DONNELLSON, Iowa (Sept. 5) – Perfect attendance throughout the regular season and a little luck added up to $5,000 for Mark Burgtorf of Quincy, Ill. The IMCA Late Model track champion at Lee County Speedway was one of 11 drivers eligible for the Drive For Five payday when the Deery Brothers Summer Series came to Donnellson on Saturday night.

Burgtorf's His charge through the field, all the way from the 19th starting spot, was aided by mechanical problems that sidelined leader Ray Guss Jr. with seven laps left. Burgtorf held off Rob Toland the rest of the way for his third series victory of the season and Deery career 22nd.

Toland, point leader Jeff Aikey, Tom Goble and Tommy Elston rounded out the top five. Early exits by Guss and Jason Frankel, his closest rivals in the standings, helped Aikey edge closer to a sixth career tour championship.

Guss drew the pole for the second straight show but it was outside front row starter Boone McLaughlin setting the fastest pace for the first nine circuits. Guss made his move past McLaughlin the next time around and was just starting to put some distance on the defending series champion when the third running Frankel broke on lap 12, bringing out what proved to be the only caution of the contest.

Burgtorf, who had qualified for the main event by running second in a consolation race, continued his steady advance toward the front, where Guss remained in charge. Chasing his fifth series victory of the season, Guss was catching up with the back of the pack before slowing on lap 28 and driving off the track. Burgtorf took over from that point, collecting the checkers a couple car lengths ahead of Toland.

The 11 drivers in the running for the $5,000 prize had perfect attendance or missed no more than one sanctioned Late Model event at Donnellson during the 2009 point season.

Now a six-time Deery winner at Lee County, Burgtorf is tied with Gary Webb for third place on the all-time series wins list. Aikey is first with 52 victories and Curt Martin is second with 25.

The second of three events over the Labor Day Weekend is Sunday at Quincy Raceway, Burgtorf's hometown track. Boone (Iowa) Speedway hosts the last installment of the tripleheader Monday during opening night of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals.