Waterman and Cook Get Their First Wins of the Season at the Lee County Speedway

by Brian Neal
Donnellson, IA (Friday, July 31, 2015) – A busy night, both on and off the track, was held Friday night at the Lee County Speedway, as Hy-Vee, TSS Inc., Darkside Tint & Graphix, and Driftwood 13 Bar all presented the nights action. Also B&B Propane held a customer appreciation night at the track. The on track action produced two new winners and three repeat winners on the season.

The first feature to take to the track was the 14 lap Coors Light IMCA Hobby Stocks, with Brandon Symmonds, who was moved to the pole when Kevin Koontz scratched, and Clayton Webster leading the field to the green flag. But it was fourth place starter Dustin Griffiths who moved out front to lead lap 1 over Nick Ulin and Symmonds. While Griffiths set the pace out front Ulin, Symmonds and Brandon Potts had a three car battle going for second. The first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 8 to slow the action up front. Sierra Wilsey would spin in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Griffiths jumped back out front, with Ulin and Symmonds close behind. Griffiths would pull away over the final 6 laps to pick up his fifth win of the season at the track. Ulin was 2nd, Potts was 3rd, Webster was 4th, with Wilsey recovering from her spin to come back up to finish in 5th.

Up next was the 20 lap Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA SportMod feature, with John Oliver Jr., who was moved to the pole when Dakota Anderson elected to go to the rear, and Brandon Ruffcorn leading the field to green. Just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as Anderson slowed to a stop down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Oliver Jr. moved out front to lead lap 1 over Brandon Dale and Ruffcorn. With Oliver Jr. out front, the battle for the runner up spot involved three cars racing two and even three wide at times. The action up front was slowed for the first and only time on lap 10, when debris in turn 4 brought out the yellow. Once again Oliver Jr. jumped back out front on the restart, with Tony Dunker, who started 8th, and Dale close behind. Dunker tried to get past Oliver Jr. for the lead over the next 4 laps, when Joey Gower, who started 10th, moved in to make it a three car battle for the lead. Coming out of turn 4 on lap 17 Gower went to the bottom of the track to slip past Oliver Jr. for the lead. Gower then held on over the final 3 laps to claim his fourth win of the season at the track. Dunker used a last lap pass to go from 4th to finish 2nd, Oliver Jr. was 3rd, Dale was 4th, with Brandon Lennox coming from 9th to finish in 5th.

Kenny Smith and Trent Orwig made up the front row for the 15 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compact feature, with Orwig taking advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1 over Mike Reu, who started 6th, and Brandon Lambert. Orwig set the pace out front, while Brandon Reu, who started 8th, and Josh Barnes, who started 7th, were working their way towards the front. Barnes would slip under Orwig coming out of turn 4 on lap 6 to take over the top spot, with Brandon Reu following him into second two laps later. Brandon Reu then followed in Barnes’ tracks over the final 7 laps of a caution free race to settled for 2nd. Barnes win was his fifth of the season at the track. Mike Reu was 3rd, Lambert was 4th, with Kimberly Abbott finishing 5th after starting in 9th.

Up next was the Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Ryan Cook and Andrew Hustead leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Hustead took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Cook and Ray Raker. Cook used the bottom of the track to slip under Hustead to lead lap 2. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 4, when Derrick Agee spun in turn 1 and collected Beau Taylor to bring out the yellow. On the restart Jeff Mueller, who started 9th, used the bottom of the track to take over the top spot, leaving Jason Cook and Ryan Cook battling for second. The second caution of the race appeared on lap 6, when Hustead spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Mueller once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Jason Cook and David Brandies, who started 10th, battling for second. Brandies would over take Jason Cook for the runner up spot on lap 8, and then set his sights on Mueller for the lead. The battle up front was slowed for the third time on lap 13, when John Oliver Jr. got into Corey Strothman while battling for fourth, which caused Strothman to spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Mueller jumped back out front, with Brandies glued to his back bumper. Anther lap scored complete, lap 14, produced another caution, as Cole Simmons, who started 14th, got into Jeremy Pundt while battling for fifth. Pundt would spin in turn 2 to bring out the caution, while Simmons went pit side with a right front flat. Once again Mueller moved out front on the restart, with Brandies and Jason Cook following. Brandies tried to get under Mueller over the next 4 laps, when disaster struck the top 2 cars on lap 19. Brandies was able to slip under Mueller coming out of turn 2 to grab the lead going into turn 3. But Mueller would get into the left rear of Brandies coming off turn 4, as the two cars got stuck together to bring out the caution. Jason Cook inherited the lead on the green-white-checkered overtime finish, and then held on to claim his first win of the season at the track. Strothman recovered from his spin on lap 13 to make a last lap pass to finish 2nd, Jim Lynch started 11th and finished 3rd, Oliver Jr. recovered from his involvement in the lap 13 caution to come back up to finish 4th, with Raker coming home in 5th.

