by Brian Neal
Donnellson, IA (Thursday, August 31, 2023) – Excessive heat index warnings on Friday, August 25th forced track promoters Brian and Marcie Gaylord to postpone the scheduled Season Championship and “Drive For 5” Finale. After discussions with IMCA the only choice was to run it on Thursday, August 31st. A decent crowd was on hand, including 154 kids in hopes of taking home a prize awarded to the Jr Fan Club donated by Beckman Towing.
The first feature to take to the track on the night was the 18 lap Roberts Tire Center IMCA Northern SportMod, with Josh Holtman and Tom Bowling Jr. leading the field to green. Bowling Jr. would jump out into the early lead over Holtman and Matt Thomas. While Bowling Jr. set the pace out front, Brandon Dale, who started 8th, was working his way towards the front. On lap 7 Dale moved into the runner up spot and then went to work on Bowling Jr. for the top spot. The battle for the lead was slowed on lap 12, as debris in turn 4 brought out the caution. On the restart Bowling Jr. jumped back out front, with Dale and Holtman close behind. While Bowling Jr. worked the bottom to middle grooves of the track, Dale pounded the cushion up top. And on lap 14 Dale was able to clear Bowling Jr. to take the top spot away. Dale then held off a last lap challenge from Bowling Jr. to claim his second win of the season at the track. The win also helped him secure the 2023 Track Championship. Wyett came from 9th to finish 3rd, John Oliver Jr. was 4th, with Holtman finishing 5th.
Up next was the Iowa Corn Growers Association Photo Daddy 50 “Drive For 5” Finale for the IMCA Late Models, with Mark Burgtorf and Evan Miller gaining the most passing points in the dual heat races to make up the front row. Burgtorf grabbed the lead on the start over Miller and CJ Horn, but lost the top spot to Miller on lap 3. While Miller paced the field, Burgtorf, Horn and Nick Marolf battled for the runner up spot. The leaders would enter lap traffic on lap 11, and the heavy lap traffic allowed Horn to overtake Miller for the lead on lap 15. One lap later Marolf moved into the runner up spot, and then went to work on Horn for the top spot. Horn was able to hold off Marolf at the lap 25 halfway break, in which the teams had ten minutes to change anything on the car except tires.
Horn jumped back out front on the restart, with Marolf, Burgtorf, and twelveth place starter Austen Becerra battling for the runner up spot. While Horn worked the bottom of the track, Becerra would use the top to move into the runner up spot on lap 28. Three laps later Becerra used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to grab the lead. A couple of cautions slowed Becerra’s pace on lap 37, and contact on the third restart of lap 38 would send Becerra to the pits with a flat tire. Horn inherited the lead and then held off Jeremy Pundt, who started 13th, over the final laps to score the $5,000 top prize. It was also Horn’s fourth win of the season, which helped him secure his first track championship at the Lee County Speedway. Burgtorf was 3rd, Andy Nezworski started 10th and finished 4th, with Sam Halstead finishing 5th after starting in 9th.
Blaine Lambert and Ryan Moore made up the front row for the 15 lap Sonny’s Super Market Sport Compact feature. But it was third place starter Brandon Reu who quickly shot to the lead over Josh Barnes and Chevy Barnes. The action was slowed on lap 5, when Ethan Prim slowed in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Reu, Josh Barnes, and Barry Taft came off turn 4 three wide, with Reu edging out front. One more caution slowed the field, this time Moore spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow on lap 12. Reu once again grabbed the lead on the restart and held off Taft over the final lap to score his fifth win of the season at the track. Josh Barnes was 3rd, Chevy Barnes was 4th and claimed his first career track championship, with Lambert completing the top 5.
Up next was the 18 lap J&J AG Auto and Truck IMCA Modified feature, with Kyle Madden and Dustin Kroening leading the field to green. Madden took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Kroening and Chris Zogg. Zogg would overtake Madden for the top spot on lap 2. The pace Zogg was setting would put him into lap traffic on lap 8. Jarrett Brown, who started 6th, tried to close in on Zogg through lap traffic. But without a caution to bunch the field up, Jarrett ran out of laps, as Zogg went on to claim his first win of the season at the Lee County Speedway. Dakota Simmons finished 3rd after starting in 7th, Brandon Banks came from 11th to finish 4th, with Bill Roberts Jr. rounding out the top 5. Austen Becerra crossed the line in seventh to earn his second IMCA Modified track championship in a row.
