Carter Vandenberg gets the win at Donnellson!

admin | April 25, 2015

by Brian Neal

Donnellson, IA (Friday, April 24, 2015) – The Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, IA played beat mother nature, for what seemed like the third time in four races so far in 2015, as rains covered most of the area. But everything would hold off long enough to get WCM MetalWorks and Donnellson Tire and Service Night put in the books. At the end of the night there would be four two new winners and one repeat winner standing in victory lane.

The first feature to take to the track on the night was the 15 lap Armstrong Small Engine Sales and Service IMCA Sport Compacts, with John Whalen and Barry Taft leading the field to the green flag. Taft would take advantage of his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Michael Grossman and Whalen. Josh Barnes, who started 12th, quickly worked his way to the front, as Taft, Grossman and Barnes raced three wide for the lead going into turn 3 on lap 6. Taft was able to hold onto the lead each lap, until lap 8, when Barnes slipped under him to grab the top spot away. While Barnes set a fast pace out front, Grossman and Taft would race side-by-side for second on lap 10. The action up front was slowed for the first time on the completion of lap 10, as Colton Keck lost a right front wheel in turn 4 to bring out the caution. On the restart Barnes moved back out front, with Travis DeMint, who started 11th, and William Michel, who started 6th, moved into second and third. Debris in turn 1 on the completion of lap 11, slowed the field down for the second time. Barnes once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with DeMint and Michel close behind. DeMint and Barnes came off turn 4 to the white flag side-by-side, with DeMint edging out front at the line to grab the lead. Barnes car slowed going into turn 1, which allowed DeMint to pull away for his first win of the season at the track and breaking Barnes’ two week winning streak. Kimberly Abbott started 9th and took second on the last lap, Chuck Fullenkamp started 10th and finished a close 3rd, Michel held on for 4th, with Grossman rounding out the top 5.

Up next was the 14 lap Coors Light IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Leah Wroten and Brandon Symmonds making up the front row for the event. But it was fourth place starter Dane Blozovich who jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Dustin Griffiths and Wroten. Then going into turn 1 on the completion of lap 1 disaster would strike, as Griffiths got into the back of Blozovich and spun him to bring out the caution. Blozovich had to much damage to continue, while Griffiths was sent to the pits for rough driving. On the restart Wroten would inherit the lead over Garrett Eilander, who started 5th, and Symmonds. Eilander would slip under Wroten on lap 3 to grab the lead, and then was slowed on the completion of that lap. As Calvin Dhondt spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. Eilander moved back out front on the restart, with Symmonds and Wroten close behind. While Eilander worked the bottom of the track, Symmonds would work the middle, as the two raced side-by-side for the lead on laps 9 thru 10. Coming out of turn 4 on lap 12 Symmonds was able to edge Eilander at the line to grab the lead. But Eilander wouldn’t give up, as the two raced side-by-side for the final two laps. Symmonds was able to edge out Eilander at the line by a half a car length to pick up his first career IMCA Hobby Stock win and his first since back in the outlaw days in 2012.

Austin Howes and Austen Becerra led the field to the green flag in the 20 lap Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA SportMod feature. But just as the green flag was waved the caution light would appear, as debris down the backstretch brought out the yellow. On the restart Becerra grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Nathan Bringer and Howes. After the completion of lap 1 Dan Keltner would spin in turn 4 and collected Colton Livezey to bring out the yellow. Becerra moved back out front on the restart, but now had Adam Birck, who started 7th, and Brandon Dale glued to his back bumper. Birck would slip under Becerra on lap 4 to take over the top spot and then was slowed after the completion of that lap. As Brandon Ruffcorn spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bobby Six spun in turn 2 and collected Bringer, Phillip Cossel, Ashton Johnson, Colton Bowman and Ruffcorn to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Birck jump back out front, with Becerra and Dale battling for second. Birck then started to pull away from the battle behind him, until a caution on lap 9 brought the field back to his back bumper. Dale, who was running 6th, spun in turn 3 and collected Tony Olson, who started 11th and was running 7th, to bring out the yellow. Birck once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Becerra working to hold back Dakota Simmons, who started 9th, for the runner up spot. Shawn Ritter, who started 10th and was running 6th, spun in turn 4 on lap 13 to bring out the final caution of the race. On the restart Birck moved back out front, with Becerra and Joey Gower, who started 13th, battling for second. Birck would pull away over the final 7 laps to claim his first win of the season at the track. Becerra held on for 2nd, Gower was 3rd, Simmons was 4th, with Olson recovering from his involvement in the lap 9 caution to come back up to finish 5th.

