Burgtorf Tops “Drive For 5” Qualifier Night 1 at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway
Mark Burgtorf
by Brian Neal
Donnellson, IA (Friday, June 12, 2020) – The Shottenkirk Parts Express “Drive For 5”, which is also being presented by Ideal Ready Mix, Floyd’s Waste Systems, J.J. Nichting Company Case IH, Woodworth Attorney at Law, Triple Seven Trucking, Triple R Performance Engines, KQ92, and Big Country 103.1 kicked off Friday, June 12th at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. For the IMCA Late Model driver’s who run at least four out of the five qualifying nights, they will have a chance to race for $5,000 to win during the finale on Saturday, September 12th. Claiming the opening night qualifying win was Mark Burgtorf, who was behind the wheel of the Lynn Richards owned #15R.
Kicking off the nights feature action was the 15 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compact feature, with Josh Barnes and Jason Ash leading the field to green. Barnes would edge out Ash at the line to grab the lead on lap 1, with Adam Christy quickly moving from 9th to 3rd. The action was slowed for the first and only time of the race on lap 2, when Brandon Crawley and Kyle Francy spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes jumped back out front, with Ash and Christy close behind. One lap later, lap 4, Barnes started to slow on the speedway, which allowed Ash to slip by for the top spot. The following lap, lap 5, Barnes pulled into the infield, which handed the runner up spot over to 11th place starter Brandon Reu. Over the last several laps Reu would look under and even tried the high side of the track to get the lead away from Ash. But Ash was able to hold him off each lap. On the white flag lap Reu had a run on Ash, but lapped traffic in turn 2 slowed his momentum. This would allow Ash to pull away for his first points win of the season and second overall at the track. Reu settled for 2nd, Christy was 3rd, Craig Bangert finished 4th after starting in 12th, with Chuck Fullenkamp coming from 10th to round out the top 5.
Up next was the 20 lap Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMod feature, with Nicholas Profeta and Derek Goble making up the front row. Just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as mechanical problems caused Profeta’s car to push up the track off turn 4 and collect Trenton Brink, Ron Kibbe, and Jace Morrow to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Brian Bergheger stopped in turn 4 with a broken right front to bring the caution light back on. A third attempt of a start saw Jim Powell grab the lead on lap 1 over Austen Becerra, who started 7th, and Brandon Dale, who started 9th. Powell would hold the top spot until lap 3, when Becerra used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to take over the lead. The action was slowed for the third time of the race on lap 6, when Joe Roller spun down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. Becerra moved back out front on the restart, with Adam Birck, Dale, Bobby Six, who started 10th, Barry Taft, and Carter VanDenBerg, who started 11th, battling for position behind him. While Becerra worked the top of the track, Birck would work the bottom to try and wrestle the lead away from Becerra. Just as the top 5 started to pull away from the rest of the field, the final caution appeared on lap 16, as Powell spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart and coming to the white flag Birck would try to slid up in front of Becerra coming off turn 4 for the top spot. But Becerra was able to hold him off on that lap and the final lap to claim his second win in a row at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Dale was 3rd, VanDenBerg was 4th, with Taft coming home in 5th.
Mark Burgtorf and Matt Strassheim drew the front row for the 22 lap Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA Late Model “Driver For 5” qualifying feature. Burgtorf would take advantage of his draw to lead lap 1 over Strassheim and Tommy Elston. While Burgtorf set a fast pace out front, Strassheim, Elston, Darin Duffy, Denny Woodworth, and Dustin Griffin, who was behind Woodworth’s back up car, all battling for position behind him. Just when it looked like the feature would go green to checkered, the first caution appeared on lap 11. Patrick Shumaker, Griffin, Nick Marolf, and Jay Johnson collided in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Burgtorf moved back out front, with Elston, Duffy, and Woodworth close behind. The final caution of the race came out on lap 16, when fifth place runner Luke Pestka slowed to a stop in turn 4. Once again Burgtorf jumped back out front on the restart, with Duffy over taking Elston for the runner up spot. Duffy then tried to keep pace with Burgtorf. But Burgtorf was to strong on this night, as he picked up his first win of the season worth $1,000. Duffy was 2nd, Woodworth got by Elston on the final lap to get 3rd, with Griffin recovering from his involvement in the yellow on lap 11 to come back up to finish 5th.
