By Brian Neal
DONNELLSON, Iowa (July 24) – Dustin Griffin took the checkers and $250 Sunoco Race Fuels bonus in the Friday feature for IMCA Sunoco Late Models at Pepsi Lee County Speedway.
Griffin and Matt Strassheim made up the front row for the 20-lap event. Griffin took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap one over Nick Marolf and Mark Burgtorf.
Marolf tried to keep pace with Griffin over the entire race but without a caution there was no catching the leader, as he pulled away to claim his first win of the season at the track.
It was also Griffin’s first win in three years, as he has been temporarily retired from the sport. The win was worth $850 thanks to the Sunoco Racing Fuel bonus.
Marolf settled for second, Burgtorf was third, Tommy Elston was fourth, with Denny Woodworth rounding out the top five.
Other winners were Michael Long in the IMCA Modifieds, John Oliver Jr. in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Austen Becerra in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods and Jason Ashn in the Mach-1 Sport Compacts.
Pepsi Lee County Speedway will be off Friday and back in action Saturday, Aug. 1 with the fourth qualifying night for the Shottenkirk Parts Express Drive For 5, 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, for the IMCA Sunoco Late Models. Also on the card will be sanctioned Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods and Sport Compacts.
All divisions will be draw/redraw, with IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and KMJ Performance State points but no track points awarded.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing to follow.