Last season, I was able to attend my first Corn Belt clash series race at the Independence, Iowa Speedway, and found it to be right up my alley, harkening back to the short lived Hawkeye late model tour back in the 80's. So when promoter Cam Granger released the 2010 schedule, I salted away some vacation time from work to catch the series at the CJ Speedway on the Louisa County Fairgrounds in Columbus Junction, Iowa, where the count fair would be going on. As race day approached, circumstances dictated that I would be traveling solo, but the 100 mile trip from home is a cake walk when compared the the days when Highway 218 was a challenging two lane highway. The trip north was 20 miles longer, but I was able to leave work in Quincy, Il early, and I arrived in time to take in some of the county fair atmosphere as well as stake out a spot on pit road to see who might show up to race. It was there that I ran into former late model racer Brian Hetzler, who my son nicknamed the " Fruitland Flash " in his days as a columnist. Brian and his parents, Curt and Pat were throwbacks to the days of racing out of the family garage, and although they were usually out spent, they competed with smiles on their faces, didn't complain, and always had time to chat about this and that. Brian is helping the Wood and Tipps families at the 4/10 mile oval, but said his folks have not been to a race since disbanding the # 47 team. I often find that former drivers, as Curt was, cannot sit and watch a race if they are not actively involved.
With this being by far the southernmost stop on the tour, the 18 car turnout was on par with what I expected. In addition, the points chase allows drivers to " throw out " two races, counting the best 13 finishes in the 15 race schedule. The neat thing about the series is the rules variations allowed to even the playing field between the spec motor IMCA late models and the " open " cars. Because of this, there is usually a surprise spec engine driver ot two in the field, and on Thursday it was Brian Harris in a black # 21H. The Davenport ace has been wheeling the famous # 75 out of Peoria, Il this summer, mostly at UMP and open competition events in Illinois, although back in May Keagan and I were in attendance at Davenport Speedway when he showed up and captured the IMCA late model feature. Brian, as well as spec engine pilots Justin Kay and Kevin Sather were utilizing the extra aerodynamic offerings designed to add downforce to the under horsepowered machines, while hometown driver Mick Wiele and Wapello pilot Jay Chenoweth kept their cars as is. It was my first time to see Sather, a regular on the tour in a late model. Indeed, spec cars picked up two of the three heat race wins, with Wiele and Kay taking checkers after series point leader Chad Simpson used a final corner pass to edge out veteran Ron Boyse in the first ten lapper. With hot laps and racing starting on time, and the ten heat races going off in good fashion, it looked like those less fortunate than myself - folks who had to show up for work on Friday - might be on the road early. And the promoters did the right thing by going straight to feature racing in the four divisions without an intermission. Unfortunately, things went somewhat downhill from there, with the usually well behaved IMCA stock cars running a marathon 15 lap main event. Between drivers spinning and stopping on the track, and more than a little grudge racing, the best thing to be said about the race is that it eventually ended. Through all the delays, Nathan Wood and Jim Redmon waged a good battle up front, with Wood getting by Redmon early, then holding on for a close win. The 4 cylinders drivers were much better behaved, the lead changed hands three times, and at the end, it was the veteran Wayne Noble standing in victory lane. Known to race fans as the driver who wheels his cars with his left hand while gripping the overhead roll bar with his right, Wayne mentioned that his career is now in its 51st year. It is not often I get to see a driver older than me get a checkered flag. Good job, Wayne! Paul Hallett was fast all night in his black # 26 mod lite, and when Troy Philpott spun in turn three and was collected by Illinois driver Justin Bucholtz who rolled his #69, there was no looking back for the driver who picked up his third straight checkers at CJ.
