February 7, 2025

Huls scores 100th IMCA Stock Car win at Lee County

SC-Abe-Huls-VL — Abe Huls won for the 100th time in his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career Friday at Lee County Speedway. (Photo by D&M Racing Photography)

By Brian Neal

DONNELLSON, Iowa (Aug. 17) – Abe Huls was the winner for the 100^th time in his career Friday, prevailing at Pepsi Lee County Speedway.

Kevin Koontz and Cody McClure made up the front row but fourth starting John Oliver Jr. grabbed the lead and set the early pace out front while the rest of the field battled two- and sometimes three-wide behind him.

Huls, who started fifth and fell back to sixth on the opening circuit, worked himself into the runner up spot on lap five and then went to work on Oliver for the top spot.

Huls tried to work under Oliver as the two raced side-by-side around the 3/8-mile oval. Oliver was able to hold him off until lap 12, when Huls edged out front.

Oliver stayed glued to Huls’ back bumper over the final laps but was unable to get by Huls for the win. Huls held on for his career 100^th victory and sixth local win of the season ahead of Oliver, Jeremy Pundt and Beau Taylor.

Bill Roberts Jr. held off Dennis LaVeine and Jeff Waterman in winning the Budweiser IMCA Modified main event. Daniel Fellows was first to the checkers in the Discount Tire & Service IMCA Northern SportMod feature.

Jake Dietrich topped the Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts for his first win in the 4-cylinder class.

Coming up next Friday, August 24th at Pepsi Lee County Speedway will be “Throwback” Season Championship Night, presented by Shottenkirk. Racing starts at 7:30 p.m.

leecountyspeedway

Kay defends Lee County Drive For 5 finale title

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (Sept. 11) – The Iowa Corn Growers Association Drive For 5 finale for IMCA Sunoco Late Models took place Sept. 11 at Lee County Speedway. This is the second year for this mini-series to be held, with defending race winner Justin Kay claiming the checkered flag in the 50-lap feature. Kay and Darin Duffy earned front row starts. Kay took advantage of his starting spot and jumped out into the early lead over Duffy and Matt Ryan. While Kay paced the field out front, Duffy, Ryan and Tommy Elston, who started fifth, battled for the runner-up spot. Action was slowed on lap nine for back-to-back cautions. The second restart saw Kay back out front with Elston overtaking Duffy for second. Two more quick cautions followed, with Kay staying in the lead and Duffy getting second back from Elston. As the field battled for positions behind him, Kay started to pull away from the field before the halfway pit stop on lap 25. Drivers were given 10 minutes to change anything on their cars, except [Read More]

Long stays hot at Pepsi Lee County Speedway

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (June 5) – Michael Long was back in Pepsi Lee County Speedway’s victory lane after holding off Mark Burgtorf in the Friday night feature for IMCA Modifieds. Long and Jardin Fuller led the field to the green flag, Long jumping into the lead over Fuller and Mark Burgtorf. Burgtorf and Denny Eckrich both got by Fuller and went to work on chasing down Long. However, Long pulled away before the first caution appeared on lap 13. On the restart, Long stayed out front with Burgtorf and Eckrich taking chase. The action was slowed for the second and final time for a yellow on lap 17. Long then held off Burgtorf for the win. Austin Howes was third. Austen Becerra went three-wide for the lead, then outran Jim Gillenwater for the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod victory. Coming up Friday, June 12 will be the first of five Drive For 5 qualifying nights for the IMCA Sunoco Late Models. Sponsored locally by Shottenkirk Parts Express, the IMCA Late Models will be racing for a top [Read More]

Strassheim, Boles earn first Lee County wins of season

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (Aug. 7) – Matt Strassheim and Mitch Boles both raced to their first feature wins of the season Friday at Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Strassheim and Ron Boyse made up the front row for the IMCA Sunoco Late Model main. Strassheim took advantage of his starting spot by jumping out into the lead over Mark Burgtorf and Boyse. Burgtorf overtook Boyse for the runner-up spot and went to work on Strassheim. Burgtorf followed in Strassheim’s tire tracks but wasn’t able to mount a challenge for the lead. Tommy Elston was third, Denny Woodworth was fourth with Boyse rounding out the top five. Boles and Levi Smith led the IMCA Modified field to green with Boles taking the initial lead. On lap four, Daniel Fellows moved into the runner-up spot, and one lap later Michael Long, who started ninth, took over third. [Read More]

Feature

Babbit Redeems Himself With Ocala Mod Lite Victory

By Ben Deatherage OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 5, 2025) — Corey Babbit got his shot at redemption in race three of the 2025 Florida Winter Nationals at Ocala Speedway, claiming victory in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite main event. After being overtaken late in lapped traffic the night before, the New Caney, Texas polesitter dominated the 25-lap finale to secure his first win of the season. The event drew an impressive 42 entries from across the United States, as well as the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Despite a red flag incident on the initial start, Babbit rocketed away once the race got underway. 2023 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner Ronnie Choate tried to keep pace, but the Tennessee driver soon found himself losing ground as Babbit stretched his lead. Navigating through lapped traffic, the former Texas Mod Lite Nationals winner efficiently maneuvered past slower cars without incident. However, a caution on lap 11 bunched the field back up, setting up a dramatic restart. When racing resumed, Iowa’s Josh May [Read More]

Mod Lite

Clem Makes Late Move to Win Ocala Speedway Mod Lite Thriller

By Ben Deatherage Ocala, Florida (February 4, 2025) — Bakersfield, California transplant Riley Clem brought the crowd to its feet with a thrilling late-race pass to win the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite $1,000-to-win feature at Ocala Speedway. The event, part of the second leg of the 2025 Florida Winter Nationals, drew an impressive field of 48 cars from across the United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Texas racer Corey Babbit jumped out to the early lead from the pole position, setting a quick pace before a lap-one caution halted his momentum. On the restart, Clem wasted no time charging into second, and the two frontrunners began to distance themselves from the rest of the field. A second caution on lap six reset the action, but Babbit and Clem again pulled away on the restart. Clem made his first serious challenge on the eighth circuit, but Babbit held his ground and kept the California driver in check. As the race stayed green, lapped traffic came into play in the final three [Read More]

Feature

Hibdon Scores Saturday Night Victory To Earn Early Thaw Title

By Ben Deatherage(Photo Courtesy of AOM Creative) Casa Grande, Arizona (February 1, 2025) — Kollin Hibdon made a thrilling late-race pass to capture his first IMCA Modified victory of the 2025 season at Central Arizona Raceway. The Pahrump, Nevada racer not only took the checkered flag in the final round of the Ernie Mincy Memorial Early Thaw series but also secured the coveted series championship. The feature began with Troy Morris III, winner of the previous two nights, pacing the field early as he powered around the 3/8-mile clay oval on the high side. However, Morris made hard contact with the wall on lap four and suffered another heavy hit ten laps later, ultimately flattening his right front tire and surrendering the lead to Ian Whisler. Whisler, from the Northern Oregon Coast, did his best to fend off Hibdon, but the Nevada driver executed a flawless slider in turn two on lap fifteen to take control. From there, the eighth-place starter pulled away from the competition, finally breaking through to victory lane and taming the Western [Read More]

Related Articles