Up next was the 20 lap Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Jake Wenig and Jeremy Pundt on the front row. Just as the green flag was waved the caution light would come on, as Andrew Hustead spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Jason Cook, who started 3rd, grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Wenig and Pundt. While Cook worked the bottom of the track, Abe Huls, who started 6th, went to the top of track to take over the top spot on lap 4. The action up front was slowed on lap 6, when debris in turn 4 brought out the yellow. On the restart a tire was clipped in turn 4 and pushed onto the track to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Huls move back out front, with Cook working to hold off John Oliver Jr., who started 8th, for the second spot. Just as Huls started to pull away from the field, the final caution appeared on lap 10. Another tire in turn 2 was clipped and pushed out onto the track to bring out the yellow. Once again Huls jumped back out front on the restart, with Oliver Jr. over taking Cook for second. Oliver Jr. was able to challenge Huls for the top spot for a couple of laps, before Huls pulled away to pick up his second win in a row at the track. Oliver Jr. settled for 2nd, Cook was 3rd, Ray Raker was 4th, with Nathan Wood coming from 9th to finish in 5th.

The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, with AJ Johnson and Dustin Smith leading the field to the green flag. But just as the green flag was waved the caution light would come on, as Todd Cramer spun in turn 1 and Brandon Rothzen spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Smith spun in front of the field and collected Dugan Thye to bring the caution light back on. The following restart saw Carter VanDenBerg, who started 6th, edge out Johnson at the line to lead lap 1 by inches. After the completion of lap 1 Johnson would spin in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. VanDenBerg jumped back out front on the restart, with Bill Roberts Jr. and Tyler Groenendyk close behind. When VanDenBerg drifted high in turn 4 on lap 3, Roberts Jr. would slip under him to grab the lead away. The battle up front was slowed on lap 7, when Jeff Waterman, who was running 7th, spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Roberts Jr. moved back out front, with VanDenBerg working to hold off Kyle Brown, who started 12th, for the second spot. Roberts Jr., who was running the bottom, and VanDenBerg, who was running the top, raced laps 8 and 9 side-by-side, with VanDenBerg edging Roberts Jr. out at the line to lead lap 9. The final caution of the event appeared on lap 12, when Smith spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. VanDenBerg jumped back out front on the restart, with Roberts Jr. working to hold back Brown for second. While the battle went on for second, VanDenBerg would pull away to claim his first career IMCA Modified feature win. Roberts Jr. won the battle for 2nd, Brown was 3rd, Groenendyk was 4th, with Andrew Schroeder coming from 8th to round out the top 5.

Coming up next Friday, May 1st at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa will be Roberts Tire Center Night at the races. Points battles will continue in the Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Cars, Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA SportMods, Coors Light IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Armstrong Small Engine Sales and Service IMCA Sport Compacts.

Gates will open at 5:30 pm, with hot laps at 7:30 pm and racing at 7:30 pm. Grandstand admission will be adults $10, seniors (60+) $9, students (11-17) $5, and kids 10 & under FREE! Pit passes will be $25, ages (7-13) $15, and ages 6 & under $10.

