Aikey Claims Deery Brothers Summer Series Return to the Pepsi Lee County Speedway
by Brian Neal
Donnellon, IA (Friday, August 2, 2019) – For the first time since 2010 the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models returned to the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa on Friday, August 2nd. With Folyd’s EZ Way Waste Systems, Shottenkirk Parts Express, and Wilson Brothers BBQ & Catering helping to bring the action. When the checkers flew, Jeff Aikey found himself in victory lane for the 70th time in series history.
The 18 lap Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMod feature took to the track first. And when Derek Goble was a scratch and Jim Powell elected to go to the rear, this moved Jim Walker and Steven Berry to the front row. Walker would take advantage of the move to the front row by grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Berry and Sean Wyett, who started 7th. Just after lap 1 was scored complete the first yellow appeared, as debris down the front stretch brought out the yellow. On the restart Ron Kibbe slowed to a stop in turn 3 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Wyett shoot under Walker to take over the top spot, with Daniel Fellows, who started 8th, following him into the runner up spot. Fellows tried to keep up with Wyett’s pace over the next 3 laps, when the third caution of the event slowed the action. This time Brian Bergheger slowed in turn 2 with a right front flat to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wyett moved back out front, with Brandon Dale and Fellows battling for the second spot. Wyett worked to hold off Dale and Fellows over the next 5 laps, when a caution came out to slow the battle up front. Joe Roller spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Wyett once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Fellows and Dale continuing their battle for second. The final caution of the race appeared on lap 12, when contact sent Dale spinning in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Once again Wyett jumped out front on the restart, with Tanner Klingele, who started 9th, and Dale following. Wyett then led the final laps to score his first win of the season at the track. Klingele was 2nd, Dale was 3rd, Walker was 4th, with Berry rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 18 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Kyle Boyd and Brandon Savage leading the field to green. But it was third place starter Jeremy Pundt who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Savage and Boyd. Pundt then held the top spot until lap 4, when Savage used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to grab the lead. Savage then stretched his lead out over the next 12 laps, when disaster struck him on lap 16. Debris in turn 2 would bring out a yellow, and at the same time Savage’s right rear tire went down forcing him to the pits. The would hand Pundt the lead back on the restart, with Tyler Moore, who started 7th, and Jake Powers close behind. Moore tried to work under Pundt over the final laps to get the win, but Pundt was able to hold him off to pick up his third win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Moore settled for a close 2nd, Chad Krogmeier, who started 8th, made a final lap pass of Powers to finish 3rd, with Boyd holding on for 5th.
Andy Eckrich and John Emerson drew the front row for the 40 lap Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models feature, with Eckrich taking advantage of his draw to lead lap 1 over Joe Zrostlik and Emerson. The fast pace Eckrich was setting would put him into lapped traffic on lap 10. Despite the lapped traffic, Eckrich was still able to stretch his advantage over the battle for second. The action was slowed on lap 13, when eleventh running Eric Pollard slowed in turn 1 with mechanical troubles to bring out the yellow. On the restart Mike Smith, Brian Harris and Dalton Simonsen collided under the flag stand to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Eckrich move back out front, with Jeff Aikey and Zrostlik close behind. Again the fast pace Eckrich was setting would put him into lapped traffic on lap 24. This time the lapped traffic would allow Aikey to close in on Eckrich’s back bumper on lap 30. Then on lap 32 Aikey would try to work under Eckrich coming off the corners, but Eckrich was able to hold the lead at the line over the next 4 laps. On lap 37 Eckrich drifted high coming off turn 4, which allowed Aikey to slip past him for the top spot. Aikey then held on over the final 3 laps to score his 70th series victory. Eckrich was 2nd, Emerson was 3rd, Tommy Elston started 11th and finished 4th, with Zrostlik coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compact feature, with TJ Weyls and Ricky Miller Jr. making up the front row. But it was seventh place starter Trent Orwig who quickly shot to the front to lead lap 1 over David Prim and Josh Barnes, who started 6th. Orwig then held the top spot until lap 5, when Barnes slipped past him for the lead. While Barnes set the pace out front, Orwig, Barry Taft and Brandon Reu battled for the runner up spot. The battle for second would come to an end on lap 13, as Taft slowed in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes jumped back out front, and then held on to claim his fifth win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Orwig was 2nd, Kimberly Abbott was 3rd, Jason Ash was 4th, with Cody Bowman coming from 14th to round out the top 5.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, with Kolin Hibdon and Eric Barnes drawing the front row. Hibdon would take advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Barnes and Jeff Waterman. While Hibdon paced the field out front, Tyler Madigan used the top of the track to climb into second on lap 3. Madigan then tried to cut into Hibdon’s straight-away lead, but he wasn’t able to make much progress. Just when it looked like the feature would go green-to-checkered, Bill Roberts Jr. slowed to a stop in turn 3 on lap 17 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hibdon moved back out front, with Dennis LaVeine and Madigan glued to his back bumper. Coming off turn 4 to the checkered flag Madigan used the momentum off turn 4 to get up beside Hibdon. But Hibdon would edge him out at the line to score his first win ever at the track. Madigan settled for a close 2nd, LaVeine was 3rd, Waterman was 4th, with John Oliver Jr. rounding out the top 5.
The Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa will be off next Friday, August 9th. But will return to action on Friday, August 16th, as Roberts Tire Center and Big Country 103.1 presents the Sprint Invaders. It will be the third and final time in 2019 at the Sprint Invaders will make a stop at the track. Also racing will be the Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, Roberts Tire Center SportMods, Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compacts, and Vintage Cars.
Gates open at 5:30 PM, Hot Laps at 7 PM, and Racing to follow. Grandstand admission will be Adults $15, Seniors (60+) $13, Students (11-17) $8, and 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 Pepsi 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
Pepsi Lee County Speedway, Donnellson, Iowa
Friday, August 2, 2019 – Floyd’s EZ Way Waste System, Shottenkirk Parts Express, and Wilson Brothers BBQ & Catering Night
Deery Brothers Summer Series IMCA Late Models
A-Feature: 1. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, IA; 2. Andy Eckrich, Oxford, IA; 3. John Emerson, Waterloo, IA; 4. Tommy Elston, Keokuk, IA; 5. Joe Zrostlik, Long Grove, IA; 6. Justin Kay, Wheatland, IA; 7. Nick Marolf, Moscow, IA; 8. Chad Holladay, Muscatine, IA; 9. Sam Halstead, New London, IA; 10. Joel Callahan, Dubuque, IA; 11. Brian Harris, Davenport, IA; 12. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown, IA; 13. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo, IA; 14. Matt Ryan, Davenport, IA; 15. Curt Martin, Independence, IA; 16. Gary Webb, Blue Grass, IA; 17. Logan Duffy, Independence, IA; 18. Dalton Simonsen, Fairfax, IA; 19. Ron Boyse, Kalona, IA; 20. Eric Pollard, Peosta, IA; 21. Mike Smith, Kellogg, IA; 22. Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA; 23. Kyle Hinrichs, Swisher, IA; 24. Matt Strassheim, Morning Sun, IA
