Carter, Dale and Grossman Collect Their First Wins of the Season at the Lee County Speedway
by Brian Neal
Donnellson, IA (Friday, June 5, 2015) – After a week off thanks to mother nature, the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa got back to action on Friday night. It was Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison, Iowa night at the races, along with bring your dog to the track night. At the end of the night Cayden Carter (Budweiser IMCA Modifieds), Brandon Dale (Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA SportMods), and Michael Grossman (Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts) all collected their first wins of the season at the track.
The first feature to take to the track on the night was the 15 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts, with Kyle Hamelton and Kevin Garrett leading the field to the green flag. But it was fifth place starter Michael Grossman who quickly moved to the front to grab the lead on lap 1 over Garrett and Mike Reu. The first and only caution of the event appeared on lap 3, as debris in turn 4 brought out the yellow. On the restart Grossman jumped back out into the lead, with Brandon Reu, who started 6th, and Mike Reu following behind. Grossman would then start to pull away from the field, as Kimberly Abbott, who started 8th, was working her way towards the front. Abbott over took Brandon Reu for second on lap 10 and then went to work on cutting into Grossman’s lead. But without a caution there was no catching Grossman on this night, as he picked up his first win of the season at the track. Abbott settled for 2nd, Brandon Reu was 3rd, Cody Washburne started 9th and finished 4th, with Mike Reu rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 10 lap Coors Light IMCA Hobby Stock feature, and despite only two cars the race was very entertaining to watch. Dustin Griffiths used the top of the track to grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Kevin Koontz. Koontz, who was glued to the bottom of the track, slipped under Griffiths to take the lead on lap 3. But Griffiths would come back on the top of the track to take the lead back on lap 3. Koontz was scored the leader on lap 4, as the two continued to race side-by-side. Griffiths would lead lap 6, with Koontz grabbing the lead on lap 7. The two would swap the lead back and forth on laps 8 and 9. Coming off turn 2 on the final lap Griffiths move past Koontz to grab the lead and then held on to claim his fourth win of the season at the track. Koontz finished in 2nd.
Scott Boles was suppose to start on the pole of the 20 lap Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA SportMod feature, but when he scratched from the event it would move Robert Gould to the pole next to Phillip Cossel. Cossel would take advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1 over Kyle Hill and Gould. Just as lap 1 was scored complete the caution light would come on, as Austen Becerra spun in turn 3 and collected Ashton Johnson to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hill went to the bottom of the track to grab the lead away from Cossel. Hill then held the top spot until another caution appeared on lap 9. This time Joey Gower, who started 9th and had worked his way up to 5th, spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Brandon Dale, who started 5th, would use the bottom of the track to slip under Hill to take over the top spot on the restart. Hill, who was using the top of the track, used the momentum off turn 4 on lap 11 to grab the lead away from Dale. Dale wouldn’t give up, as he tried to slip under Hill over the next 3 laps. But a caution on lap 14 would slow the action up front. This time Brandyn Ryan would spin in turn 4 on lap 14 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hill jumped back out front, with Dale and Austen Howes, who started 7th, close behind. Hill, who was up top, and Dale, who was on the bottom, ran the next 2 laps side-by-side, with Dale edging out front on lap 16. Hill would try to come back on the top of the track over