lead back. One lap later, lap 10, Reu slowed and pulled into the infield with mechanical troubles to end his run up front. This would move Kyle Boyd, who started 6th, into the runner up spot. Coming to the white flag Boyd closed quickly onto Taft's back bumper. But that was as close as he could get, as Taft held on to pick up his first win of the season at the track and fifth overall in early 2018. Boyd settled for 2nd, Abbott was 3rd, Fullenkamp was 4th, with Jake Dietrich coming home in 5th.

There might have only been 6 Hobby Stocks signed in to do battle on the night. But for the entire 12 lap race you could throw a blanket over those 6 cars, as they raced two wide for positions. Rick Van Dusseldorp and Mike Kincaid led the field to the drop of the green flag, with Kincaid leading lap 1 over Dustin Griffiths and Van Dusseldorp. Kincaid then worked the next 6 laps trying to hold off several challenges from Griffiths, who was looking to get around Kincaid on the top of the track. The side by side action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 7, as debris in turn 1 brought out the yellow. On the restart Kincaid jumped back out front, with Griffiths and Aaron Martin, who started 5th, glued to his back bumper. Griffiths tried the high side and the low side of the track to try an wrestle the lead away from Kincaid over the next couple of laps. But Kincaid was able to hold him off, until lap 10 when Griffiths was able to get under him for the top spot. Griffiths then held off Kincaid over the final 2 laps to score the win. Kincaid settled for 2nd, Martin was 3rd, Van Dusseldorp was 4th, with Brok Hopwood rounding out the top 5.

Dalton McKenney and Cody Agee drew the front row for the 16 lap SportMod feature, with Agee jumping out front to lead lap 1 over Austin Becerra, who started 6th, and Daniel Fellows, who started 7th. The lead for Agee only last for 1 lap, as Becerra slipped under him on lap 2 to take over the top spot. But disaster would strike Becerra coming off turn 4 to complete lap 4, as he lost a motor and bunched the field up. Which caused Agee to spin from piling into the back of Becerra to bring out the only yellow of the race. But the call for the caution was for fluids and debris from Becerra's motor, which gave Agee the lead back for the restart. On that restart Agee grabbed the lead, with Fellows and Brandon Dale, who started 5th, close behind. One lap later, lap 5, Fellows used the bottom of the track to slip past Agee for the lead. Dale would over take Agee on lap 7 for the runner up spot, and then went to work on chasing down Fellows for the top spot. But without another caution, there was no catching Fellows. As Fellows claimed his first career SportMod feature win. Dale was 2nd, Jeffrey DeLonjay started 8th and finished 3rd, Agee was 4th, with Tom Lathrop finishing 5th.

The best race of the night, and the race that was worth the price of admission alone, was the 16 lap Stock Car feature. Butch Bailey and Dustin Griffiths was scheduled to lead the field to green, but when Bailey elected to go to the rear this moved Derrick Agee to the pole. Griffiths took advantage of his front row outside starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Nathan Wood, who started 5th, and Agee. The first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 2, as Agee came to a stop in turn 1 with a right front flat to end his run up front. On the restart Griffiths jumped back out front, with Wood and Scott Jordan glued to his back bumper. On lap 4 Wood worked the middle of the track to take the top spot away from Griffiths. Then just as it looked like Wood would pull away for an easy win, John Oliver Jr., who started 6th, had different ideas. Oliver Jr., who was working the bottom of the track, quickly closed in on Wood's back bumper on lap 8. Then on lap 9 Oliver Jr. was able to get up beside Wood, as the two raced side-by-side around the entire track. The lead duo came up on lapped traffic on lap 13, with the two splitting that lapped traffic off turn 4 to complete lap 14. As a result Oliver Jr. would edge Wood at the line by inches to take the top spot. But Wood used the momentum off the corners to grab the lead back on lap 15. Coming off turn 4 side-by-side, Wood was able to edge out Oliver Jr. at the line by a fender for the win. Oliver Jr. settled for 2nd, Griffiths was 3rd, Abe Huls finished 4th after starting in 7th, with Jordan coming home in 5th.

Michael Long and Jared Fuller led the field to green in the 16 lap Modified feature, which was also the final race of the night. Jared Fuller used his starting spot to his advantage, as he grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Jeff Waterman and Long. The action up front was slowed for the first and only time on lap 3, as Long lost the handle and spun to a stop in turn 4 to bring out the caution. On the restart Jared Fuller jumped back out front, with Jardin Fuller over taking Waterman for the runner up spot. Without another caution to slow the action down, Jared Fuller would pull away to pick up an easy win. Jardin Fuller was 2nd, Waterman was 3rd, Dakota Simmons was 4th, with David Snyder finishing 5th.

The Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri has always held a special place in my heart, as it was the first track I started working at. It's to bad they can't attract enough cars to run more races. As the track know as the "Widest in the Midwest" always produces some GREAT RACING!!! Driver's can race two, three, four, five and even six wide at this track and not have to worry about tearing there equipment up. But I guess for now we will just have to get out and support them whenever they do decide to hold racing events. I promise you, that you won''t be disappointed in the quality of racing you will see!