by Brian Neal
Donnellson, IA (Saturday, July 22, 2023) – A rare Saturday night of racing took place at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa on July 22nd. Which happened to be the sixth of seven qualifying rounds for the Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Late Model “Drive For 5”, presented by Floyd’s Waste Systems, JJ Nichting Company Case IH Company, Ideal Ready Mix, Triple 777 Trucking, Woodworth Attorney at Law, Triple R Performance Engines, B&B Propane, Budweiser, Conrad Trucking, Donnellson Tire & Service, KQ92, and Big Country 103.1. When the final checkered flag flew at 10:01 PM four driver’s claimed their first victory of the season at the track, while three others won for multiple times on the year.
First up was the American Iron Racing Series (A.I.R.S.) 15 lap feature, with Doak Allen and Bart Miller drawing the front row. Miller would edge out Allen at the line to lead lap 1, only to have Allen slip under him to take the top spot on lap 2. But Miller would work back past Allen to grab the lead on lap 3. Then just after the lap was scored complete the caution would appear, as Kase Kohlmorgan spun down the frontstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Miller jumped back out front, with Allen and Domanic McNabb close behind. Allen and McNabb tried to work by Miller for the lead over the next 4 laps, when another caution appeared on lap 8 to slow the action. This time Jeff Hollenbeck came to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Miller jumped back out front on the restart, with Allen and Owen Hayes giving chase. Two more cautions, one on lap 11 and another on lap 12, would slow the action for the final time, as Brian Stock spun in turn 2 on lap 11 and Kohlmorgan spun in turn 1 on lap 12. On the final restart Miller moved back out front, with Hayes overtaking Allen for the runner up spot. Miller held on over the final laps to claim the win. Owen Hayes was 2nd, Allen was 3rd, Jake Hayes came from 16th to finish 4th, with McNabb crossing the line in 5th.
Next up was the 18 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Neal Kohlmorgan and Jason Cook leading the field to green. Cook grabbed the lead on lap 1 over John Oliver Jr. and Jeremy Pundt, who started 6th. While Cook worked the bottom of the track, Oliver Jr. worked the middle to the top to try and grab the top spot away from Cook. On lap 3 Oliver Jr. used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to edge out Cook at the line to take over the top spot. The action up front was slowed on lap 5, when Eric Glass spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Oliver Jr. jumped back out front, as Cook and Pundt looked to work past him. The side-by-side battle for the top spot was slowed one final time on lap 10, as Andrew Schroeder, who started 9th and was running 4th, spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Cook worked under Oliver Jr. on the restart to grab the lead away. Oliver Jr. then tried the low side, middle and top to try and get the top spot back over the final laps. But Cook would hold him off to score his second win of the season at the Lee County Speedway. Pundt was 3rd, Dakota Simonsen came from 11th to finish 4th, with Austin Schrage completing the top 5.
Jarrett Brown and Chris Zogg drew the front row for the 18 lap J&J AG Auto and Truck IMCA Modified feature, with Brown taking advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Zogg and Zack Rawlins. While Brown set a fast pace out front, Zogg had to work to hold back Austen Becerra for the runner up spot. Despite Brown getting into lapped traffic on lap 10, and with no caution to bunch the field up, there was no catching Brown on this night. As he went on to claim his first win of the season at the track. Zogg held off Becerra for 2nd, Jadin Fuller was 4th, with Rawlins coming home in 5th.
Round six of the Iowa Corn Growers Association “Drive For 5” for the IMCA Late Models took to the track next for 25 laps, with Tommy Elston and Dennis Woodworth making up the front row. Woodworth would edge out Elston at the line to jump out into the lead on lap 1. Elston followed in Woodworth’s tire tracks over the next 12 laps, when Woodworth started to enter lapped traffic. The lap traffic allowed Woodworth to get away from Elston, who had Jeremy Pundt working on him for the runner up spot. Heavy lapped traffic and no caution to slow Woodworth’s pace, allowed Woodoworth to go on to claim his second “Drive For 5” qualifying win of the season worth $1,000. Elston won the battle for 2nd, Greg Kastli was 4th, with Christian Miles completing the top 5.
