Johnson seals IMCA Late Model title with win, Wilsey and
Symmonds cross sideways in Hobby Stock thriller
By Jake Croxton
DONNELLSON, IA (August 22) – Jay Johnson came into the Backslash
Technologies / Yellow Book USA Late Model Season Championship just five
points back of season-long points leader Jason Frankel. Johnson used his
straight-up start and extraordinarily heavy track conditions to lead every
lap of the 20-lapper and hold off three different attempts to overtake from
Matt Strassheim’s Richard Realty & Auction machine. Johnson’s victory,
coupled with Frankel’s sixth-place finish, created a tie atop the standings.
By virtue of Johnson scoring his second 40-point victory of the season, to
Frankel’s one, he earned the tie-breaker and claimed the 2008 Ideal Ready
Mix IMCA Late Model championship. Strassheim held off Denny Woodworth for
second, while Ely’s Terry Neal, and Wapello’s Jay Chenoweth followed across
the line.
 After a little grief setting the line-up following an opening lap caution,
the Donnellson Tire Hobby Stock 15-lapper raced caution-free. Keokuk’s
Brandon Symmonds, fresh off his first victory of the season, jumped out to a
big advantage and led the first 11 circuits. Fellow Keokuk racer Rob Wilsey,
without the aid of a caution, tracked down Symmonds and slid past with Jeff
Soper in tow. As the lead duo entered the final corner side-by-side, lapped
traffic loomed ahead. Wilsey and Symmonds met the traffic at the
start/finish line in a grinding three-wide struggle with Wilsey coming out
on top by the narrowest of margins. Soper, Vic Hastings, and Derek St. Clair
rounded out the top five.
The year 2008 will be quickly forgotten by Davenport, Iowa, driver Rich
Smith. The Miller Lite IMCA Modified veteran has had more than his fair
share of issues throughout the season. Smith was able withstand several
late-race challenges from Jeff Waterman to claim his first 2008 LCS victory.
Bill Roberts finished second and tightened the points battle after Dean
McGee and Josh Foster each had problems. Foster still holds the lead, but
McGee and Roberts are tied just two points back. Waterman earned third,
while Brandon Savage and Brandon Rothzen followed across the stripe.
 Bert McDaniel led all 15-laps of the Budweiser IMCA Stock Car feature event
and became the fourth different winner of 2008. McDaniel was never seriously
challenged and held at bay Dennis Harwood, who racked up his best finish of
the year. Nick Fenton, Dave Hemsted, and Jason Cook finished in the top
five. Jeff Mueller’s eighth-place finish reduced his lead to just 4-points
heading into next week’s Season Championship.
 Chad Sovern worked by race-long leader Josh Larson late in the going to
steal his third Lawson Racing Engines and Parts Supply SportMod 15-lapper.
Sovern’s run nearly came to a halt as he drug his back panel for the last
several laps. In victory lane, the panel was held on by one bolt. Jim
Gillenwater, Scott Boles, and Mike Browning raced to top five finishes.
 Chris Loring, Jr. nabbed his second Shottenkirk Parts Express Wild Thing
12-lapper. Loring raced Chuck Fullenkamp to the stripe . Rob Hammel, Brent
Hartley, and Bryan Rodeffer rounded out the top five.
Next week will feature the Season Championships. The program will include
features only, driver introductions, and straight-up starts for all classes.
Following the racing action will be Mechanics and Powder Puff races and a
barbecue in the pits. For more information, consult
www.leecountyspeedway.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Hoenig Phone: 3195284301 E-mail:
jenni@leecountyspeedway.com
Lee County Speedway, Hwy 218 N, Donnellson, IA 52625
Phone: 3198355523 Fax: 3195284302 Web:
www.leecountyspeedway.com
Sport Modifieds
A-Main 01 -- 1. Chad Sovern, West Point; 2. Josh Larson, Keokuk; 3. Jim
Gillenwater, Keokuk; 4. Scott Boles, New London; 5. Mike Browning,
Farmington; 6. Jim Fuller, Memphis, Mo.; 7. Jerad Fuller, Memphis, Mo.; 8.
Brian Clark, Kahoka, Mo.; 9. Phillip Cossel, Montrose; 10. Thad Gaylord,
Fort Madison; 11. Mark Winkel, Letts; 12. Bill Seyb, Donnellson; 13. Jack
Evans, Sr., Keokuk; 14. Jim Kuhlmeier, Ft. Madison; 15. Michael Irwin,
Kahoka, Mo.; 16. Dylan Heins, Donnellson; 17. Rick Barlow, Jr., Montrose;
18. Levi Smith, Donnellson; 19. Bob Jennings, Mt. Pleasant.
Heat 01 -- 1. Levi Smith, Donnellson; 2. Scott Boles, New London; 3. Brian
Clark, Kahoka, Mo.; 4. Mike Browning, Farmington; 5. Jerad Fuller, Memphis,
Mo.; 6. Phillip Cossel, Montrose; 7. Bill Seyb, Donnellson; 8. Jack Evans,
Sr., Keokuk; 9. Michael Irwin, Kahoka, Mo.; 10. Rick Barlow, Jr., Montrose.
Heat 02 -- 1. Chad Sovern, West Point; 2. Jim Fuller, Memphis, Mo.; 3. Jim
Gillenwater, Keokuk; 4. Josh Larson, Keokuk; 5. Jim Kuhlmeier, Ft. Madison;
6. Mark Winkel, Letts; 7. Dylan Heins, Donnellson; 8. Bob Jennings, Mt.
Pleasant; 9. Thad Gaylord, Fort Madison.
Hobby Stocks
A-Main 01 -- 1. Rob Wilsey, Keokuk; 2. Brandon Symmonds, Keokuk; 3. Jeff
Soper, Kahoka, Mo.; 4. Victor Hastings, Oquawka, Ill.; 5. Derek St. Clair,
Donnellson; 6. Dean Kratzer, Fort Madison; 7. Dan Wenig, Danville; 8. Jacob
Smith, Argyle; 9. Bobby Six, Keokuk; 10. Jim Oliver, Jr., Beardstown, Ill.;
11. Brian Holmes, Wapello; 12. Cedrick Boatman;; 13. Austin Schulte, Keokuk;
14. Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson; 15. Jay Hayes, Kahoka, Mo.; 16. Ed Sammons,
Rome; 17. Jon Rooney, Donnellson; 18. Jermy Billings, Keokuk; 19. Rodger
Dresden, Keokuk; 20. Jason Billings, Keokuk; 21. Brandon Peitz, Burlington.
Heat 01 -- 1. Jeff Soper, Kahoka, Mo.; 2. Brandon Symmonds, Keokuk; 3. Jon
Rooney, Donnellson; 4. Bobby Six, Keokuk; 5. Derek St. Clair, Donnellson; 6.
Dean Kratzer, Fort Madison; 7. Brandon Peitz, Burlington.
Heat 02 -- 1. Jim Oliver, Jr., Beardstown, Ill.; 2. Victor Hastings,
Oquawka, Ill.; 3. Jacob Smith, Argyle; 4. Jay Hayes, Kahoka, Mo.; 5. Cedrick
Boatman;; 6. Brian Holmes, Wapello; 7. Jason Billings, Keokuk.
Heat 03 -- 1. Rodger Dresden, Keokuk; 2. Rob Wilsey, Keokuk; 3. Austin
Schulte, Keokuk; 4. Dan Wenig, Danville; 5. Jeremy Pundt, Donnellson; 6. Ed
Sammons, Rome; 7. Jermy Billings, Keokuk.
IMCA Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Jay Johnson, W. Burlington; 2. Matt Strassheim, West
Burlington; 3. Denny Woodworth, Mendon, Ill.; 4. Terry Neal, Ely; 5. Jay
Chenoweth, Wapello; 6. Jason Frankel, Quincy, Ill.; 7. Tom Goble,
Burlington; 8. Dustin Griffin, Quincy, Ill.; 9. Justin Reed, Quincy, Ill.;
10. Luke Merfeld, Peosta; 11. Clint Kirkham, Camden, Ill.; 12. Sam Halstead,
New London; 13. David Warth, Danville.
Heat 01 -- 1. Jay Chenoweth, Wapello; 2. Justin Reed, Quincy, Ill.; 3. Matt
Strassheim, West Burlington; 4. Jason Frankel, Quincy, Ill.; 5. Terry Neal,
Ely; 6. Dustin Griffin, Quincy, Ill..
Heat 02 -- 1. Tom Goble, Burlington; 2. Denny Woodworth, Mendon, Ill.; 3.
Clint Kirkham, Camden, Ill.; 4. Luke Merfeld, Peosta; 5. Jay Johnson, W.
Burlington; 6. David Warth, Danville; 7. Sam Halstead, New London.
Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Matt Strassheim, West Burlington; 2. Justin Reed,
Quincy, Ill.; 3. Denny Woodworth, Mendon, Ill.; 4. Tom Goble, Burlington; 5.