Up next was the 18 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Abe Huls and Chad Krogmeier leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Krogmeier would edge out Huls at the line to lead lap 1. Then just after the lap was scored complete Jerry Jansen would spin in turn 4 to bring out the only caution of the race. On the restart Krogmeier jumped back out front, with John Oliver Jr., and Huls giving chase. While Krogmeier worked the top of the track, Oliver Jr. went to the bottom to try and get the top spot. The two would run side-by-side around the 3/8th.s mile over the next several laps, as Huls lurked back in third. Oliver Jr.’s run up front came to an end on lap 15, as he pulled off with troubles. This would hand the runner up spot over to Huls, who went to work on Krogmeier. Despite a last lap challenge from Huls, Krogmeier would hold on to claim his first win of the season at the track. Huls settled for 2nd, Jason Cook was 3rd, Jeremy Pundt was 4th, with Beau Taylor finishing in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Sonny’s Super Market IMCA Modifieds, with Jerad Fuller and Daniel Fellows making up the front row. Fellows used his front row starting spot to his advantage, by leading lap 1 over Jerad Fuller and Jardin Fuller. Then just after the lap was scored complete the caution light would come on, as Dennis LaVeine and Mark Burgtorf got together in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fellows jumped back out front, with Jeff Waterman, who started 6th, and Micheal Long, who started 9th, following close behind. One lap later, lap 3, Long was able to slip past Waterman for the runner up spot, and then set his sights on Fellows for the lead. At the halfway mark of the race Long would slip past Fellows to take over the top spot. And despite lapped traffic late in the race, Long would pull away to claim his fourth win in five starts at the track. Fellows was 2nd, Waterman was 3rd, Bill Roberts Jr. was 4th, with LaVeine recovering from the first lap caution to come back up to finish 5th.
Coming up next Friday, June 19th will be a weekly points night, with the Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA Late Models, Sonny’s Super Market IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars, Roberts Tire Center SportMods, and Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compacts all in action. A regular points invert will be used for all classes.
Gates open at 5:30 PM, Hot Laps at 7 PM, and Racing to follow. Grandstand admission will be Adults $10, Seniors (60+) $9, Students (11-17) and Veterans $5, 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, June 12, 2020 – Roberts Tire Center / Shottenkirk Parts Express “Drive For 5” Night 1
Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA Late Models
A-Feature: 1. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, IL; 2. Darin Duffy, Urbana, IA; 3. Denny Woodworth, Mendon, IL; 4. Tommy Elston, Keokuk, IA; 5. Dustin Griffin, Quincy, IL; 6. Dalton Simonsen, Fairfax, IA; 7. Ron Boyse, Kalona, IA; 8. Darin Weisinger Jr., Mendon, IL; 9. Stacey Griffis, Solon, IA; 10. Luke Pestka, Robins, IA; 11. Matt Strassheim, Yarmouth, IA; 12. Nick Marolf, Moscow, IA; 13. Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA; 14. Patrick Shumaker, Sellersburg, IN
Heat 1: 1. Darin Duffy; 2. Matt Strassheim; 3. Darin Weisinger Jr.; 4. Tommy Elston; 5. Nick Marolf; 6. Jay Johnson; 7. Dalton Simonsen
Heat 2: 1. Dustin Griffin; 2. Mark Burgtorf; 3. Luke Pestka; 4. Denny Woodworth; 5. Stacey Griffis; 6. Ron Boyse; 7. Patrick Shumaker
Sonny’s Super Market IMCA Modifieds