Jim Gillenwater and Brandon Dale drew the front row for the 18 lap Roberts Tire Center IMCA Northern SportMod feature, with Gillenwater grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Dale and Shane Paris. Just after lap 1 was scored complete, Jason Van Zomeren spun in turn 2 to bring out the caution. On the restart Gillenwater moved back out front, with Dale and Paris close behind. The final caution of the race appeared on lap 6 to slow the action. Gillenwater once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Brayton Carter, who started 5th, overtaking Paris for the runner up spot. Carter tried to work under Gillenwater over the finals laps. But Gillenwater would hold him off to score his second win in a row and third of the season at the Lee County Speedway. Paris was 3rd, Dale was 4th, with Matt Mayo finishing 5th after starting in 12th
Up next was the 15 lap Sonny’s Super Market Sport Compact feature, with Spencer Coats and Jeffrey DeLonjay making up the front row. Coats jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Josh Starr and DeLonjay. While Coats’ paced the field out front, Starr, DeLonjay and Chuck Fullenkamp battled for the runner up spot. The one and only caution of the race came on lap 8, as Matt Milligan slowed in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Coats jumped back out front, with Starr and DeLonjay close behind. Despite DeLonjay putting pressure on Coats over the final laps, Coats would hold on to score his first win of the season at the track. Fullenkamp was 3rd, Starr was 4th, with Luke Fraise coming home in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 12 lap Mini Hauler Truck feature, with Jeff Bockes and Sheldon Brockett drawing the front row. Bockes grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Sheldon Brockett and Don Wood. Disaster would strike Wood after the completion of lap 1, as he got upside down in turn 2 to bring out the red. He climbed from his truck okay. On the restart Bockes jumped back out front, with Sheldon Brockett and Grady Jones following. The final caution of the event appeared on lap 3, when Larry Hooper stopped in turn 4 on fire. Bockes once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Tim Wagner, who started 5th, overtaking Sheldon Brockett for the runner up spot. Bockes would lead all 12 laps to claim his first win of the season at the Lee County Speedway. Wagner was 2nd, Sheldon Brockett was 3rd, Jim Ruble was 4th, with Roger Brockett finishing 5th.
Coming up next Friday, July 28th will be U.S. Cellular Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Holtkamp’s Trailer Repair. Admission into the grandstands will be $5 for everyone, with kids 10 & under still FREE!! In action will be the Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Late Models, J&J AG Auto and Truck IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars, Roberts Tire Center IMCA Northern SportMods, and Sonny’s Super Market Sport Compacts.
Gates open at 5:30 PM, Hot Laps at 7 PM, and Racing to follow. Grandstand admission will be $5 for everyone, with Kids (10 & under) FREE! Pit passes will be $30, ages (7-13) $20, ages (4-6) $10, and ages (3 & under) $5.
For more information about the Lee County Speedway you can visit their website at www.leecountyspeedway.com, like them on Facebook, or call Brian Gaylord at 319-371-6744.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Lee County Speedway, Donnellson, IA
