August 31
Lee County Speedway,
Donnellson, IA
Sanction: DIRTcar Crates (Thunder in the Heartland) - $2,000
Information provided by: Track reports (last updated September 1, 7:11 am)
Becerra bags third Lee County payday, $2,000
Thunder in the Heartland
- Austen Becerra
- C.J. Horn
- Denny Woodworth
- Tommy Elston
- Darin Weisinger
- Jeremy Pundt
- Jackson Frankel
- Jayden Johnson
- Spencer Havermale
- Ron Boyse
What won the race: Taking control from early leader Jackson Frankel on lap 12, third-starting Austen Becerra of Carthage, Ill., dominated the remainder of Saturday's 50-lap DIRTcar Crate Late Model special at Lee County Speedway. Becerra led the final 39 laps to win $2,000, his third overall victory of the season at Lee County — July 19 and July 26 — and spoils the would-be $5,000 top prize for the track's nine regulars who were eligible for the heightened payday.
Key notes: Becerra, a Late Model rookie, also won the night's modified feature at Lee County and secured his fourth overall Late Model win of the season, including Aug. 3 at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. ... Reigning track champ C.J. Horn, fresh off his first career SLMR Series win on Aug. 25 at Mason City (Iowa) Motor Speedway, took second on the lap-26 restart and trailed Becerra the rest of the way, finishing a distant 8.820 seconds back. ... Denny Woodworth led the opening lap from the pole before settling for third. ... Tommy Elston, a nine-time winner this year at Lee County, improved three positions and finished fourth. ... Jeremy Pundt started 10th and finished sixth. ... Jackson Frankel, the Aug. 10 feature winner at Lee County, led 10 laps (2-11) before giving way to Becerra and slipping to seventh. ... The 50-lapper was slowed by three cautions, including a 15-minute halfway break, and lasted 37 minutes, with five drivers completing the distance. ... Nick Marolf and Vance Wilson scratched. ... Becerra, Marolf and Jayden Johnson were the three entrants not eligible for the increased $5,000 winner's prize.
On the move: Runner-up finisher C.J. Horn of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, started eighth.
Points chase: Track points after Saturday: 1. Tommy Elston (536); 2. Darin Weisinger (482); 3. Denny Woodworth (463); 4. Jeremy Pundt (450); 5. Spencer Havermale (433).
Current weather: Clear, 73°F
Car count: 12
Polesitter: Denny Woodworth
Heat race winners: Denny Woodworth, Austen Becerra
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.