McGee, Sr., Cook, Sovern, Kratzer, Hammel take checkers on
opening night at Lee County Speedway
By Dewain Hulett
DONNELLSON, IA (May 2) – It took a little work and a lot of dedicated racers
and fans, but Lee County Speedway defied Mother Nature and was finally able
to open its 2008 racing season Friday in Donnellson.
A solid field of cars made the trip to the fast 3/8 mile oval for opening
night, but it was Dean McGee, Sr., Jason Cook, Chad Sovern, Dean Kratzer and
Rob Hammel who ended the night in the winner circle of their respective
classes.
McGee, Sr., racing out of Galesburg, Ill., started outside the front row but
never led until late in the race during the Miller Lite IMCA Modified
feature event. Instead, it was Tyler Cale, Donnellson, Ia., who started on
the pole and dominated the early stages of the race, but a late race bobble
opened the door for McGee, Sr., who was more than willing to step right
through. It was the first Lee County Speedway feature event win for McGee,
Sr., who has been racing for 38 years.
In what turned out to be one of the best features of the night, Cook used a
late race slip up in turn two by Nick Fenton to propel him to the win in the
Budweiser IMCA Stock Cars. But, it was far from easy the rest of the way, as
he ran the last three laps nearly side-by-side with eventual second place
finisher Jeff Mueller. Fenton held on to finish third.
During Lawson Racing Engines and Parts Supply Sport Mod competition it was
quite possibly eventual race winner Chad Sovern who took advantage of the
night’s most surprising change of circumstances. After starting on the pole
for the feature event Sovern dominated much of the event with Rob Kirchner
hanging around just within striking distance. Kirchner got his opportunity
when Sovern made his only major mistake of the night, allowing his car to
get up in the marbles in turns three in four. Kirchner was there to
capitalize and dove down low to take the lead coming out of turn four. That
feeling of accomplishment was short lived, however, as the Kirchner
machine’s engine compartment burst into flames at the flag stand and
eventually came to a stop in turn two. It ended the night for Kirchner and
gave the lead back to Sovern.
That was all Sovern would need, as he cruised to the win over the last half
of the race.
With 24 cars taking the green flag for the Donnellson Tire and Service Hobby
Stocks feature event, the race got off to a not so grand start as at least
five cars got together on the opening lap coming out of turn two. Three cars
were knocked out of the event, and the caution was just a sign of things to
come. After numerous restarts with one lap down, the field put on an
outstanding show over the final 14 laps. Jeff Soper, Kahoka, Mo., took the
lead from Jacob Smith, Argyle, Ia., on the fifth lap and then spent the next
seven laps trying to fend off eventual race winner Dean Kratzer, Fort
Madison, Ia. Kratzer nearly had the lead on lap 8 before a caution for a
blown motor put him back behind Soper. Finally, on lap 12 Kratzer made the
pass of Soper and held on for the feature win.
Hammel started eighth in the Wild Things feature and took just four laps to
get to the front. When he got there, he ran away from the field picking up
the easy
12 lap feature win. Dan Keltner, Wapello, Ia., finished second with Chuck
Fullenkamp, Fort Madison, Ia., bringing home the third spot.
Friday, May 9, is Fan Appreciation Night sponsored by Casey’s General Store
at Lee County Speedway. Stop by any local participating Casey’s location to
get a coupon for $5 entry to Lee County Speedway for this weekend’s event.
Also, don’t forget, the IMCA Late Models have had their rained out opening
week event rescheduled for May 16 at Lee County Speedway. They will run with
the track’s normal five classes of cars.
Sport Modifieds
A-Main 01 -- 1. Chad Sovern, West Point; 2. Jim Gillenwater, Keokuk; 3.
Phillip Cossel, Montrose; 4.
Mark Winkel,
Letts; 5. Bill Seyb, Donnellson; 6. Thad Gaylord, Fort Madison; 7. Levi
Smith, Donnellson; 8. Travis Jordan,
Donnellson; 9. Joe Hooper, Mendon, Ill.; 10. Jerad Fuller, Memphis, Mo.; 11.
Rob Kirchner, Donnellson; 12. Paul
Lawson, Donnellson.
Heat 01 -- 1. Levi Smith, Donnellson; 2. Chad Sovern, West Point; 3. Thad
Gaylord, Fort Madison; 4. Jerad Fuller,
Memphis, Mo.; 5. Travis Jordan, Donnellson; 6. Paul Lawson, Donnellson.
Heat 02 -- 1. Rob Kirchner, Donnellson; 2. Jim Gillenwater, Keokuk; 3. Mark
Winkel, Letts; 4. Bill Seyb, Donnellson;
5. Joe Hooper, Mendon, Ill.; 6. Phillip Cossel, Montrose.
Hobby Stocks
A-Main 01 -- 1. Dean Kratzer, Fort Madison; 2. Jeff Soper, Kahoka, Mo.; 3.
Jim Lynch, Donnellson; 4. Bruce
Summers, Hamilton, Ill.; 5. Dan Wenig, Danville; 6.
Sky Griffith, Wapello; 7. Justin Hamelton, Hamilton, Ill.; 8. Jim
Oliver, Jr., Beardstown, Ill.; 9. Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson; 10. Jon Rooney,
Donnellson; 11. Austin Schulte, Keokuk;
12. Steve Christopher, Decorah; 13. Jacob Smith, Argyle; 14. Brian Holmes,
Wapello; 15. Vincent Kiissinger,
Carthage, Ill.; 16. Derek St. Clair, Donnellson; 17.