The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, with Larry McConnell and Blake Woodruff on the front row. Woodruff would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Dean McGee and Bill Roberts Jr. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 4, when Kelly Buckallew spun in turn 2 to bring out the caution. On the restart Woodruff moved back out front, with Tyler Groenendyk, who started 8th, over taking Roberts Jr. for the runner up spot. Woodruff, who was up top, then tried to hold off Groenendyk, who was on the bottom, but Groenendyk would slip under Woodruff coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot on lap 7. At the same time Scott Hogan, who started 9th, used the bottom groove to go from 4th to 2nd. Coming off turn 4 on lap 9 Hogan was able to slip under Groenendyk to take the lead away. Just as Hogan started to pull away, the second and final caution of the race appeared on lap 15. McConnell would spin in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hogan moved back out front, with Jeff Waterman, who started 6th, over taking Groenendyk for the runner up spot. Going into turn 1 after the completion of lap 17, Hogan got sideways and fell from the lead to 4th. This would give Waterman the lead, with Carter VanDenBerg, who started 7th, over taking the second spot. Waterman then held off a last lap challenge from VanDenBerg to pick up his first win of the season at the track. VanDenBerg settled for 2nd, Greonendyk was 3rd, Hogan was 4th, with Robert Jr. holding on for 5th.

The Lee County Speedway will be idol for the next two weeks, before returning to action on Friday, August 21st. This will be the first visit of the season by the Sprint Invaders, with Mohrfeld Electric presenting the action. Also in action will be the Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Cars, Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA SportMods, Coors Light IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Armstrong Tractors IMCA Sport Compacts.

Gates on Friday, August 21st will open at 5:30 pm, with hot laps at 7 pm, and racing at 7:30 pm.

For more information about this event you can call Mike Van Genderen at 641-521-0330, or visit the tracks website at www.leecountyspeedway.com.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Lee County Speedway, Donnellson, IA
Friday, July 31, 2015 – Hy-Vee, TSS Inc., Darkside Tint & Graphix, and Driftwood 13 Bar Night

Budweiser IMCA Modifieds

A-Main: 1. Jeff Waterman (Quincy, IL), 2. Carter VanDenBerg (Oskaloosa, IA), 3. Tyler Groenendyk (Oskaloosa, IA), 4. Scott Hogan (Vinton, IA), 5. Bill Roberts Jr. (Burlington, IA), 6. Rich Smith (Taylor Ridge, IL), 7. Jerad Fuller (Memphis, MO), 8. Blake Woodruff (Galesburg, IL), 9. Larry McConnell (Danville, IA), 10. Kelly Buckallew (Memphis, MO), 11. Dean McGee (Galesburg, IL), 12. Eric Glass (Memphis, MO) DNS, 13. Paul Nelson (Colchester, IL) DNS

Heat 1: 1. Dean McGee (Galesburg, IL), 2. Carter VanDenBerg (Oskaloosa, IA), 3. Scott Hogan (Vinton, IA), 4. Jerad Fuller (Memphis, MO), 5. Larry McConnell (Danville, IA), 6. Eric Glass (Memphis, MO), 7. Paul Nelson (Colchester, IL)

Heat 2: 1. Blake Woodruff (Galesburg, IL), 2. Tyler Groenendyk (Oskaloosa, IA), 3. Jeff Waterman (Quincy, IL), 4. Bill Roberts Jr. (Burlington, IA), 5. Rich Smith (Taylor Ridge, IL), 6. Kelly Buckallew (Memphis, MO)

Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Cars

A-Main: 1. Jason Cook (Mt. Pleasant, IA), 2. Corey Strothman (Mt. Union, IA), 3. James Lynch (Kahoka, MO), 4. John Oliver Jr. (Danville, IA), 5. Ray Raker (Danville, IA), 6. Jeremy Pundt (Donnellson, IA), 7. David Brandies (Wilton, IA), 8. Ryan Cook (Burlington, IA), 9. Andrew Hustead (Rutledge, MO), 10. Jeff Mueller (New London, IA), 11. Cole Simmons (Morning Sun, IA), 12. Derrick Agee (Huntsville, MO), 13. Beau Taylor (Canton, MO), 14. Brandon Savage (Canton, MO) DNS

