By Brian Neal
DONNELLSON, Iowa (May 13, 2022) – The calendar might have said it was Friday the 13th, but that didn’t slow action at Lee County Speedway, where the six-class racing program was completed in just a little over three hours.
The 20-lap IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature had Darin Weisinger Jr. and Sam Halstead leading the field to green. Weisinger led lap one over Halstead and C.J. Horn.
Horn followed in Weisinger’s tire tracks around the bottom while Tommy Elston tried the top and middle to get around the lead duo. Weisinger was able to hold both off until lap 16, when Horn got underneath for the top spot. Horn then pulled away over the final laps to pick up the win. Weisinger held off Elston for second.
Luke Fraise and Patrick McKasson led the field to green in the 15-lap Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature, with Fraise grabbing the early lead over Chevy Barnes and Brandon Reu. Barnes and then Reu took turns at the front before a lap five caution.
On the restart Reu jumped back out front, with Josh Barnes and Chevy Barnes glued to Reu’s back bumper. The father and son team hounded Reu for the top spot over the final laps, but Reu was able to hold them off to claim the win. Josh Barnes held off son Chevy for second.
The 18-lap IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature was up next, with Chris Wibbell and Chad Krogmeier drawing the front row. Wibbell lap one before Abe Huls slipped past.
Huls and Jason See raced side-by-side for the lead over the next three laps, before See took command on lap five. See had to work to hold off the field after the second and final caution of the race came out on lap 10. On the restart, See moved back out front, with Huls, David Brandies and Jason Cook looking for a way around.
Brandies made a last-lap challenge but See was able to hold him off for the win. Cook got by Huls on the final lap to get third.
Mark Burgtorf and Bill Roberts Jr. made up the front row for the 18-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature, with Burgtorf taking the lead over Dennis LaVeine and Roberts. While Burgtorf set a fast pace out front, Austen Becerra worked his way into the runner-up spot on lap three.
Becerra worked the bottom and top of the track to try and track down Burgtorf, then Becerra got some help by a caution on lap 13 that brought Burgtorf back to the rest of the field.
Becerra and LaVeine tried to stay close but Burgtorf was too strong and went on to score the win. Becerra was second and LaVeine edged out Mitch Boles by two hundredths of a second for third.
The final feature to take to the track was the 18-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod main, with Adam Birck and Nicholas Profeta on the front row. Just as the green flag waved the caution light came on.
On the original restart Birck grabbed the top spot, with Profeta and Bob Cowman close behind. Action was slowed for the second and final time by a caution on lap four. Birck again grabbed the lead with Brayton Carter, who started seventh, looking to slip by for the top spot.
Carter used the middle of the track coming off turn two on lap six to grab the lead away, then pulled away to claim the win. Birck was second and Profeta third.
The evening’s program included a big candy dash at intermission, thanks to the night sponsor Darkside Tint & Graphix.
Coming up Friday, May 20 will be another IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing points night. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., with hot laps at 7 p.m. and racing to follow.