The final feature to take to the track was the 18 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars, with Leremy Jackson and Kevin Koontz on the front row. Jackson jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Jason Cook and Derrick Agee. Cook sliped under Jackson to take the top spot away on lap 2. The action was brought to a halt on lap 8 when Neal Kohlmorgan cleared the guardrail in turn 3 and ended up upside down outside the track to bring out the red. Kohlmorgan climbed out okay. On the restart Cook jumped back out front, with John Oliver Jr., who started 7th, and Agee following. Oliver Jr. tried to get under Cook over the final laps, but Cook held him off for his third win of the season at the track. Agee was 3rd, Jeremy Pundt was 4th, with Jason McDaniel coming from 9th to finish 5th. Agee’s third place finish was enough for him to earn his first track championship at the Lee County Speedway.
Coming up next at the Lee County Speedway on Saturday, September 16th will be the final show of the year for the AMA Flat Track Motorcycles, presented by Heartland Harley-Davidson. Watch our website and Facebook pages for more information as the event gets closer.
Grandstand admission will be $10, with Kids (10 & under) FREE! Pit passes will be $15, plus $35 per class entry fee.
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
Thursday, August 31, 2023 – Iowa Corn Growers Association Season Championship Night
Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Late Models
Photo Daddy 50 A-Feature: 1. 01-CJ Horn, Cedar Rapids, IA; 2. 52J-Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 3. 15R-Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, IL; 4. 7-Andy Nezworski, Blue Grass, IA; 5. 84-Sam Halstead, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 6. 54-Tommy Elston, Keokuk, IA; 7. 11-Darin Weisinger Jr., Mendon, IL; 8. 45-Jason Oenning, Ursa, IL; 9. 7C-Christian Miles, Paloma, IL; 10. 07-Ray Raker, Danville, IA; 11. 39-Ed Hollenbeck, Burlington, IA; 12. 5J-Matt Jones, Monmouth, IL; 13. 11S-Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA; 14. 33-Nick Marolf, Moscow, IA; 15. 45DW-Dennis Woodworth, Mendon, IL; 16. 77-Josh Foster, Fairfax, IA; 17. 6-Gary Webb, Blue Grass, IA; 18. 21-Austen Becerra, Carthage, IL; 19. 88-Evan Miller, Silvis, IL; 20. 18W-Josh Woodruff, East Galesburg, IL; 21. 93-Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA; 22. 72X-Dallon Murty, Chelsea, IA (DNS)
Round 1 Heat 1: 1. 7-Andy Nezworski; 2. 45DW-Dennis Woodworth; 3. 84-Sam Halstead; 4. 01-CJ Horn; 5. 45-Jason Oenning; 6. 21-Austen Becerra; 7. 72X-Dallon Murty; 8. 07-Ray Raker
Heat 2: 1. 15R-Mark Burgtorf; 2. 11-Darin Weisinger Jr.; 3. 93-Jay Johnson; 4. 39-Ed Hollenbeck; 5. 5J-Matt Jones; 6. 11S-Josh Schneiderman; 7. 18W-Josh Woodruff
Heat 3: 1. 88-Evan Miller; 2. 54-Tommy Elston; 3. 77-Josh Foster; 4. 33-Nick Marolf; 5. 6-Gary Webb; 6. 52J-Jeremy Pundt; 7. 7C-Christian Miles
Round 2 Heat 1: 1. 01-CJ Horn; 2. 21-Austen Becerra; 3. 45-Jason Oenning; 4. 45DW-Dennis Woodworth; 5. 84-Sam Halstead; 6. 07-Ray Raker; 7. 7-Andy Nezworski; 8. 72X-Dallon Murty
Heat 2: 1. 15R-Mark Burgtorf; 2. 93-Jay Johnson; 3. 11-Darin Weisinger Jr.; 4. 5J-Matt Jones; 5. 39-Ed Hollenbeck; 6. 18W-Josh Woodruff; 7. 11S-Josh Schneiderman
Heat 3: 1. 33-Nick Marolf; 2. 52J-Jeremy Pundt; 3. 88-Evan Miller; 4. 7C-Christian Miles; 5. 54-Tommy Elston; 6. 6-Gary Webb; 7. 77-Josh Foster
J&J AG Auto and Truck IMCA Modifieds