For more information you can contact Mike VanGenderen at 641-521-0330 or visit the tracks website at www.leecountyspeedway.com.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Lee County Speedway, Donnellson, IA

Friday, April 24, 2015 – WCM MetalWorks / Donnellson Tire and Service Night

Budweiser IMCA Modifieds – A-Main
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	6	7V	Carter VanDenBerg	Oskaloosa , IA	40
2	3	5R	Bill Roberts Jr.	Burlington , IA	39
3	12	21K	Kyle Brown	Kellogg , IA	38
4	5	9	Tyler Groenendyk	Oskaloosa , IA	37
5	8	02	Andrew Schroeder	Keswick , IA	36
6	10	33D	Scott Hogan	Vinton , IA	35
7	1	8J	AJ Johnson	New Sharon, IA	34
8	9	33	Brandon Rothzen	Raritan , IL	33
9	14	87	Blake Woodruff	Galesburg , IL	32
10	4	110	Jerad Fuller	Memphis , MO	31
11	17	1	Dylan Hoover	Vandalia , MO	30
12	11	2	Dusty Kraklio	Durant , IA	29
13	15	43S	Scott Simatovich	State Center, IA	28
14	18	17R	Derek Reimer	St. Anthony, IA	27
15	7	71W	Jeff Waterman	Quincy , IL	26
16	19	6M	Larry McConnell	Danville , IA	25
17	2	3	Dustin Smith	Taylor Ridge , IL	24
18	16	11T	Dugan Thye	Burlington , IA	23
19	13	29	Todd Cramer	Knoxville , IL	22
20	20	35G	Eric Glass	Memphis , MO	21

Budweiser IMCA Modifieds – Heat 3
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	2	5R	Bill Roberts Jr.	Burlington , IA	0
2	4	33	Brandon Rothzen	Raritan , IL	0
3	3	71W	Jeff Waterman	Quincy , IL	0
4	1	3	Dustin Smith	Taylor Ridge , IL	0
5	6	43S	Scott Simatovich	State Center, IA	0
6	5	17R	Derek Reimer	St. Anthony, IA	0

Budweiser IMCA Modifieds – Heat 2
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	3	9	Tyler Groenendyk	Oskaloosa , IA	0
2	5	2	Dusty Kraklio	Durant , IA	0
3	4	02	Andrew Schroeder	Keswick , IA	0
4	6	21K	Kyle Brown	Kellogg , IA	0
5	2	87	Blake Woodruff	Galesburg , IL	0
6	7	1	Dylan Hoover	Vandalia , MO	0
7	1	6M	Larry McConnell	Danville , IA	0

Budweiser IMCA Modifieds – Heat 1
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	5	33D	Scott Hogan	Vinton , IA	0
2	1	8J	AJ Johnson	New Sharon, IA	0
3	3	110	Jerad Fuller	Memphis , MO	0
4	4	7V	Carter VanDenBerg	Oskaloosa , IA	0
5	7	29	Todd Cramer	Knoxville , IL	0
6	2	11T	Dugan Thye	Burlington , IA	0
7	6	35G	Eric Glass	Memphis , MO	0	DNS

Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Cars – A-Main
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	6	30C	Abe Huls	Carthage , IL	40
2	8	05	John Oliver Jr.	Danville , IA	39
3	3	27J	Jason Cook	Mt. Pleasant, IA	38
4	4	07	Ray Raker	Danville , IA	37
5	9	52	Nathan Wood	Sigourney , IA	36
6	12	2N	Don Nunnikoven	Kellogg , IA	35
7	15	20	Andrew Hustead	Rutledge , MO	34
8	16	81X	Randy Killen	Des Moines, IA	33
9	13	44T	Devon Timmerman	Wapello , IA	32
10	7	C4	Corey Strothman	Mt. Union, IA	31
11	2	52J	Jeremy Pundt	Donnellson , IA	30
12	11	79S	Jason See	Albia , IA	29
13	14	10R	Ryan Fullenkamp	Bloomfield , IA	28
14	17	46B	Michael Bilyeu	Indianola , IA	27
15	10	3	Dane Fenton	Burlington , IA	26
16	1	4	Jake Wenig	Burlington , IA	25
17	18	15A	Anthony Cassat	Bloomfield , IA	24
18	5	14R	Jim Redmann	Lockridge , IA	23	DNS

Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Cars – Heat 2
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	2	4	Jake Wenig	Burlington , IA	0
2	6	52	Nathan Wood	Sigourney , IA	0
3	5	30C	Abe Huls	Carthage , IL	0
4	4	07	Ray Raker	Danville , IA	0
5	3	52J	Jeremy Pundt	Donnellson , IA	0
6	8	2N	Don Nunnikoven	Kellogg , IA	0
7	1	10R	Ryan Fullenkamp	Bloomfield , IA	0
8	9	81X	Randy Killen	Des Moines, IA	0
9	7	46B	Michael Bilyeu	Indianola , IA	0

