Eckrich Scores SLMR Late Model Series Debut at the Lee County Speedway
by Brian Neal
Donnellson, IA (Friday, July 15, 2022) – For the past several weeks it has been a habit for mother nature to try and put a damper on the races scheduled at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. And that was no different on Friday, July 15th, as early morning showers were just enough to keep the track crew from watering the track all day long. On tap for the night was the debut of the Super Late Model Racing Series (SLMR), also joining the night presented by Midwest Performance & Power was the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods, and IMCA Sport Compacts.
The first feature to take to the track was the 18 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars, with David Brandies and Josh Foster leading the field to green. Foster was able to edge out Brandies to grab the lead on lap 1. As the two battled for the top spot, as Dustin Vis was looking for a way around. On lap 5 Vis was able to get by Brandies for the runner up spot, and then 2 laps later he slipped past Foster for the top spot. Vis then started to pull away from the battles going on behind him, when the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 17. Brandies would get into the back of Foster in turn 1, with Foster spinning to bring out the yellow. Foster was given his spot back, while Brandies went to the rear for the restart. Vis grabbed the lead on the restart and then held off John Oliver Jr. to become the first repeat winner in the Stock Car class this year at the track. Foster was 3rd, Chad Krogmeier was 4th, with Jason Cook rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 18 lap Sonny’s Super Market IMCA Modified feature, with Daniel Fellows and Jerad Fuller making up the front row. But it was fourth place starter Spencer Diercks who jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Fellows and Chris Zogg. The action was slowed on lap 2, as debris in turn 2 brought out the yellow. On the restart Fellows inherited the lead off turn 2, as sparks were coming off Diercks car. The problems with Diercks car would cause him to slow to a stop in turn 2 on lap 3 to bring out the final caution. Fellows once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Zogg and Matt Werner close behind. Zogg tried to get around Fellows for the top spot over the next 7 laps, but Fellows was able to hold him off each lap. Then on lap 12 Zogg was able to slide past Fellows to take over the lead. Three laps later Werner moved into the runner up spot and then went to work on Zogg for the lead. But Zogg was able to hold him off for his second win of the season at the Lee County Speedway. Fellows was 3rd, Fuller was 4th, with Dennis LaVeine coming home in 5th.
Dakota Girard and Jim Gillenwater led the field to green in the 18 lap Roberts Tire Center IMCA Northern SportMod feature, with Girard grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Brayton Carter and Gillenwater. Coming off turn 2 to complete lap 3, Carter went three wide through the middle to emerge with the top spot. While Carter set a fast pace out front, Girard, Gillenwater, Sean Wyett, Dylan Van Wyk, and Adam Birck battled for positions behind him. On lap 11 Van Wyk finally worked himself into the runner up spot, and then went to work on chasing down Carter for the lead. Despite heavy lap traffic, Carter would go onto win his fourth feature of the season at the track. Van Wyk was 2nd, Gillenwater was 3rd, Birck was 4th, with Wyett completing the top 5.
Up next was the 25 lap SLMR Late Model feature, with Curt Martin and Andy Eckrich leading the field to green. Eckrich took advantage of his starting position to move out into the lead on lap 1 over Martin and Luke Goedert. Martin would pull even with Eckrich for the top spot twice over the first 5 laps, before Eckrich started to pull away. The fast pace Eckrich was setting would put him into lapped traffic on lap 11, which allowed Martin to close back in. But on lap 20 Martin slipped up and got into the guardrail, which caused him to fall back to fourth. This would hand the runner up spot over to Todd Cooney, who started 7th, and was using the top of the track. Cooney closed quickly on Eckrich, but would run out of laps. As Eckrich held on to claim the $3,000 top prize. Goedert was 3rd, Martin was 4th, with Just Kay charging from 16th to finish 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 15 lap AVIS Car Rental IMCA Sport Compacts, with Barry Taft and Luke Fraise making up the front row. Taft, who was in a borrowed car from Chuck Fullenkamp, grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Fraise and Adam Christy. As Taft paced the field out front, Jason Ash, who started 6th, was working his way forward. At the halfway mark Ash moved into the runner up spot and then went to work on Taft for the top spot. Ash tried to work under Taft over the next 6 laps, with Taft holding him off each lap. Then coming to the white flag Ash went to the top coming out of turn 4 to edge ahead of Taft. Ash then held off a last lap challenge from Taft to score his second win of the season at the Lee County Speedway. Christy was 3rd, Chandler Fullenkamp was 4th, with Fraise holding on for 5th.