The thirty lap late model feature then rolled to the track, and with Chad Simpson redrawing the outside front row, it looked like the race would be for second. As it turned out, that was a mostly accurate guess, although early on it looked like there may have been a upset in the making. Harris started ninth on the grid, and was totally hooked up on the bottom of the track, especially in turns three and four. Brian moved quickly into the runner up slot, and began to reel in Simpson, who had built a big lead. Just as suddenly as he had closed the gap, his # 21h slowed in turn two on lap 15, and his night was over. With polesitter Justin Mitchell already pitside, Jason Rauen tried to stay with Simpson, but he could not mount a challenge, and after being involved in an accident that sidelined Wiele, Justin retired his # 98 with a flat tire. Attrition was high, with 11 of the 18 starters taking the checkered flag, all on the lead lap. Justin Kay drove a steady race, bringing his spec engine # 15K home in the second spot, ahead of hometown driver Jason Utter. Chris Simpson, Chads brother nabbed fourth ahead of Dave Eckrich, the top performer of the three Eckrich brothers in attendance. The Kile brothers filled the next two spots, with Kurt edging Kile. Sather ran eighth, Denny Eckrich ninth, with Chenoweth and Jake Meier in a # 5M car campaigned for several season by various drivers for Bill Moyer of Des Moines rounding out the finishers. Even with the delays, I was on my way back to Missouri by 11:00, happy I had made the trip to my 12th different venue of the season. It was good to be able to swap a few stories with Bob Litton and his wife, as well as Jeff Broeg.
With some more vacation time next week, I hope to make it to the Farley Speedway for the Deery Brothers Summer Series event on Tuesday. In the meantime, we will try to get in a weekly show Sunday at Quincy Raceways after two weeks off rain outs. If you see me out and about, say " Hi. "
Friday, July 30, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Friday Night Thunder- Followed By Rain
The weekend started off on a good note as Darryl, Fred and I made our way to the Lee County Speedway for Friday Night Thunder in the Heartland. With most of the tracks north of Donnellson rained out, we thought the pit area might be extra full, but the threatening weather may have kept some of the travelers at home. Still, 98 cars in six classes was more than enough to offer up a quality show in front of a nice crowd. We arrived at the track about 7:10, and the third division of cars was just getting ready to hot lap. In fact, by my watch it was 7:23, seven minutes early, when the first heat race came to the speedway. Terry Hoenig seems to be the one promoter who has figured out how to run a fast paced, on time program. In fact, 14 heat races were needed to set the feature fields, and it was 8:29 when those 14 heats were completed! With lightning flashing in the northern sky, no intermission was taken, and the 18 car sportmod feature came to the track. After a couple of lead changes, young Mitch Higdon put his black # 45 out front for the win. 14 of the 15 hobby stocks made the feature call, with veteran Dean Kratzer leading the distance for the victory. As is usually the case at Donnellson, the IMCA late models ran third in the order, with 21 entrants vying for the $ 1,000 top prize. Only 20 of those cars took the green, as Tommy Elston was loaded up and gone from the speedway before the heat races were run. Tommy Had been scheduled to be one of three # 45 cars in the seven car first heat along with the nights sponsor, Denny Woodworth, and visitor Curt Martin. Another regular sporting # 45, Tony Fraise, was absent on Friday. Polesitter Jay Chenoweth took the early lead, with fourth starting TJ Criss soon grabbing the top spot. The caution flag was displayed several times during the 25 lapper, twice for cars hitting a developing hole in turn one and shooting into the guard rail. Justin Reed was the first of those casualties, and his # 1st needed the wrecker to get him to the pit area. When fourth running Rob Toland met a similar fate, Hoenig st0pped the action long enough to bring out the tractor and make a few passes to smooth things out. In this season of rain, Lee County has had for the most part a superior racing surface excepting the troublesome turn one soft spot. Hoenig has stated he will probably need to tear up the track in the off season to correct the problem. Meanwhile, seventh starting Jeff Aikey took the lead on lap 11, as he made a bid to become the first repeat winner in the six nights of late model action. The veteran from Cedar Falls had stretched out to a comfortable lead until a caution with eight laps to go bunched the field and put point leader Mark Burgtorf on his back bumper. As Aikey stated in the post race interview, he knew Mark would go to the top side of the 3/8 mile, so on the restart, Jeff went to the cushion. Burgtorf matched him lap for lap, and took a couple of shots at the low side, but could not overtake the
# 77. Woodworth made a charge to third after the caution, holding the spot ahead of Boone McLaughlin. Former feature winner Jeff Guengerich slipped past Tom Goble coming to the checkers to nab fifth. Matt Bailey, Superman Sam Halstead, Andy Eckrich, and eighteenth starting Keith Pratt rounded out the top ten. Eckrich had actually pulled off the track, but was able to return to the track after the long caution without losing a lap. 13 of the 20 starters took the checkered flag. Dirt track rookie Justin Jennings, the 2009 rookie of the year on the asphalt at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids was rained out Friday, so he had his dirt car hauled to Donnellson where he turned his first laps at the fairgrounds track. The teenager is a regular this season at Quincy Raceways in his black # 56. The 13 car IMCA stock car feature followed, with Cory Strothman picking up his second win of 2010. the Michael Long destroyed the field in the 14 car IMCA modified main event. One of Michaels chief competitors, point leader Josh Foster is sidelined, apparently for several weeks, with a broken foot. Jerry Ostby took home honors in the 17 car Wild Thing finale although we headed for the car at 10:11 with the 4 cylinder machines were heading to the track, ending another entertaining evening in Donnellson.
