I mentioned at the end of May that I had a lot of non racing activities scheduled for the month of June. Still, that left seven nights that were available for racing, plus any mid week make up nights Quincy Raceways might need. Well, after two inches of rain yesterday not only wiped out all the tracks within 175 miles of home for Saturday racing, it also ended any chance that Quincy Raceways would be able to get a show in tonight, the 26th. So pending a scheduled make up date on Wednesday this week, I am currently setting at two races in the entire month of June, with both of those coming within five days of each other - a Tuesday make up at QR on the 7th, and a regular show on the 12th! Although I do not have complete record, I am certain that I have not had a month of June with Three or fewer races since at least 1978, and possibly ten years earlier than that!
Perhaps this is my test to see if I can continue to espouse the " Positively Racing " mantra. For Quincy Raceways, tonights cancellation is the ninth of the season. As mentioned, QR has been able to run a couple of make up nights, as they have six shows in the books. Promoter Rick Girard, in his first full season at the helm of Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. has had even worse luck. By my unofficial count, SCS has also tallied nine rainouts of their Saturday night programs, including five in a row, with their last race being May 21. Rick has had only slightly better luck at 24 Raceway in Moberly, Mo., where he is promoting Sunday night shows. As of 5:00 PM today, 24 is still on for tonight, and NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace, who was scheduled to be at Quincy Raceways tonight to compete in his UMP modified, is now headed to Moberly. Unfortunately, Monday morning comes too early for me to make the trip to the high banked speed plant. The UMP Summernationals tour has had their share of weather woes as well, with five of the first ten shows being postponed or canceled. Local legend Mark Burgtorf joined the tour this week, making the show all three nights of the first swing through his home state of Illinois. Marks best run to date was a runner up finish to Scott James at Highland Speedway on Wednesday.
Hopefully this weeks weather forecast will hold, as I am more than ready to get back to some dirt trackin'. Although Quincy Raceways was given approval from IMCA for Tuesday night make up points racing, this weeks make up will be on Wednesday so points will be awarded only in the UMP modifieds, and QR hobby stock and Wild Thing classes. Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa is scheduled to be in action Thursday for the Liberty Cup, and then again Friday with the IMCA late models on the card. Saturday looks like family night, the Sunday, July 3 will be the second visit of 2011 of the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series late models to QR. With the holiday, QR is adding a sixth class, as the IMCA type Sportmods will get a shot at the .29 mile oval. The Monday holiday visit of the UMP Summernationals to 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Ia. looks like a " can't miss " event. An big time kudos to Simmons Promotions, Inc. and IMCA for moving the Summer Series race at West Liberty Raceway from Tuesday, July 12 to Thursday, July 7. With vacation time scheduled each week, I hope to now be able to attend both this event as well as the World of Outlaw late model visit on the 12th at the Independence,Iowa Speedway. In all, seventeen events in the next six weeks will hopefully help fill the notebook with lots of news, notes, and memories. So c'mon weather man, enough, already! See you at the races.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Waiting Out the Rain
As I mentioned last time, the month of June has filled up with non racing activities. However, Saturday found me in the Quad Cities, and while it was cool and cloudy, the rain was holding off, so Keagan and I made plans to visit the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa, a track he had never been to. Five minutes before time to leave, Keagan decided he was not feeling well enough to go, so as much as I wanted to make the 50 mile trip, I changed plans as well. Apparently I would have run into the " blogger boss " there, so if you would like a rundown of the action, check out Jeff Broegs latest submission.
Sunday found us back home, and I made my weekly trip to Quincy Raceways. As I made the half hour drive, I noticed the clouds building up behind me to the west...surely not again! With hot laps going quickly, the heat races started before the 6:30 start time, and after two quick modified heats, the IMCA late models took to the track as the raindrops began to fall.
A steady shower of 20 minutes or so left us with a greasy mess, but track crews and drivers worked hard, and shortly after 8:00, we were racing again. As is often the case, when the track came back in, it was lightning fast, stayed smooth and produced some great side by side racing.
The five classes of cars totaled 58 strong with 15 UMP modifieds leading the way. Steven Delonjay picked up his second win off the 2011 season in
dominant fashion, taking the lead on lap four after 12 year old Jake Griffin paced the field for the first three laps. Dave Weitholder and Jared Schlipman waged an entertaining battle for second, in a 25 lap main event slowed by only one caution.
The 12 car 20 lap hobby stock finale ran next, and Bobby Anders, who was undefeated on the season with six heat and five feature wins, looked like he would make it six and six, after a nifty pass of Steve Carlin following a lap 15 restart. One more yellow with two laps to go gave Carlin another chance, and he was able to get under Anders and make the winning pass, with Anders spinning in turns one ans two. Anders took exception to the move,
and after the checkers had flown, he drove his # 20 into the drivers side of Carlins car. The result was a DQ for the night, and a four week suspension, effectively ending his chances at a track title.
As that drama continued to unfold, 13 late models took to the track for 30 laps of action. Again, only one caution period slowed the event, and veteran Lonnie Bailey charged from row three to grab the lead from Bill Genenbacher following the lap two yellow. The elder Bailey then checked out on the field, for his first win of 2011. Joey Gower appeared the break something in the front end of his # 31G, but still muscled his mount to a runner up finish ahead of Keith Pratt, Matt Bailey , and Genenbacher.
The final two features of the night went caution free, with Casey Kendrick running away with the 4 cylinder Wild Thing feature, and Gabe Harrison leading from start to finish to nab his first IMCA stock car feature ahead of points leader Aaron Brocksieck, who started last on the grid, moved to third by lap five, and finally wrestled the second spot from Kevin Tomlinson on the white flag lap. Even with the delay, racing ended around 10:00 PM.
It was only the second points night for IMCA late models at QR, and midseason championship night is only two weeks away! Track officials have asked IMCA to allow points racing on the Tuesday rain date for the remainder of 2011. As of Sunday, thet had not recieved an answer. The win by Bailey gave me my 15th different late model winner in 15 nights of racing this season. If the weather patterns continue, I could have my fewest number of races since i began keeping count in the mid 1990s!
Congratulations to " the Real Deal " Don Oneal on his $100,000.00 win at this years Dream at Eldora Speedway. Some love him, some don't, but he is a showman, for sure!
Wednesday, June 15, we will celebrate grandson Keagans 15 birthday. With a drivers permit likely coming, my " Grumpy Old Men " posse could use a young driver! And Saturday marks the 41st wedding anniversary for Mary, and I. So no racing this week until Sunday, weather permitting. But there are plenty of good options before then, so take in some dirt track racin' this weekend.
Sunday found us back home, and I made my weekly trip to Quincy Raceways. As I made the half hour drive, I noticed the clouds building up behind me to the west...surely not again! With hot laps going quickly, the heat races started before the 6:30 start time, and after two quick modified heats, the IMCA late models took to the track as the raindrops began to fall.
A steady shower of 20 minutes or so left us with a greasy mess, but track crews and drivers worked hard, and shortly after 8:00, we were racing again. As is often the case, when the track came back in, it was lightning fast, stayed smooth and produced some great side by side racing.
The five classes of cars totaled 58 strong with 15 UMP modifieds leading the way. Steven Delonjay picked up his second win off the 2011 season in
dominant fashion, taking the lead on lap four after 12 year old Jake Griffin paced the field for the first three laps. Dave Weitholder and Jared Schlipman waged an entertaining battle for second, in a 25 lap main event slowed by only one caution.
The 12 car 20 lap hobby stock finale ran next, and Bobby Anders, who was undefeated on the season with six heat and five feature wins, looked like he would make it six and six, after a nifty pass of Steve Carlin following a lap 15 restart. One more yellow with two laps to go gave Carlin another chance, and he was able to get under Anders and make the winning pass, with Anders spinning in turns one ans two. Anders took exception to the move,
and after the checkers had flown, he drove his # 20 into the drivers side of Carlins car. The result was a DQ for the night, and a four week suspension, effectively ending his chances at a track title.
As that drama continued to unfold, 13 late models took to the track for 30 laps of action. Again, only one caution period slowed the event, and veteran Lonnie Bailey charged from row three to grab the lead from Bill Genenbacher following the lap two yellow. The elder Bailey then checked out on the field, for his first win of 2011. Joey Gower appeared the break something in the front end of his # 31G, but still muscled his mount to a runner up finish ahead of Keith Pratt, Matt Bailey , and Genenbacher.
The final two features of the night went caution free, with Casey Kendrick running away with the 4 cylinder Wild Thing feature, and Gabe Harrison leading from start to finish to nab his first IMCA stock car feature ahead of points leader Aaron Brocksieck, who started last on the grid, moved to third by lap five, and finally wrestled the second spot from Kevin Tomlinson on the white flag lap. Even with the delay, racing ended around 10:00 PM.
It was only the second points night for IMCA late models at QR, and midseason championship night is only two weeks away! Track officials have asked IMCA to allow points racing on the Tuesday rain date for the remainder of 2011. As of Sunday, thet had not recieved an answer. The win by Bailey gave me my 15th different late model winner in 15 nights of racing this season. If the weather patterns continue, I could have my fewest number of races since i began keeping count in the mid 1990s!