Coming up next Friday, July 22nd will be Community Health Centers of Southeastern Iowa weekly points night. In action will be the Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Late Models, Sonny’s Super Market IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars, Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMods, AVIS Car Rental Sport Compacts, and Mini Hauler Trucks.
Gates open at 5:30 PM, Hot Laps at 7 PM, and Racing to follow. Grandstand admission will be Adults $10, Seniors $9, Veterans & Students (11-17) $5, 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
Friday, July 15, 2022 – Midwest Performance & Power Night
SLMR Late Models
A Feature: 1. 56-Andy Eckrich, Oxford, IA; 2. 30-Todd Cooney, Des Moines, IA; 3. 44-Luke Goedert, Guttenburg, IA; 4. 45-Curt Martin, Independence, IA; 5. 15K-Justin Kay, Wheatland, IA; 6. 76H-Jason Hahne, Webster City, IA; 7. 40-Joel Callahan, Dubuque, IA; 8. 99L-Jeff Larson, Freeport, IL; 9. 33-Nick Marolf, Moscow, IA; 10. 10T-Jeff Tharp, Sherrill, IA; 11. 07-Matt Ryan, Davenport, IA; 12. 29-Spencer Diercks, Davenport, IA; 13. 14-Logan Duffy, Independence, IA; 14. 93-Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA; 15. 22-Charlie McKenna, Ames, IA; 16. 15C-Curt Schroeder, Newton, IA; 17. 99D-Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown, IA; 18. 77-Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, IA; 19. 58-Dave Eckrich, Oxford, IA; 20. 56W-Gary Webb, Blue Grass, IA; 21. 43-Derrick Stewart, Ainsworth, IA; 22. 15R-Tommy Elston, Keokuk, IA; 23. 99-Luke Pestka, Robins, IA; 24. 16-Bryan Moreland, Durango, IA
B-Feature: (Top 3 to A)1. 58-Dave Eckrich; 2. 15R-Tommy Elston; 3. 99-Luke Pestka; 4. 22B-Jonathan Brauns, Muscatine, IA; 5. 1T-Tucker Cox, Jefferson City, MO; 6. 74-Ron Boyse, Kalona, IA; 7. K1-Kyle Krampe, Baxter, IA; 8. 32-Curtis Glover, Knoxville, IA
B-Feature: 1. 77-Jeff Aikey; 2. 43-Derrick Stewart; 3. 99D-Darrel DeFrance; 4. 56W-Gary Webb; 5. 17S-Kirby Schultz, Albia, IA; 6. 17-Tim Simpson, Iowa City, IA; 7. 16-Bryan Moreland; 8. 01-CJ Horn, Cedar Rapids, IA
Heat 1: 1. 14-Logan Duffy; 2. 56-Andy Eckrich; 3. 56W-Gary Webb; 4. 77-Jeff Aikey; 5. 15K-Justin Kay; 6. 29-Spencer Diercks; 7. 17S-Kirby Schultz; 8. K1-Kyle Krampe
Heat 2: 1. 33-Nick Marolf; 2. 93-Jay Johnson; 3. 45-Curt Martin; 4. 07-Matt Ryan; 5. 99L-Jeff Larson; 6. 16-Bryan Moreland; 7. 32-Curtis Glover; 8. 01-CJ Horn
Heat 3: 1. 22-Charlie McKenna; 2. 40-Joel Callahan; 3. 10T-Jeff Tharp; 4. 76H-Jason Hahne; 5. 99-Luke Pestka; 6. 15R-Tommy Elston; 7. 74-Ron Boyse; 8. 17-Tim Simpson
