Long tow to Lee County pays off for Mullen

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (June 9, 2023) – Round four of the Iowa Corn Growers Association’s Drive For 5 at Lee County Speedway saw Sam Halstead race to his first IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature win of the season. Halstead and Mark Burgtorf drew the front row for the 25-lapper. Halstead led Nick Marolf and Burgtorf early, working the bottom of the track while Marolf went to the top to try and grab the top spot away. Marolf slipped by for the lead on lap 11 but coming off turn four to complete lap 14, Halstead drove back under Marolf to get the top spot back. Despite lapped traffic over the final laps, Halstead held on for his first win of the season at Donnellson, which happened to be worth $1,000. Jay Johnson came from seventh to finish third, Dennis Woodworth was fourth with Burgtorf completing the top five. Joining Halstead with first Lee County Speedway wins of the season were David Brandies, just ahead of John Oliver Jr. at the finish of the IMCA Sunoco Stock [Read More]

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (May 10) – Dakota Simmons raced to the first IMCA Modified victory of his career Friday at Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Levi Smith and Simmons led the field to green in the Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with Sim­mons grabbing the early lead. Simmons started to pull away from the rest of the field before the first and only caution appeared on lap eight. On the restart, Simmons jumped back out front with Bill Roberts Jr. and John Oliver Jr. close be­hind. Oliver got past Roberts on lap 10 but by then Simmons had built up a straightaway lead. Coming to the white flag, Oliver had cut Simmons’ lead down to about three car lengths but that was as close as he could get, as Simmons went on to claim his first career Modified win. Tommy Elston won the 20 lap I-Smile Silver IMCA Late Model main event despite the best efforts of challenger Brian Harris.  Fifth-starting David Brandies topped the Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature and Daniel [Read More]

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (July 17) – The third installment of the Shottenkirk Parts Express Drive For 5 resulted in a third different $1,000 IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature winner Friday at Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Andy Eckrich saw his drive to the checkers slowed by just a single caution, topping the 25-lapper ahead of Denny Woodworth and Dustin Griffin. Eckrich and Woodworth drew front row starts, with Eckrich taking the early lead over Woodworth and Griffin.  The team cars of Woodworth and Griffin tried to keep pace with Eckrich over the first half of the race but the leader steadily began to pull away from both. The only thing to slow Eckrich down was the only caution of the race, on lap 15. Eckrich jumped back out front following the restart, with Woodworth and Griffin glued to his back bumper. He went on to lead the final 10 laps to score his first win of the season at Donnellson.  Second night Drive For 5 winner Nick Marolf was fourth while Mark Burgtorf, winner of the first Drive [Read More]