Elston, Zogg top IMCA Drive For 5 features at Lee County

Tommy Elston topped the Friday night Drive For 5 IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature at Lee County Speedway. He is pictured with crew and promoter Brian Gaylord. (Photo by MF Photography)

By Brian Neal

DONNELLSON, Iowa (June 10, 2022) – Lee County Speedway got the best of Mother Nature and Tommy Elston and Chris Zogg got the best of their round two Drive For 5 foes Friday at Lee County Speedway. 

Elston pocketed $1,000 for his Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Sunoco Late Model victory, while Friesen Performance IMCA Modified winner Zogg took home a grand and became eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational.

Denny Woodworth and C.J. Horn drew the front row for the Late Model headliner. Just when Woodworth started to put some distance on the battles going on behind him, the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap five. 

On the restart, Woodworth jumped back out front, with Horn and the seventh starting Elston close behind. Coming off turn four to complete lap 21, Elston got under Woodworth to grab the lead, just as Matt Ryan and Nick Marolf got past Horn.

Elston held on over the final laps to score his second win in a row at Donnellson. Marolf held off Ryan for second and Woodworth was fourth with Jeff Guengerich coming home fifth.

Garett Wilson and Zogg started on the front row for the 22-lap Drive For 5 Modified feature with Zogg grabbing the lead on the drop of the green flag. Action was slowed just once for debris on lap three and on the restart, Zogg rocketed ahead with Mark Burgtorf and Wilson battling for the runner-up spot. 

There was no catching Zogg on this night, as he cruised to an easy win. Wilson won the battle for second and Ethan Braaksma finished third.

Logan Anderson set a fast pace out front in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod Drive For 3 event with Brayton Carter, who started 10th, trying to keep pace.

Anderson was too strong on this night, as he pulled away for the win, worth $1,000. Adam Birck came home third after starting 11th

David Brandies was also a $1,000 feature winner, earning B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility with his run to the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car checkers. Josh Barnes topped the $500 to win Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact main event. 

A persistent light rain ended at noon Friday, giving track officials enough time to get the speedway race-ready for that evening.

Coming up Friday, June 17 will be another Drive For 5 event paying IMCA Sunoco Late Model and Friesen Performance IMCA Modified winners $1,000 each while the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod winner earns $600.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m. and racing to follow.