Of the 80-plus features I've witnessed so far this season, the IMCA Stock Car feature Friday night at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson was among the best. No fewer than five drivers had a chance to win the event in the final lap, swapping positions throughout the entire 15-lapper before Jim Lynch took the win by a few feet over Matt Greiner.
Pole sitter Cale Samberg held the lead at the drop of the while Lynch, who started inside the second row, quickly challenged. From then on, Samberg received all sorts of pressure from a number of drivers, including Greiner, Corey Strothman, Jeff Mueller and Abe Huls.
The lead pack ran two and three-wide each time around the fast, smooth 3/8-mile oval, swapping every position at the front of the field. Although the lead exchanged hands numerous times, nobody held more than a car-length advantage out front for the entirety of the race. In the end, it was Lynch holding off Greiner by no more than half of a car-length to take the thrilling win, his first in the division in Donnellson. Mueller came home third ahead of Huls and Jason Cook.
Josh Foster earned his second straight win in the IMCA Modified division after making his way past Rich Smith for the lead just beyond the midway point of that event.
Front row starters Adam Birck and Derek Hamm ran side-by-side at the front of the pack swapping the lead before Hamm was able to break free on the low side on lap three. Hamm extended his advantage over Birck and Smith before the yellow flag waved on lap seven.
On the restart, Smith quickly went to work on Hamm to assume command while Foster was making his way to the front driving the low side of the track from a sixth row starting spot. Foster snuck past Smith on the 12th circuit, then led the remaining eight laps to take the win. Smith ran second ahead of Jeff Waterman and Brandon Banks. Hunter Marriott broke free from a trio of cars to take fifth at the line.
From his second row starting spot, Chuck Fullenkamp assumed command on the first lap of the 12-lap IMCA Sport Compact feature. He started to pull away from traffic while Rob Hammel worked through the pack from a fifth row start.
Hammel reeled in the leader midway through the event, then pestered Fullenkamp both high and low before lunging ahead at the line to take the exciting win. Fullenkamp ran second ahead of Darin Smith, Kimberly Abbott and Scott Smith.
Like a rocket, John Oliver Jr. launched from a third row starting spot and into the lead on the first lap of the 15-lap IMCA SportMod feature. Oliver paced the field for the first seven laps, until the caution flag waved. Although the caution was not for him, Oliver took his #105 to the pit area, presumably with mechanical issues. This left Jim Gillenwater with the lead for the ensuing restart.
Gillenwater, who raced into contention from a sixth row starting spot, held off a hard-charging Chris Larson to earn his second straight win in the division. Tony Dunker, Brandon Ruffcorn and Rick Barlow Jr. completed the top five.
Dan Wenig snuck beneath Victor Hastings on the fourth lap of the Hobby Stock feature to cruise to the win in that 15-lapper. Wenig took the checkers a straightaway ahead of Hastings. Nathan Anders, Kevin Cheney and Michael Wenke rounded out the top five.
It was a terrific night of racing in Donnellson. The track stayed in tip-top shape all night long and provided for multiple three and four-wide battles throughout the night.
Next week is the Together We Fight Hunger 25 for 35 in honor of Brian Hetrick, the 2008 305 Sprint Car track champion who passed away in an accident late that summer. In addition to the 305 Sprints, four weekly divisions will be racing for track points next Friday, including IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Sport Compacts and Hobby Stocks. MVVRCA Vintage Cars will also be competing that night.
Tomorrow, it's back to Independence Motor Speedway for the third night of weekly points racing. Crawford Farms of Independence is sponsoring the show and has added $2,500 to the purse. They also plan bike giveaways for the kids. Thanks to Gary and Karen for their support of the speedway. If you don't have plans for Saturday night, you should stop out as it promises to be a fantastic night.
Thanks for reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment