Defending Lee County Speedway Track Champions Foster and Gillenwater return to the Winner’s Circle
DONNELLSON, Iowa (Friday, May 11, 2012) – Mother nature finally provided a great night for racing at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, as it was DOC360 / Pepsi Next night at the track. The fans were treated to some great racing action and to top the night off they were provided with a FREE can of DOC306, diet DOC360 or Pepsi Next on their way out the gate, thanks to Memphis (Memphis, MO) Bottling Company.
The first feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, with Rich Smith and Brandon Savage on the front row. Smith would take advantage of his front row start to jump out into the lead on the drop of the green flag. The first caution of the race would come out on lap 2, as Paul Nelson came to a stop in turn four with an engine fire. On the restart Smith again grabbed the lead, with Todd Hansen and Josh Foster, who started 7th, battling it out for second. But the battle up front was slowed on lap 3, when Brad Ford came to a stop in turn 4 to bring the yellow out. Smith again jumped back out front on the restart, with Foster getting around Hansen for second. The final caution of the race would appear on the track on lap 4, as Brandon Rothzen suddenly slowed in turn 1 which caused Kyle Hill and Derek Hamm to get together. On the restart Smith moved back out front, with Foster and Hansen following close behind. Foster tried on every lap for the next 9 laps to get around Smith, as Hansen followed in third ready to pounce when ether made a mistake. Foster would get the break he needed on lap 13, as Smith jumped the cushion in turn four to allow Foster to get under him going into turn 1. Foster would exit turn two with the lead on lap 14 and then held on to it over the final 6 laps to pick up the win. Smith settled for 2nd, Hansen was 3rd, Tyler Cale came from 8th to finish in 4th, with Jeff Waterman charging from his 16th place starting spot to round out the top 5.
The final feature of the night was the 15 lap Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMods, with Jacob Smith and Levi Smith leading the field to green. Levi Smith would take advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1. Levi then held the lead until lap 3, when Brandon Ruffcorn slipped under him to take over the top spot. The action up front was slowed on the completion of lap 3, as Jay Kirchner spun his machine in turn four. On the restart Ruffcorn moved back out front, with Levi Smith working to hold back Bobby Anders for second. As Ruffcorn worked to hold back Levi and Anders, Jim Gillenwtaer, who started 7th, and Scott VanBuskirk, who started 10th, were working their way to the front. But the action was slowed for the second time on lap 7, as Jacob Smith spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Ruffcorn again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Anders and Gillenwater close behind. But another caution on the completion of lap would slow the action once again. This time Charles VanZandt spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow back on. On the restart Ruffcorn again moved back out front, with Anders holding back Gillenwater for 2nd. But another caution on the completion of lap 9 would slow the action. Kirchner would spin his machine in turn 4 for his second solo caution to end his night. Once again Ruffcorn jumped back out front on the restart, with Gillenwater getting by Anders for 2nd. Ruffcorn now had to work to hold back Gillenwater, when the final caution came out in lap 11. This time Brandon Dale spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gillenwater was able to slip under Ruffcorn to take over the top spot on lap 13 and was able to hold it to claim the win. Ruffcorn settled for 2nd, VanBuskirk was able to edge out a 3rd, Anders held on for 4th, with Tony Dunker coming from 9th to round out the top 5.
Coming up next week at the Lee County Speedway will be Health Source Night, with all those who ride a bike to the track getting in for only $5. The battle for the 2012 Champions will continue in the Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire IMCA Stock Cars, Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMods, Coor’s Light LCS Hobby Stocks and Sunline Auto Parts IMCA Sport Compacts.
Pit Gates will open at 5 p.m., grandstands at 5:30 p.m., with hot laps at 7 p.m. and racing at 7:30 p.m. Pit passes are $25, while adult grandstand admission is $9. Seniors are $7, Students 11-17 are $5 and Children 10 and under are free in the grandstands.
RESULTS
Lee County Speedway, Donnellson, IA
Friday, May 11, 2012 – DOC360 / Pepsi Next Night
Budweiser IMCA Modifieds
Feature: 1. 77 Josh Foster, Ft. Madison, IA; 2. 8 Rich Smith, Davenport, IA; 3. 21 Todd Hansen, Muscatine, IA; 4. 14 Tyler Cale, Donnellson, IA; 5. 71w Jeff Waterman, Quincy, IL; 6. 2AC Dustin Crear, Mediapolis, IA; 7. 5R Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 8. 22 Brandon Banks, Washington, IA; 9. 90 Lonnie Heap, Media, IL; 10. 21x Jeff Gerhardt, Niota, IL; 11. 10 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 12. 47s Brandon Savage, Canton, MO; 13. 33 Brandon Rothzen, Raritan, IL; 14. 18H Derek Hamm, Donnellson, IA; 15. 14B Kyle Hill, New London, IA; 16. 12 Adam Birck, Canton, MO; 17. 99 Brad Ford, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 18. N14 Paul Nelson, Colchester, IL; 19. 3w Dave Warth, Danville, IA; 20. 58 Andy Krieger, Mt. Pleasant IA; 21. 27 Ryan Cook, New London, IA
Heat 1: 1. 8 Smith; 2. 2AC Crear; 3. 21x Gerhardt; 4. 47s Savage; 5. 27 Cook; 6. 14B Hill; 7. N14 Nelson
Heat 2: 1. 21 Hansen; 2. 77 Foster; 3. 99 Ford; 4. 12 Birck; 5. 58 Krieger; 6. 71w Waterman; 7. 33 Rothzen
Heat 3: 1. 5R Roberts Jr.; 2. 14 Cale; 3. 22 Banks; 4. 90 Heap; 5. 18H Hamm; 6. 10 Fike; 7. 3w Warth
Shottenkirk Parts Express IMCA SportMods
Feature: 1. 10 Jim Gillenwater, Keokuk, IA; 2. 11R Brandon Ruffcorn, Donnellson, IA; 3. 25 Scott VanBuskirk, Hedrick, IA; 4. 20BA Bobby Anders, Quincy, IL; 5. 3 Tony Dunker, Quincy, IL; 6. 20JB Michael Joe Bliven, Quincy, IL; 7. 52 Rick Barlow Jr., Montrose, IA; 8. 15 Phillip Cossel, Montrose, IA; 9. 19J Levi Smith, Donnellson, IA; 10. 97J Jacob Smith, Donnellson, IA; 11. 105 John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 12. 74 Patrick Profeta, Keokuk, IA; 13. 80v Charles VanZandt, Camp Point, IL; 14. 12 Brandon Dale, Gorin, MO; 15. 6c Bob Cowman, Quincy, IL; 16. 67 Chris Larson, Keokuk, IA; 17. 5 Jay Kirchner, Donnellson, IA
Heat 1: 1. 20JB Bliven; 2. 67 Larson; 3. 3 Dunker; 4. 19J L. Smith; 5. 12 Dale; 6. 74 Profeta; 7. 6c Cowman; 8. 5 Kirchner; 9. 05 Oliver Jr.
Heat 2: 1. 10 Gillenwater; 2. 97J J. Smith; 3. 11R Ruffcorn; 4. 20BA Anders; 5. 25 VanBuskirk; 6. 15 Cossel; 7. 52 Barlow Jr.; 8. 80v VanZandt