Heat 1: 1. Ray Raker (Danville, IA), 2. Derrick Agee (Huntsville, MO), 3. Jeff Mueller (New London, IA), 4. Corey Strothman (Mt. Union, IA), 5. Ryan Cook (Burlington, IA), 6. James Lynch (Kahoka, MO), 7. Brandon Savage (Canton, MO)

Heat 2: 1. Jason Cook (Mt. Pleasant, IA), 2. Jeremy Pundt (Donnellson, IA), 3. David Brandies (Wilton, IA), 4. John Oliver Jr. (Danville, IA), 5. Andrew Hustead (Rutledge, MO), 6. Beau Taylor (Canton, MO), 7. Cole Simmons (Morning Sun, IA)

Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA Sport Mods

A-Main: 1. Joey Gower (Quincy, IL), 2. Tony Dunker (Quincy, IL), 3. John Oliver Jr. (Danville, IA), 4. Brandon Dale (Memphis, MO), 5. Brandon Lennox (New London, MO), 6. Adam Birck (Canton, MO), 7. Austen Becerra (Camp Point, IL), 8. Bobby Six (Warsaw, IA), 9. Robert Gould (Hillsboro, IA), 10. Brandon Ruffcorn (Donnellson, IA), 11. Wesley Mayfield (Hull, IL), 12. Dakota Anderson (Clayton, IL)

Heat 1: 1. John Oliver Jr. (Danville, IA), 2. Brandon Dale (Memphis, MO), 3. Brandon Lennox (New London, MO), 4. Adam Birck (Canton, MO), 5. Dakota Anderson (Clayton, IL), 6. Robert Gould (Hillsboro, IA)

Heat 2: 1. Joey Gower (Quincy, IL), 2. Tony Dunker (Quincy, IL), 3. Brandon Ruffcorn (Donnellson, IA), 4. Austen Becerra (Camp Point, IL), 5. Bobby Six (Warsaw, IA), 6. Wesley Mayfield (Hull, IL)

Coors Light IMCA Hobby Stocks

A-Main: 1. Dustin Griffiths (Ottumwa, IA), 2. Nick Ulin (Agency, IA), 3. Brandon Potts (Eldon, IA), 4. Clayton Webster (Ottumwa, IA), 5. Sierra Wilsey (Keokuk, IA), 6. Brandon Symmonds (Keokuk, IA), 7. Robert Fite (What Cheer, IA), 8. Kevin Koontz (Memphis, MO) DNS

Heat: 1. Nick Ulin (Agency, IA), 2. Dustin Griffiths (Ottumwa, IA), 3. Brandon Symmonds (Keokuk, IA), 4. Kevin Koontz (Memphis, MO), 5. Clayton Webster (Ottumwa, IA), 6. Brandon Potts (Eldon, IA), 7. Robert Fite (What Cheer, IA), 8. Sierra Wilsey (Keokuk, IA)

Armstrong Tractors IMCA Sport Compacts

A-Main: 1. Josh Barnes (Keokuk, IA), 2. Brandon Reu (Donnellson, IA), 3. Mike Reu (Donnellson, IA), 4. Brandon Lambert (Carthage, IL), 5. Kimberly Abbott (Camp Point, IL), 6. Darin Weisinger Jr. (Mendon, IL), 7. Anthony Grossman (Keokuk, IA), 8. Kenny Smith (Donnellson, IA), 9. Kyle Hamelton (Keokuk, IA), 10. John Girdley (Wayland, IA), 11. Wayne Chamblee (Burlington, IA), 12. Trent Orwig (Blakesburg, IA), 13. Alyssa Steele (Keokuk, IA), 14. William Michel (Muscatine, IA)

Heat 1: 1. William Michel (Muscatine, IA), 2. Kimberly Abbott (Camp Point, IL), 3. Brandon Lambert (Carthage, IL), 4. Josh Barnes (Keokuk, IA), 5. Kenny Smith (Donnellson, IA), 6. John Girdley (Wayland, IA), 7. Alyssa Steele (Keokuk, IA)

Heat 2: 1. Mike Reu (Donnellson, IA), 2. Trent Orwig (Blakesburg, IA), 3. Anthony Grossman (Keokuk, IA), 4. Brandon Reu (Donnellson, IA), 5. Darin Weisinger Jr. (Mendon, IL), 6. Kyle Hamelton (Keokuk, IA), 7. Wayne Chamblee (Burlington, IA)

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