Heat 4: 1. 15C-Curt Schroeder; 2. 44-Luke Goedert; 3. 1T-Tucker Cox; 4. 58-Dave Eckrich; 5. 30-Todd Cooney; 6. 43-Derrick Stewart; 7. 99D-Darrel DeFrance; 8. 22B-Jonathan Brauns
Qualifying A: 1. 56-Andy Eckrich, 00:15.707; 2. 99L-Jeff Larson, 00:15.826; 3. 29-Spencer Diercks, 00:15.912; 4. 45-Curt Martin, 00:16.012; 5. 15K-Justin Kay, 00:16.027; 6. 07-Matt Ryan, 00:16.181; 7. 77-Jeff Aikey, 00:16.224; 8. 93-Jay Johnson, 00:16.329; 9. 14-Logan Duffy, 00:16.330; 10. 16-Bryan Moreland, 00:16.515; 11. 56W-Gary Webb, 00:16.703; 12. 33-Nick Marolf, 00:17.014; 13. K1-Kyle Krampe, 00:17.108; 14. 32-Curtis Glover, 00:17.508; 15. 17S-Kirby Schultz, 00:17.508; 16. 01-CJ Horn, 00:17.508
Qualifying B: 1. 76H-Jason Hahne, 00:15.912; 2. 30-Todd Cooney, 00:15.921; 3. 10T-Jeff Tharp, 00:15.938; 4. 44-Luke Goedert, 00:15.984; 5. 15R-Tommy Elston, 00:16.055; 6. 43-Derrick Stewart, 00:16.117; 7. 40-Joel Callahan, 00:16.186; 8. 58-Dave Eckrich, 00:16.200; 9. 99-Luke Pestka, 00:16.251; 10. 15C-Curt Schroeder, 00:16.286; 11. 22-Charlie McKenna, 00:16.384; 12. 1T-Tucker Cox, 00:16.418; 13. 74-Ron Boyse, 00:16.439; 14. 99D-Darrel DeFrance, 00:16.577; 15. 17-Tim Simpson, 00:16.746; 16. 22B-Jonathan Brauns, 00:16.746
Sonny’s Super Market IMCA Modifieds
A-Feature: 1. 9Z-Chris Zogg, New Liberty, IA; 2. 93-Matt Werner, Geneseo, IL; 3. 11-Daniel Fellows, Keokuk, IA; 4. 110-Jerad Fuller, Memphis, MO; 5. 71-Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 6. 22-Austen Becerra, Carthage, IL; 7. 4B-Mitch Boles, New London, IA; 8. 03B-Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, IL; 9. 99-Charlie Mohr, Bettendorf, IA; 10. 26J-Jardin Fuller, Memphis, MO; 11. 5R-Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 12. 51-Michael Benjamin, Montrose, IA; 13. 33F-Jadin Fuller, Memphis, MO; 14. 19J-Levi Smith, Donnellson, IA; 15. 8R-Chase Rudolf, Norwalk, IA; 16. 29-Spencer Diercks, Davenport, IA; 17. 1-Eric Barnes, Colona, IL
Heat 1: 1. 93-Matt Werner; 2. 9Z-Chris Zogg; 3. 22-Austen Becerra; 4. 99-Charlie Mohr; 5. 1-Eric Barnes; 6. 19J-Levi Smith
Heat 2: 1. 110-Jerad Fuller; 2. 11-Daniel Fellows; 3. 71-Dennis LaVeine; 4. 03B-Mark Burgtorf; 5. 26J-Jardin Fuller; 6. 8R-Chase Rudolf
Heat 3: 1. 29-Spencer Diercks; 2. 33F-Jadin Fuller; 3. 4B-Mitch Boles; 4. 5R-Bill Roberts Jr.; 5. 51-Michael Benjamin
Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars
A-Feature: 1. 20V-Dustin Vis, Martelle, IA; 2. 05JR-John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 3. 77-Josh Foster, Fairfax, IA; 4. 12-Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 5. 3D-Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 6. 52-Chris Wibbell, Dallas City, IL; 7. 52J-Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 8. 71-David Brandies, Wilton, IA; 9. 06-Jerry Jansen, Plainville, IL; 10. 82-Peter Stodgel, Fowler, IL; 11. 79S-Jason See, Albia, IA
