“Drive For 5” Qualifier One Goes to Eckrich
Lee County Speedway Photo
by Brian Neal
Donnellson, IA (Friday, April 28, 2023) – Mother nature finally gave the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa a beautiful night for racing on Friday April 28th. The night would be qualifying round one of the Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Late Model “Drive For 5”, presented by Floyd’s Waste Systems, JJ Nichting Company Case IH Company, Ideal Ready Mix, Triple 777 Trucking, Woodworth Attorney at Law, Triple R Performance Engines, B&B Propane, Budweiser, Conrad Trucking, Donnellson Tire & Service, KQ92, and Big Country 103.1.
The first feature to take to the track was the 15 lap Sonny’s Super Market Sport Compacts, with Kimberly Abbott and Chevy Barnes drawing the front row. Chevy Barnes took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Luke Fraise and Abbott. One lap later, father Josh Barnes grabbed the runner up spot and then went to work on Chevy Barnes for the top spot. Josh Barnes slipped under Chevy Barnes in turn 2 to grab the lead away, but coming off turn 4 to complete lap 4 Josh slowed and pulled into the infield. This would give the lead back to Chevy Barnes, who had Jason Ash working on him for the lead. On lap 6 Ash overtook Chevy Barnes, and then held on in a caution free race to claim his first win of the season. Chevy Barnes was 2nd, Brandon Reu was 3rd, Fraise was 4th, with Chandler Fullenkamp completing the top 5.
Up next was the 18 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with John Oliver Jr. and Jeremy Pundt leading the field to green. Oliver Jr. used his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Pundt and Derrick Agee. Just after the lap was scored complete Neal Kohlmorgan spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Oliver Jr. moved back out front, with Agee and Pundt close behind. Agee would slip past Oliver Jr. for the top spot on lap 4. Oliver Jr. would follow in Agee’s tire tracks over the next 10 laps, when the second yellow of the race appeared on lap 14. Kevin Koontz spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Agee jumped back out front on the restart, with Oliver Jr. and Jason Cook looking for a way past. Despite a few challenges over the final laps, Agee held on to pick up his first win of the season at the track. Oliver Jr. was 2nd, Cook was 3rd, Josh Foster was 4th, with Pundt finishing in 5th.
Dennis LaVeine and Denny Eckrich led the field to green in the 18 lap J&J AG Auto and Truck IMCA Modified feature, with Eckrich grabbing the lead on lap 1 over LaVeine and Mark Burgtorf. While Burgtorf, LaVeine and sixth place starter Austen Becerra raced for the runner up spot, this allowed Eckrich to start to pull away. But when Jadin Fuller spun in turn 2 to bring out the caution, this brought the field back to Eckrich’s back bumper. On the restart Burgtorf worked under Eckrich to grab the lead, only to have Eckrich use the momentum off the top of turn 2 to take the top spot back on lap 14. Becerra slipped past Burgtorf for second on lap 16 and then challenged Eckrich for the top spot. But Eckrich would hold him off to score his first win of the season at the Lee County Speedway. LaVeine got by Burgtorf on the final lap to finish 3rd, with Norwich, North Dakota driver Zach Dockter coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 25 lap Iowa Corner Growers Association “Drive For 5” qualifying feature for the IMCA Late Models, with Andy Eckrich and Sam Halstead drawing the front row. Eckrich took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Halstead and CJ Horn. While Halstead, Denny Woodworth and Horn battled for the runner up spot, Eckrich started to pull away. But when Dekota Job spun in turn 2 on lap 12 to bring out the caution, this would bring the field back to Eckrich’s back bumper. On the restart Job spun in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on, ending his night. The following restart saw Woodworth get up beside Eckrich for the top spot, as the two raced side-by-side. The side-by-side action for the lead allowed Horn to join the battle. Horn tried the bottom of the track on the final lap to get the win away from Eckrich, but Eckrich was able to hold on for the win worth $1,000. Ron Klein came from 8th to finish in 3rd, Woodworth was 4th, with Dalton Simonsen rounding out the top 5.
