Gillenwater scores first win of season

Late Model, Modified, Northern SportMod, Results, Sport Compact, Stock Car

Jim Gillenwater won for the first time this season at Lee County Speedway on Friday night, topping the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod main event. (Photo by MF Photography)

By Brian Neal

DONNELLSON, Iowa (June 16, 2023) – Lee County Speedway took a night to highlight the career of area racer Ernie Derr on Friday as the car he drove in his final races was on display and also make some laps around the track during the evening’s activities.

Jim Gillenwater led all 18 laps in scoring his first win of the season at Donnellson in the caution-free Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod main. John Oliver Jr. was runner-up and Adam Birck took third.

The 25-lap Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature saw Jason Oenning work the top of the track and take the lead on lap 11, then hold off a last lap charge from Jeremy Pundt to score his second career feature win. Mark Burgtorf was third.

Brandon Reu cleared Chevy Barnes for the lead on lap nine and then held him off for his third Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact win in a row at the track. Barry Taft won the battle for third over Kimberly Abbott.

Beau Taylor and then Oliver ran at the front of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car field before 

Cole Mather used the middle of the track to edge Oliver at the line for the lead on lap 11. After a restart on the next lap, the top four cars would put on a heck of a race for the final laps, with Mather holding on for his second win of the season at Lee County.

Oliver was second, Derrick Agee was third and Pundt was fourth.

Austen Becerra took the lead on lap six and cruised to his sixth Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win in a row and seventh of the season at the track. Daniel Fellows was second and Dennis LaVeine third.

Coming up Friday, June 23 will be the fifth of seven qualifying rounds of the Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Sunoco Late Model Drive For 5 presented by Floyd’s Waste Systems, JJ Nichting Company Case IH Company, Ideal Ready Mix, Triple 777 Trucking, Woodworth Attorney at Law, Triple R Performance Engines, B&B Propane, Budweiser, Conrad Trucking, Donnellson Tire & Service, KQ92, and Big Country 103.1.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Hot laps are at 7 p.m. with racing to follow.

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