Racin' Down the Road

Thanks for checking out my first column anf thanks to Jeff for the opportunity. First, a little background info. I was born and raised in Keokuk, Iowa, a child of the 50's and 60s. My first racing memories are of the 1/4 mile track in my hometown, when legendary locals Ramo Stott and Dick Hutcherson were cutting their racing teeth in jalopies, while yearly trips to Donnellson, Iowa exposed me to : big time " IMCA stars such as Ernie Derr. In my teens and early twenties, I discovered the thrill of places such as 34 Raceway Park, the MVSC tracks in West Liberty and Columbus Junction, and the super 1/2 mile in Eldon, as well as others. My first writing job came when the local 1/4 mile reopened for a few seasons in the mid 70's as I compiled results and composed stories for the local paper and the Hawkeye Racing News for the short track as well as the Donnellson late model events promoted by the late Ron Saar. After a couple of work related moves, I landed in my current hometown of Lagrange, Missouri. Sunday night racing at Quincy Raceways then became a family tradition, and after 30 plus years, it has become my " home " track. In 1993, Jeff Broeg was kind enough to give my son Brent, fresh out of high school, an opportunity to pen a column in his fledgling racing paper, which lead to his becoming the track reporter for the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. Soon after, in 1996, Brent added the title of track announcer at Quincy Raceways. When promoter Bob Scott needed a writer for his program news and notes the following season, I dusted off my notebook and went back to work. After Brent stepped down to start a family, I continued on, even when the Scott family sold the track they had opened in 1976 to current co owner Tony Rhinberger and former partner, veteran racer Mike Karhoff. Although the new owners discontinued the costly weekly programs, I was recruited to offer up a weekly results and gossip page on the track website, which I continue to do. Although Sunday nights are filled with Quincy Raceways action, as a racing fanatic, I am still left with 6 other nights to pursue my passion, and I appreciate Jeff giving me this chance to offer up my experiences and opinions on the 50 odd nights of ( mostly ) late model racing that I am able to fit in throughout the season. The tracks closest to my home and heart, Quincy, Donnellson, and West Burlington feature IMCA sanctioned late models, but I also try to mix in some UMP venues, while looking out for the travelling series.
My 2009 officially season wrapped up with the Quincy Raceways banquest on Saturday, January 30. Veteran Lonnie Bailey collected the big hardware in the IMCA late model division to go along with his track title at 34 Raceway. Curiosly, Lonnie captured both championships without winning a points feature at either track. This had happened only one before at QR, by Dick Crane when Quincy was a weekly NASCAR sanctioned track.
While the economy has been tough on all of racing, it sounds as though QR will be able to maintain there average car count in the mid teens in 2010. Former national champion Jason Frankel has sold his IMCA operation to Genebacher Racing, but will be racing under their banner, making for a 3 car team. Jason Perry will continue to drive for the team, and Bill Genenbacher will lead the team with a new GRT machine. 13 - or is it 14? - time track champ Mark Burgtorf is committing to add the Deery Brothers Summer Series to his program this season, and young Dustin Griffin is also planning to run the tour. Veteran Terry Gallaher purchased a Mastersbilt car from Jason Krigbaum, and sold his ride to modified racer Vance Wilson, and both will be forces in the late model class in 2010. After a frustrating season, Nick Ingalls will have a different ride this season, and Robbie Warner is hoping to add some open motor events to his weekly schedule. Clint Kirkham, who picked up his first feature win in 2009, has 2 cars ready for Quincy and wherever else his construction business and farming allow.
Denny Woodworth has a couple of new cars, and is headed to Alabama this month to jump start his season. Denny has been running with the MLRA, and comes " home " as often as possible. QR is hoping to begin the season with non points racing on Sunday, April 4, with the Summer Series the following Sunday. They also have a $3,000.00 to win series race scheduled for June 13, plus a UMP Summernationals race on Sunday, July 11.
As for me and my travelling companions, we are hoping to start our year on March 20 with the final night of the UMP Dirt Car Roundup at Ken Schrader and Ray Marlers I-55 Raceway in Pevely,Mo. This is an 8 class weekend show the was postpned last October, and I believe 6 classes will be running features on the final night, with a couple of last chance races mixed in. The first running of this race in October of 2008 brought together an unusual mix of UMP hot shoes on the bad fast 1/3 mile track just south of the St Louis area. Given the current state of the midwest weather and the frequency of flooding on the access road to the track, we can only hope that Mother Nature backs off the precipitation soon! We had only just added the recently announced WDRL race at Davenport to our plans, when word came that the series that produced such great racing and had such a good format was dissolving. Hopefully something will come along and fill the avoid. If you are in need of a racing fix before the engines fire, the always popular Quincy Raceways car show will be at The Quincy Mall the weekend of March 13 and 14.
Thanks for reading, hopefully it won't be too long before we can do do some racing down the road.