The final feature to take to the track was the 18 lap Roberts Tire Center IMCA Northern SportMods, with Logan Cumby and Brayton Carter leading the field to green. Carter used his draw to his advantage by grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Cumby and Jim Gillenwater. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 5, as Matt Tucker spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Carter jumped back out front, with Cumby and John Oliver Jr. close behind. While Cumby, John Oliver Jr. and Brandon Dale battled for the runner up spot, Carter would start to pull away. Without a caution to bunch the field back up, Carter pulled away for his first win of the season at the track. Oliver Jr. won the battle for 2nd, Cumby was 3rd, Dale was 4th, with Tucker recovering from his spin on lap 5 to come back up to finish 5th.
Coming up next Friday, May 5th will be another weekly points night, presented by Keokuk Auto Credit and Xpert Automotive & Sales. In action will be the Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Late Models, J&J AG Auto and Truck IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars, Roberts Tire Center IMCA Northern SportMods, Sonny’s Super Market Sport Compacts, and Vintage.
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, April 28, 2023 – Iowa Corn Growers Association “Drive For 5” Qualifier
Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Late Models
A-Feature: 1. 56-Andy Eckrich, Oxford, IA; 2. 01-CJ Horn, Cedar Rapids, IA; 3. 12-Ron Klein, Sherrill, IA; 4. 45DW-Dennis Woodworth, Mendon, IL; 5. 60-Dalton Simonsen, Fairfax, IA; 6. 54-Tommy Elston, Keokuk, IA; 7. 11-Darin Weisinger Jr., Mendon, IL; 8. 07-Ray Raker, Danville, IA; 9. 52J-Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 10. 84-Sam Halstead, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 11. 45-Jason Oenning, Ursa, IL; 12. 7B-Blaire Barton, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 13. 15R-Jeff Guengerich, Washington, IA; 14. 4-Dekota Job, Burlington, IA; 15. 39-Ed Hollenbeck, Burlington, IA; 16. 93-Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. 11-Darin Weisinger Jr.; 2. 45DW-Dennis Woodworth; 3. 84-Sam Halstead; 4. 54-Tommy Elston; 5. 60-Dalton Simonsen; 6. 45-Jason Oenning; 7. 4-Dekota Job; 8. 93-Jay Johnson (DNS)
Heat 2: 1. 56-Andy Eckrich; 2. 01-CJ Horn; 3. 15R-Jeff Guengerich; 4. 12-Ron Klein; 5. 52J-Jeremy Pundt; 6. 39-Ed Hollenbeck; 7. 7B-Blaire Barton; 8. 07-Ray Raker (DNS)
J&J AG Auto and Truck IMCA Modifieds
A-Feature: 1. 50-Denny Eckrich, Tiffin, IA; 2. 22-Austen Becerra, Carthage, IL; 3. 71-Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 4. 03B-Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, IL; 5. 6Z-Zach Dockter, Norwich, N.D.; 6. 5R-Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 7. 126J-Jardin Fuller, Memphis, MO; 8. 26J-Jadin Fuller, Memphis, MO; 9. 2R-Fisher Reese, Memphis, MO; 10. 19J-Levi Smith, Donnellson, IA; 11. 15RS-Reid Sammons, Kahoka, MO; 12. 26D-Matt Diaz, Quincy, IL (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. 22-Austen Becerra; 2. 03B-Mark Burgtorf; 3. 6Z-Zach Dockter; 4. 126J-Jardin Fuller; 5. 5R-Bill Roberts Jr.; 6. 26D-Matt Diaz