Donnellson Tire and Service IMCA Stock Cars – Heat 1
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	5	C4	Corey Strothman	Mt. Union, IA	0
2	4	27J	Jason Cook	Mt. Pleasant, IA	0
3	6	05	John Oliver Jr.	Danville , IA	0
4	9	14R	Jim Redmann	Lockridge , IA	0
5	8	3	Dane Fenton	Burlington , IA	0
6	1	79S	Jason See	Albia , IA	0
7	3	44T	Devon Timmerman	Wapello , IA	0
8	2	20	Andrew Hustead	Rutledge , MO	0
9	7	15A	Anthony Cassat	Bloomfield , IA	0	DNS

Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA Sport Mods – A-Main
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	7	12B	Adam Birck	Canton , MO	40
2	2	22	Austen Becerra	Carthage , IL	39
3	13	31G	Joey Gower	Quincy , IL	38
4	9	40	Dakota Simmons	Libertyville , IA	37
5	11	T23	Tony Olson	Cedar Rapids, IA	36
6	17	29	Colton Livezey	New Sharon, IA	35
7	1	17A	Austin Howes	Memphis , MO	34
8	8	6	Bobby Six	Warsaw , IL	33
9	6	12	Brandon Dale	Memphis , MO	32
10	4	14B	Kyle Hill	New London, IA	31
11	16	29K	Dan Keltner	Wapello , IA	30
12	20	93	Robert Gould	Hillsboro , IA	29
13	12	5JR	Jami Ritter	Keystone , IA	28
14	10	7SR	Shawn Ritter	Keystone , IA	27
15	19	16J	Ashton Johnson	Bloomfield , IA	26
16	15	23	Colton Bowman	Burlington , IA	25
17	3	79	Nathan Bringer	Lewistown , MO	24
18	14	11R	Brandon Ruffcorn	Donnellson , IA	23
19	5	15	Phillip Cossel	Montrose , IA	22
20	18	96L	Jon Lear	Barry , IL	21

Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA Sport Mods – Heat 3
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	2	14B	Kyle Hill	New London, IA	0
2	1	22	Austen Becerra	Carthage , IL	0
3	4	12B	Adam Birck	Canton , MO	0
4	6	5JR	Jami Ritter	Keystone , IA	0
5	3	23	Colton Bowman	Burlington , IA	0
6	5	96L	Jon Lear	Barry , IL	0

Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA Sport Mods – Heat 2
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	4	12	Brandon Dale	Memphis , MO	0
2	6	T23	Tony Olson	Cedar Rapids, IA	0
3	5	6	Bobby Six	Warsaw , IL	0
4	3	15	Phillip Cossel	Montrose , IA	0
5	1	11R	Brandon Ruffcorn	Donnellson , IA	0
6	7	29	Colton Livezey	New Sharon, IA	0
7	2	16J	Ashton Johnson	Bloomfield , IA	0

Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA Sport Mods – Heat 1
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	1	17A	Austin Howes	Memphis , MO	0
2	3	79	Nathan Bringer	Lewistown , MO	0
3	6	40	Dakota Simmons	Libertyville , IA	0
4	7	7SR	Shawn Ritter	Keystone , IA	0
5	5	31G	Joey Gower	Quincy , IL	0
6	4	29K	Dan Keltner	Wapello , IA	0
7	2	93	Robert Gould	Hillsboro , IA	0	DNS

Coors Light IMCA Hobby Stocks – A-Main
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	2	8	Brandon Symmonds	Keokuk , IA	37
2	5	500	Garrett Eilander	Newton , IA	36
3	6	69	Calvin Dhondt	Kellogg , IA	35
4	1	14C	Leah Wroten	Indpendence , IA	34
5	7	43	Kevin Koontz	Memphis , MO	33
6	4	5B	Dane Blozovich	Exline , IA	32
7	3	10G	Dustin Griffiths	Ottumwa , IA	31