Heat 1: 1. 71-David Brandies; 2. 77-Josh Foster; 3. 12-Chad Krogmeier; 4. 52-Chris Wibbell; 5. 06-Jerry Jansen; 6. 82-Peter Stodgel
Heat 2: 1. 05JR-John Oliver Jr.; 2. 20V-Dustin Vis; 3. 3D-Jason Cook; 4. 52J-Jeremy Pundt; 5. 79S-Jason See
Roberts Tire Center IMCA Northern SportMods
A-Feature: 1. 01-Brayton Carter, Oskaloosa, IA; 2. 117-Dylan VanWyk, Oskaloosa, IA; 3. 10G-Jim Gillenwater, Keokuk, IA; 4. 112-Adam Birck, Canton, MO; 5. 12S-Sean Wyett, Danville, IA; 6. 557-John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 7. 8C-Logan Cumby, Quincy, IL; 8. 47S-Brandon Savage, Canton, MO; 9. 20-Nicholas Profeta, Keokuk, IA; 10. 68-Brandon Symmonds, Keokuk, IA; 11. 57-Brandt Ames, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 12. 24X-Cole Stichter, Denver, CO; 13. 3-Matt Thomas, Danville, IA; 14. 69-Kelly Buckallew, Memphis, MO; 15. 1X-Rex Widmer, Keokuk, IA; 16. 14-Bob Cowman, Quincy, IL; 17. 10-Trayton Buckallew, Memphis, MO; 18. 03-Rob Wilsey, Keokuk, IA; 19. 0-Dakota Girard, Moberly, MO; 20. 00-Matt Tucker, Lomax, IL (DNS); 21. 14L-Brandon Lambert, Carthage, IL (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. 10G-Jim Gillenwater; 2. 8C-Logan Cumby; 3. 68-Brandon Symmonds; 4. 20-Nicholas Profeta; 5. 24X-Cole Stichter; 6. 10-Trayton Buckallew; 7. 00-Matt Tucker
Heat 2: 1. 01-Brayton Carter; 2. 12S-Sean Wyett; 3. 117-Dylan VanWyk; 4. 47S-Brandon Savage; 5. 1X-Rex Widmer; 6. 03-Rob Wilsey; 7. 14L-Brandon Lambert
Heat 3: 1. 0-Dakota Girard; 2. 112-Adam Birck; 3. 557-John Oliver Jr.; 4. 57-Brandt Ames; 5. 3-Matt Thomas; 6. 69-Kelly Buckallew; 7. 14-Bob Cowman
AVIS Car Rental IMCA Sport Compacts
A-Feature: 1. 3J-Jason Ash, Burlington, IA; 2. 48-Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 3. 3A-Adam Christy, Ft. Madison, IA; 4. 48C-Chandler Fullenkamp, West Point, IA; 5. 9-Luke Fraise, Houghton, IA; 6. 27-Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 7. 63-Tim Schnathorst, Burlington, IA; 8. 71-Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 9. 24M-Larry Miller, Burlington, IA; 10. 8K-Noah Kayser, Burlington, IA; 11. 11-Patrick McKasson, Burlington, IA; 12. 11E-Ethan Prim, Elvaston, IL
Heat 1: 1. 3J-Jason Ash; 2. 71-Kimberly Abbott; 3. 3A-Adam Christy; 4. 27-Brandon Reu; 5. 63-Tim Schnathorst; 6. 11-Patrick McKasson
Heat 2: 1. 48C-Chandler Fullenkamp; 2. 9-Luke Fraise; 3. 48-Barry Taft; 4. 8K-Noah Kayser; 5. 24M-Larry Miller; 6. 11E-Ethan Prim
Category: Iowa