the final 4 laps, but Dale was able to hold him off to pick up his first win of the season at the track. Hill settled for 2nd, Howes was 3rd, Cossel was 4th, with Rick Barlow Jr. coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Cars, with Jake Wenig and Jason See making up the front row. Wenig would take advantage of his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Jim Redmann and David Brandies. Brandies, who was working the middle of the track, would edge out Wenig on lap 4 to take over the top spot. Brandies then started to pull away from the two and three wide battles going on behind him, that was until the first caution appeared on lap 11. Ray Raker spun in turn 4 to bring out the the yellow. On the restart Shane Paris, who was running 8th, got into Jeremy Pundt, who was running 6th, which caused Pundt to spin down the front stretch to bring the caution light back on. The following restart saw Brandies jump back out front, with Abe Huls, who started 9th and used all grooves to get to the front, glued to his back bumper. While Brandies stayed glued to the bottom, Huls went up top to grab the top spot away from Brandies on lap 14. Brandies then tried to work under Huls over the next 3 laps, when the final caution of the race appeared. This time Wenig spun in turn 2 and collected Paris to bring out the yellow. On the restart Huls moved back out front, with Brandies trying to work under him for the lead. Huls would go on to lead the final 3 laps to claim his fourth win of the season at the track. Brandies settled for 2nd, John Oliver Jr. started 8th and finished 3rd, Redmann was 4th, with Raker recovering from his spin on lap 11 to come back up to finish in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, with Ryan Cook and Dean McGee on the front row. McGee used his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Cayden Carter and Cook. Carter would use the bottom of the track to slip under McGee to take the top spot away on lap 2. Carter then started to pull away from the field. McGee wouldn’t give up, as he closed back in on Carter’s back bumper on lap 13. Carter, was working the bottom, while McGee used the top. That was until McGee showed Carter the top was working best on lap 15, when he pulled up beside Carter. Carter then shot to the top of the track coming off turn 2, which forced McGee to go to the bottom going into turn 3. The two would come out of turn 4 on lap 16 side-by-side, with Carter holding on to the lead by inches. Carter then held on over the final 4 laps of a caution free race to claim his first win of the season at the track. McGee settled for 2nd, Scott Hogan started 9th and finished 3rd, Blake Woodruff was 4th, with Jeff Waterman coming home in 5th.
Coming up next Friday, June 12th is the much anticipated Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models at the Lee County Speedway, being presented by Armstrong Tractor, Miller Lite and 101.7 The Bull. The Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Cars, Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA SportMods, Coors Light IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts will also be in action with a draw / redraw format.
Gates will open at 5 pm, with the draw cut-off at 6:45 pm, hot laps will be at 6:45 pm, and racing at 7:15 pm. Grandstand admission will be adults $20, students (11-17) $10, and kids 10 and under FREE! Pit passes will be $30, ages (7-13) $20, and ages 6 and under $10.
For more information you can call Mike Van Genderen at 641-521-0330 or log onto the tracks website at www.leecountyspeedway.com.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Lee County Speedway, Donnellson, IA
Friday, June 5, 2015 – Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison Night
Coors Light IMCA Hobby Stocks – A-Main
1. Dustin Griffiths (Ottumwa, IA), 2. Kevin Koontz (Memphis, MO),
Coors Light IMCA Hobby Stock – Heat
1. Kevin Koontz (Memphis, MO), 2. Dustin Griffiths (Ottumwa, IA)
Budweiser IMCA Modifieds – A-Main