Heat 2: 1. 50-Denny Eckrich; 2. 71-Dennis LaVeine; 3. 26J-Jadin Fuller; 4. 19J-Levi Smith; 5. 2R-Fisher Reese; 6. 15RS-Reid Sammons
DonnellsonTire & Service IMCA Stock Cars
A-Feature: 1. 14-Derrick Agee, Huntsville, MO; 2. 05-John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, IA; 3. 3D-Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 4. 77-Josh Foster, Fairfax, IA; 5. 52J-Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson, IA; 6. 12-Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 7. 2T-Beau Taylor, Canton, MO; 8. 35-Eric Glass, Memphis, MO; 9. 43-Kevin Koontz, Memphis, MO; 10. 82-Peter Stodgel, Fowler, IL; 11. 21-Jason Rindom, Moberly, MO; 12. 07-Neal Kohlmorgan, Keokuk, IA; 13. 06-Jerry Jansen, Plainville, IL (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. 05-John Oliver Jr.; 2. 3D-Jason Cook; 3. 06-Jerry Jansen; 4. 12-Chad Krogmeier; 5. 07-Neal Kohlmorgan; 6. 35-Eric Glass; 7. 82-Peter Stodgel
Heat 2: 1. 14-Derrick Agee; 2. 52J-Jeremy Pundt; 3. 77-Josh Foster; 4. 2T-Beau Taylor; 5. 43-Kevin Koontz; 6. 21-Jason Rindom
Roberts Tire Center IMCA Northern SportMods
A-Feature: 1. 01-Brayton Carter, Oskaloosa, IA; 2. 55-John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, IA; 3. 8C-Logan Cumby, Quincy, IL; 4. 12D-Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 5. 00-Matt Tucker, Lomax, IL; 6. 10G-Jim Gillenwater, Keokuk, IA; 7. 20-Nicholas Profeta, Keokuk, IA; 8. 10C-Cole Gillenwater, Keokuk, IA; 9. 14L-Brandon Lambert, Carthage, IL; 10. 7R-Tom Ruble, Ft. Madison, IA; 11. 10-Kelly Buckallew, Memphis, MO; 12. 57-Brandt Ames, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 13. 25-Cody Agee, Hutsville, MO (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. 55-John Oliver Jr.; 2. 01-Brayton Carter; 3. 12D-Brandon Dale; 4. 20-Nicholas Profeta; 5. 7R-Tom Ruble; 6. 10C-Cole Gillenwater; 7. 25-Cody Agee
Heat 2: 1. 10G-Jim Gillenwater; 2. 8C-Logan Cumby; 3. 14L-Brandon Lambert; 4. 10-Kelly Buckallew; 5. 57-Brandt Ames; 6. 00-Matt Tucker
Sonny’s Super Market Sport Compacts
A-Feature: 1. J3-Jason Ash, Burlington, IA; 2. 13C-Chevy Barnes, Keokuk, IA; 3. 27-Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 4. 9-Luke Fraise, Houghton, IA; 5. 48C-Chandler Fullenkamp, West Point, IA; 6. 94X-Justin Stevenson, Burlington, IA; 7. 71-Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 8. 24K-Noah Kayser, Burlington, IA; 9. 11E-Ethan Prim, Elvaston, IL; 10. 26-Ryan Moore, Kahoka, MO; 11. 17-Wesley Talley, Monmouth, IL; 12. 18L-Blaine Lambert, Carthage, IL; 13. 57-Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 14. K1-Cody Bowman, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 15. 7H-Mike Hornung Jr., Keokuk, IA; 16. 13B-Josh Barnes, Keokuk, IA
Heat 1: 1. 13B-Josh Barnes; 2. 27-Brandon Reu; 3. 13C-Chevy Barnes; 4. 48C-Chandler Fullenkamp; 5. K1-Cody Bowman; 6. 57-Barry Taft; 7. 11E-Ethan Prim; 8. 24K-Noah Kayser (DNS)
Heat 2: 1. J3-Jason Ash; 2. 9-Luke Fraise; 3. 71-Kimberly Abbott; 4. 26-Ryan Moore; 5. 94X-Justin Stevenson; 6. 7H-Mike Hornung Jr.; 7. 17-Wesley Talley; 8. 18L-Blaine Lambert
Category: Iowa