Coors Light IMCA Hobby Stocks – Heat
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	2	14C	Leah Wroten	Indpendence , IA	0
2	4	10G	Dustin Griffiths	Ottumwa , IA	0
3	3	8	Brandon Symmonds	Keokuk , IA	0
4	7	5B	Dane Blozovich	Exline , IA	0
5	5	500	Garrett Eilander	Newton , IA	0
6	6	69	Calvin Dhondt	Kellogg , IA	0
7	1	43	Kevin Koontz	Memphis , MO	0

Armstrong Small Engine Sales and Service IMCA Sport Compacts – A-Main
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	11	4T	Travis DeMint	Basco , IL	40
2	9	71	Kimberly Abbott	Camp Point, IL	39
3	10	48	Chuck Fullenkamp	West Pont, IA	38
4	6	69	William Michel	Muscatine , IA	37
5	3	2	Michael Grossman	Keokuk , IA	36
6	5	8	Mike Reu	Donnellson , IA	35
7	2	57	Barry Taft	Argyle , IA	34
8	8	27	Brandon Reu	Donnellson , IA	33
9	7	33	Trent Orwig	Blakesburg , IA	32
10	4	89R	Ron Kibbe	Danville , IA	31
11	14	14L	Brandon Lambert	Carthage , IL	30
12	12	13B	Josh Barnes	Keokuk , IA	29
13	13	68	Cody Washburne	Mt. Pleasant, IA	28
14	19	118	John Girdley	Wayland , IA	27
15	22	55S	Alyssa Steele	Keokuk , IA	26
16	18	29	Kevin Garrett	Bloomfield , IA	25
17	21	77K	Kyle Hamelton	Keokuk , IA	24
18	23	66J	Antonio Jacobs	Danville , IA	23
19	1	77	John Whalen	Ainsworth , IA	22
20	24	4W	Will Calhoun	Mt. Pleasant, IA	21
21	15	00H	Brent Hartley	Niota , IL	20
22	16	32	Jeffrey DeLonjay	Quincy , IL	19
23	17	93K	Colton Keck	Mt Pleasant, IA	18
24	20	16	Bryan Shipley	Burlington , IA	17

Armstrong Small Engine Sales and Service IMCA Sport Compacts – Heat 3
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	3	2	Michael Grossman	Keokuk , IA	0
2	6	13B	Josh Barnes	Keokuk , IA	0
3	4	69	William Michel	Muscatine , IA	0
4	5	27	Brandon Reu	Donnellson , IA	0
5	8	00H	Brent Hartley	Niota , IL	0
6	2	29	Kevin Garrett	Bloomfield , IA	0
7	1	77K	Kyle Hamelton	Keokuk , IA	0
8	7	4W	Will Calhoun	Mt. Pleasant, IA	0

Armstrong Small Engine Sales and Service IMCA Sport Compacts – Heat 2
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	5	71	Kimberly Abbott	Camp Point, IL	0
2	3	57	Barry Taft	Argyle , IA	0
3	4	8	Mike Reu	Donnellson , IA	0
4	6	4T	Travis DeMint	Basco , IL	0
5	2	14L	Brandon Lambert	Carthage , IL	0
6	1	93K	Colton Keck	Mt. Pleasant, IA	0
7	8	16	Bryan Shipley	Burlington , IA	0
8	7	66J	Antonio Jacobs	Danville , IA	0

Armstrong Small Engine Sales and Service IMCA Sport Compacts – Heat 1
Finish	Start	Car	Driver	Hometown	Points
1	6	48	Chuck Fullenkamp	West Pont, IA	0
2	2	77	John Whalen	Ainsworth , IA	0
3	5	33	Trent Orwig	Blakesburg , IA	0
4	4	89R	Ron Kibbe	Danville , IA	0
5	8	68	Cody Washburne	Mt. Pleasant, IA	0
6	1	32	Jeffrey DeLonjay	Quincy , IL	0
7	3	118	John Girdley	Wayland , IA	0
8	7	55S	Alyssa Steele	Keokuk , IA	0