Saturday, July 22, 2023 – “Drive For 5” Qualifier Night
Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Late Models
A-Feature: 1. 45DW-Dennis Woodworth, Mendon, IL; 2. 54-Tommy Elston, Keokuk, IA; 3. 52J-Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 4. 73-Greg Kastli, Waterloo, IA; 5. 7C-Christian Miles, Paloma, IL; 6. 01-CJ Horn, Cedar Rapids, IA; 7. 77-Josh Foster, Fairfax, IA; 8. 84-Sam Halstead, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 9. 11-Darin Weisinger Jr., Mendon, IL; 10. 6-Gary Webb, Blue Grass, IA; 11. 45-Jason Oenning, Ursa, IL; 12. 5J-Matt Jones, Monmouth, IL; 13. 93-Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA; 14. 07-Ray Raker, Danville, IA; 15. 39-Ed Hollenbeck, Burlington, IA; 16. 15R-Jeff Guengerich, Washington, IA; 17. 33F-Joey Franklin, North Las Vegas, NV (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. 52J-Jeremy Pundt; 2. 45DW-Dennis Woodworth; 3. 7C-Christian Miles; 4. 93-Jay Johnson; 5. 6-Gary Webb; 6. 84-Sam Halstead; 7. 77-Josh Foster; 8. 39-Ed Hollenbeck; 9. 33F-Joey Franklin (DNS)
Heat 2: 1. 54-Tommy Elston; 2. 73-Greg Kastli; 3. 01-CJ Horn; 4. 15R-Jeff Guengerich; 5. 11-Darin Weisinger Jr.; 6. 07-Ray Raker; 7. 5J-Matt Jones; 8. 45-Jason Oenning
J&J AG Auto and Truck IMCA Modifieds
A-Feature: 1. 88-Jarrett Brown, Ainsworth, IA; 2. 9Z-Chris Zogg, New Liberty, IA; 3. 22-Austen Becerra, Carthage, IL; 4. 26J-Jadin Fuller, Memphis, MO; 5. 2Z-Zack Rawlins, Kellogg, IA; 6. 110-Jerad Fuller, Memphis, MO; 7. 3S-Adam Shelman, Traer, IA; 8. 5R-Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 9. 71-Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 10. 28D-Matt Diaz, Quincy, IL; 11. 51-Michael Benjamin, Montrose, IA
Heat 1: 1. 88-Jarrett Brown; 2. 9Z-Chris Zogg; 3. 22-Austen Becerra; 4. 5R-Bill Roberts Jr.; 5. 51-Michael Benjamin; 6. 28D-Matt Diaz
Heat 2: 1. 2Z-Zack Rawlins; 2. 26J-Jadin Fuller; 3. 110-Jerad Fuller; 4. 3S-Adam Shelman; 5. 71-Dennis LaVeine
Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars
A-Feature: 1. 3D-Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 2. 05-John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, IA; 3. 52J-Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 4. 60-Dakota Simonsen, Fairfax, IA; 5. 14X-Austin Schrage, Knoxville, IA; 6. 57-Andrew Schroeder, Fremont, IA; 7. 12-Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 8. 34-Pat Rachels, China Grove, N.C.; 9. 06-Jerry Jansen, Plainville, IL; 10. 82-Peter Stodgel, Fowler, IL; 11. 43-Kevin Koontz, Memphis, MO; 12. 35-Eric Glass, Memphis, MO; 13. 07-Neal Kohlmorgan, Keokuk, IA
Heat 1: 1. 52J-Jeremy Pundt; 2. 05-John Oliver Jr.; 3. 3D-Jason Cook; 4. 57-Andrew Schroeder; 5. 34-Pat Rachels; 6. 60-Dakota Simonsen; 7. 43-Kevin Koontz
Heat 2: 1. 12-Chad Krogmeier; 2. 14X-Austin Schrage; 3. 07-Neal Kohlmorgan; 4. 06-Jerry Jansen; 5. 82-Peter Stodgel; 6. 35-Eric Glass
Roberts Tire Center IMCA Northern SportMods
A-Feature: 1. 10G-Jim Gillenwater, Keokuk, IA; 2. 01-Brayton Carter, Oskaloosa, IA; 3. 13C-Shane Paris, Muscatine, IA; 4. 12D-Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 5. 13M-Matt Mayo, Bakersfield, CA; 6. 0-Dakota Girard, Moberly, MO; 7. 00-Matt Tucker, Lomax, IL; 8. 12S-Sean Wyett, Danville, IA; 9. 33T-Trevor Tanner, Knoxville, IA; 10. 84B-Trent Brink, Bussey, IA; 11. 3Z-Jason Van Zomeren, Freemont, IA; 12. 7R-Tom Ruble, Ft. Madison, IA; 13. 59-Jamie Aleshire, Moberly, MO; 14. 20-Nicholas Profeta, Keokuk, IA; 15. 04-Trent Orwig, Ottumwa, IA; 16. 10C-Cole Gillenwater, Keokuk, IA; 17. 965-Austin McClean, Columbus, IL