Saturday was spent in oppressive heat at Six Flags in St Louis with wife, daughter and two grandsons, and we were about 60 miles from home when we began to notice the black clouds to the north. 20 miles from home, the rain was coming in sheets, and it was then that I began to suspect my racing might be done for the weekend. Sure enough, somewhere between two and four inches of rain fell between home and Quincy Raceways, and although promoter Tony Rhinberger took a shot at getting the grounds race ready today, it was a losing proposition from the start. By my very unofficial count, QR has hosted nine nights of racing in 2010 and endured eight cancellations. And don't look now, but August is nearly here!
If I can work it out, the Iowa River behaves, and the rain takes a break, I hope to take in the Corn Belt Clash Thursday at the Louisa County Fairgrounds in Columbus Junction. If you see me there, say " Hi. "
# 77. Woodworth made a charge to third after the caution, holding the spot ahead of Boone McLaughlin. Former feature winner Jeff Guengerich slipped past Tom Goble coming to the checkers to nab fifth. Matt Bailey, Superman Sam Halstead, Andy Eckrich, and eighteenth starting Keith Pratt rounded out the top ten. Eckrich had actually pulled off the track, but was able to return to the track after the long caution without losing a lap. 13 of the 20 starters took the checkered flag. Dirt track rookie Justin Jennings, the 2009 rookie of the year on the asphalt at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids was rained out Friday, so he had his dirt car hauled to Donnellson where he turned his first laps at the fairgrounds track. The teenager is a regular this season at Quincy Raceways in his black # 56. The 13 car IMCA stock car feature followed, with Cory Strothman picking up his second win of 2010. the Michael Long destroyed the field in the 14 car IMCA modified main event. One of Michaels chief competitors, point leader Josh Foster is sidelined, apparently for several weeks, with a broken foot. Jerry Ostby took home honors in the 17 car Wild Thing finale although we headed for the car at 10:11 with the 4 cylinder machines were heading to the track, ending another entertaining evening in Donnellson.
Saturday was spent in oppressive heat at Six Flags in St Louis with wife, daughter and two grandsons, and we were about 60 miles from home when we began to notice the black clouds to the north. 20 miles from home, the rain was coming in sheets, and it was then that I began to suspect my racing might be done for the weekend. Sure enough, somewhere between two and four inches of rain fell between home and Quincy Raceways, and although promoter Tony Rhinberger took a shot at getting the grounds race ready today, it was a losing proposition from the start. By my very unofficial count, QR has hosted nine nights of racing in 2010 and endured eight cancellations. And don't look now, but August is nearly here!
If I can work it out, the Iowa River behaves, and the rain takes a break, I hope to take in the Corn Belt Clash Thursday at the Louisa County Fairgrounds in Columbus Junction. If you see me there, say " Hi. "
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
On the Road Again
Earlier than any non working person should be up on a Saturday, Keagan and I loaded up the car and made the short jaunt to the truck stop 10 miles south of town to meet up with buddy Fred, his wife Judy, Darryl and " Big " Al. From there we loaded Fred's van and headed south with the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. as our destination. As Keagan, Judy, and Al had never visited this midwest mecca of dirt track racing, we wanted to arrive early enough to be able to take them on a tour of the incredible pit area before they closed the gate to sell passes. As the Lucas Oil late models had been in action the previous night at Pontoon Beach, Il - see Jeffs blog for a recap - there were already a dozen or so cars in the pits when we arrived shortly after noon. After giving the unofficial tour and doing a bit of visiting, we headed out to find our motel and escape the already oppressive heat. We made the trip back to the 3/8 mile oval about 4:30 to ensure prime seats, then set about occupying ourselves for the three hour wait for hot laps. Fortunately, Wheatland is one of those venues where it is easy to fill the time, and the driver autograph session was one of the highlights of the evening. At 7:30 sharp, as advertised, 43 Lucas Oil and MLRA late models and 40 open modifieds began their warm up sessions. Time trials for the late models followed, and second timing Scott Bloomquist tripped the clock at 15.905 seconds. The time held until the fourth and final group, when Jimmy Owens, driving a Bloomquist chassis of his own, turned the oval at 15.812 for quick time on the night. They were the only drivers to breal the 16 second barrier. Four 10 lap heat races set the first two rows for the 50 lap $ 10,000 to win Diamond Nationals feature, with " Bloomer ", Owens, Don Oneal, and Eric Wells filling the top spots. The first heat race would have made a great mini feature, with Brian Birkhofer, Billy Moyer, and Jimmy Mars finishing behind Bloomquist, and Dale McDowell, John Anderson, Ray Cook, Jeremy Payne among those relegated to a B-main.
Cook and Terry Phillips captured the 12 lap B's which each transferred three cars, and Bub McCool made a thrilling charge after falling to ninth to come back and grab third without benefit of a caution in the final qualifier. Two provisionals from each series were added, and 14 year old Tyler Reddick used a Lucas Oil " emergency " start, setting up a 27 car starting field. Although outside polesitter Owens led every trip past the flag stand, he was challenged early and often. With Bloomquist uncharacteristically falling back, Oneal stayed glued to the # 20 early, then it was Earl Pearson Jr. taking up the charge. EPJ actually took the top spot in turn two on lap 15, but Owens regained the lead quickly. Oneal gave up his third spot and went to the trailer during a lap 16 caution. Owens had built a big lead when the caution flew for Dan Schleiper on lap 42. and one lap later Steve Casebolt lost a wheel in turn two and Al Purkey spun at the same time in turn four. After a debris caution with no laps in, the field went green. Now it seemed that Owens may have used up his tires, and Pearson went to the bottom of the track as he looked for a fourth straight Lucas win. With Jimmy trying to run the top in turns one and two and protecting the bottom in three and four, the " Intimigator, " Alligator farmer Chris Wall found something to his liking, and slipped past Pearson with four laps to go. He then closed on Owens, but could not make the pass. He trailed Owens to the flag, as EPJ held third ahead of Moyer. Brady Smith past Bloomquist late for sixth. Show Me 100 winner Ray Cook came from 17th to seventh, Mc Dowell started 19th and finished eighth. Birkhofer and Brad Neat completed the top ten.
With our hotel only a ten minute drive away, we stayed around for the modified finale, even after a multi car pileup on the start took several minutes to clean up. After the early delay, the mods clicked off the laps quickly, with area hot shoe Jesse Stovall celebrating his 30th birthday with a dominating win. Of particular interest to Keagan was the performance of Justin Boney, and Dan Charles, two of the featured drivers from the Heartland Thunder television show on Discovery Channel. With a full nigh of racing, we headed back to the room around midnight, tired but still buzzing about the best racing we have seen in our trips to the track. Wheatland, much like Knoxville and Eldora is one of those places that die hard dirt late model fans should find a way to visit at least once. From the concrete pits with the two bay car wash, a hot pit area with lights, air and water, two levels of suites, a full service bar, an air conditioned room for eating and relaxing, a reasonably priced and tasty varied menu, a jumbotron complete with 20 position scoreboard - which is always up to date - and probably some other amenities I have forgotten - of yes, if all this bores you, you can rent a go kart at the track off turn one - well, hopefully you get a picture of sorts. Now that the Show Me 100 has been moved to the track, there are a couple of good opportunities to make the trip, which from my perch near Quincy, Il is about a five hour ride with a meal break.
We were up early on Sunday, headed home as Al had to work Sunday evening, and the rest of us were hoping for a nap before heading to Quincy Raceways. We were barely on the road when the call came that a downpour had hit the Quincy area Sunday morning, and when we called the track for the noon update, we learned that once again there would be no racing. While some tracks have had pretty good seasons, QR has been bit a record number of times by Mother Nature. Oh well, the extra long nap felt pretty good!