Congratulations to " the Real Deal " Don Oneal on his $100,000.00 win at this years Dream at Eldora Speedway. Some love him, some don't, but he is a showman, for sure!
Wednesday, June 15, we will celebrate grandson Keagans 15 birthday. With a drivers permit likely coming, my " Grumpy Old Men " posse could use a young driver! And Saturday marks the 41st wedding anniversary for Mary, and I. So no racing this week until Sunday, weather permitting. But there are plenty of good options before then, so take in some dirt track racin' this weekend.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Beating Mother Nature
After Quincy Raceways endured their seventh Sunday night rain out in ten weeks, the promoters followed through on an earlier promise to use Tuesday night as a make up date once school was out. As I had not done any racing this past weekend, it seemed like a welcome turn of events. Working against the track, besides being a week night, was 95 degree heat, a late model Summer Series race in Iowa, and the fact that no points could be awarded in the IMCA late model or stock car classes. So what happened? An average or better car count in four of the five classes, with only the UMP modifieds - who were racing for points - being down. The crowd was a bit smaller than a typical Sunday night, but that was certainly expected, and as the numbers came in, track officials indicated that the experiment will continue, should it be needed. Having just watched the Sunday forecast, it looks like next week could be more of the same. Incredibly, the track has only had one late model points night, and mid season championship is coming up in two plus weeks! A total of 56 cars signed in Tuesday, and the racing was as good as it has been all season. The 15 car late model feature saw numerous lead changes, with Denny Woodworth leading after restarts and looking like he would pull away. The late model lawyers car seemed to " go away " on long runs, and outside polesitter Joey Gower slipped by on lap 24, leading the final six circuits for his first QR win in some time. On a personal note, Gowers win gave me 14 different late model feature winners in 14 nights of racing so far in 2011! Woodworth held second ahead of Keith Pratt, early leader Lonnie Bailey, and Darin Weisinger. Visiting Tom Goble nabbed sixth. A three car pile up in the first late model heat saw Dustin Neese get upside down on top of Weisingers mount. Although the damage looked extensive, Dustin was able to run the entire 30 lap feature.
Festus, Missouri modified ace Rusty Griffaw made the trip north in search of UMP points. The # 16 started front row outside of QR's # 16, Shawn Deering. Rusty set up his ride for the high side, and with the mods running last, the top groove was pretty much gone. Deering paced the field as defending track champ Jared Schlipman worked his way past Griffaw, the eased by Deering on lap 19, surviving a restart one lap later and picking up the win. Deering held off Griffaw for second.
Aaron Brocksieck led from flag to flag in the caution free stock car feature, his fourth win in five nights, with the only other winner, Kevin Tomlinson coming home second. Bobby Anders made it five straight in the hobby stock class, although his consecutive laps led streak was stopped at 76 when he failed to lead lap one. He took over on lap two, starting a new streak, as he paced the final 19 circuits, outdueling Steve Carlin.
Casey Kendrick led flag to flag in the 12 lap Wild Thing finale, finishing ahead of Todd Nelson of Springfield, Il. Todd had some pretty good help in the pits, as Mark Burgtorf was helping the guy who normally helps him. Mark is on the sidelines at the present time as the rear end is out of his late model.
The week night program started at 7:00 sharp, with the final checkers waving about 9:40.
This weekend is again up in the air for yours truly, as the month of June is filled with non racing activities. Still, I hope to do some racin' down the road!
Festus, Missouri modified ace Rusty Griffaw made the trip north in search of UMP points. The # 16 started front row outside of QR's # 16, Shawn Deering. Rusty set up his ride for the high side, and with the mods running last, the top groove was pretty much gone. Deering paced the field as defending track champ Jared Schlipman worked his way past Griffaw, the eased by Deering on lap 19, surviving a restart one lap later and picking up the win. Deering held off Griffaw for second.
Aaron Brocksieck led from flag to flag in the caution free stock car feature, his fourth win in five nights, with the only other winner, Kevin Tomlinson coming home second. Bobby Anders made it five straight in the hobby stock class, although his consecutive laps led streak was stopped at 76 when he failed to lead lap one. He took over on lap two, starting a new streak, as he paced the final 19 circuits, outdueling Steve Carlin.
Casey Kendrick led flag to flag in the 12 lap Wild Thing finale, finishing ahead of Todd Nelson of Springfield, Il. Todd had some pretty good help in the pits, as Mark Burgtorf was helping the guy who normally helps him. Mark is on the sidelines at the present time as the rear end is out of his late model.
The week night program started at 7:00 sharp, with the final checkers waving about 9:40.
This weekend is again up in the air for yours truly, as the month of June is filled with non racing activities. Still, I hope to do some racin' down the road!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