A-Feature: 1. 9Z-Chris Zogg, New Liberty, IA; 2. 88-Jarrett Brown, Ainsworth, IA; 3. 40-Dakota Simmons, Douds, IA; 4. 22X-Brandon Banks, Washington, IA; 5. 5R-Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 6. 03B-Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, IL; 7. 22-Austen Becerra, Carthage, IL; 8. 26J-Jadin Fuller, Memphis, MO; 9. 56-Dustin Kroening, Hebron, IL; 10. 31A-Kory Meyer, Dixon, IA; 11. 132-Donovan Lodge, Andover, IL; 12. 4-Mike Learman, Woodstock, IL; 13. 87-Blake Woodruff, Knoxville, IL; 14. 4B-Mitch Boles, New London, IA; 15. 28D-Matt Diaz, Quincy, IL; 16. 51-Michael Benjamin, Montrose, IA; 17. 15RS-Reid Sammons, Kahoka, MO; 18. 46-Brian Reed, Palmyra, MO; 19. 2R-Fisher Reese, Memphis, MO; 20. 32-Kyle Madden, Oxford, IA; 21. 7X-Rex Widmer, Keokuk, IA (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. 88-Jarrett Brown; 2. 26J-Jadin Fuller; 3. 03B-Mark Burgtorf; 4. 31A-Kory Meyer; 5. 4B-Mitch Boles; 6. 2R-Fisher Reese; 7. 15RS-Reid Sammons (DNS)
Heat 2: 1. 9Z-Chris Zogg; 2. 32-Kyle Madden; 3. 4-Mike Learman; 4. 40-Dakota Simmons; 5. 132-Donovan Lodge; 6. 51-Michael Benjamin; 7. 46-Brian Reed
Heat 3: 1. 5R-Bill Roberts Jr.; 2. 56-Dustin Kroening; 3. 22-Austen Becerra; 4. 22X-Brandon Banks; 5. 87-Blake Woodruff; 6. 28D-Matt Diaz; 7. 7X-Rex Widmer
Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars
A-Feature: 1. 3D-Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 2. 05-John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, IA; 3. 14-Derrick Agee, Huntsville, MO; 4. 52J-Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 5. 85-Jason McDaniel, Eldon, IA; 6. 30C-Abe Huls, Carthage, IL; 7. 12-Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 8. 82-Peter Stodgel, Fowler, IL; 9. 3JR-Dustan Fenton, Burlington, IA; 10. 21-Jason Rindom, Moberly, MO; 11. 35X-Leremy Jackson, Unionville, IA; 12. 43-Kevin Koontz, Memphis, MO; 13. 07-Neal Kohlmorgan, Keokuk, IA
Heat 1: 1. 52J-Jeremy Pundt; 2. 3D-Jason Cook; 3. 12-Chad Krogmeier; 4. 30C-Abe Huls; 5. 43-Kevin Koontz; 6. 82-Peter Stodgel; 7. 3JR-Dustan Fenton
Heat 2: 1. 85-Jason McDaniel; 2. 14-Derrick Agee; 3. 05-John Oliver Jr.; 4. 07-Neal Kohlmorgan; 5. 35X-Leremy Jackson; 6. 21-Jason Rindom
Roberts Tire Center IMCA Northern SportMods
A-Feature: 1. 12D-Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 2. 14B-Tom Bowling Jr., Burlington, IA; 3. 12S-Sean Wyett, Danville, IA; 4. 55-John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, IA; 5. 5-Josh Holtman, Quincy, IL; 6. 20-Nicholas Profeta, Keokuk, IA; 7. 3-Matt Thomas, Danville, IA; 8. 84B-Trent Brink, Bussey, IA; 9. 00-Matt Tucker, Lomax, IL; 10. 7R-Tom Ruble, Ft. Madison, IA; 11. 14L-Brandon Lambert, Carthage, IL; 12. 10G-Jim Gillenwater, Keokuk, IA; 13. 10C-Cole Gillenwater, Keokuk, IA
Heat 1: 1. 12S-Sean Wyett; 2. 10G-Jim Gillenwater; 3. 5-Josh Holtman; 4. 55-John Oliver Jr.; 5. 3-Matt Thomas; 6. 7R-Tom Ruble; 7. 10C-Cole Gillenwater (DNS)
Heat 2: 1. 20-Nicholas Profeta; 2. 14B-Tom Bowling Jr.; 3. 12D-Brandon Dale; 4. 84B-Trent Brink; 5. 00-Matt Tucker; 6. 14L-Brandon Lambert
Sonny’s Super Market Sport Compacts
A-Feature: 1. 27-Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 2. 57-Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 3. 13B-Josh Barnes, Keokuk, IA; 4. 13C-Chevy Barnes, Keokuk, IA; 5. 18L-Blaine Lambert, Carthage, IL; 6. 11E-Ethan Prim, Elvaston, IL; 7. 26-Ryan Moore, Kahoka, MO
Heat: 1. 13B-Josh Barnes; 2. 27-Brandon Reu; 3. 13C-Chevy Barnes; 4. 18L-Blaine Lambert; 5. 26-Ryan Moore; 6. 11E-Ethan Prim; 7. 57-Barry Taft