This week plans are to stay close to home, with Friday night IMCA late model action at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, and we will try again Sunday at Quincy Raceways. See you at the races.
Cook and Terry Phillips captured the 12 lap B's which each transferred three cars, and Bub McCool made a thrilling charge after falling to ninth to come back and grab third without benefit of a caution in the final qualifier. Two provisionals from each series were added, and 14 year old Tyler Reddick used a Lucas Oil " emergency " start, setting up a 27 car starting field. Although outside polesitter Owens led every trip past the flag stand, he was challenged early and often. With Bloomquist uncharacteristically falling back, Oneal stayed glued to the # 20 early, then it was Earl Pearson Jr. taking up the charge. EPJ actually took the top spot in turn two on lap 15, but Owens regained the lead quickly. Oneal gave up his third spot and went to the trailer during a lap 16 caution. Owens had built a big lead when the caution flew for Dan Schleiper on lap 42. and one lap later Steve Casebolt lost a wheel in turn two and Al Purkey spun at the same time in turn four. After a debris caution with no laps in, the field went green. Now it seemed that Owens may have used up his tires, and Pearson went to the bottom of the track as he looked for a fourth straight Lucas win. With Jimmy trying to run the top in turns one and two and protecting the bottom in three and four, the " Intimigator, " Alligator farmer Chris Wall found something to his liking, and slipped past Pearson with four laps to go. He then closed on Owens, but could not make the pass. He trailed Owens to the flag, as EPJ held third ahead of Moyer. Brady Smith past Bloomquist late for sixth. Show Me 100 winner Ray Cook came from 17th to seventh, Mc Dowell started 19th and finished eighth. Birkhofer and Brad Neat completed the top ten.
With our hotel only a ten minute drive away, we stayed around for the modified finale, even after a multi car pileup on the start took several minutes to clean up. After the early delay, the mods clicked off the laps quickly, with area hot shoe Jesse Stovall celebrating his 30th birthday with a dominating win. Of particular interest to Keagan was the performance of Justin Boney, and Dan Charles, two of the featured drivers from the Heartland Thunder television show on Discovery Channel. With a full nigh of racing, we headed back to the room around midnight, tired but still buzzing about the best racing we have seen in our trips to the track. Wheatland, much like Knoxville and Eldora is one of those places that die hard dirt late model fans should find a way to visit at least once. From the concrete pits with the two bay car wash, a hot pit area with lights, air and water, two levels of suites, a full service bar, an air conditioned room for eating and relaxing, a reasonably priced and tasty varied menu, a jumbotron complete with 20 position scoreboard - which is always up to date - and probably some other amenities I have forgotten - of yes, if all this bores you, you can rent a go kart at the track off turn one - well, hopefully you get a picture of sorts. Now that the Show Me 100 has been moved to the track, there are a couple of good opportunities to make the trip, which from my perch near Quincy, Il is about a five hour ride with a meal break.
We were up early on Sunday, headed home as Al had to work Sunday evening, and the rest of us were hoping for a nap before heading to Quincy Raceways. We were barely on the road when the call came that a downpour had hit the Quincy area Sunday morning, and when we called the track for the noon update, we learned that once again there would be no racing. While some tracks have had pretty good seasons, QR has been bit a record number of times by Mother Nature. Oh well, the extra long nap felt pretty good!
This week plans are to stay close to home, with Friday night IMCA late model action at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, and we will try again Sunday at Quincy Raceways. See you at the races.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Lets Try This Again
For anyone who takes the time to read my musings, I want to assure you that I have not yet lost my mind. I am not quite sure what happened last night, but a full 3/4 of my ramblings disappeared in to cyberspace. Of course, it could have been something I did. My computer is a lot like my wife. I don't understand either, but I sure would be lost without them! As the race program i was reporting on is now 48 hours past and was well covered by
Jeff, I will just offer some highlights and random thoughts.
With Jeep Van Wormer arriving after hot laps, he once again proved that these warm up sessions are over rated. The Michigan pilot had not been on the Quincy Raceways oval in more than a year, the track had again been somewhat reworked since, yet he set the third fastest lap behind Jason Feger, for whom the track should be perfect, and Mark Burgtorf, who has run more laps around the oval than the water truck! Despite a stellar group of drivers, including surprise visitor Doug Drown from Ohio, who brought along Australian ace Craig Vosbergen, the field of actual UMP cars was a bit short. However, ten of the IMCA late models drivers decided to pull double duty with the same car, and Justin Reed entered his # 1st IMCA car in that division, and Tony Dunkers # 4 IMCA ride in the UMP class. Denny Woodworth unloaded both his IMCA and his " outlaw " car, while Burgtorf has parked the chassis he was using for the " big motor " shows, and is now switching power plants in what was his IMCA ride. As a result, Mark ran only the UMP portion of the show. Those three QR drivers and Dustin Griffin were the only locals to make the $5,000 to win finale, while Quincian Rickey Frankel, and Russ Schoonover, originally from the Macomb area, but now residing in England were the only " travelers " to not make the field. " Schoony " comes back every summer or two, and always plans a trip to QR for an open show, his smoking # 59 in tow! Although a lot of folks dod not like the straight up starts the tour uses, i have mixed feelings about that. My main gripe is the 21 car starting field, which features three provisional spots. As with QR, the usual result, is a B-main that advances only two cars, a daunting task in a 16 car starting field. I have noticed that a few of the bigger tracks added three more cars, but of course that is an extra payout of nearly $1,500, minus what those three would have been paid for their B-main start.
Van Wormer was a rocket around the top of the QR .29 mile oval, and after avoiding an early race crash with a slowing Brian Shirley, who was leading at the time, he was not going to be denied. Shirley was once again piloting a team 48 car out of the Tim Lance trailer. Tim himself picked up a top ten run. Feger came in as the points leader, and his runner up finish kept him on top, as he tries to unseat defending champion Dennis Erb Jr. who finished seventh. Shannon Babb, who started 12th may have had something for the top two, but a collision with a lapped car as he was chasing third place Ryan Unzicker sent him to the back, and he could only come back to sixth, behind Drown and Burgtorf. Jack Sullivan, who has run the entire tour to date in the GRT house car, was smoking badly, but made a quick trip to the hot pit area under caution, came back and finished eighth ahead of Woodworth and T. Lance.
The IMCA late model feature looked like Dustin Neese might get his first win of the season, but row five starters Woodworth and Reed moved quickly through the field. Woodworh was then involved in a mishap and was sent to the back, clearing the way for Reed to take the win. Joey Gower also cleared Neese for second, while Woodworth charged back to fourth ahead of " Superman " Sam Halstead. The finish left Woodworth and Reed tied atop the points sheet.
While the late models loaded up, Reed was not done, as he was also racing in the UMP modified class. Three classes on a hot Sunday night, isn't youth a wonderful thing!?! Justin had one his modified heat, but a puff of smoke at the checkers signaled the end of the night for his Tony dunker owned # 4st. So a call went out, and soon the # 16j normally driven by Jason Daggs came down pit road. Reed had to start at the tail of the 17 car field, and he quickly retired. Points leader Dave Weitholder put his # 05 out front and looked to be cruising. However, second generation driver Steven delonjay patiently worked his way to second, and tried Weitholder every lap. As the two exited turn four on the final lap of a long night, Weitholder left the top groove open, and Delonjay made his move. the electronic scoring had Delonjay in front at the line by .01 of a second!
Veteran Hannibal, Mo. driver Jim Brown came out of retirement this season, and struggled for a few weeks, but put his # 83 in victory lane in the hobby stock class. The IMCA stock cars had the night off.
This weekends plans involve a visit to the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. for the Lucas Oil/MLRA Diamond Nationals - weather permitting, of course, and a quick trip home for more Sunday night racing at Quincy Raceways. See you at the track.
Jeff, I will just offer some highlights and random thoughts.