Heat 1: 1. 01-Brayton Carter; 2. 13M-Matt Mayo; 3. 10C-Cole Gillenwater; 4. 33T-Trevor Tanner; 5. 84B-Trent Brink; 6. 04-Trent Orwig
Heat 2: 1. 10G-Jim Gillenwater; 2. 0-Dakota Girard; 3. 12S-Sean Wyett; 4. 00-Matt Tucker; 5. 3Z-Jason Van Zomeren; 6. 59-Jamie Aleshire
Heat 3: 1. 12D-Brandon Dale; 2. 13C-Shane Paris; 3. 20-Nicholas Profeta; 4. 7R-Tom Ruble; 5. 965-Austin McClean
Sonny’s Super Market Sport Compacts
A-Feature: 1. 7C-Spencer Coats, La Grange, MO; 2. 32-Jeffrey DeLonjay, Quincy, IL; 3. 48C-Chuck Fullenkamp, West Point, IA; 4. 8S-Josh Starr, Tipton, IA; 5. 9-Luke Fraise, Houghton, IA; 6. 94X-Justin Stevenson, Burlington, IA; 7. 71-Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 8. 05-Landon Neisen, La Grange, MO; 9. J47-Joe Pflum, Cincinnati, OH; 10. 26-Ryan Moore, Kahoka, MO; 11. 95-Wayne Noble, Wapello, IA; 12. K1M-Matt Milligan, Cedar Rapids, IA; 13. K1-Cody Bowman, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 14. 27-Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 15. 57-Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 16. 47J-Jack Pflum, Cincinnati, OH (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. 8S-Josh Starr; 2. 32-Jeffrey DeLonjay; 3. 7C-Spencer Coats; 4. 27-Brandon Reu; 5. 71-Kimberly Abbott; 6. 05-Landon Neisen; 7. K1-Cody Bowman; 8. K1M-Matt Milligan
Heat 2: 1. 94X-Justin Stevenson; 2. 48C-Chuck Fullenkamp; 3. 9-Luke Fraise; 4. 57-Barry Taft; 5. 26-Ryan Moore; 6. 95-Wayne Noble; 7. 47J-Jack Pflum; 8. J47-Joe Pflum
A.I.R.S. Cars
A-Feature: 1. 501-Bart Miller, Clarence, IA; 2. 29-Owen Hayes, Monmouth, IA; 3. 01-Doak Allen, West Burlington, IA; 4. 11-Jake Hayes, Maquoketa, IA; 5. 2-Domanic McNabb, Clarence, IA; 6. 23-Dennis Etten, Agency, IA; 7. 74-Jeff Durst, Davenport, IA; 8. 68-Travis Heier, Anamosa, IA; 9. 0-Dan Thompson, Cedar Rapids, IA; 10. 17SR-Ron Cook, Clinton, IA; 11. 15M-Mallet Meyer, Clarence, IA; 12. 15VL-Lisa Miller, Clarence, IA; 13. 42-Bruce Yoerger, DeWitt, IA; 14. B07-Brian Stock, Blue Grass, IA; 15. 86-Dan Jordan, Scotch Grove, IA; 16. 16-Robin Atkins, Clarence, IA; 17. 5-Brian Gade, Clarence, IA; 18. 17-Kase Kohlmorgan, Hamilton, IL; 19. 55-Dennis Allen, Wyoming, IA; 20. 18-Jeff Hollenbeck, Muscatine, IA
Heat 1: 1. 29-Owen Hayes; 2. 17SR-Ron Cook; 3. B07-Brian Stock; 4. 5-Brian Gade; 5. 15VL-Lisa Miller; 6. 11-Jake Hayes; 7. 18-Jeff Hollenbeck
Heat 2: 1. 01-Doak Allen; 2. 2-Domanic McNabb; 3. 15M-Mallet Meyer; 4. 68-Travis Heier; 5. 55-Dennis Allen; 6. 0-Dan Thompson; 7. 86-Dan Jordan
Heat 3: 1. 42-Bruce Yoerger; 2. 501-Bart Miller; 3. 16-Robin Atkins; 4. 23-Dennis Etten; 5. 74-Jeff Durst; 6. 17-Kase Kohlmorgan
Mini Hauler Trucks
A-Feature: 1. 10-Jeff Bockes, Morning Sun, IA; 2. 95-Tim Wagner, Wapello, IA; 3. 74-Sheldon Brockett, Burlington, IA; 4. 82JR-Jim Ruble, Morning Sun, IA; 5. F1-Roger Brockett, Burlington, IA; 6. 55-Grady Jones, Monmouth, IL; 7. 43-Larry Hooper, Wyaconda, MO; 8. 41-Don Wood, Wapello, IA
Heat: 1. 10-Jeff Bockes; 2. 82JR-Jim Ruble; 3. 74-Sheldon Brockett; 4. 41-Don Wood; 5. 95-Tim Wagner; 6. 55-Grady Jones; 7. F1-Roger Brockett; 8. 43-Larry Hooper