leecountyspeedway Archives

Lee County Speedway Under New Leadership; To Crown Five IMCA Champions in ’26

By Ben Deatherage DONNELLSON, Iowa (Jan. 20, 2026) — Lee County Speedway will return to Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing on Friday nights in 2026 under new promoter Darin Weisinger, featuring five sanctioned divisions that will crown track champions. The weekly lineup will include IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Late Models, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. A 15-race schedule is currently planned at the historic 3/8-mile oval beginning April 24, with the first point-paying event set for May 1 and the final night for points on August 21. Drivers will earn track, Iowa State, and national points in all divisions. In addition, Razor Chassis North Central Region points will be awarded to IMCA Modifieds, while EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region points will be on the line for Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. Weisinger enters his first season promoting Lee County Speedway after spending several years in Illinois as a track manager. “This is a new venture for me at Lee County, and I’m excited,” said Weisinger. “I’ve been around [Read More]

Sunoco bonus awarded at Lee County’s IMCA Drive for 5 finale

DONNELLSON, Iowa (Aug. 23, 2023) – The last Sunoco Race Fuels bonus of the season will be awarded at Lee County Speedway’s Photo Daddy 50 “Drive for 5” finale on Friday night. IMCA Late Models race for $2,000 to win their 50-lapper at Donnellson, with another $250 from division title sponsor Sunoco at stake. Drivers who have raced at a minimum of five of the seven Iowa Corn Growers Association-sponsored “Drive for 5” events this season vie for $5,000 to win. Runner-up money is $1,500 with a minimum of $200 paid to start and $100 tow. The top 18 in combined points from two sets of heats lock into the 24-car field. There will be a 10-minute break at lap 25 and drivers will be allowed to make any changes to their cars; those changing tires, however, will have to restart at the rear. The Aug. 25 U.S. Cellular Season Championship night program also features Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. [Read More]

Rain interrupts Lee County’s Friday show

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (Friday, August 4, 2023) – Lee County Speedway beat Mother Nature early, then had to try to beat her again once the program got started on Friday night during the final qualifying round for the Iowa Corn Growers Association IMCA Sunoco Late Model Drive For 5. Before Mother Nature cut the program short, two and more than half of another feature were completed, with all three drivers familiar to victory lane. First to take to the track was the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature, with Kevin Koontz and Peter Stodgel scheduled to be on the front row. But when Stodgel had to be pushed from staging, Chad Krogmeier moved to the outside of the front row for the start. Krogmeier took advantage of this to jump out into the lead over Jeremy Pundt and John Oliver Jr., who started eighth. On lap five, Oliver got past Pundt for the runner-up spot and then went to work on the leader. Krogmeier was able to hold off those challenges until lap 16, when Oliver [Read More]

IMCA Late Model drivers chase Sunoco bonuses at Lee County, 34 Raceway

DONNELLSON, Iowa (Aug. 1, 2023) – IMCA Late Model drivers will have two opportunities to win bonuses from Sunoco Race Fuels this weekend. The division title sponsor gives $250 to feature winners Friday, Aug. 4 at Lee County Speedway and Saturday, Aug. 5 at 34 Raceway in West Burlington. Friday sees Late Models racing for $1,000 to win their Drive For 5 qualifier at Donnellson, where pit passes are $30 for adults, $20 for kids ages 7-13, $10 for kids ages 4-6 and $5 for three and under. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with hot laps at 7 p.m. and racing to follow. Saturday’s 34 For Kids Night show starts with a driver meet n’ greet and ends with fireworks, with bags of school supplies to be given away and bicycles and other prizes awarded to young fans in between. The gates open at 4 p.m. with racing to follow 6:15 p.m. hot laps. Also running each night are Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. [Read More]

Oliver, Barnes win again at Lee County

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (July 14, 2023) – John Oliver Jr. and Josh Barnes were both working on IMCA win streaks when the final checkers flew Friday at Lee County Speedway. Oliver, who started outside row five, worked himself into the hunt for the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car top spot by lap four and stayed close the next 10 times around the track, slipping under Derrick Agee for the runner-up spot and then going to work on Chad Krogmeier for the lead. Coming to the white flag, Oliver got under Krogmeier for the top spot and then held him off to claim his second win in a row and fourth of the season at Donnellson. Agee was third. Up next was the 15 lap Donnellson Tire & Service Sport Compact feature, with Blaine Lambert and Josh Barnes on the front row. Josh In contrast, Barnes grabbed the lead on lap one of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact main and set a quick pace in a feature destined to run caution-free. Barry Taft was finally able [Read More]

Woodworth tops Drive for 5, Profeta wins career first feature at Lee County

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (June 23, 2023) – Dennis Woodworth won the headline race and Nicholas Profeta won for the first time Friday at Lee County Speedway. The 25-lap Iowa Corn Growers Association Drive For 5 IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature took the green flag with Woodworth and Nick Marolf on the front row. Woodworth edged Marolf to lead lap one over Tommy Elston. While Woodworth worked the bottom of the track, Marolf work the top and used the momentum off the top of turn four to edge ahead on Woodworth on lap four. Marolf pulled away from Woodworth before encountering lapped traffic on lap 12. This allowed Woodworth to close back in. Woodworth used lapped traffic to slip back by Marolf for the top spot on lap 16, only to have Marolf get the lead back on the next lap. When Marolf tried the top to get by another lapped car on lap 22, it allowed Woodworth to shoot by for the top spot. Woodworth then held off Marolf over the final laps to claim his first [Read More]

Gillenwater scores first win of season

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 [Read More]

Halstead drives to first IMCA Late Model win of 2023 at Lee County

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]

Oenning drives to first IMCA Late Model win at Donnellson

By Brian Neal DONNELLSON, Iowa (June 2, 2023) – A busy night of IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing took place at the Lee County Speedway on Friday with Darkside Tint & Graphix helping to bring all the action. When the final checkered flag waved at 10:10 p.m., one driver had claimed his first career win, two drivers earned their first of the season at Donnellson and two more were repeat winners. The 25-lap IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature saw Ed Hollenbeck and Blaire Barton lead the field to green. Hollenback led on lap one over Ray Raker and Sam Halstead. As Hollenbeck worked the bottom, Raker went to the top to try and get by. On lap eight, Raker used the momentum off the top of turn four to grab the top spot away from Hollenbeck. Action was slowed on lap 15 when CJ Horn spun to bring out the yellow. On the restart, Raker jumped back out front, with Jason Oenning and Jeremy Pundt close behind. Just after the lap was scored complete, Frank Mason [Read More]

Oliver races into IMCA Stock Car 100 win club

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (May 26, 2023) – John Oliver Jr. listened to the list of names of drivers in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car 100 career win fraternity and was impressed. And honored, to become the 30th member of that exclusive club. “That’s a pretty good group. It feels pretty good to get 100 wins for how many good Stock Cars are out there,” Oliver said, following his own history-making checkered flag run Friday night at Lee County Speedway. “And I’m glad to get it because now it’s one thing off my mind and I can go out and race my race.” From West Burlington, Iowa, Oliver ran an outlaw hobby stock before friend Jason Cook asked if he’d be interested in driving a Stock Car. That was in 2006 and the answer was a resounding yes. Oliver totaled a dozen feature wins and won the first of what is now 14 career track championships that season. “Stock Car racing is probably the most fun I’ve ever had racing,” he said. “It’s so close. Everybody is [Read More]