Jermy Billings, Keokuk; 18. Rick Barlow, Jr., Montrose; 19. Dale
Porter, Pulaski; 20. Rob Wilsey, Keokuk; 21. Kevin Cheney, Quincy, Ill.; 22.
Chris Hibbard, Carthage, Ill.; 23. Jason
Billings, Keokuk; 24. Rodger Dresden, Keokuk.
Heat 01 -- 1. Dan Wenig, Danville; 2. Brian Holmes, Wapello; 3. Dean Kratzer,
Fort Madison; 4. Justin Hamelton,
Hamilton, Ill.; 5. Kevin Cheney, Quincy, Ill.; 6. Jon Rooney, Donnellson; 7.
Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson; 8.
Chris
Hibbard, Carthage, Ill..
Heat 02 -- 1. Rodger Dresden, Keokuk; 2. Jim Lynch, Donnellson; 3. Rob
Wilsey, Keokuk; 4. Derek St. Clair,
Donnellson; 5. Steve Christopher, Decorah; 6. Bruce Summers, Hamilton, Ill.;
7. Sky Griffith, Wapello; 8.
Austin
Schulte, Keokuk.
Heat 03 -- 1. Jim Oliver, Jr., Beardstown, Ill.; 2.
Jacob Smith, Argyle; 3. Jeff Soper, Kahoka, Mo.; 4.
Jason Billings,
Keokuk; 5. Jermy Billings, Keokuk; 6. Rick Barlow, Jr., Montrose; 7. Dale
Porter, Pulaski; 8. Vincent Kiissinger,
Carthage, Ill..
IMCA Modifieds
A-Main 01 -- 1. Dean McGee, Sr., Galesburg, Ill.; 2.
Bill Roberts, Burlington; 3. Tyler Cale, Donnellson; 4. Mike
Weikert Jr., Muscatine; 5. Brandon Rothzen, Media, Ill.; 6. Brandon Savage,
Keokuk; 7. Josh Foster, Montrose; 8. Jeff
Gerhardt, Niota, Ill.; 9. Terry Houston, Mount Sterling, Ill.; 10. Rich
Smith, Davenport; 11. Chris Larson, Keokuk.
Heat 01 -- 1. Rich Smith, Davenport; 2. Jeff Gerhardt, Niota, Ill.; 3. Dean
McGee, Sr., Galesburg, Ill.; 4. Josh Foster,
Montrose; 5. Bill Roberts, Burlington; 6. Chris Larson, Keokuk.
Heat 02 -- 1. Tyler Cale, Donnellson; 2. Mike Weikert Jr., Muscatine; 3.
Terry Houston, Mount Sterling, Ill.; 4. Brandon
Rothzen, Media, Ill.; 5. Brandon Savage, Keokuk.
IMCA Stock Cars
A-Main 01 -- 1. Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant; 2. Jeff Mueller, New London; 3.
Nick Fenton, Mt. Pleasant; 4.
John Oliver,
Jr., Danville; 5. Doug Huls, Carthage, Ill.; 6. Kirk Kinsley, Wapello; 7.
Chris Wibbell, Dallas City, Ill.; 8. Abe Huls,
Carthage, Ill.; 9. Dave Hemsted, Lone Tree; 10. Cale Samberg, Burlington;
11. Cole Simmons, Morning Sun; 12.
Ray Raker, Danville; 13. Dennis Harwood, West Point; 14. Travis Finke,
Columbus Jct.; 15. Jake Wenig, Burlington;
16. Corey Strothman, New London.
Heat 01 -- 1. John Oliver, Jr., Danville; 2. Nick Fenton, Mt. Pleasant; 3.
Kirk Kinsley, Wapello; 4.
Jake Wenig,
Burlington; 5. Dave Hemsted, Lone Tree; 6. Ray Raker, Danville; 7. Cole
Simmons, Morning Sun; 8. Dennis
Harwood, West Point.
Heat 02 -- 1. Jeff Mueller, New London; 2. Doug Huls, Carthage, Ill.; 3.
Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant; 4. Chris Wibbell,
Dallas City, Ill.; 5. Corey Strothman, New London; 6.
Abe Huls, Carthage, Ill.; 7. Travis Finke, Columbus Jct.; 8. Cale
Samberg, Burlington.
4 Cyl. Wild Things
A-Main 01 -- 1. Rob Hammel, Hamilton, Ill.; 2. Dan Keltner, Wapello; 3.
Chuck Fullenkamp, Fort Madison; 4. Brent
Hartley, Niota, Ill.; 5. Travis DeMint, Basco, Ill.; 6. Chris Loring, Jr.,
Keokuk; 7. Chase Klenk, Yarmouth; 8. Bryan
Rodefer, Fort Madison; 9. Gabe Harrison, Warsaw, Ill.; 10. Kevin Harter,
Fort Madison; 11. Dustan Fenton,
Burlington; 12. Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, Ill.; 13.
Lew Aikmen, Hannibal, Mo.; 14. Mike Horning, Jr., Keokuk.
Heat 01 -- 1. Rob Hammel, Hamilton, Ill.; 2. Dan Keltner, Wapello; 3. Chase
Klenk, Yarmouth; 4. Kevin Harter, Fort
Madison; 5. Dustan Fenton, Burlington; 6. Gabe Harrison, Warsaw, Ill.; 7.
Mike Horning, Jr., Keokuk.
Heat 02 -- 1. Chris Loring, Jr., Keokuk; 2. Chuck Fullenkamp, Fort Madison;
3. Travis DeMint, Basco, Ill.; 4. Bryan
Rodefer, Fort Madison; 5. Brent Hartley, Niota, Ill.; 6. Lew Aikmen,
Hannibal, Mo.; 7. Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, Ill..
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