1. Cayden Carter (Oskaloosa, IA), 2. Dean McGee (Galesburg, IL), 3. Scott Hogan (Vinton, IA), 4. Blake Woodruff (Galesburg, IL), 5. Jeff Waterman (Quincy, IL), 6. Tyler Groenendyk (Oskaloosa, IA), 7. Tyler Cale (Donnellson, IA), 8. Carter VanDenBerg (Oskaloosa, IA), 9. Ryan Cook (Burlington, IA), 10. Bill Roberts Jr. (Burlington, IA), 11. Lonnie Heap (Monmouth, IL), 12. Dave Warth (Danville, IA), 13. Kelly Buckallew (Memphis, MO) DNS
Budweiser IMCA Modifieds Heat 1
1. Cayden Carter (Oskaloosa, IA), 2. Tyler Groenendyk (Oskaloosa, IA), 3. Tyler Cale (Donnellson, IA), 4. Blake Woodruff (Galesburg, IL), 5. Bill Roberts Jr. (Burlington, IA), 6. Dave Warth (Danville, IA), 7. Kelly Buckallew (Memphis, MO)
Budwesier IMCA Modifieds Heat 2
1. Carter VanDenBerg (Oskaloosa, IA), 2. Dean McGee (Galesburg, IL), 3. Ryan Cook (Burlington, IA), 4. Jeff Waterman (Quincy, IL), 5. Scott Hogan (Vinton, IA), 6. Lonnie Heap (Monmouth, IL)
Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts – A-Main
1. Michael Grossman (Keokuk, IA), 2. Kimberly Abbott (Camp Point, IL), 3. Brandon Reu (Donnellson, IA), 4. Cody Washburne (Mt Pleasant, IA), 5. Mike Reu (Donnellson, IA), 6. William Michel (Muscatine, IA), 7. Josh Barnes (Keokuk, IA), 8. Darin Weisinger Jr. (Mendon, IL), 9. Kevin Garrett (Bloomfield, IA), 10. Kyle Hamelton (Keokuk, IA), 11. Scott Smith (Alexandria, MO), 12. Billy Carter (Burlington, IA), 13. Brandon Lambert (Carthage, IL) DNS, 14. Barry Taft (Argyle, IA) DNS
Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts Heat 1
1. Josh Barnes (Keokuk, IA), 2. William Michel (Muscatine, IA), 3. Cody Washburne (Mt Pleasant, IA), 4. Kyle Hamelton (Keokuk, IA), 5. Scott Smith (Alexandria, MO), 6. Darin Weisinger Jr. (Mendon, IL), 7. Brandon Lambert (Carthage, IL)
Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts Heat 2
1. Brandon Reu (Donnellson, IA), 2. Kimberly Abbott (Camp Point, IL), 3. Mike Reu (Donnellson, IA), 4. Kevin Garrett (Bloomfield, IA), 5. Michael Grossman (Keokuk, IA), 6. Billy Carter (Burlington, IA), 7. Barry Taft (Argyle, IA) DNS
Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMods – A-Main
1. Brandon Dale (Memphis, MO), 2. Kyle Hill (New London , IA), 3. Austin Howes (Memphis, MO), 4. Phillip Cossel (Montrose, IA), 5. Rick Barlow Jr. (Montrose, IA), 6. Robert Gould (Hillsboro, IA), 7. Austen Becerra (Camp Point, IL), 8. LeRoy Groenendyk (Oskaloosa, IA), 9. Ashton Johnson (Bloomfield, IA), 10. Bob Cowman (Quincy, IL), 11. Dakota Anderson (Clayton, IL), 12. Brandyn Ryan (Carthage, IL), 13. Joey Gower (Quincy, IL), 14. Scott Boles (New London, IA) DNS
Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMods Heat 1
1. Phillip Cossel (Montrose, IA), 2. Kyle Hill (New London , IA), 3. Austen Becerra (Camp Point, IL), 4. Scott Boles (New London, IA), 5. Rick Barlow Jr. (Montrose, IA), 6. Bob Cowman (Quincy, IL), 7. Dakota Anderson (Clayton, IL)
Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMods Heat 2
1. Brandon Dale (Memphis, MO), 2. Joey Gower (Quincy, IL), 3. Austin Howes (Memphis, MO), 4. LeRoy Groenendyk (Oskaloosa, IA), 5. Robert Gould (Hillsboro, IA), 6. Ashton Johnson (Bloomfield, IA), 7. Brandyn Ryan (Carthage, IL)
Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Cars – A-Main
1. Abe Huls (Carthage, IL), 2. David Brandies (Wilton, IA), 3. John Oliver Jr. (Danville, IA), 4. Jim Redmann (Lockridge, IA), 5. Ray Raker (Danville, IA), 6. Jeremy Pundt (Donnellson, IA), 7. Andrew Hustead (Rutledge, MO), 8. Michael Peterson (Montezuma, IA), 9. Jason See (Albia, IA), 10. Jake Wenig (Burlington, IA), 11. Shane Paris (Wilton, IA), 12. Corey Strothman (Mt. Union, IA)
Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Cars Heat 1
1. David Brandies (Wilton, IA), 2. Abe Huls (Carthage, IL), 3. Jim Redmann (Lockridge, IA), 4. Jake Wenig (Burlington, IA), 5. Shane Paris (Wilton, IA), 6. Ray Raker (Danville, IA)
Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Cars Heat 2
1. Jeremy Pundt (Donnellson, IA), 2. John Oliver Jr. (Danville, IA), 3. Corey Strothman (Mt. Union, IA), 4. Michael Peterson (Montezuma, IA), 5. Jason See (Albia, IA), 6. Andrew Hustead (Rutledge, MO)
Category: Iowa, Lee County Speedway
