Frankel takes second straight at Lee County

IMCA Late Models go topless in 30 lap special event
By Dewain Hulett
of Lee County Speedway

DONNELLSON, Iowa (June 26, 2009) – Jason Frankel started on the pole and led every lap en route to the topless 30 IMCA Late Model feature event presented by Pilot Grove Savings Bank, Friday at Lee County Speedway.

Other drivers picking up wins include, Rodger Dresden, Michael Long, CJ Loring, Derek St. Claire and Jeff Mueller.

Using passing points in heat races, the Elston Automotive IMCA Late Model Dash for the top six in passing points set up the front three rows for the feature event. Frankel started inside of Denny Woodworth and was never seriously threatened in the 30 lap race. Lonnie Bailey finished second, followed by Tommy Elston in third and Mark Burgtorf in fourth. Tom Darbyshire rounded out the top five.

Dresden and Paul Underwood put on one of the best races of the night in the Lawson Racing Engine and Parts Supply IMCA Sport Mods feature. Dresden took the lead on lap 7, but had several cars hanging close, including Underwood who found his way around to lead lap 13 of the 15 lap event. Dresden powered back and then a turn 2 mistake by Underwood gave the winner the easy victory. Underwood did hold on for second, while Phillip Cossel was third. Jason Cook and Thad Gaylord rounded out the top five.

Mueller took the lead on lap 3 and then ran away from the field to pick up the Budweiser IMCA Stock Car feature win. Jason Cook looked like he may have something for the eventual winner before he had to leave the race with transmission troubles. Abe Huls was second, Brian Holmes third, Doug Huls fourth and Cole Simmons was fifth.

Wyatt Lantz looked to make it three wins in a row in the Miller Lite IMCA Modified feature event, but Long was able to find his way around and then hold off Lantz to pick up the win. Rich Smith, who started 13^th, finished third, while Josh Foster was fourth and Tyler Cale was fifth.

The Donnellson Tire Hobby Stock feature offered the scariest incident of the night when on a restart Brent Hartley flipped down the frontstretch in the middle of the field, taking a direct hit to the top of the rollcage. The passenger side of the cage was crushed but Hartley was able to walk away from the incident. When things settled down, it was clear to see that St. Claire was the class of the field, he went from sixth to first in the first lap and never looked back. Doug Gorden was second, while Bob Lynch was third. Jim Oliver, Jr., and Dan Wenig rounded the top five.

Dan Ertzinger opened the Wild Things feature event with a nasty barrel role in turn two, but he walked away unhurt, before Loring ran away with another feature win. It was the third of the season for the Keokuk driver. Current points leader Dakota Fenton finished second, ahead of Jerry Ostby in third. Chuck Fullenkamp was fourth and William Michel fifth.

Thursday, July 2, is the Liberty Cup at Lee County Speedway, with the Miller Lite IMCA Modifieds racing for $1,500 to win and the Budweiser IMCA Stock Cars running for $1,000 to win. Fireworks will follow the racing action both nights this week, as Lee County returns to action Friday night with Richard Realty and Auction Night, including the Drive-for-Five IMCA Late Models and 305 sprint cars.