With Jeep Van Wormer arriving after hot laps, he once again proved that these warm up sessions are over rated. The Michigan pilot had not been on the Quincy Raceways oval in more than a year, the track had again been somewhat reworked since, yet he set the third fastest lap behind Jason Feger, for whom the track should be perfect, and Mark Burgtorf, who has run more laps around the oval than the water truck! Despite a stellar group of drivers, including surprise visitor Doug Drown from Ohio, who brought along Australian ace Craig Vosbergen, the field of actual UMP cars was a bit short. However, ten of the IMCA late models drivers decided to pull double duty with the same car, and Justin Reed entered his # 1st IMCA car in that division, and Tony Dunkers # 4 IMCA ride in the UMP class. Denny Woodworth unloaded both his IMCA and his " outlaw " car, while Burgtorf has parked the chassis he was using for the " big motor " shows, and is now switching power plants in what was his IMCA ride. As a result, Mark ran only the UMP portion of the show. Those three QR drivers and Dustin Griffin were the only locals to make the $5,000 to win finale, while Quincian Rickey Frankel, and Russ Schoonover, originally from the Macomb area, but now residing in England were the only " travelers " to not make the field. " Schoony " comes back every summer or two, and always plans a trip to QR for an open show, his smoking # 59 in tow! Although a lot of folks dod not like the straight up starts the tour uses, i have mixed feelings about that. My main gripe is the 21 car starting field, which features three provisional spots. As with QR, the usual result, is a B-main that advances only two cars, a daunting task in a 16 car starting field. I have noticed that a few of the bigger tracks added three more cars, but of course that is an extra payout of nearly $1,500, minus what those three would have been paid for their B-main start.
Van Wormer was a rocket around the top of the QR .29 mile oval, and after avoiding an early race crash with a slowing Brian Shirley, who was leading at the time, he was not going to be denied. Shirley was once again piloting a team 48 car out of the Tim Lance trailer. Tim himself picked up a top ten run. Feger came in as the points leader, and his runner up finish kept him on top, as he tries to unseat defending champion Dennis Erb Jr. who finished seventh. Shannon Babb, who started 12th may have had something for the top two, but a collision with a lapped car as he was chasing third place Ryan Unzicker sent him to the back, and he could only come back to sixth, behind Drown and Burgtorf. Jack Sullivan, who has run the entire tour to date in the GRT house car, was smoking badly, but made a quick trip to the hot pit area under caution, came back and finished eighth ahead of Woodworth and T. Lance.
The IMCA late model feature looked like Dustin Neese might get his first win of the season, but row five starters Woodworth and Reed moved quickly through the field. Woodworh was then involved in a mishap and was sent to the back, clearing the way for Reed to take the win. Joey Gower also cleared Neese for second, while Woodworth charged back to fourth ahead of " Superman " Sam Halstead. The finish left Woodworth and Reed tied atop the points sheet.
While the late models loaded up, Reed was not done, as he was also racing in the UMP modified class. Three classes on a hot Sunday night, isn't youth a wonderful thing!?! Justin had one his modified heat, but a puff of smoke at the checkers signaled the end of the night for his Tony dunker owned # 4st. So a call went out, and soon the # 16j normally driven by Jason Daggs came down pit road. Reed had to start at the tail of the 17 car field, and he quickly retired. Points leader Dave Weitholder put his # 05 out front and looked to be cruising. However, second generation driver Steven delonjay patiently worked his way to second, and tried Weitholder every lap. As the two exited turn four on the final lap of a long night, Weitholder left the top groove open, and Delonjay made his move. the electronic scoring had Delonjay in front at the line by .01 of a second!
Veteran Hannibal, Mo. driver Jim Brown came out of retirement this season, and struggled for a few weeks, but put his # 83 in victory lane in the hobby stock class. The IMCA stock cars had the night off.
This weekends plans involve a visit to the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. for the Lucas Oil/MLRA Diamond Nationals - weather permitting, of course, and a quick trip home for more Sunday night racing at Quincy Raceways. See you at the track.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Just What We Needed!
Finally! Sunday night was all set up to be the best or the worst night of a roller coaster season at Quincy Raceways. As with many tracks, the weatherman has been our enemy in 2010, and things did not look or sound real promising when we walked out of church Sunday morning. With the biggest race of the season on tap, the UMP Summernationals Hell Tour late models rolling into town for a $5,000 to win show, plus a full show of IMCA late models, UMP mods and hobby stocks, it would have been nothing short of tragic if the rain rolling across central Missouri had also made the trip to Quincy. Even as grandson Keagan and I eased down pit road, I was not convinced we would be racing. But Mother Nature finally gave us a break, and race we did! Apparently racers and fans alike shared my doubt as both were late arriving, but by hot lap time, the pits and the grandstands were well populated. When I checked in at the pit office, I got the word that top five point man Jeep Van Wormer had suffered a flat tire on his hauler around Lincoln, Il. and would arrive " sometime. "
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