Jay Chenoweth, Wapello; 6. Clint Kirkham, Camden, Ill..
IMCA Modifieds
A-Main 01 -- 1. Rich Smith, Davenport; 2. Bill Roberts, Burlington; 3. Jeff
Waterman, Quincy, Ill.; 4. Brandon Savage, Keokuk; 5. Brandon Rothzen,
Media, Ill.; 6. Jeff Gerhardt, Niota, Ill.; 7. Terry Houston, Mount
Sterling, Ill.; 8. Corkey Waters, Lees Summit, Mo.; 9. Greg Logue, Fort
Madison; 10. Dean McGee, Sr., Galesburg, Ill.; 11. Tyler Cale, Donnellson;
12. Darin Thye, Burlington; 13. Rob Kirchner, Donnellson; 14. Josh Foster,
Montrose; 15. Adam Birck, Heat 01 -- 1. Darin Thye, Burlington; 2. Tyler
Cale, Donnellson; 3. Brandon Rothzen, Media, Ill.; 4. Josh Foster, Montrose;
5. Jeff Gerhardt, Niota, Ill..
Heat 02 -- 1. Bill Roberts, Burlington; 2. Terry Houston, Mount Sterling,
Ill.; 3. Adam Birck, Canton, Mo.; 4. Mitch Higdon, Fort Madison; 5. Rob
Kirchner, Donnellson; 6. Jacob McVey, Danville.
Heat 03 -- 1. Rich Smith, Davenport; 2. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, Ill.; 3.
Brandon Savage, Keokuk; 4. Dean McGee, Sr., Galesburg, Ill.; 5. Greg Logue,
Fort Madison; 6. Corkey Waters, Lees Summit, Mo..
IMCA Stock Cars
A-Main 01 -- 1. Bert McDaniel, Eldon; 2. Dennis Harwood, West Point; 3. Nick
Fenton, Mt. Pleasant; 4. Dave Hemsted, Lone Tree; 5. Jason Cook, Mt.
Pleasant; 6. Abe Huls, Carthage, Ill.; 7. Doug Huls, Carthage, Ill.; 8. Jeff
Mueller, New London; 9. Chris Webb, Biggsville, Ill.; 10. Corey Strothman,
New London; 11. Jim Redman, Lockridge; 12. Cale Samberg, Burlington; 13.
John Oliver, Jr., Danville; 14. Stevie Schull, Mount Pleasant; 15. Ray Raker,
Danville; 16. Patrick Mincer, Columbus Junction; 17. Travis Finke, Columbus
Jct..
Heat 01 -- 1. Bert McDaniel, Eldon; 2. Nick Fenton, Mt. Pleasant; 3. Jason
Cook, Mt. Pleasant; 4. Abe Huls, Carthage, Ill.; 5. John Oliver, Jr.,
Danville; 6. Chris Webb, Biggsville, Ill.; 7. Ray Raker, Danville; 8.
Patrick Mincer, Columbus Junction; 9. Travis Finke, Columbus Jct..
Heat 02 -- 1. Doug Huls, Carthage, Ill.; 2. Dave Hemsted, Lone Tree; 3. Jeff
Mueller, New London; 4. Jim Redman, Lockridge; 5. Dennis Harwood, West
Point; 6. Corey Strothman, New London; 7. Stevie Schull, Mount Pleasant; 8.
Cale Samberg, Burlington.
4 Cyl. Wild Things
A-Main 01 -- 1. Chris Loring, Jr., Keokuk; 2. Chuck Fullenkamp, Fort
Madison; 3. Rob Hammel, Hamilton, Ill.; 4.
Brent Hartley, Niota, Ill.; 5. Bryan Rodefer, Fort Madison; 6. R Noble,
Wapello; 7. Jason Fowler, Donnellson; 8.
Richard Vandermaiden, Quincy, Ill.; 9. Jayson Barnes, Alexandria, Mo.; 10.
Dustan Fenton, Burlington; 11. Dakota Fenton, Burlington.
Heat 01 -- 1. Chuck Fullenkamp, Fort Madison; 2. Rob Hammel, Hamilton, Ill.;
3. R Noble, Wapello; 4. Richard Vandermaiden, Quincy, Ill.; 5. Brent
Hartley, Niota, Ill.; 6. Dakota Fenton, Burlington.
Heat 02 -- 1. Chris Loring, Jr., Keokuk; 2. Bryan Rodefer, Fort Madison; 3.
Dustan Fenton, Burlington; 4. Jayson Barnes, Alexandria, Mo.; 5. Jason
Fowler, Donnellson.
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