Chandler upholds Lee County Speedway connection

DONNELLSON — There's a special connection for Brad Chandler at Lee County Speedway.

The Cedar Rapids IMCA Sport Compact driver doesn't race there weekly — nor very often at all. In fact, he's only raced in Donnellson twice since the end of 2013. But because Lee County was the last place his dad, Merv Chandler, got a win before he died in spring of 2014, the 3/8-mile dirt oval holds a special place in his heart.

He won again in Sport Compacts on Saturday night at the IMCA Spring Extravaganza, and the significance for him was not understated.

'I think there's something to all that (connection), because I've been here several times for Shiverfest and never even made the race,' Chandler said. 'To come down here twice without being down here for four years and come out with the win is just crazy.'

Chandler has now won the last two races he's been here — both since Merv died — and got his most recent in dramatic fashion.

He started 12th in the 24-car field, and only got the benefit of a pair of cautions to bunch the field up. With just a handful of laps to go, Chandler trailed Jason Breuklander — who was running the first race of his career — by nearly a half lap, and appeared to need a caution for any hope.

But with a bit of luck and reckless abandon, Chandler got the job done.

A lapped car slowed Breuklander just enough for Chandler to close the gap, so that on the final lap he could make his move. Chandler, who had been running the high line in Turns 3 and 4 for most of the race, dived to the bottom in the final turn on the final lap.

Chandler made contact with Breuklander, who Chandler said moved down to block, the two bounced off each other and Chandler made away with the lead — and the victory. He and Breuklander shared a laugh about it after the race.

'I definitely didn't think I was going to catch him,' Chandler said. 'I wasn't going to lift at all those last two laps, just like I didn't last time I was here. So I'm 2 for 2 doing that. I'm kind of glad I beat (Breuklander), because I didn't want to get beat by a guy in his first race. He drove a heck of a race.

'He went high, I went low and he got loose and came down. He wanted to win, and tried to run me down there, but I didn't let it happen. He told me he did that on purpose. He protected the bottom.'

Chandler hasn't raced a ton in the last few years, after selling his main racecar and starting a family, but wins like Saturday night's in a car owned by Josh Barnes make the pull back to the track strong.

With such an emotional boost, a little luck returned his way and definitely a fire under him, Chandler said there will be more races for him in 2016 — just like his dad would've wanted, he said.

'I was kind of losing hope with the luck I've had,' Chandler said. 'I've gotten myself excited to race again. Makes me want to get back in my car and get out there and do what my dad would want me to do.'

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