A-Feature: 1. Michael Long, Fowler, IL; 2. Daniel Fellows, Keokuk, IA; 3. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, IL; 4. Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 5. Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 6. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, IL; 7. Dalton Simonsen, Fairfax, IA; 8. Todd Bates, Canton, IL; 9. Chad Giberson, Richland, IA; 10. Jerad Fuller, Memphis, MO; 11. Levi Smith, Donnellson, IA; 12. Jardin Fuller, Memphis, MO; 13. Mitch Boles, New London, IA
Heat 1: 1. Dennis LaVeine; 2. Jeff Waterman; 3. Todd Bates; 4. Jerad Fuller; 5. Bill Roberts Jr.; 6. Levi Smith (DNS)
Heat 2: 1. Daniel Fellows; 2. Michael Long; 3. Jardin Fuller; 4. Mark Burgtorf; 5. Mitch Boles; 6. Chad Giberson; 7. Dalton Simonsen
Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars
A-Feature: 1. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 2. Abe Huls, Carthage, IL; 3. Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 4. Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 5. Beau Taylor, Canton, MO; 6. Tyler Moore, Lockridge, IA; 7. Jerry Jansen, Plainville, IL; 8. John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA
Heat: 1. Abe Huls; 2. Jeremy Pundt; 3. John Oliver Jr.; 4. Jason Cook; 5. Chad Krogmeier; 6. Jerry Jansen; 7. Tyler Moore; 8. Beau Taylor
Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMods
A-Feature: 1. Austen Becerra, Bowen, IL; 2. Adam Birck, Canton, MO; 3. Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 4. Carter VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa, IA; 5. Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 6. Bob Cowman, Quincy, IL; 7. Jim Powell, Hannibal, MO; 8. Tom Ruble, Ft. Madison, IA; 9. Kyle Hamelton, Keokuk, IA; 10. Bobby Six, Warsaw, IA; 11. Derek Goble, Burlington, IA; 12. Joe Roller, Morning Sun, IA; 13. Jadin Fuller, Memphis, MO; 14. Kaleb Nevers, Burlington, IA; 15. Brian Bergheger, Keokuk, IA; 16. Nicholas Profeta, Keokuk, IA; 17. Trenton Brink, Bussey, IA; 18. Ron Kibbe, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 19. Jace Morrow, Memphis, MO; 20. Steven Berry, Ottumwa, IA (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. Jim Powell; 2. Trenton Brink; 3. Bobby Six; 4. Jadin Fuller; 5. Kaleb Nevers; 6. Kyle Hamelton; 7. Brian Bergheger
Heat 2: 1. Barry Taft; 2. Adam Birck; 3. Carter VanDenBerg; 4. Derek Goble; 5. Jace Morrow; 6. Tom Ruble; 7. Joe Roller
Heat 3: 1. Austen Becerra; 2. Brandon Dale; 3. Ron Kibbe; 4. Nicholas Profeta; 5. Bob Cowman; 6. Steven Berry
Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compacts
A-Feature: 1. Jason Ash, Burlington, IA; 2. Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 3. Adam Christy, West Point, IA; 4. Craig Bangert, Golden, IL; 5. Chuck Fullenkamp, West Point, IA; 6. Jared Heule, Keokuk, IA; 7. Timmy Schnathorst, Burlington, IA; 8. Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 9. Aaron Berry, Salem, IA; 10. David Prim, Hamelton, IL; 11. Ashton Blain, Burlington, IA; 12. Kyle Francy, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 13. Robert Sturms, Burlington, IA; 14. Braeden Barlow, Keokuk, IA; 15. Mark Williams, Packwood, IA; 16. Josh Barnes, Keokuk, IA; 17. Kevin Garrett, Bloomfield, IA; 18. Brandon Crawley, Burlington, IA; 19. Dylan Schantz, Luray, MO; 20. Cody Bowman, Mt. Pleasant, IA (DNS); 21. Brandon Hayes, Ft. Madison, IA (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. Josh Barnes; 2. Chuck Fullenkamp; 3. Aaron Berry; 4. Kimberly Abbott; 5. Ashton Blain; 6. Cody Bowman; 7. Kevin Garrett
Heat 2: 1. Brandon Reu; 2. Jared Heule; 3. Timmy Schnathorst; 4. Robert Sturms; 5. Dylan Schantz; 6. Braeden Barlow; 7. Brandon Hayes (DNS)
Heat 3: 1. Jason Ash; 2. Adam Christy; 3. Craig Bangert; 4. David Prim; 5. Kyle Francy;
- Mark Williams; 7. Brandon Crawley
Category: Iowa