B-Feature: (Top 10 to A) 1. Curt Martin; 2. Darrel DeFrance; 3. Justin Kay; 4. Joel Callahan; 5. Jay Johnson; 6. Matt Ryan; 7. Matt Strassheim; 8. Mike Smith; 9. Kyle Hinrichs; 10. Gary Webb; 11. Brian Harris; 12. Dalton Simonsen; 13. Ray Raker, Danville, IA; 14. Brandon Queen, Keokuk, IA; 15. Stacy Griffis, Solon, IA; 16. Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque, IA (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. John Emerson; 2. Jeff Aikey; 3. Sam Halstead; 4. Curt Martin; 5. Justin Kay; 6. Kyle Hinrichs; 7. Jeremiah Hurst
Heat 2: 1. Nick Marolf; 2. Tommy Elston; 3. Andy Nezworski; 4. Jay Johnson; 5. Gary Webb; 6. Ray Raker; 7. Brandon Queen
Heat 3: 1. Chad Holladay; 2. Logan Duffy; 3. Joe Zrostlik; 4. Darrel DeFrance; 5. Matt Ryan; 6. Brian Harris; 7. Dalton Simonsen
Heat 4: 1. Andy Eckrich; 2. Ron Boyse; 3. Eric Pollard; 4. Joel Callahan; 5. Matt Strassheim; 6. Mike Smith; 7. Stacy Griffis
Budweiser IMCA Modifieds
A-Feature: 1. Kolin Hibdon, Pahrump, NV; 2. Tyler Madigan, Dubuque, IA; 3. Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 4. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, IL; 5. John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 6. Eric Barnes; Colona, IL; 7. Zack Rawlins, Kellogg, IA; 8. Richard Nelson, Cascade, IA; 9. Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 10. Dustin Smith, Taylor Ridge, IL
Heat: 1. Dennis LaVeine; 2. Eric Barnes; 3. Bill Roberts Jr.; 4. Kolin Hibdon; 5. Jeff Waterman; 6. Tyler Madigan; 7. John Oliver Jr.; 8. Zack Rawlins; 9. Richard Nelson; 10. Dustin Smith
Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars
A-Feature: 1. Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 2. Tyler Moore, Lockridge, IA; 3. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 4. Jake Powers, Plainville, IL; 5. Kyle Boyd, Ottumwa, IA; 6. Jerry Jansen, Plainville, IL; 7. Brandon Savage, Canton, MO; 8. Joe Beal, Milan, IL
Heat: 1. Brandon Savage; 2. Jeremy Pundt; 3. Jake Powers; 4. Joe Beal; 5. Kyle Boyd; 6. Jerry Jansen; 7. Tyler Moore; 8. Chad Krogmeier
Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMods
A-Feature: 1. Sean Wyett, Danville, IA; 2. Tanner Klingele, Quincy, IL; 3. Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 4. Jim Walker, Mystic, IA; 5. Steven Berry, Ottumwa, IA; 6. Joe Roller, Morning Sun, IA; 7. Daniel Fellows, Keokuk, IA; 8. Brian Bergheger, Keokuk, IA; 9. Jim Powell, Hannibal, MO; 10. Ron Kibbe, Danville, IA; 11. Kyle Hamelton, Keokuk, IA; 12. Derek Goble, Burlington, IA
Heat 1: 1. Sean Wyett; 2. Ron Kibbe; 3. Jim Walker; 4. Derek Goble; 5. Joe Roller; 6. Brian Bergheger
Heat 2: 1. Daniel Fellows; 2. Brandon Dale; 3. Steven Berry; 4. Tanner Klingele; 5. Jim Powell; 6. Kyle Hamelton
Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compacts
A-Feature: 1. Josh Barnes, Keokuk, IA; 2. Trent Orwig, Ottumwa, IA; 3. Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 4. Jason Ash, Burlington, IA; 5. Cody Bowman, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 6. Steven Schmitz, Vinton, IA; 7. Wesley Talley, Monmouth, IL; 8. Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 9. Dylan Schantz, Luray, MO; 10. David Prim, Elvaston, IL; 11. Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 12. TJ Weyls, Burlington, IA; 13. Ricky Miller Jr., Gorin, MO; 14. Ashton Blain, Burlington, IA
Heat 1: 1. Josh Barnes; 2. Barry Taft; 3. Brandon Reu; 4. Dylan Schantz; 5. TJ Weyls; 6. Wesley Talley; 7. Ashton Blain
Heat 2: 1. Trent Orwig; 2. Jason Ash; 3. David Prim; 4. Kimberly Abbott; 5. Ricky Miller Jr.; 6. Steven Schmitz; 7. Cody Bowman
Category: Iowa
